Word Camp Victoria 2013 Presentation: Blogging to Build Community, Online and Off

I’m honoured to be speaking at the fifth Word Camp Victoria on January 12th, 2013. It’s a labour of love for Paul Holmes and a way for the community of WordPress enthusiasts and developers to give back. When I approached blogging in the mid 2000s I couldn’t imagine having enough to say. Then I started using Twitter in April 2009, posting tweets of interest to me - mainly regarding the performing arts and community building initiatives in … [Read more...]

Building Resilient Networks, Online and Off, talk from IdeaWave 2011

From a talk given at Idea Wave 2011: Building Resilient Networks, Online and Off, in the 21st Century.  Thanks to Kris Constable for continuing to provide a platform for critical thinkers to exchange ideas. Today I got to thinking about social media, connection and community. How the nature of technology has changed the way we think about community but has not necessarily made it easier to maintain the connections needed to maintain resilient … [Read more...]

Word Camp Victoria 2012 Presentation: disclosures, attribution and copyright

I’m excited to be presenting, with Brenda Johima,  at WordCamp 2012 on the topic of: disclosures, attribution and copyright. In the ever evolving realm of social media and the internet, content is created and shared. Now that we’re blogging, how do we credit the original creator? Do we have the right to use the image or written copy? Does our audience really need to know if we are paid to write a post, or received free tickets … [Read more...]

Social Media Camp Victoria 2011 #smcv11

It's a week later and I'm still processing Social Media Camp 2011, #SMCV11, held at the Victoria Conference Centre on June 3rd and 4th. Exhilarating, sharing, connecting, community, fun, generosity, gratitude - these are a few of the words that come to mind when trying to explain my experiences for outsiders. When we live in the "social media bubble" we forget, at times, that there are people who do not know what a blog is, let alone social … [Read more...]

MISA BC April 28 -29 Nanaimo BC

I've made some amazing connections since signing up for Twitter on April 8 2009. These connections happen with incredible synchronicity, and leap-frogging.  Thus it was for Jason Birch and I. Jason works in IT for the City of Nanaimo, his spouse is francophone - this was actually our first "linkage". We share a passion for community, and for "open".  Jason invited me to speak to the spring MISA BC (Municipal Information Systems Association of … [Read more...]

Pecha Kucha Night 4 Victoria BC, Generational Knowledge Transfer

Here’s the presentation that Jaryd Zinkewich and I did at Pecha Kucha Night 4, Victoria BC, November 25 2010.   From our Pecha Kucha introduction: “Jaryd Zinkewich and Janis La Couvée originally met through Twitter and Social Media Club, and discovered, despite several decades of age difference, that they shared many of the same values and ideas concerning community, connection and engagement. They worked together on Twestival … [Read more...]

Community Engagement – Talk at #smcv10 Social Media Camp, Victoria BC October 3 2010

I had the opportunity recently to speak at Social Media Camp #smcv10 in Victoria BC. Social Media Camp is the brain child of Paul Holmes, Idea Zone, and Chris Burdge, B West Interactive. I've known Paul and Chris since early 2009, ever since getting involved in Victoria's social media scene.  Paul is the co-founder (with Catherine Novak) of Social Media Club Victoria, the first Canadian chapter of the much largerSocial Media Club. Chris is a … [Read more...]

Set Theory and Human Relationships – The Power of One

This past weekend July 10 and 11th, in Victoria BC, Kris Constable hosted Idea Wave, a conference of ideas. Over 2 days, 50 people (25 a day) presented 10 minute talks on their ideas. They ranged from  “It’s Nursing for the Future Trans-Humanists”by Sarah Novotny, to“Taking Charge of Your Health:Maintaining Your Personal Health Record” by Cheryl Upright and “The Cost of Convenience” by Janice Mansfield. Kris sollicited submissions by asking … [Read more...]