Elaine Lui, Mark Brand & Kristin Westdal join eight previously announced speakers at the Orpheum Theatre on October 21
VANCOUVER, Oct. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - TEDxVancouver is excited to announce three more industry leaders who will be speaking in the 2012 program, themed "Confluence," raising the presenters total to 11. Additional speakers will be unveiled before TEDxVancouver 2012 takes place on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the historic Orpheum Theatre.
TEDxVancouver Speaker's Lineup 2012 (*Part 3 of 4):
Elaine Lui - "The Sociology of Gossip"
Lainey isn't looking to impress anyone, especially celebrities. The eTALK reporter and scribe of the immensely popular celebrity gossip blog, LaineyGossip.com, does what she does for one reason - to provide a gossip education to the Canadian public. The Toronto-born, self-proclaimed gossip maven got into the gossip game in a very roundabout way. What started as an email to two friends grew to a website with active followers from around the world. More than one million people now read LaineyGossip.com every month, making it a leading international celebrity news source. Elaine's years of experience in the media, celebrity entertainment and blogging space have helped her shape a fascinating TED talk about gossip and it's critical place within modern pop culture.
Mark Brand - "The Impact of an Unconventional Solution"
Mark Brand's life as an entrepreneur began in the summer of 2007 with the opening of his first venture, Boneta Restaurant, at 1 West Cordova. Over the course of the next 3 years, the inaugural Vancouver 'Bartender of the Year' would establish several other popular local businesses, including Sharks + Hammers, The Diamond, and Seamonstr Sushi. But all of these projects proved mere training grounds, when in July 2010 Mark signed his life away and assumed control of the historic Save On Meats Butcher Shop / Grocery & Seafood. Working in close collaboration with various community programs and initiatives, Mark and his team are harnessing compassion in their pursuit of new approaches to tackle important societal issues like barrier employment and food security straight from the heart of Vancouver's Downtown East Side.
Kristin Westdal - "The Unseen Threat of Noise in Our Oceans"
Kristin Westdal has been passionate about animals and the natural environment almost her entire life. As a marine biologist specializing in Arctic marine mammals, she currently works for the PEW Environment Groups Oceans North Canada. She has worked extensively in Canada's eastern Arctic with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association researching narwhal, beluga and killer whales. She also ran a kayaking operation in Hudson Bay from 2001 to 2005 that offered unique and close encounters with beluga whales. Kristin has a master's degree in environmental science from the University of Manitoba where her thesis examined movement and diving of narwhal in northern Hudson Bay. Last year she was the research expedition leader on Oceans North Canada's Lancaster Sound Arctic Whale Survey. Currently conducting research on critical habitat, distribution and population size of the western Hudson Bay beluga population, she lives in Winnipeg when not studying in the arctic.
These speakers join Natacha Beim, John Bromley, Dr. Jean Carruthers, Dr. John Izzo, Chen Lizra, Doug Schmitt, Joel Solomon and Eric Winsborrow at TEDxVancouver 2012.
Presenters at TEDxVancouver are handpicked for their inspired thinking, and in the TED tradition, each is challenged to offer their audience an idea worth sharing in "the talk of their life" in 18 minutes or less.
HOW TO GET TICKETS TO THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM:
Interested attendees are invited to register to attend the October 21st event at www.tedxvancouver.com. The conference will be accompanied by a select offering of optional pre- and post-event activities, catering to diverse tastes and interests. A live webcast of the event will be available in high-quality video for free live viewing on the Internet.
[*Note: TEDxVancouver will announce more speakers over the next week or so in a series of releases to the press. Speakers and Talk Focus are subject to change in advance of October 21, 2012, official program will be announced at least 1 week prior to actual event.]
About TEDxVancouver
TEDxVancouver is part of the TEDx family of events. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized meetings that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. The event is called TEDxVancouver is, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Edinburgh, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, and on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.
For information about TED's upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration
For more information about TEDxVancouver:
Visit www.TEDxVancouver.com
Follow TEDxVancouver on Twitter @TEDxVan
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tedxvancouver
Image with caption: "Elaine Lui, aka "Lainey Gossip" of LaineyGossip.com and eTalk and CTV entertainment reporter, will be presenting at TEDxVancouver's "Confluence" program on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the Orpheum Theatre. (CNW Group/TEDxVancouver)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121009_C5338_PHOTO_EN_19048.jpg
SOURCE: TEDxVancouver
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