Raised and schooled in Germany, Switzerland and England, Robert L. Peters is a humanist and lifelong environmentalist. He is active internationally as a design consultant, strategist, policy advisor, writer, juror, lecturer, and expert speaker. We are delighted that Robert will speak at TEDxManitoba on February 9th, 2012.

What motivates you?

I’m motivated by the prospect of being able to make a positive difference in the world. I have a vision of a world that is peaceful, balanced and equitable for all, a colourful world in which diversity is celebrated and differences are embraced, a world in which stimulated human beings live creative, thoughtful lives in harmony with nature, a world in which faith rises above fear, and abundance alleviates suffering.

What do you do for a living and why?

I’m a graphic designer (aka image engineer, information architect, communication designer, and sometimes surrogate dreamer)—a profession that exerts a considerable influence on how the world identifies itself, conveys information, understands and acts. At CIRCLE (the consultancy I co-founded in 1976), our mission is to design—to use our collective intellect, talents and abilities to serve of clients, projects and initiatives that make a positive difference in shaping the world we envision. I define design as the “application of intent.”

Which TED talk do you think everyone should watch?

Angela Morelli’s The Global Water Footprint of Humanity

Why are you excited to speak at TEDxManitoba?

TED events offer an excellent platform for sharing important ideas with an audience that is receptive and willing to pass on important concepts, information and resources. My story of Solace House has been published internationally, however this “Made in Manitoba” story has never been shared in the form of a presentation here in this province.

What is your idea worth spreading?

Solace House, the low-energy passive-solar home I designed and built in the woods east of Winnipeg (and that I have now been living in for 30 years without a furnace) is an example of how we can move from being “consumers” to being “conservers.”

My goal in designing and building Solace House (and now in sharing that story 30-some years later) was/is to embrace simple principles and best practices of energy conservation, self reliance and sustainability—by incorporating the overriding goals of respecting existing knowledge, drawing as little as possible from the ecosystem and building with quality to outlast future generations.

With the world population now at 7 billion (up from 4.4 billion in 1979 when I bought the land and started building Solace House) I believe that dramatic shifts in human activity—from “consumers” to “conservers”—will be necessary for our species to maintain a viable presence on this stressed planet. My hope is that sharing my story of Solace House at TEDxManitoba will help inspire others to take their own actions in this regard.

Matt Henderson teaches history, law, and economics. He’s keenly interested in social justice and inquiry-based teaching. Matt is passionate about inspiring young people to synthesize prior knowledge with the collective knowledge they create in learning communities. TEDxManitoba is thrilled that Matt will take the stage at our February, 2012 event.

What motivates you?

I’m motivated when I see learners do really cool things that they have traditionally been told they can’t do. I am equally motivated when people tell me I can’t do things.

What do you do for a living and why?

I teach high school law, economics, and history at St. John’s-Ravenscourt. I do it because it doesn’t feel like work or a “living.” Exploring big ideas and deconstructing them with young people is the best thing in the world to do. Students don’t have the cynicism that most of us do, and it’s refreshing to look at who we are through a fresh lens.

Which TED talk do you think everyone should watch?

William Kamkwamba’s Building a Windmill

Why are you excited to speak at TEDxManitoba?

I’m really excited to speak at TEDxManitoba so I can hear the other speakers! I think this is just a brilliant opportunity to share ideas and meet people that perhaps we wouldn’t otherwise meet. I’m also excited that some people might think my ideas are relevant, too.

What is your idea worth spreading?

What if we were honest with kids and ourselves about the disconnect between the world and some of what we’re teaching them? We’ve created an unsustainable model, and we really need to start fessing up to kids: these social, political, and economic constructs don’t compute. How do we start to engage kids so they can challenge these norms and start building a sustainable world that reflects equity and our connection to each other? Instead of teaching kids the way things are, maybe we should teach them how things were and where we might go from here.

Aisha Alfa is a comedian, motivational speaker, life coach, actor and host of various live and filmed events.

“I wear many hats,” says Aisha. “That’s hard with hair like mine!”

After a life of soccer and world travel, she decided to come home to Winnipeg to start her business Alfa Life Coaching and truly mould a fulfilling life. TEDxManitoba is delighted to have Aisha on stage at our 2012 event.

What motivates you?

The overwhelming sense that every moment is the only moment we have motivates me! I have recently begun to realize how amazing every breath, every laugh, every thought and every action is. It sounds simple, but when I begin to think about life, it washes over me like an incomprehensible flood. It’s beautiful and fleeting! I had taken it for granted for so long, and when I began to embrace that it was mine, I felt motivated like never before. We are all just a collection of moments that expire, whether we use those moments or not. I use every moment possible.

What do you do for a living and why?

I live with intention for a living. It’s great—I’m really good at it! My practice gives me the opportunity to do motivational speaking, stand-up comedy, hosting, acting and coaching. My jobs are an extension of who I am, so it’s really fabulous to “go to work” everyday!

Which TED talk do you think everyone should watch?

Charlie Todd’s Shared experience of absurdity

Why are you excited to speak at TEDxManitoba?

An initiative born to share, create and engage is one of absolute value. TEDxManitoba is like the Olympics of beautiful ideas, where people come to experience and to bathe in information, ideas and innovation. It’s a beautiful gig, and to be a part of it is a wild honour.

What is your idea worth spreading?

Failure! YAY! If we embrace “failure” just as we do success—if we choose to eliminate the stigma, judgement and shame of it—we’ll see it as a gift that offers valuable knowledge and insight. Failure and success are equally beneficial, and both help us to be more creative, innovative, open, loving and generous. Our society would benefit, our community would thrive, and our hearts would grow warmer with a little more “failure.”

TEDxManitoba is ecstatic that Hazel Borys will take the stage at our 2012 event. The Managing Principal of PlaceMakers, Hazel is an electrical engineer with an MBA. She organizes the SmartCode Workshop and Placemaking@Work webinar education series. Hazel guides governments through zoning reform to allow walkable, mixed-use, compact, sustainable places to develop. She helps developers build under form-based codes.

What motivates you?

Listening, finding common threads, weaving them together—with problem solving and design—to build community.

What do you do for a living and why?

I work toward a sustainable urbanism—character-rich places where people can walk to most of their daily needs. At PlaceMakers we feel that great communities are nurtured into greatness. Like gardens, they are the products of intention, of thoughtful design. And before design, of understanding what landscape and culture inspire. PlaceMakers is organized to listen to context, to nurture character, and to enable healthy growth in collaboration with locals.

I do this because I want my son to be able to enjoy as good of a life as I’ve led. The trajectory of our economic, social and environmental realities will make that unlikely unless we make some big changes. Our patterns of development over the past few decades are leading us into diminishing supplies of land and natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas. On top of that, our auto-centric tendencies are creating a crisis in health, along with diminished social capital. Worst of all, we’re generating 24 metric tons of CO2 per person per year—clearly not helping climate change.

Which TED talk do you think everyone should watch?

Ellen Dunham-Jones’ Retrofitting suburbia

Why are you excited to speak at TEDxManitoba?

Manitoba is one of the most delightful places I’ve ever lived. The communities are strong and diverse. The people are full of ideas and energy. The arts and culture are rich and deep. I’ve only lived here for three-and-a-half years, and feel like every time I give a talk here, that the work we’re doing internationally connects with and is enlivened by local insights, and we all move forward together.

What is your idea worth spreading?

The principal barrier to greening where we live is how we live. Misguided transportation planning, home and infrastructure financing systems and zoning practices incentivize sprawling, disconnected lifestyles that are increasingly unaffordable, unfulfilling and unhealthy. To reverse sprawl’s unintended consequences, we should incentivize compact, diverse, transit-oriented development. The foundation of sustainable urbanism is neighborhood, district and regional design, with high-performance infrastructure and green architecture layered upon that base.

North America comprises about 5% of the world’s population, uses 25% of the world’s oil, produces 22% of global warming CO2, and owns 33% of the world’s autos. Most of this has to do with the laws that govern how we design our cities and towns. This talk is about how to change those laws.

Have you applied to be one of our 100 in person guests on February 9th? It’s free, and we only have 3 simple questions for you. Applications close on November 27th. Apply now!

Michael Redhead Champagne, aka North End MC, describes himself as “a 24-year-old Cree guy.” Hailing from Shamattawa, Michael was born and raised in the North End of Winnipeg. By night, Michael organizes AYO! (Aboriginal Youth Opportunities)—a youth-led anti-gang organization committed to breaking stereotypes and creating opportunities in the community. MC is also active in the community serving on several boards and committees, including North End Community Renewal Corporation, Mount Carmel Clinic, United Way of Winnipeg’s Aboriginal Relations Council, and the 595 Prevention Teem Peer Secretariat. TEDxManitoba is delighted that Michael will take the stage at our 2012 event.

What motivates you?

I’m motivated by injustice. As a young Cree person, the injustice I see around me every day can be overwhelming sometimes. But more than the injustice, I’m motivated by the potential that our young people hold, and by the firm and unwavering belief that when we stand together, we can move mountains. I have seen this potential realized in many of the young people I know and love, which is why I can speak so strongly about it. I’m empowered by the youth I work with, and in turn, I’m motivated when I get to watch them be successful, to realize and share their own gifts.

What do you do for a living and why?

I’m an occupational health and safety presenter in my day job. But in the evenings, I volunteer with community coalitions. I do this kind of work because I believe that armed with the right role models and the right information, our community of Aboriginal youth is unstoppable. I do this work because I believe that these young people will take the words and the example I share, and they’ll up the ante and continue to fight for their identities, their families and their communities.

Which TED talk do you think everyone should watch?

Mark Bezos’ A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter

Why are you excited to speak at TEDxManitoba?

I’m excited to speak because I want to bust stereotypes. I want to be able to share my example as someone who survived the child welfare system, the inner city of Winnipeg, life as a young Aboriginal man—and I am still standing and smiling today. I’m excited to be able to share some of my thoughts in a very accessible and internationally renowned forum. I’m excited to share the things that our little anti-gang has achieved in the short year-and-a-half we’ve existed.

What is your idea worth spreading?

There is a common misconception in society that the dominant culture must “do” something to the Aboriginal people and youth to “save” them. This is a colonizer’s attitude, and it’s accepted and perpetuated within the media, the education system, social work and the justice systems. In our AYO group, the young people already have many of the skills needed to turn around the negative realities they face on a daily basis. They have the leadership, the dexterity and the technological skill to take over right now as leaders in their communities. We believe that when young people are provided with love, positive role models and opportunity, they can and will successfully provide a “fresh” and sustainable alternative to current methods of community action. We want to share our example. We’re young Aboriginal people that have faced the challenges and systemic abuse that plague our nations (colonization, child exploitation, gangs, suicide, violence etc.) and have survived. We’ve learned to take these inequities, and through relationships and supporting one another in positive choices, we have been able to leave lasting impacts on our community.

Have you applied to be one of our 100 in person guests on February 9th? It’s free, and we only have 3 simple questions for you. Applications close on November 27th. Apply now!