MEDIA ALERT: Best Buy Canada hosts Life & Tech Wearable Technology Expo and Fashion Shows

TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - On Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Best Buy Canada is taking over Yonge-Dundas Square to host the first-ever Life & Tech Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Shows. The free event will offer Torontonians an interactive look at the latest and greatest wearable technology from nearly 30 exhibitors showcasing everything from the latest in health and fitness, life-logging cameras, smartwatches, wearable audio, gaming, virtual reality, gesture control, and even baby and pet tech. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy two Wearable Tech fashion shows, star-studded appearances, panel discussions with industry experts, exclusive product launches, interactive demos, and more.

What:	Best Buy Canada's Life & Tech Wearable Technology Expo and Fashion Shows
Who:	Accomplished creatives:
	Sunny Fong, Best Buy designer, Creative Director, VAWK
	Ky-Mani Marley, House of Marley musician, reggae and hip-hop artist, son of Bob Marley
	Athletes:
	Patrick Patterson, House of Marley athlete, professional basketball player for Toronto
	Rohan Marley, director of House of Marley, former CFL player and son of Bob Marley
	James Johnson, Blast Motion athlete, professional basketball player for Toronto
	Elvis Stojko, Muse champion, former figure skater and Olympic champion
	Jason Helman, ZEPP athlete, Canadian PGA golf pro
	Online superstars:
	MrWoofless, Gameband all-star, Minecraft YouTube star
	PrestonPlayz, Gameband all-star, Minecraft YouTube star
	Phoebe Dykstra, Bellabeat super fan, social influencer and former TV host/VJ
	Tech experts:
	Tom Emrich, wearable tech expert and founder, We Are Wearables
	Zayn Jaffer, director of emerging business, Best Buy Canada
	Elliott Chun, communications manager, Best Buy Canada
	Nearly 30 Life & Tech Expo exhibitors and panelists

Sample Photo/Interview Opportunities:                                      

• High-tech meets high-fashion with two fashion shows, showcasing the trendiest wearable technology alongside and exclusive capsule collection designed by Canadian designer VAWK by Sunny Fong, winner of Project Runway Canada Season 2
• Witness with your own eyes HTC's Vive virtual reality headset through the Vive truck which makes its Canadian debut at the event
• Join Patrick Patterson, fan-favourite on Toronto's basketball team, and Rohan Marley at The House of Marley exclusive wearable audio display. Learn what it means to #LiveMarley and experience the Marley "signature sound"
• House of Marley live free concert with celebrated Jamaican reggae and hip-hop artist, Ky-Mani Marley
• Improve your basketball shot with Blast Motion's Shooting Clinic
• Improve the golf game inside Zepp's golf swinging area with a Canadian PGA pro
• Located closest to the main stage action, media and consumers can expect to experience the newest in Samsung's category-leading Gear VR and Gear S wearables
• Get up close and personal with the latest wearable tech products in compelling, real-life scenario formats
• Learn about how tech is changing our lives in a series of exclusive panel discussions
• Interview opportunities with event attendees and tech enthusiasts
• Interview opportunities with participating vendors and celebrities (listed below)

Participating exhibitors offering highly interactive demonstrations include:

• Basis, an Intel company
• Blast Motion
• Gameband
• Garmin
• The House of Marley
• HTC
• iHealth
• ION
• Motorola
• Muse
• Samsung
• TomTom
• Withings

When:  Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 at 12 noon – 9 p.m. EST

Event schedule:

• 12 noon: "What the heck is wearable tech?" panel discussion
  Panelists:
  • Zayn Jaffer, Director of Emerging Business, Best Buy Canada
  • Giovanni Tomaselli, Founder and CEO, iON America
  • Rick Hoobler, Design Director, Motorola
  • Tom Emrich, Founder, We Are Wearables
  • Sunny Fong, Designer, VAWK
  • Moderator: Elliott Chun, Communications Manager, Best Buy Canada

• 12:35 p.m.: Life & Tech Wearable Tech Fashion Show
  
  
• 2 p.m.: "How wearable tech elevates health and fitness" panel discussion
  Panelists:
  • Zayn Jaffer, Director of Emerging Business, Best Buy Canada
  • Jef Holove, General Manager, Basis, an Intel company
  • Phoebe Dykstra, Former TV Host/VJ, Bellabeat
  • Todd Taylor, Owner of the Future, Dream Team, on behalf of Bellabeat
  • Steve Monnier, Vice President, iHealth
  • Jackie Cooper, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Muse
  • Arielle Carpenter, Senior Marketing Manager, Withings
  • Moderator: Tom Emrich, Founder, We Are Wearables

• 3 p.m.: "How Virtual Reality and Gesture Control are changing the world" panel discussion
  Panelists:
  • Zayn Jaffer, Director of Emerging Business, Best Buy Canada
  • Dan O'Brien, Vice President, Emerging Products, HTC
  • Scott Greenberg, Director of Developer Relations, Thalmic Labs
  • Ken Price, Vice President, Carrier Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics Canada
  • Moderator: Tom Emrich, Founder, We Are Wearables

• 4 p.m.: "Wearable tech charges-up sports and entertainment" panel discussion
  Panelists:
  • Zayn Jaffer, Director of Emerging Business, Best Buy Canada
  • Michael Bentley, Founder, Blast Motion
  • Feargal Mac Conuladh, CEO and Founder, Gameband
  • Rohan Marley, Director, The House of Marley
  • Sam Vanderveer, Senior Vice President and General Manager, House of Marley
  • Elvis Stojko, Olympian, Muse
  • Moderator: Tom Emrich, Founder, We Are Wearables

• 6 p.m.: "What the heck is wearable tech?" panel discussion

• 6:35 p.m.: Life & Tech Wearable Tech Fashion Show

• 8:00 p.m.: House of Marley live performance by celebrated reggae and hip-hop artist, Ky-Mani Marley

Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E, Toronto, ON, M5B 2R8

Visit http://bit.ly/Sept8BestBuy for more information and join the conversation online:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Event hashtag: #LifeandTech

SOURCE Best Buy Canada

or interview requests, please contact: Elliott Chun, [email protected], P: 905-494-7114