It's time to start the conversation.
The Bonnyville Boys and Girls Club announced they would be hosting Bonnyville's first TED Talk.
TEDx Lakeland will be on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Centennial Centre.
A TEDx Talk is a platform for panel of speakers to discuss their ideas, which normally fall under the same theme. For the local event, presenters will focus on 'Time 2 Think.'
It kicks off with a morning session starting at 9 a.m, followed by an afternoon discussion at 1 p.m.
"We have seven speakers altogether from various industries, from politicians to entrepreneurs, to artists and non-profits," explained executive director of the local Boys and Girls Club Patti Cowden.
One of the local speakers is owner and operator of SunSoft Cards, Meghan Rennie, who's excited to participate and share her wisdom with the audience.
"I'm actually a pretty anxious person, and it's a pretty big deal for me. In the past year, I've gotten more used to being on stage, doing public speaking, and performances. That's actually what my speech talks on. It's basically about how to go after your goals and how to make an impact on the world even when that world freaks you out," she detailed.
Rennie describes being a part of the event as "amazing."
"I've heard (Patti) talk before just about, in general, her life and everything that she has accomplished and all of the things that she's worked through... Just to know that she's such an inspiring and lovely woman that she thinks that I have the power to inspire people, just being considered for that I consider a compliment."
Among the local presenters, there will be a special appearance by Canadian Olympic skeleton racer Calgary-based Barrett Martineau.
"I'm so excited that TEDx allowed us to use the name, and to have the TEDx Lakeland. Their whole reason is to spread the great ideas, and our slogan is 'Time 2 Think.' I want the children to start thinking about their future, and what they want to be in the future," Cowden expressed.
A fan of TEDx Talks herself, Cowden wanted to bring them to the Lakeland to inspire children.
She said, "It's important to let them know they aren't alone in their journey, and let them know that they have many successful examples of people in this community that have made a huge impact on the national level... It's important to let them know they can start their journey, and start their own fate."
Local schools have been invited to participate in the event, which is also open to anyone interested in attending.
"My hope is to spark the idea, and to get them thinking... You don't need to wait until you become an adult to start something, to start a business. You can be a child, or whatever age you are," Cowden expressed, adding people can use the age of technology to their advantage to get their ideas off the ground.
She noted, the response has been great since the event was announced, and that everyone's looking forward to the day.
"Even TED is excited to have the event here in a small town because they don't have anything like that here. I think it's about time, instead of bringing our students to big cities, we bring the big event for them right here in the area where they can all access it," emphasized Cowden.
For those that can't attend, the Boys and Girls Club will be filming the talks with the intention of posting them online.