TVO’s – The Agenda with Steve Paikin, Here in Waterloo!
Yesterday I was involved in the Agenda Camp hosted by TVO’s The Agenda. Over 100 people were in attendance and we spent the day in discussion sessions using the “Open Space” forum. Waterloo was the fifth stop in their Agenda Camp show- Windsor, Saulte St. Marie, Kingston, Thunder Bay and Waterloo.
There were participants from all sectors of our community and of special note, Minister John Wilkinson, the Minister of Research and Innovation attended and was very well received.
I found the day to be an incredible experience and sat in on many discussions. I also had opportunities to network with people who came from all over Ontario and who are very interested and intrigued by our city-the theme of the day was:
As Ontario’s industrial sector comes apart at the seams, what can a province built on the sweat of its brow learn from a city built on the strength of its brains?
During an Open Space forum, participants create the topics. Everyone is invited to come forward with a question they would like to discuss and also have to lead in the discussion. These questions were posted and participants then get to pick and choose which topic is of interest to them. You can move from discussion group to others, you are totally independant and free to participate in any forum you wish. Great concept.
I attended several – the first one was on Quality of Life-How can the common elements convert to economic innovation.
Others I participated in: Toronto, Is it good for Waterloo and vice versa; New Canadians and the innovative economy; The three T’s of economic development for KW; What is a new economy.
You can access the discussion results on the TVO website: www.tvo.org and then click ointo the Agenda site. The producers of the show were highly impressed with the fact that everyone in the audience had heard of Twitter and that many people brought their laptops. They kept remarking on what a tech savvy group it was! It was an absolutely incredible day.
Tonight they are here in Waterloo and will be airing the show live at 8:00 pm from the CIGI building-with a very exciting panel – Jim Balsillie, Richard Florida, Minister John Wilkinson and Sheila Block. I hope you will be able to watch the show and hear what they have to say about Waterloo’s Innovation Economy.
