2011 Talks up!

This years TEDxOttawa event was a great success! We’d like to thank our attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and of course our inspirational speakers. Our 2011 TEDxOttawa speakers covered a wide variety of topics, all with the common theme, Creative Actions. The talks ranged from funny, to thought provoking, to inspirational, and emotional. The audience often found
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on Twitter!

What is TEDx?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxOttawa, where x=independently organized TED event. At our TEDxOttawa event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep
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Don’t only think outside the box, control the box!

Once I heard about TedxOttawa, I did a little self reflection. The whole theme to this event is Creative Actions. I was inspired by this theme because I like to think of myself as a creative person. I did reflecting on how creativity has affected my life.  I was once told by someone I look
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5 Days till TEDx Ottawa Event!

5 Days till TEDxOttawa Event! I must admit I am excited to hear what our speakers have for us. I’ve been checking out the videos that TED has on Youtube, which can be located right here. Listening to what previous speakers have presented, made me very motivated to be creative and innovative. Who knows maybe
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First impressions from student’s eyes

Up until a month ago, I had no idea what TEDx was. Even when we were first told about it I thought it was going to be one of those boring events where people talk about their jobs and try and make themselves sound exciting. I didn’t realize how amazing TEDx actually was until we
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Extreme Creativity

Incredible footage! Ueli Gegenschatz — the guy inside the “squirrel suit” – describes the creative progression which led to the ultimate thrill of flying in a wingsuit. He explains his methods and motivations for flying at 100+ MPH past sheer rock faces. Definitely a great example of extreme creative action.


How can I say that I don’t know what creative means??? Of course I do!

I had a really tough time trying to figure out a good topic for a blog for TEDx.  What I mean is that I wanted it to be good and to be different, but I am very unfamiliar with blogging to begin with.  So I thought and thought, and finally I realized that I couldn’t
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Changing Seasons, Inspiring Creative Actions

I can’t help but think about Thanksgiving dinners and seeing my family when the weather starts turning from the hot summer days to the brisk evenings that Fall brings. The colours are changing all around us, we get to gather with friends and family that we may not see all year and reminisce about the
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Doodling Improves Creativity

Studies show that sketching and doodling improve our comprehension — and our creative thinking. So why do we still feel embarrassed when we’re caught doodling in a meeting? Sunni Brown says: Doodlers, unite! She makes the case for unlocking your brain via pad and pen.


From the Eyes of an Algonquin College Student

Before last week I had never heard of TEDx, and now I am in charge of writing a blog for this year’s event in Ottawa, (Oh, and did I mention I’ve never written a blog before neither… oh well here goes nothing). We’re all hoping the event will be hosted in the new Algonquin College
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A Moving Tale of Creation

At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family’s home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, Speaks at TED,  for the second time, and shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.


Charles Limb on Music and Creativity

Charles Limb loved music as a child—Mahler, the Beatles, Miles Davis, whatever. And he heard things most of us don’t. “I was fascinated by this question of how sound can make you feel something,” says the Johns Hopkins otolaryngologist. “If you think about it from a kind of abstract philosophical level, it’s unusual that acoustic
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An Inspirational Example of Creative Action

This is a great example of how someone can use art to bring attention to important social issues. JR, a French street artist, uses his camera to show the world its true face. He makes his audacious TED Prize wish: to use art to turn the world inside out. A funny, moving talk about art
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Cultivating Creative Action

This year’s TEDxOttawa conference is focused on Creative Actions. I wanted to write a blog post that defined the term, but I didn’t get very far. I started out with something about how action and creativity exist in a symbiotic relationship and how creativity can be a powerful catalyst for social, systematic and behavioural change.
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Staying in tune with 9 week countdown

TEDxOttawa is rolling up in approximately 9 weeks! I have lived in Ottawa my whole life and I know for a FACT – events like this do not come to Ottawa very often! If you are anything like me, you’re an average Ottawan and have mastered the following: hanging with friends and fam, the museums,
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The countdown to TEDxOttawa begins!

As summer starts to fade away and fall rapidly approaches, our anticipation for TEDxOttawa continues to grow. With less than three months to go before the event, everyone has been keeping busy spreading the word and getting things organized. Speakers have been posted and applicants have applied! Now all that’s left to do is wait…
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TEDxOttawa, Volunteers, and Love

The backbone to many non-profit organizations and events such as TEDxOttawa often rely on large amounts of dedicated volunteers to oversee multiple activities and tasks. Many people often overlook the benefit gained by both the volunteers as well as the organizations who hire volunteers. I’ve decided to dedicate this blog post to look at the
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The TEDxOttawa Toolbox: Social Media, Crowdsourcing & an Amazing Team!

I’ll start off by saying that I’m a bit of a Social Media junkie. I fought long and hard for days to get my Google+ invite and when I finally did, I was extremely stoked, to say the least. When the opportunity to be involved with TEDxOttawa as a Social Media TEDxer came up, you
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Guess What?!

We have officially filled our speaker quota! Are we surprised? Not really. Now, while we are not quite ready to share with all of you the creative and talented individuals that have so generously applied to be apart of this amazing TEDx  experience, we assure you with utmost certainty that this year’s TEDxOttawa  event will
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Algonquin College Helps in Fostering Creative Actions

If you were to gather the TEDxOttawa planning committee in one room, there would be some obvious similarities between each member, which you could identify instantly. You would see a group of people that radiate enthusiasm, have their smartphones by their side, and are fairly loud due to all the conversations taking place. However, what
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TEDxConcordia – Lenny Rachitsky – Losing Serendipity

This is one of the many great talks at TEDxConcordia. The event was so amazing it inspired me to get involved and organize TEDxOttawa. ~Sarah Ormon


Inspiration from the first confirmed TEDxOttawa Speakers

Everyone has a breadcrumb trail that has lead them to where they are today. They have likely travelled a path of confusion, heart ache, and major detours before getting where they are today. The most important thing is they have arrived at their destination. What is your passion? What’s your idea worth spreading? What is
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TEDxOttawa is in the Works!

Hear ye, hear ye! Come one, come all! Welcoming the event of year, the one and only TEDxOttawa: Creative Actions! We the event planners of this year’s TEDxOttawa event have a HUGE announcement. There is an event currently in the making to show Ottawa how amazing the hard working people of Ottawa really are. We don’t want
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Are you ready Ottawa?

TEDxOttawa

Are you ready Ottawa?! Only four months to go until Ottawa’s biggest collaborative event of the year! A month into planning, the TEDxOttawa committee are working their butts off to bring you the most unique, innovative event Ottawa has seen since Adrian Wu at Fashion Week. A self-organized event that brings people together to share
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