TEDxCalgary | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there going to be another TEDxCalgary?

YES!

We have been approved to hold a second event in 2011, which currently is being scheduled for November 18, 2011.  See info and registration form.

TEDxCalgary also is working with a range of other community partners to develop additional events throughout 2011-12, and we will continue to look for other TEDxLive events that may be of interest to our local community.

Why isn't it TEDxCalgary.com?

It is, actually... we can be reached at any of the following domain extensions: .ca, .com, .org, and .net

Who is behind TEDxCalgary?

The TEDxCalgary event organizing committee has a strong core of alumni from the Leadership Calgary program of community leadership development, but beyond that loose affiliation we're simply individuals with a passion for the ideas of TED and the dedication to volunteer our time and skills to make the event happen. We are actively encouraging the widest possible level of involvment from the Calgary community, and please contact us if you're interested in working with us on the event.

Many thanks to our TEDx licence "curator", Rahim Sajan, for his key role in facilitating the early conversations both with interested parties and the TEDx program group, for bringing together the core team of "stewards" helping to drive the event, and for providing the continuing vision and energy to make TEDxCalgary a reality. Thanks also to the TEDx program group for their guidance and support in our efforts to launch TEDxCalgary.

What is your link to TEDxYYC or TEDxUofC?

There currently are two other committees — TEDxYYC and TEDxUofC — organizing TEDx events for Calgary in 2011 under separate licences.

There is no formal connection between the three events, other than that we're all TEDx licencees and share a passion for TED. That said, we do coordinate aspects of our events with one another in terms of timing and themes, and we're exploring ways that we can hold additional joint events of interest to the Calgary TED-watching community.

The richness of the TEDx program

As part of the amazingly visionary TEDx program, there can be multiple licences granted within a particular geographical area like Calgary. For a city of our size, we experienced an exceptional level of interest in the TEDx program for 2010, and we're pleased to see that this has continued in 2011.

Although it may seem confusing to have multiple events and groups in a single city, this is (to us) an essential part of ensuring that the TEDx process remains vibrant. Each event's organizing committee brings a different interpretation of what ideas are worth sharing, allows people to attend local TEDx events at different times of year, and builds a wider community of people interested to think and act on the ideas shared.

For information on other TEDx events that may be occurring in Calgary (or elsewhere in Alberta) at any particular time, visit the master list of TEDx events globally.

Congratulations to the TEDx Red Deer organizing team! We're excited to welcome another TEDx organizing team to the Alberta-wide community of TEDx events, and are looking forward to their inaugural event in October 2011. Stay tuned to their feed on Twitter (@TEDxRedDeer) for further news as they gear up...

How does the TEDxCalgary event licence work?

Our licence from TEDx allows us to host an event of up to 100 participants. Other TEDx licences can be for smaller, more intimate events at your workplace, school, or home, and some are for larger events (100+ people). For further information on the licence process, please visit the TEDx website.

The format for our event will focus on a mix of locally-selected speakers and a selection of pre-recorded TEDTalks that fit with our event theme. As with all TED/TEDx events, there are strict limits on the length of the speaker presentations in order to ensure that participants are able to engage in deep conversation on the issues.