The eyes of TED are on Vancouver. For the first time in its existence, the annual TED conference has left California for Canada in Vancouver.
TED2014 starts today and runs through Friday at the Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver. The theme for TED2014 is "The Next Chapter." — very appropriate since the conference is in a new location.
Vancouver signed a 2-year deal to host the TED Conference. Whistler will host a satellite event at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
The speakers cover a wide range: some notable speakers include philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates along with Sting and the world's favorite astronaut, Canada's Chris Hadfield.
TED is also offering for the first time to feed a live broadcast at locations around the host city. The feed will be shown on the Jumbotron at Terry Fox Plaza outside BC Place and up at Grouse Mountain. The feed will also be featured at schools, universities, community centers, and libraries. Click here for a full list of locations.
The Vancouver Convention Centre is right near the Waterfront stop on the SkyTrain (Expo and Millennium lines), Canada Line, West Coast Express, and the Seabus. You are right on the water with lovely views of North Vancouver with the mountains in the distance.
The Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism Vancouver estimate a more than $4.5 million boost to the Vancouver economy. But clearly the goal is to showcase the city to a TED-type audience.
“What our theory is that when these world billionaires, philanthropists, engineers and scientists come and see Canada, they will have a very warm view of what it offers as a business community,” said Greg Klassen, the senior vice-president of marketing for the tourism commission.
Hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver helped put the city on the map for some. Others have realized for some time that Vancouver has a lot to offer, even before the Winter Olympics came to the city.
The typical rain for Vancouver is forecast for the first 3 days of TED2014 but drier weather is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Forecast highs will be in the upper 40s to 50 (7-10 C).
The audience members will likely be inside for the events, though the food trucks scene in downtown Vancouver would be worth a break to stretch your legs.
For a program guide, click here.
The TED Conference has been in Palm Springs, CA for the last 5 years and in Monterey, CA from 1984-2008. TED certainly could have had its pick for where to hold the conference. And Vancouver won that opportunity.
This year's TED event is sold out. If you are thinking about TED2015, the theme is Truth and Dare. TED2015 runs from March 16–20, 2015 and the price is $8,500 (U.S. currency).
Map credit: Google // Logo: TED2014
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