Former premier Ed Stelmach will be among several speakers when TEDx St. Albert hosts its second annual event at the Arden Theatre next month.
Stelmach will take the stage along with meteorologist Josh Classen, marketing expert Jared Smith, Edmonton Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur and a host of other speakers in a day-long event on Sept. 15.
TED talks began in California and are speeches on a wide variety of issues and topics lead by experts in the field. An annual TED conference still takes places in California each year and has featured speeches from Al Gore, Steve Jobs and Stephen Hawking.
TEDx events like the one in St. Albert follow a similar format, but are organized independently and locally in the community. All of the talks last between six and 18 minutes and try to focus on the speaker rather slides or other aids.
The St. Albert event will bring the speakers together with a host of other activities, said Gilles Prefontaine, part of the organizing committee.
“We feature different speakers. As well, we have artists, musicians and we have sort of a full day of things that are absolutely inspirational ideas being shared.”
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Grow’, tying into the city’s botanical arts brand.
“There were a whole lot of variety of different topics that are really related to St. Albert’s brand and living in St. Albert,” Prefontaine said.
Stelmach’s talk will focus on his own story and the growth of his family.
“His speech is tentatively titled From Prairies to Premier,” said Prefontaine. “We figured it was a great story in terms of talking about his background, the family and the history of what it brings, all the way to him becoming premier.”
Prefontaine said the St. Albert event includes plenty of time for conversation between attendees, which is part of the aim of bringing people with great ideas together.
“The networking and the connections happened throughout the day,” he said of last year’s event.
One of last year’s speakers, Alex Mihailidis, connected with someone at the event who helped him further his research in rehabilitative medicine, Prefontaine said.
Last year people didn’t really understand what the event was about, but this year many people are very excited to attend their second event, he said.
“We spent most of last year educating people as to what a TEDx event is and why you would want to come,” he said. “We had all these people who came out to that event who said I am coming back next year and I am bringing two or three friends.”
More information on the event as well as how to purchase tickets is available at www.tedxstalbert.com
