Whistler and the Sea to Sky will be well represented on Sept. 12 for the return of TEDxWhistler, a virtual livestream featuring 10 speakers exploring the theme of “legacy: life, living, and how we can all leave our mark,” according to organizers.
“For me, I think legacy is often framed on what someone has left behind or passed down, but I really want to bring it to the forefront for the present moment, and I want everyone to ask ourselves, what is our legacy right now?” said executive producer Anoop Virk.
Set for noon to 5 p.m., the event will be broadcast from the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and will feature a mix of pre-recorded talks, live hosting by local free-skiing legend and environmental activist Mike Douglas, and live performances by the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations.
The speaker lineup is split between local and Canadian figures. On the Sea to Sky side is Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton; Whistler doctor and healthcare advocate Karin Kausky; Lil’wat Nation Cultural Chief and multi-medium artist Kúkwpi7 Gélpcal R.A. Joseph; Squamish Nation Hereditary Chief, wool weaver, and museum curator Chepximiya Siyam’ Janice George; and Whistler first responder and emergency physician Dr. Renata Lewis.
The other speakers are Mr. Morgan, president of OVO Sound, the taste-making Toronto record label representing artists such as Drake, Majid Jordan and Dvsn; award-winning actor, writer, director, producer, slam poet and voiceover artist Omari Newton, who has appeared in TV series such as Blue Mountain State, Continuum and lent his voice to the Black Panther in multiple Marvel animated projects; lawyer, writer, educator and life coach Claire Yeung, the author of The Eighty Year Rule; skeleton athlete and 2010 Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, who went on to co-host the Junos, appear on Oprah, and, since 2013, host The Amazing Race Canada; and author, philanthropist, designer and former host of HGTV’s Love it Or List It Vancouver Jillian Harris.
Virk consulted with numerous local figures and organizations to come up with the lineup, which she said was centred around the idea of representation.
“We really wanted it to be a community initiative,” she said. “We opened up applications and went through every single application that came through, and really wanted the 10 speakers to have representation of education, the arts, science, politics and sports. I think we were successful in doing that.”
TEDx are independent, self-organized events that aim to "bring people together to share a TED-like experience" in a local setting, with the larger TED Conference providing general guidance.
It's the first TEDx event held in Whistler since 2010—although TEDActive, a simulcast complementing the main Vancouver event. was held here in 2014 and 2015.
Tickets for the Sept. 12 broadcast are $49.95, available at tedxwhistler.com. Ticket sales close on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Pique will have more on the event and local speakers in this Thursday’s print edition.
