If you share a passion for ideas or are simply looking for inspiration, you have to attend a TEDx event like I did last weekend.
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of Ideas Worth Spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events that brings people together to share a TED-like experience.
So who's TED?
TED isn't a person. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.
Still confused?
Perhaps, watching a TED Talk video will flesh it all out...
still not convinced?
When you attend a TED event, not only do you get to listen to incredible ideas and inspirational stories but you also have the opportunity to discuss your own with like minded individuals.
The fact that TEDxVictoria was sold out and included so many youth, gives me faith that our future is in good hands.
TED is a great start at inspiring the masses and starting the conversation but how do we turn those ideas and inspirations into reality?
This is where I hope the Hub comes into the picture.
The Hub identifies itself as a social enterprise with the ambition to inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world. The Hub is a global community of people from every profession, background and culture working at 'new frontiers' to tackle the world's most pressing social, cultural and environmental challenges. It believes that there is no absence of good ideas in the world. Couldn't agree more!
The Hub believes the problem is a crisis of access, scale, resources and impact. So it felt vital to create places around the world for accessing space, resources, connections, knowledge, experience and investment. The Hub has been working across five continents to create places for people who change things. This is the ambition. The Hub set out to create places that borrow from the best of a member's club, an innovation agency, a serviced office and a think-tank to create a very different kind of innovation environment. Places with all the tools and trimmings needed to grow and develop new ventures. Places to access experience, knowledge, finance and markets. And above all, places for experience and encounter, full of diverse people doing amazing things. These places are called Hubs, and Hub Ottawa is set to open very soon.
Hopefully word gets out on initiatives like TED and Hubs, and we turn more great ideas and thoughts into reality.
Time to head to the Colounge Canyon where you'll find the 250 meter (820 ft.) zip line. There's no time to think, let alone turn around. It's time to get down to business. Hang on tight and jump.
Wow, that was fun! Time to cross a cable footbridge back to this side of the canyon for the next part of our adventurous journey. The via ferrata (Italian for "road of iron) is quite literally an iron trail along the prehistoric rock face of the canyon.
The Via Ferrata runs 500 metres up the gorge towards the waterfall
but not before another short zip line.
You walk around the corner to find a 46 meter cable tightrope over the chasm. Oh yeah!
And then it's time to ascend the steepest and sheerest section of rock wall
where you get a spectacular view of the waterfall
But there's still one more zip line to tackle and this time you get a running start! This one crosses high above the canyon and is 100 meters long by 35 meters high. Simply amazing!
Ziplining and via ferrata'ing at Chutes Colounge was a lot of fun and I didn't soil my pants!
It's 5:15 on a Saturday morning and I'm jumping out of bed with excited anticipation.
They say spring is the best time to go whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River... and the Spring of 2011 is promising not to disappoint.
Combine the Class I - IV rapids with the snow melt and the record rainfalls this spring, and we're slated for an epic rafting adventure as we jumped into our raft towards the world famous Rocher Fendu rapids of the Ottawa River.
If you don't already know, I hate getting wet. And let's not talk about my thoughts on head dunking. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that my swimming skills aren't the greatest.
Yet here I am, up for the challenge!
No better way to learn how to swim than to be exposed to a potentially life threatening situation, right?
First, a look of a map of the rapids on this section of the Ottawa River...
As we approach the first rapids of the day, McCoys Chute, our guide tells us this is just a warm-up for things to come... Tell that to the huge wall of water crashing into my mouth!
Next on the list was The Lorne... after a short briefing from the shoreline outlining the Bus Eater, it was back on the raft to give this bad boy a shot as we show the mighty Ottawa River who's boss! As we approach, our raft started rotating and we were soon heading backwards into Lorne... not a pleasant feeling! It's at about this time when I start wondering what have I gotten myself into... Luckily, we managed to get back on track and went on our first rollercoaster ride of the day!
Get ready to swim! What? Not if I can help it! Well, I guess I couldn't help it because one second, I'm paddling away, and the next, bamm, crashing waves of water hitting me, and the next thing I know, all I see is dark brown water....Which way is up? Shouldn't it be getting brighter??? Time to flip around.... How long have I been under? It feels like an eternity.... So this is how my life story ends... Ahh, I see light! It's getting a little brighter! Thank you PFD! Hmmm, where's my raft? Which way did they say to swim? Which way is right? Or was it left? Oh, I see a couple of people floating nearby? More rapids approaching! Oh boy! Oh wait, a raft is approaching. They look friendly.. why can't I get closer??? I'm trying to swim but I'm not moving! The other floaters are closing in on the raft... why aren't I? Hello new friend, yes, I would like to grab your T-handle. Thanks buddy. You just saved my life! Back on board but more rapids are quickly approaching. The paddle's back in the water. Time to get back to work... but the guide shouts out, "Hey you, up front, stop paddling and just hang on tight!"
Oh, what a day! There is so much more I can talk about like the other rapids, people, food, and facilities but I'll leave that up to you to discover on your own when you head out for a rafting trip on the dynamic Ottawa River. Thanks RiverRun Rafting for making my first whitewater experience one I won't forget anytime soon.
Here are just a few of the cabins you'll come across while traversing through Gatineau Park.
Herridge and Healey Cabins are open to the public throughout the day and are great places to have a snack while warming up next to the wood stove.
Herridge Cabin
Healey Cabin
No sleepovers are allowed in those two cabins but they are allowed at other places like The Pines Cabin and the Wanakiwin Yurt, if you're lucky enough to get yourself a reservation.
The Pines Cabin
Wanakiwin Yurt
The yurt piqued my interest... maybe I'll rent it and snowshoe out to it under a full moon!
Winter in Ottawa wouldn't be complete with at least one skate on the Rideau Canal, the world's largest skating rink. Here are some pics from my most recent skate:
Whispered about as the spot for local expressionists to bare it all, the area surrounding Meech Lake, has amongst its natural peaks and valleys, a little hidden gem...
The Thomas "Carbide" Wilson Ruins add an eery dimension to their peaceful surroundings.
Surprisingly, the ruins have not been cordoned off by the National Capital Commission, and for good reason, as they provide an intriguing look back at the history of Gatineau Park.
