The Chilliwack Progress | Original Article
Brain injury, homelessness policy and sustainable clothing trends all on tap for April event.
Natella Isazada, Jon Morrison, Reen Rose, and Fatima Zaidi celebrate their selection to the TEDxChilliwack 2019. Corissa Fir Photography
This year’s TEDxChilliwack event will tackle ideas about sustainable clothing, brain injury, farming and so much more.
The theme for the popular idea-sharing event is “On Purpose,” and speakers have been chosen through a series of showcase nights. In total, 30 people stood up in front of an audience to encapsulate their ideas into a four-minute pitch. But only eight were chosen for the main event, being held April 13 at G.W. Graham Theatre.
The first four chosen from the Jan. 24 showcase were: Dave Dinesen from Cloverdale, who will speak on farming technology that allows for year-round growing in difficult terrain and climates; Natalie Forstbauer from Chilliwack, who will speak about turning her brain injury into a brain upgrade; Jess Montgomery from Vancouver, speaking on the sustainability movement in the clothing industry; and, Dr. Kevin Orieux of Abbotsford, speaking about returning the “care” to patient care in the medical field.
The four chosen at the Jan. 31 showcase were: Natella Isazada from Langley, who spoke about compassionate problem solving; Jon Morrison from Abbotsford, who spoke on becoming a Millennial thought leader; Fatima Zaidi from Chilliwack, who addressed how to shift from reactive to proactive policy to address homelessness; and Reen Rose from Kelowna who illustrated how your brain both loves and hates change, and how to take advantage of that information.
Four more speakers are being chosen by the TEDxChilliwack organizing committee. The entire list has yet to be announced, but includes Steven Point(Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl). Point has served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation, the Tribal Chair of the Stó:lo Nation, and was Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 2007-2012.
The organizing committee says they are sure this year’s theme, “On Purpose” will give audiences an “elevated experience with top-quality, enthralling speakers and a unique and entertaining event.”
“Ideas worth spreading is not only TED’s vision, but also TEDxChilliwack’s vision,” said Tim McAlpine, TEDxChilliwack director. “With the lineup of speakers we have chosen, attendees to our event on April 13 will have a chance to hear many intriguing ideas.”
TEDxChilliwack (www.tedxchilliwack.com) is a not-for-profit, annual one-day event, independently organized and operated under a license from TED.
Tickets for TEDxChilliwack are on sale at www.tedxchilliwack.com for $49, which includes lunch and refreshments.