The Treehouse Group

Summer vacation season is sadly coming to a close, but we’re looking forward to some great Treehouse Talks in the coming months. If you haven’t been able to make it to previous events, videos of all the Talks to date can be seen here.

Our next event is taking place on September 3rd at MaRS Discovery District, room CR2, from 6-7:30 pm. It’ll be free to anyone who would like to come, and will feature:

• SASHA GRUJICIC on Technology and Change: How it’s happened, how it’s accelerating, and how we need to deal with it
• SHIRLEY KHALIL on empowerment and healing using music.
• SHAWN MICALLEF on his book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto.

Many thanks to everyone who’s given us (overwhelmingly positive) feedback - we love hearing what you have to say!

For those of you looking for information about June’s Toronto ideaXchange: Dimensions of Music, photos are up on Flickr.

It’s time for another ideaXchange! On June 13, join dozens of curious and engaging people from across the city for an afternoon of ideas, activities and networking at MaRS. We’re eager to repeat the success of the 2008 and 2009 editions with an ideaXchange devoted to the world of music. Think: beat-boxers, New Orleans Style Brass bands, phonetics in Opera, mental health and music, technology, and the “pirate” problem, plus anything else we can jam in. We’ll also have live musicians writing songs during the conference to be performed at the end.  Ending off the day will be a catered reception, and a chance to continue the discussion(s).

Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

For more information on what we do, you can go to the Events page. Details about this ideaXchange will be updated here.

After a bit of a break (to appreciate the Great Canadian Summer, bien sur), we’re back with some updates and news.

Updates

ideaXchange
We have elected to postpone our Fall ideaXchange, in favour of throwing a bigger and better party in the Spring. We’ll post information on the website as it becomes available, so be sure to check back for updates.

Cape Farewell
We were captivated and touched by this quick video documenting the travels of the young artists and scientists of the Cape Farewell crew as they explored Arctic waters, recording data and interpreting the experience as they went. Keep an eye out for the segment featuring the junk yard band on Baffin island: the drumsticks they are using were given to them by the Treehouse Group during an orientation session we put on at MaRS Discovery District, in Toronto, last Fall.

News

Monthly Brunch Series
A big thank-you to everyone who joined us for some “Hillcrest archaeology” last weekend, as part of our monthly brunch series. We picked up some “artifacts” from the neighbourhood and examined them through the lenses of different professions. The results were then given the Treehouse Treatment: What can a midwife teach a fisherman? How do epidemiology and the history of medieval guild festivals overlap? How can a baker and an exterminator share information?

Member News
Joseph Wilson is heading to MaRS! During a one year contract, Joe will be working closely with MaRS to roll out some new educational programs and on-line content. Look for some dynamic events in the new year featuring more collaborations between MaRS and the Treehouse Group.

That’s it from us for now. As always, if you have any questions or feedback please feel free leave a comment or get in touch! Happy Fall, everybody.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Design Exchange on January 23rd to take part in the second Toronto ideaXchange. The event was an enormous success thanks to all of the participants, volunteers, and of course our sponsors: TD, Metcalf Foundation, Heenan Blaikie, and the Design Exchange. Please see the entry on our Events page for more information, photos, and links.

If you missed the event on the 23rd, please download the ideaXchange program (PDF) with instructions for the 3D sketch and Idea Factory.

We are excited to announce that our next ideaXchange will be held in conjunction with design consultants Architext Inc. at the Design Exchange on Jan. 23. We will spend the afternoon exploring the points of intersection between the themes of architecture and poverty. In keeping with the Treehouse philosophy, we actively encourage the participation of experts and non-experts alike. The event will be a creative exploration of a social issue, and activities will include an IdeaFactory, Speed Dating for ideas, and a 3-D Sketch session.

The Toronto ideaXchange will bring together a fascinating selection of people in the fields of environment, the arts, business, politics, innovation, and architecture, as well as young students, in order to find design solutions for the city. If you are interested in coming to chat with a diverse group of interesting people about the power of ideas, email joe@treehousegroup.org to request a ticket. Please note that space for the ideaXchange is EXTREMELY limited, but if tickets run out there are lots of other events coming up…