What is TEDx?

If you’ve ever watched a TED talk, chances are that you were struck by an intellectual adrenaline rush. This is a feeling that’s similar to the one that rips through you after a big accomplishment, except this time, it was fueled by imagination.

Calgary’s Rocket House Productions is bringing the softer side of parkour to TEDx. This is the acrobatic urban running, jumping and movement that you may remember from Casino Royale.

TEDxYYC is a not-for-profit organization

TED is an idea-based nonprofit organization that brings together the world’s most inspired thinkers. Its mission is to share ideas that can change the world and inspire action. This year, a wide range of speakers from around the globe will share their ideas on topics such as leadership, inspiring action, and fueling the good in others.

The conference’s iconic talks have been viewed more than 20 million times, and its ideas have influenced thousands of communities. Many of its participants have become global leaders in their fields, including activists Dan Pallotta and Jill Bolte Taylor, author Malcolm Gladwell, sustainability expert Paul Hawken, and educator Salman Khan.

TEDx is organized on a community-by-community basis and follows the same rules as TED conferences. Organizers are not allowed to raise money for commercial or religious organizations, and the event cannot be used as a platform to sell products. It can, however, be used to spark conversation and connection within the community.

TEDxYYC is a community

TEDx is a program that supports independent organizers in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” Each event is organized locally on a community-by-community basis under a free license from TED. The events combine a TEDTalks video with live speakers to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

This year, TEDxYYC is proud to host 10 inspiring speakers from across the city at the Telus Spark science centre. The sold-out event will showcase the work of some of Calgary’s brightest minds, from social entrepreneurs to technology innovators and more.

CBC Radio One’s Homestretch recently spoke with adventurer and TEDxYYC speaker Christina Franco, who is skiing to the North Pole for the third time. We asked her what she hopes to take away from the event. “TEDx is a community of people who share ideas and feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves,” she said. “It’s a place where you can share your ideas and meet other people who have the same interests.” TEDx is also a catalyst for change.

TEDxYYC is a platform

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). It began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged. Since then, its scope has expanded to cover almost all topics. It also has spawned a number of offshoots, such as TED-Ed, TED Prize, and TED Fellows.

A TEDx event is an independently organized TED-like experience held in a local community. Its purpose is to spark conversation and connection by sharing ideas with the goal of empowering local communities. TEDx events are planned and coordinated on a community-by-community basis, and they can include live speakers and performances.

The upcoming TEDxYYC lineup includes WiseGuyz founder Blake Spence, street dancer Bobby Mileage and food designer Chloe Rutzerveld. It also features David Moscrop, a political theorist who studies information flows in the public sphere and democratic decision making.

TEDxYYC is a conference

TED is an annual conference where leading thinkers, dreamers and doers gather to share their ideas. Initially, TED stood for Technology, Entertainment and Design but now it encompasses topics that are much broader, including science, globalization and education. TED was started in 1984 by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marques and is now run by Chris Anderson through his non-profit foundation, The Sapling Foundation1.

TEDx is a program that gives communities, schools, companies or even groups of friends the ability to organize their own TED event under the TEDx license. The events are independently organized but are bound by certain rules and regulations. TEDx events are characterized by the fact that they combine live TEDTalks video with speakers and performances.

TEDxLakeJunaluska was started by a group of passionate people who wanted to bring a TED-like experience to their local community. It features a range of speakers and performers from all walks of life. Each talk is accompanied by an animated sketch to illustrate the speaker’s message.