TEDxWaterloo 2012: DIS CONNECTED, March 21st

Ticket Application portal is now closed. If you applied to attend, email notifications were sent on February 13, 2012 with further information. Thank you.

To read why we have an application process, take a look to the right for further information –>

If you can’t join us live for the 2012 event, participate virtually at one of the livestreaming locations. Click here for more info.

Applications are now closed!

We review all applications based on the answers to the questions. Please expect an email on or about February 13 that will indicate your acceptance status. If you are accepted to attend TEDxWaterloo 2012, you will have until February 23 11:59 pm to purchase your ticket for the event through the online purchase link. If you do not purchase your ticket within this allotted time frame, we will release your spot at TEDxWaterloo to the next person on the waiting list. Please visit http://tedxwaterloo.com/tickets-for-tedxwaterloo-2012/ for more information. Please do not hesitate to contact us @ friends@tedxwaterloo.com should you have any questions or would like to alter the application after submission.

Why does TEDxWaterloo have an application process to attend?

TEDxWaterloo is bound by a license which permits us to use the TEDx brand. TEDxWaterloo is an independent event, licensed by but not run by TED. TEDxWaterloo is entirely volunteer-run and our team devotes literally months of their lives to this, purely out of passion to create something for the community. It is truly a labour of love, and we have received tremendous support in our effort from individuals, organizations and businesses around the region. There are many guidelines as well as recommendations that TED provides to organizers to help create a TED-like experience at TEDx events. Among these, TED encourages prospective TEDx attendees to fill out applications forms in order to showcase their commitment to attending the event.

Like our curated speaker program, our participants (audience) are also selected based on a process that takes into account only the answers provided to the questions asked on the application form. It is important to note that our team is not tasked with evaluating individuals, but their applications. We take the time to review all of the applications and offer people admission based primarily on their enthusiasm and the care that they took in filling out the five questions on the form. Without any more information than what is provided, this is not a review of people’s background, achievements, or stature in the community. Rather it is a measure of desire to attend and engage, as best we can determine from their answers to these simple questions. What is most important is that there is a wide continuum of experience and engagement that we look for - some people will have more, a lot will have less: but it is a "spark" we are seeking from people who are interested, not a list of accomplishments or talents. You don't need to have seen every TED talk or attended any other TEDx events, you may have never heard of our speakers or spent the last year just figuring out how to make ends meet or dodging your homework - or all of the above - if you would like to join us and bring your energy and passion to this event, please fill out the application.

The questions we ask are:

1) How do you spend your day?
2) Tell us how you are involved in your community.
3) What do you hope to get from 2012 TEDxWaterloo DIS CONNECTED event?
4) What else would you like to share with us?
5) List at least one website that will help us understand you better (such as your blog, your company's website, LinkedIn profile, Tumblr, your Flickr account, writing, research papers, C.V., films and book )

Did you receive an invite?

After the selection process is complete, by mid February 2012, we invite via email, those applicants that were selected for participation. Upon accepting the invitation (via a link), they will be able to purchase a ticket for the day/evening event ($45), also via an online link. This ticket includes all sessions and two catered meals. It is not transferable. NOTE: Keep a copy of your ticket as you will be asked to show it at registration. Also, we ask you bring ID that shows your name.

Ticket fee

We do not turn away participants who cannot pay the full fee. We have a sliding scale of fees for those people unable to pay the full amount. More information on this will be included in any invitation sent. Alternately, if you would like to make a donation of $45 in addition to your ticket fee of $45, you can help other individuals attend TEDxWaterloo who may not be able to afford the full ticket fee. Each year, generous members of our community gladly participate in this "donate a ticket". This option will be be available on the Purchase Ticket form for accepted individuals.

Didn’t get an invite? There is a waiting list...and livestreaming!

We are sorry we are unable to accommodate everyone who wants to attend TEDxWaterloo 2012: DIS CONNECTED. We will be offering remote viewing parties around the region and livestreaming the event. There is also an Accepted Waiting List, that you can be placed on, in the event that some people change their minds about attending. In addition, we have TEDxWaterloo Salons and TEDxWaterloo Adventures throughout 2011 and 2012 that you might be interested in. We also encourage you to apply again for next year.

Latest TEDxWaterloo Tweets...

“RT @TEDxWaterloo: Have you heard? We're launching TEDxWaterloo Teachers! Check out the blog post by @renjie to find out more! http://t.co/R8h1nQVP”
-WaterlooOECTA, 1 hour ago

“RT @TEDxWaterloo: Have you heard? We're launching TEDxWaterloo Teachers! Check out the blog post by @renjie to find out more! http://t.co/R8h1nQVP”
-ignite_parents, 1 hour ago

“RT @TEDxWaterloo: Have you heard? We're launching TEDxWaterloo Teachers! Check out the blog post by @renjie to find out more! http://t.co/R8h1nQVP”
-AMparentvoice, 1 hour ago