City donating $5,000 to TEDxUNBC

With this contribution, organizers have now raised the needed $29,000 for the trade show and speaker series on September 30th.

Event Curator Grant Bachand is looking forward to hearing from speakers like UHNBC surgeon Dr. Nadine Caron and local pastor Seth Shelley.

“We’ve gone through quite the rigorous process to get these people. They have talent that is amazing to behold. I cried at some of them, to be honest. That’s how good they were and I honestly think that people will be touched after this event.”

No matter your profession, age, or aspiration, Bachand believes there is something for everyone.

“TED attracts people who are creative, people who are looking to the stars, people who have innovative hearts, entrepreneurs, I haven’t met anybody who, when I talk about TED, isn’t excited immediately about it. I wouldn’t say ‘I’m a university student it’s just university students that are excited,’ it’s faculty, it’s tradespeople who want to learn cool ways of doing things,” he says, “TED is such an all encompassing brand that you will see things that you will see things that just excite you to see and you’ll leave that event feeling something.”

TED has specific guidelines for event, including how many tickets can be sold. This is UNBC’s first TEDx event, so Bachand is limited to just 100 tickets and hamstringing their profits. Facing a ticket ceiling like this when trying to oragnize an event and create a legacy fund, Bachand says all sponsorships are crucial.

‘This event has massive expenses to doing it. We are essentially making a television show that could cost thousands of dollars to do so we need those people to make those contributions. This event would not be possible if people didn’t believe in it and I am just so grateful for everybody who’s come on board and supporting it.”

Other sponsors include CNC, which donated $10,000 cash. UNBC is giving $10,000 in kind, covering things like space rentals and IT support.

Bachard adds tickets are about 60% sold out.