Last night a crowd braved the wind, cold and chance of thunderstorms to attend PKN 19, which was held in Churchill Square to the sound of City Hall’s bells and the downtown buzz.  The first official event of NextGen Month was hosted by Jeff Chase and Jodi Goebel who filled the stage with energy and laughter, and the audience was also treated to a few words of introduction by Mayor Iveson.

David Rauch kicked things off with a presentation about some of the colourful pianos you may have seen around the city for his #OpenPianoYeg project. (A brief request – if it is raining and you see a Popup Piano that is vulnerable to the elements; please cover it with one of the provided tarps!)

Jason Darrah urged Edmontonians to allow our government room to try new things. Innovation and public engagement go hand and hand, and they only work when everyone is involved.

Michael Ross, of zombie survival fame showed us how “enginerding” can touch all aspects of quotidian life and as an area of study is open to anyone with “an unhealthy sense of curiosity”

Chris Floden, winner of NextGen’s Dark MAEAT event and founding member of Yegbees spoke to the crowd about Colony Collapse Disorder, the negative impact that reduced pollination has on food production and the role of urban beekeeping in communities.  Attend one of the Yegbees field days to learn more.

Wrestling as modern myth? We’re all believers now after listening to Mike Kendrick’s argument that this typically perceived low-brow sport pits good against evil and reflects cultural values as a present day morality play.

On the flip side, Omar Reyes discussed the importance of silence in our lives, something that is increasingly rare and he purports, we increasingly need.

Ian O’Donnell gave a resounding message against complacency, and highlighted architectural projects that reflect earnestness in design

Peter Woytiuk took us through his past year as an EV owner in Edmonton. We heard an objective and balanced review of driving an electric car in this winter city (it will still work in -30 degree weather!) and expressed his hope that the conversation surrounding electric vehicles will continue.

Nola Kilmartin painted a beautiful picture of what public space can look like and how to make common cityscape sights like parking garages and intersections into works of art.

And to wrap up, Blue Knox shared her personal journey which has brought her to value smallness and locality in civic action.

It was an informative and entertaining evening and we can’t wait to see what the rest of NextGen Month holds!

Photography by David Rauch

Edmonton’s NextGen is excited to introduce you to the presenters for Pecha Kucha Night 19 (PKN 19):

• David Rauch - #OpenPianoYEG: Popup Public Pianos
• Jason Darrah - Civic Engagement and the Innovation Nation
• Michael Ross, Structural Engineer-in-Training - Extreme Enginerding
• Chris Floden, Founding Member of Yegbees - Urban Beekeeping: Waiting for Edmonton
• Mike Kendrick - Modern Myth in Professional Wrestling
• Omar Reyes, Associate Pastor, City Centre Church - Romancing Silence
• Ian O’Donnell - The Importance of Being Earnest
• Peter Woytiuk - A Year In The Life Of A YEG EV
• Nola Kilmartin, Principal Planner, City of Edmonton - Building Around, Within, Above and Below: A Push for the Extraordinary
• Blue Knox, Co-Chair Alberta Not-for-Profit Case Competition, Managing Editor The Wanderer Online Magazine - On Being Small

If you haven’t already, you can purchase your digital tickets online here.

We’ve partnered with Edmonton Pride Festival Society and are embracing the outdoors, come rain or come shine! Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria also returns for PKN 19 with gift cards for all ticket holders.

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014
Time: Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Presentations begin at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
Cost: $17 or $15 with student I.D. + taxes.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #yegpkn.

PKN 19 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular by worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture. More than 200 presentations have been given at Edmonton PKNs to date on wide-ranging topics, from donairs to lighting up Edmonton’s bridges and everything in between.

PKN 19 is sponsored by: City of Edmonton, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Graphos, Stantec and Klein Dytham.

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat”, Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. It rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org

Edmonton’s NextGen is excited to present Pecha Kucha Night 19 (PKN 19):

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014

Time: Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Presentations begin at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton

Cost: $17 or $15 with student I.D. + taxes.

Buy Tickets: Purchase your digital tickets online

We’ve partnered with Edmonton Pride Festival Society and are embracing the outdoors, come rain or come shine!

PKN 19 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular by worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture. More than 200 presentations have been given at Edmonton PKNs to date on wide-ranging topics, from donairs to lighting up Edmonton’s bridges and everything in between. The presenter line-up for PKN 19 will be announced shortly.

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria also returns for PKN 19 with gift cards for all ticket holders.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #yegpkn.

PKN 19 is sponsored by: City of Edmonton, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Graphos, Stantec and Klein Dytham.

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat”, Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. It rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org

About Edmonton’s NextGen
Formed in 2006, Edmonton’s NextGen is an initiative of the City of Edmonton that is focused on creating a city that attracts and gives a voice to the next generation in the life and growth of Edmonton’s communities. NextGen is a hub for connecting people, places, community and ideas. Through events, leadership opportunities and professional development, NextGen fosters young leaders and supports initiatives of interest to the next generation.

You saw our posts and thought to yourself “Pecha Kucha will be the PERFECT time to share my love of….” and then the smoke detector went off because your dinner was burning. Or did you start working on a presentation but got so engrossed in the latest episode of Game of Thrones (can you believe who died in the last episode?!) that you didn’t finish.

It’s okay!

Because we are still accepting submissions for Pecha Kucha Night 19! Happening June 5, 2014 in Sir Winston Churchill Square, this is your chance to present your amazing incredibly fantastic idea to some of Edmonton’s most engaged and creative young people. Some of the most recently presented topics ranged from donairs to nanotechnology – we just want to hear what you’re passionate about!

Just submit your presentation here, using our handy form. The deadline for submissions is May 8, and we’ll review them all in the following week. Can’t wait to see them all in June!

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat,” Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. Presentations consist of 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org.

About Edmonton’s NextGen
Formed in 2006, Edmonton’s NextGen, an initiative of the City of Edmonton, is focused on creating a city that attracts and gives a voice to the next generation in the life and growth of Edmonton’s communities. NextGen is a hub for connecting people, places, community and ideas. Through events, leadership opportunities and professional development, NextGen fosters young leaders and supports initiatives of interest to the next generation.

Pecha Kucha Night 19 | Call For Presenters

Are you feeling inspired? Have you had a spark of genius lately? Share it with us – and 700 others – at the next Pecha Kucha! Now is your opportunity to present your ideas to some of Edmonton’s most engaged and creative young people. Edmonton’s NextGen is currently accepting presentation submissions for Pecha Kucha Night 19 to be held on June 5, 2014 in Churchill Square. More than 200 presentations have been given at Edmonton Pecha Kucha Nights, and most recently some of the topics ranged from donairs to nanotechnology, and everything in between.

If you’re interested, you can submit your presentation using our handy form!. Deadline for submissions is May 8 and will be reviewed the following week.

While you’re waiting to hear from us, you can prepare yourself by checking out our 10 steps to a great Pecha Kucha presentation.

What is Pecha Kucha?

Drawing its name from the Japanese term for “the sound of chit chat”, Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. It rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.
For more information, visit pechakucha.org

Watch archived footage of Pecha Kucha Night 18 (PKN 18), which took place on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Metro Cinema at the Garneau Theatre.
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Edmonton’s NextGen is pleased to present Pecha Kucha Night 18 (PKN 18), taking place on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Metro Cinema at the Garneau Theatre. PKN 18 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture.
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Edmonton’s NextGen presents Pecha Kucha Night 16 | Sweet 16 on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the Citadel’s Maclab Theatre. Tickets are on sale now via the Citadel Box Office, charge by phone at 780-425-1820 or online. Tickets are $15 for students (with I.D.) and $17 for adults (plus taxes). Doors and bar open at 6:30 pm, with presentations beginning at 7:30 pm.

PKN 16 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular by worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture. More than 150 presentations have been given at Edmonton Pecha Kucha Nights to date on wide-ranging topics, from lighting up Edmonton’s bridges to in vitro meat and everything in between.

PKN 16 Presentations include:

• Emerson Csorba – Co-Founder, Smart | Make Something for Single Mothers
• Myles Curry – Marketing Coordinator, Waste Management Services at the City of Edmonton | Grasscycling & Community Based Social Marketing
• Mark Connolly – Host, CBC News Edmonton | Downtown Story
• Dan Jacob – Co-Founder, Urban Pulse | The Future of Civic Engagement
• Andrew Whistance-Smith – Sculptor of Teeth, Ardent Dental Centre | What’s In A Smile?
• Alistar Henning & Gary Garrison | McCauley Then and Now
• Anna McRobbie – Co-Founder, Mosaic Minds | Open Space Technology & Unconferences.
• Mara Erickson – Communications Director, Operation Grassland Community| Conservation Caravan: Going Beyond the BBQ
• Matthew Stepanic – Editor, Glass Buffalo Literary Magazine | Mythic Power
• Kuen Tang – Teacher, Graphic Designer, Comic Book Letterer, Adventurer | The Ha Ling Project

*Presenters are listed in the order in which they will appear.

Edmonton’s NextGen is proud to partner with Guru Digital Arts College on a unique video projection art installation designed especially for PKN 16. Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria also returns with gift cards for all ticket holders.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #yegpkn.

PKN 16 is sponsored by: Capital Power Corporation, City of Edmonton, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Graphos, Klein Dytham and Northlands.