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City of Edmonton and Capital Power Corporation are lead Festival sponsors

EDMONTON, Alberta – Following the overwhelming success of Festival of Ideas 2008, the University of Alberta has announced that Festival of Ideas 2010 will again, in November of this year, bring an international community of performers, writers, visual artists, scientists and public intellectuals together in an exciting and invigorating series of events aimed at stimulating learning, discussion and dialogue.

Spearheaded by the university, and made possible with strong community and business sponsorship and support-including The City of Edmonton as Festival Partner and Capital Power Corporation as Founding Sponsor-the Festival of Ideas will continue its legacy as a multidisciplinary, interactive, engaging and inclusive forum that promotes bold and provocative thinking on how to respond to the many challenges of living in our times.

University of Alberta Provost Carl Amrhein says the festival fulfils the university’s goal of bringing the community (Edmonton, the province, the country and the world) together into creative and innovative dialogue. “The purpose of the Festival of Ideas is to bring scholarship, learning and discovery into the community in an engaging way. We hope the festival will challenge people and invigorate the community.”

A provocative theme, “Truth and Lies: Trust Me,” promises to make Festival of Ideas 2010 true to its goal of building a tradition of forging interconnections between science and the arts, and the University of Alberta and the broader community. While based in Edmonton, the festival will, like the university itself, extend its reach beyond the city’s borders, with events also planned in Calgary, Grand Prairie and Camrose.

Running Nov. 17-21, the program events in Edmonton will unfold in various venues in the downtown, including the Winspear Centre, Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton Public Library, Enterprise Square and the Art Gallery of Alberta, as well as others.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel says Festival of Ideas is another example of the close relationship that exists between the city and the university as both work to engage with the broader community. “Edmonton is a city of communities and of ideas. The Festival of Ideas exemplifies the leadership and innovation possible when diverse people and organizations have the freedom to explore, experiment, experience and excel.”

While the university is spearheading the festival and providing full backing in the form of a large number of people dedicating their time and thinking to ensure the success of the festival, FOI 2010 would simply not be possible without the financial help from such supporters as The City of Edmonton or community-based sponsors, such as Capital Power Corporation.

Capital Power Corporation’s Vice President, External and Investor Relations, Martin Kennedy says the ultimate goals of the Festival of Ideas fits precisely with Capital Power’s goals of community engagement and thought leadership. “The goals of the festival – to debate issues, hear different points of view, participate discussion and search for answers to complex issues – are just as vital to the success of our company as they are key to this festival,” said Kennedy. “It’s that kind of process – challenging traditional ways to doing things – that we want to continue to foster because that’s what sets us apart.”

Debra Pozega Osburn, University of Alberta vice-president, External Relations, says sponsorship of the event is paramount in enabling organizers to bring some of the world’s most interesting and provocative thinkers, writers, artists, and scientists together at the festival. “This festival would not be possible without our community partners and corporate sponsors who believe strongly in this event. We extend our heartfelt thanks for their commitment in making this year’s festival possible.”

For more information including a program listing, and biographical information about FOI 2010 presenters, please visit http://www.festivalofideas.ca/.