tedxchilliwackA lot of us have heard of the Ted Conferences, where some of the leading thinkers in our society give short talks on science, culture, innovation, and other topics.

Now a group wants to create their own spin on the conference with an event called TEDx Chilliwack.

Lead organizer Raymond Cauchi says it’s an independent event.

“We’re not bringing TED here, we’re just producing a TED-like event, or in the spirit of TED for Chilliwack. TED for example has a mandate of world wide speakers and world wide invitations, we do not. We have a local community focus.”

Cauchi says he will be looking for speakers who are both inspiring and empowering.

He says people in the community can nominate speakers as well.

Cauchi says it will be free to attend, but people will have to apply to be in the audience.

“We want the people who come to be people who are dedicated to community, who are interested in being challenged and seeing innovative things, and who are willing to continue conversations that they start at the event and bring those conversations into the real world. Because that’s how change happens, people get an idea and the idea spreads and people get motivated and passionate about it.”

TEDxChilliwack will happen some time in late February, the group is trying to nail down a venue.

You can find all the information HERE