Getting inspired is easier and closer than you think. Interesting Vancouver brings inspiration to you, by exposing you to the most brilliant and creative people in your community. Now in its ninth year, Interesting Vancouver aims to expand the collective vision of possibility through stories, explorations, and discoveries. This year, they’re bringing out a whole new group of exciting and engaging speakers. New perspectives and great ideas are right next door, all you have to do is get in on the conversation! Here are our 5 top picks of who to check out at this year’s festival:
1. Kelly ‘Clair’ Berge – Finding Purpose with the Paranormal
A mother who spends her nights exploring haunted houses as a paranormal investigator.
Kelly is a single mother and Vocational Councilor, helping Persons with “Diversability” gain employment. Although she is very satisfied in her job and loves helping her clients find meaningful and sustainable careers, her passion has always been the paranormal. And when Kelly recently moved into a new home, this passion sought her out with a vengeance. Hear from Kelly on how although passions sometimes take a backseat in adult life, they often have their way of coming back to find you.
2. Lisa Charleyboy – First Nations Writer and Social Entrepreneur
A First Nations writer who inspires and encourages youth to “dream in Indian”.
Lisa is an exciting and powerful voice in the Canadian Aboriginal Community. She is editor-in-chief of Urban Native Magazine, which focuses on pop culture with an Indigenous twist. She writes and does appearances on TV and radio to both promote her magazine and give her opinion on current Aboriginal issues in Canada. She has been named one of Toronto’s Top Bloggers and one of Canada’s Top Ten Fashion Bloggers. Recently, she has been named by Huffington Post as one of three Aboriginal Millennials to watch and recommended for a Toronto DiverseCity Fellowship for 2013-2014.
3. Vanessa Richards – An acclaimed and experienced Artist finding song in everyday life
A multi-disciplinary artist who created an engaging community from choirs.
Vanessa has a varied history in the arts. As a performer she has worked in music, film, television and theatre. As an artistic director she’s devised public celebrations and arts education programs with The Arts Club Theatre Company, Public Dreams, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Capilano University, Portland Hotel Society and SFU in addition to premier venues in the UK. Vanessa earned an MPhil in Creative Writing from Cardiff University, UK, with poetry and critical works anthologized in the UK, Holland, United States and Canada. Her current focus is finding song in common life. She is the founder of the Woodward’s Community Singers and Creative Together, a song based facilitation process.
4. Tristan Underwood – A Competitive Kite Flyer and Circus Artist who Dances with Dogs
Tristan first picked up a sport kite at the age of 4. Now at the age of 20, he has traveled the world performing. Tristan has been featured on show like Canada’s Got Talent and The Steve Harvey Show and has won multiple titles throughout his competitive career in the American Kite Flyers Association. From 2007-2010, he was the Northwest Indoor Kite Flying Champion. He also loves dogs and has performed in Canine Music Freestyle events and starred in Canine Musical Freestyle Theatrical productions, “Shadows of Eternity” and “Escape the Darkness.”
5. Inder Nerwan – Filmmaker, Advocate, Activist
A videographer who is trying to stop the trophy hunting of bears in Canada.
Inder sheds light on issues and communities both big and small using his medium of film. An alumnus of VFS, Inder is an engaged and active member of the Vancouver Film Community. He created a very well received short doc on artists, entrepreneurs, community, events and phenomenon in Vancouver called INVANCITY. Inder’s work is as political as it is social. Within months of releasing his documentary on how plastic micro beads are negatively affecting our oceans, he garnered the attention of the CBC, CBS, the US Navy and the film continues to be screened by conservation groups around the world. You can check out some of Inder’s work here and here.
Interesting Vancouver is an annual community gathering showcasing the region’s most fascinating people and the way they express their creativity through their hobbies, passions and obsessions. Interesting Vancouver is on Thursday November 10th at SFU Woodward’s at 149 West Hastings St. Tickets can be purchased here. Get more info on the 2016 speakers and the event on the Interesting Vancouver website.
