Bridging The Gap Development Conference - Saturday March 27, 2010
Are you passionate about international development? Curious as to how your daily actions are affecting the world around you? Want to experience examples of problem solving overseas? Feel a connection?
On March 27th, 2010, 350 passionate students and professionals will explore how local actions impact extreme poverty at the 7th annual Engineers Without Borders Bridging the Gap Conference. Held at the Life Sciences Institute on the University of British Columbia Campus, this year's conference will explore our aim to drive change through our work in Canada and in developing communities. With the theme "Local Action to Global Impact: Vision, Action, Voice" professional and student delegates will examine the influence of our choices at home, on the development field, in parliament and in boardrooms.
The attendees will have a full day of discussion, debate, collaboration and learning, with workshops and sessions led by an engaging line-up of speakers.
The conference will close with a keynote address from Dr. Hans Rosling, professor of International Health in Stockholm, Sweden, co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières in Sweden and Director of Gapminder Foundation.
Conference News and Updates
March 14, 2010
The largest international development conference in Western Canada is only TWO WEEKS AWAY with tickets selling fast! The already powerful lineup of speakers and panelists just got more exciting this week, with the confirmation of:
- Réal Lavergne, Manager, Aid Effectiveness and Country Programs Unit, CIDA
- Chris O'Riley, Senior Vice-President, Engineering, Aboriginal Relations and Generation, BC Hydro
- Dennis Howlett, National Coordinator, Make Poverty History
- Anneke Rees, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Vancouver
- James Haga, Director of Advocacy, Engineers Without Borders Canada
- Victoria Smith, Manager of Aboriginal and Sustainable Communities Sector, BC Hydro
Also, check out another one of Hans Rosling's famous TED Talks below. This time, watch Hans use his amazing presentation tools to show how countries are pulling themselves out of poverty. Hans himself goes even further to prove that the seemingly impossible is possible...by swallowing a sword.
March 4, 2010
Lots of updates to the schedule for Bridging The Gap! For details, visit the program page and click on the individual links for each of the sessions. Confirmed organizations for this year's BTG conference include:
- Amnesty International
- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
- Make Poverty History
- Canadian Business Ethics Research Network
- Society for Bangladesh Climate Justice
- Ten Thousand Villages
- Level Ground Trading
More updates to come, so stayed tuned!
February 21, 2010
The BTG team has issued a press release for this year's conference!
Holynde Smiechowski, Conference Chair, talks about her past experiences with BTG: "I remember attending the conference for the first time, not knowing what to expect, and leaving with a dizzying array of emotions, but also with a new found motivation to help create positive change. Bridging the Gap provides a unique opportunity to hear and learn about what is occurring around us locally and globally. I can't wait for others to share in the experience."
For more information and to book an interview, contact:
Ryan Kilpatrick, Conference Promotions
Telephone: 604-638-6895
Email: bridgingthegap@vancouver.ewb.ca