ideaCity 06 was a resounding success. Here are the presenters who made the conference lively, stimulating, eclectic and as thought-provoking as ever!

Agenda | Sponsors

	Peter Bergman Peter Bergman is the acclaimed co-founder of the renowned and Grammy nominated ensemble, THE FIRESIGN THEATRE. He has over 23 albums, national performance tours, a PBS special, and XM and NPR radio shows to his highly celebrated portfolio. He was recently inducted along with Michael Creighton, Richard Dreyfuss and Mohammed Ali into the prestigious Apple Master Program.
	Tzeporah Berman Tzeporah Berman is an environmental activist and the Program Director for ForestEthics, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered forests. She was one of three primary negotiators for the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement and contributed to the development of Greenpeace Internationals forest markets campaign in Europe, and Japan.
	Lord Conrad Black Lord Conrad Black is an investor and historian, and biographer of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Maurice Duplessis; a commentator and former publisher. He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour, a Privy Councilor and Officer of the Order of Canada, and a Knight of the Holy See.
	Gordon Blankstein In 1986 Gordon Blankstein and his wife purchased land in the temperate rainforest area in Fort Langley British Columbia where they founded Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre. Mountain View, a non-profit organization, is focused on breeding endangered species with the objective of returning them to the wild.
	Bowser And Blue George Bowser and Rick Blue are celebrated writers and performers of music and comedy. They have written and appeared in many full-length theatre shows including “The Paris of America” and the highly acclaimed “Blokes”. There are famous to Colorectal Surgeons around the world thanks to their smash hit “Working where the Sun Don't Shine'.”
	Haley Borden Haley Borden, creator of Pilatecize™ and fitness expert for over 10 years, has pilatecized The Toronto Blue Jays,  PGA golfers, The Rolling Stones, and Fortune 500 CEO’s, in her "Pilatecize™" program.
	David Buchbinder David Buchbinder is a celebrated musician, composer, and cultural innovator. He is famously known as the leader of the acclaimed Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and one of the creators of ASHKENAZ: a Festival of Yiddish Culture. He recently released his first solo project entitled SHURUM BURUM JAZZ Circus. David is a 4-time JUNO Nominee and an award winning composer for film, television, theatre and dance.
	Chocolate Yoga Nadine Artemis is a botanical muse and Ron Obadia is a Yogi. From this, came Chocolate Yoga, the alchemy of Ron and Nadine’s cosmic communion, pouring the bliss-sap of yoga into the sacred and the secular.
	Cameron Clokie Cameron Clokie is a surgeon, a scientist, a teacher and an entrepreneur. He is the professor and Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto and is a premier leader in the evaluation and development of new bone regenerative technologies in Toronto.
	Irwin Cotler Irwin Cotler is the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. An international human rights lawyer, Cotler has served as Counsel to former prisoners of conscience including Nelson Mandela and to the Deschênes Commission of Inquiry, in the bringing of Nazi war criminals to justice. In 1992, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada, and is the only Canadian elected to the Paris-based Académie universelle des cultures (1993).
	The Davids David Robson & David Gellineau run Catfish Yoga Shala, a popular studio in downtown Toronto. Both are burgeoning yoga celebrities, known for their unique "partneryoga" classes taught at home and abroad, and for their appearances in the local media.
	Raffaello D'Andrea Professor Raffaello D'Andrea is interested in all aspects of control and automation. His contributions range from the highly theoretical to the very applied, and incorporate mathematics, physics, computer science, technological innovations, and art.
	Max Dean Max Dean is a visual artist who has been producing works of significance for over 35 years. He is primarily known for his interactive kinetic installations that explore the nature of trust and control.
	Matt Donovan Matt Donovan is a visual artist with an innate sense for engineering. He has been working in the arts for the last six years establishing a reputation for building impossible objects
	Andy Eggleston Andy Eggleston is a seasoned automotive industry executive. He was head of A.T Kearney’s automotive practice in London before becoming Vice President of Marketing at Ford of Europe. He is currently indulging his love of product and new business development by bringing to market the world’s first hydrogen powered motorcycle, the ENV bike.
	Pier Giorgio Di Cicco Pier Giorgio Di Cicco is an Italian Canadian Author/Priest and Toronto's Poet Laureate. He has authored 17 collections of poetry since 1976. In 1984 he removed himself from the world of letters and became an Augustinian Brother, and was subsequently ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood. His 18th book entitled “The Visible World” will be released this spring.
	Natalie Glebova Natalie Glebova of Toronto was crowned Miss Universe 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 30th, 2005. This coveted moment represented quite an accomplishment for Natalie; just 11 years earlier she and her parents had immigrated to Canada with only one wicker case filled with their belongings. Glebova’s year-long reign began with a highly publicized trip to South Africa where she publicly took an HIV test, setting an example for the world regarding the importance of getting tested.
	Franz Harary Franz Harary is an internationally acclaimed magician who continually redefines the art of magic. Through his hybrid combination of illusions and live concerts he continues to wow audiences worldwide. His success in theatre, casinos and corporate entertainment have made him one of the most visible magicians in the world, seen by millions world wide.
	Gregory Harper Noted futurist Gregory W. Harper consistently maintains his position on the “bleeding edge” of new technology.   As President of Cerberus Corp., Harper counsels businesses on the development and implementation of strategies utilizing the latest technology to solve business problems.  Harper is currently focusing on digital distribution of media, home control/media servers, RFID, wireless personal information devices, video conferencing and rich media.
	John Howe John Howe is a Canadian born Author and Illustrator, and the artist behind Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”. He has worked on a myriad of children’s books, including those of J.R.R. Tolkien and fantasy writer Robin Hobb.
	James Hughes James Hughes Ph.D. teaches Health Policy at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut, and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and its affiliated World Transhumanist Association.
	Jay Ingram Jay Ingram is the host of Discovery Channel’s widely popular ‘Daily Planet’. He is a writer who holds four Honorary Doctorates, has won numerous awards, and is the author of 9 books including ‘The Velocity of Honey’ and ‘Theatre of the Mind’. He has been honored with the Canadian Science Writers’ Association Award on three occasions for his works: ‘The Burning House’, ‘A Kid’s Guide to the Brain’ and ‘The Barmaid’s Brain’.
	Simcha Jacobovici Simcha Jacobovici is a documentary director and producer. He is a frequently published writer and lecturer. Named “Canada’s top documentary filmmaker” by the Ryerson Review of Journalism, Jacobovici's most recent awards are the 2006 British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary program for “Sex Slaves” which aired on the CBC/C4/PBS Frontline, and the 2005 Overseas Press Club award for the "Impact of Terror" which aired internationally on CNN.
	Tanya Jones Tanya Jones is the Chief Operating Officer of Alcor, the world's leading cryonics institution, Cryonics is the technology where, after death, bodies and their respective parts are frozen in order to halt the decay process in the hope that future advances in nano-technology and disease prevention will allow the patients to come back to life.
	Robert Kortgaard Pianist Robert Kortgaard has performed as a soloist with major Canadian orchestras and has given recitals throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in England, Finland, Portugal, Italy, Indonesia, the Czech Republic and China.  He is a favorite collaborator of many of Canada’s finest instrumental soloists, vocalists and chamber groups.  His performances are frequently heard on CBC Radio, and he has recorded for Centrediscs, Marquis Classics/EMI, CBC Records and Teldec.
	Mike Lazaridis Mr. Lazaridis is known in the global wireless community as a visionary, innovator, and engineer of extraordinary talent. He traces his passion for his work to his hometown of Windsor, Ontario where his love of science and fascination with electronics began. As President and Co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), a company he founded while a student at the University of Waterloo, he has received several prestigious awards including the Order of Canada in 2006 and was listed on the TIME 100 List of Most Influential People in 2005.
	Michael Lennick Author and filmmaker Michael Lennick has divided his time between writing and directing kids’ shows and documentaries for the CBC, TV Ontario and PBS, and creating visual effects for numerous film and television projects. His company, Foolish Earthling Productions now focuses on science series and specials, including the award-winning Discovery Channel history of spaceflight series “Rocket Science”, and the upcoming PBS special “Dr. Teller’s Very Large Bomb.”
	Warren Macdonald Warren Macdonald is an adventurer and survivor. Warren's life's boundaries were redefined in April 1997 when he spent two days alone pinned under a one-ton boulder after a freak rock fall on Hinchinbrook Island in Australia. He survived, only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid thigh. His doctor told him he'd never walk again to which Warren replied “I don't recall him saying anything about cycling, kayaking, or climbing mountains…”
	Joe MacInnis Dr. Joseph MacInnis is a medical doctor, undersea explorer and author. This past summer Dr. MacInnis joined James Cameron for Last Mysteries of Titanic a two-hour live television broadcast seen on the Discovery Channel. His book on the expedition will be released with the DVD this year.
	Corinne Maier Corinne Maier is a psychoanalyst and writer. Her book, "Hello Laziness", a best-seller worldwide, has been released in 30 countries. This provocative book, in French "Bonjour Paresse", describes the absurdity of big companies and advises people to do a minimum of work while at work.
	Jorge Miguel Jorge Miguel is a Spanish Canadian Flamenco guitarist and composer. He has performed with a number of local companies as well as visiting companies from Spain. He has also played several of Ontario's more prestigious stages including, The Du Maurier Theatre, Premier Dance Theatre, River Run Centre, The Glenn Gould Studio, The Orillia Opera House, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, The Living Arts Centre and Trinity St. Paul's.
	Frank Nuovo Frank Nuovo is the award winning former Vice President and Chief Designer for Nokia. He is an acclaimed design guru, and today is the driving force behind Vertu - a new communications company, where he serves as both Director and Designer. Frank has been featured on the pages of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Fortune, Newsweek and the New York Times.
	Dr. Samantha Nutt Dr. Samantha Nutt is a doctor and humanitarian with over 10 years experience working in war zones. She has helped children in some of the world's most violent flashpoints, working with War Child Canada, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
	Ronda Nychka Ronda Nychka is a multi-disciplinary Artist who was born in Lamont, Alberta, and trained at Canada’s National Ballet School.  A Ballerina, whose repertory includes all the major classical ballets, she has graced the stages of the world’s most prestigious theatres in Japan, Israel, Egypt, across Canada, the United States and extensively throughout Europe.
	James Orbinski Dr. Orbinski is a Doctor, Humanitarian and Professor who has worked tirelessly throughout his professional career helping the worlds most vulnerable. He served as the President of MSF (Médecins sans Frontière) through 1998- 2001. Dr. Orbinski is now a Research Scientist and clinician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and an Associate Professor of both Medicine and Political Science at the University of Toronto. Dr. Orbinski is a co-founder of Dignitas International an NGO.
	Frank Palmer Frank Palmer, known as the “winningest” man in Canadian advertising, is one of the ad community's most respected leaders. Frank created Canada's most creatively acclaimed marketing communications agency, and then remade DDB into a powerhouse brand while changing the face of Canadian advertising.
	Mike Papantonio Mike Papantonio is one of the founders of Air America Radio, a progressive talk radio network in the United States.  Before becoming active in progressive talk radio, he spent 20 years as a trial lawyer trying environmental and defective product cases on behalf of American consumers.  Along with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Papantonio co-hosts the nationally syndicated show, Ring of Fire.
	Marshall Pynkoksi & Jeannette Zingg Marshall Pynkoksi & Jeannette Zingg are the founders of Opera Atelier, Canada's internationally recognized Baroque theatre company. They are co-artistic directors and artists who have danced with the likes of the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris, and have won numerous international awards. In 2003 they were recognized by Time Magazine as two of Canada's Best in Music.
	Steven Rechtschaffner Steven Rechtschaffner is a noted Athlete, Producer and Creative Director. As VP and Creative Director of Electronic Arts he pioneered many sports and action games, and created a new brand called EA Sports BIG. A few years back, he moved into the role of Chief Creative Officer for the Canadian EA Studio, and then into the Creative Director role for the entire Worldwide Studio Group. He stepped down from the company earlier this year and now resides in West Vancouver with his wife and three children.
	Jerry Riopelle Jerry Riopelle is a professional musician, recording artist and inventor who has developed an interactive music system that is unlike any existing musical instrument or device. HumanBeams enables anyone of any age and ability to play and record impressive music immediately.
	Spider Robinson Spider Robinson is an acclaimed and award winning author who has published over 33 works of fiction. He is the winner of three Hugos, a Nebula and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. In 2001 he released Belaboring the Obvious, a CD featuring original music accompanied by guitar legend Amos Garrett.
	David Rothenberg David Rothenberg is a Philosopher, Composer, and Musician and is the author of Sudden Music, Hand's End, Always the Mountains and the recently published Why Birds Sing, which deals with the science and music of bird song, along with a CD of Rothenberg's performances together with birds. Rothenberg founded the environmental literary magazine Terra Nova, and he is professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
	William Sampson William Sampson is a Survivor, Author and former captive of the Saudi Regime, William Sampson was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit and was sentenced to die in a public beheading. His incredible story has been featured on the pages of the National Post, Readers Digest, on Canada's CBC Newsworld and around the world.
	Steve Schklair Steve Schklair has been working at the front edge of new technologies for most of his career, and has left a mark in movies, special effects, and interactive media. As the founding principal of Cobalt Entertainment and its subsidiary 3ality Digital Systems, Steve is currently focused on the development and production of new digital 3D motion picture technologies, and the real-time broadcast of 3D television programming.
	Al Seckel Al Seckel is the world's leading authority on illusions, and has lectured extensively on this topic at many of the world's most prestigious institutions. He is the author of fifteen popular books on illusions, and is currently working on a comprehensive academic treatise on the subject for MIT Press.
	Pete Seeger Pete Seeger is best known for writing and co-writing such famous songs as “Where Have All The Flowers Gone”, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, and “If I Had A Hammer”. Throughout his illustrious career as a songwriter and author he has won several prestigious awards including the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.
	Lhasa de Sela Quebec native Lhasa de Sela was born of a Mexican father and an American mother in the United States. At the tender age of 13 she first tasted the beauty of song, which greatly influenced her entrancing music. Her magnetic vocals offer a glimpse of some kind of ancient wisdom, some legend handed down through the depths of time. Lhasa de Sela's 1997 debut album “La Llorona” captivated audiences with its eclectic mix of blues, gypsy music, South American rhythms, cabaret and country. Her deep roots in Spanish, English and are expressed in her second album “The Living Road” which has kept audiences entranced with the haunting power and depth of its vocals.
	Dr. Edward Shorter Dr. Edward Shorter, a social historian, holds the chair in the history of medicine at the University of Toronto.  Born in the United States, he earned a PhD in history at Harvard in 1968. Shorter is the author of over a dozen books, including the widely acclaimed Making of the Modern Family (1975), A History of Psychiatry from the Era of the Asylum to the Age of Prozac (1997), and his recently published Written in the Flesh: a History of Desire (2005).
	Jean Stilwell Jean Stilwell, hailed on three continents for her complex portrayal of Carmen, is at the forefront of this generation’s mezzo-sopranos. She is frequently heard on CBC broadcasts and her discography includes the music of Berio, Weill, Poulenc, Somers and Spohr on the CBC and CMC labels.
	Veronica Tennant and Carmen La Gitana Troupe Prima Ballerina with The National Ballet of Canada for 25 years, Veronica Tennant, won hearts and accolades on the national and international stage, dancing with such luminaries as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. She and fellow artists, flamenco guitarist Jorge Miguel, pianist Robert Kortgaard, dancer Ronda Nychka and mezzo soprano Jean Stilwell will perform a haunting new interpretation of the story about the Andalusian Gypsy Carmen.
	Alexander Tsiaras Alexander Tsiaras is an internationally renowned artist, journalist, and author. He has taught himself mathematics and physics and developed his own lenses, including one for a microscope that was used to photograph the first images of human eggs in an in-vitro fertilization program.
	William Tsiaras William Tsiaras is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Brown University School of Medicine.  He is the Surgeon-in-Chief of Ophthalmology at the Rhode Island Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Providence, RI.  He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology and for the past decade has edited the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Section on Internal Medicine.
	Urszula Tokarska In June, 2005, Urszula Tokarska made a successful second attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest.  She became the first Canadian woman to climb the “Seven Summits” – the highest points on every continent.
	Barbara Turnbull Barbara Turnbull is a journalist, a survivor and a self-described troublemaker. She is perhaps best known for being shot while working at a convenience store, as an 18-year-old high school student in 1983. Left a quadriplegic, she went on to graduate from journalism school at Arizona State University, with honours and as valedictorian. Since then, she has been a staff reporter at the Toronto Star. She gained further notoriety, and the wrath of diehard fans of old movie houses, when her successful Human Rights Complaint against Famous Players Theatres resulted in the company closing the Uptown and Eglington theatres. She has also been an outspoken user and supporter of marijuana for medical purposes. She has been recognized by the YWCA of Toronto as a Woman of Distinction.
	John Q. Walker John Q. Walker is the president of Zenph Studios, a company building advanced software to understand – and recreate – how musicians actually play. John has extensive experience in the development and management of emerging technologies and has co-authored two books: one on voice over IP (VoIP), the use of data networks to transfer digital telephone conversations, and on portable network programming. He completed his Ph.D. in software engineering at the University of North Carolina, where he was named a Distinguished Graduate Alumnus at the UNC Graduate School’s centennial. He holds four patents.
	Harris Wang Harris Wang is a ten-year-old musical prodigy, who began performing at the age of four. Harris appeared on NBC's tonight Show with Jay Leno, recently, Harris performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness: The Duke of Edinburgh. He was last on the cover of magazine "Saturday Night" magazine featured as a Whiz Kid.
	Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak is a Swedish biologist and who has discovered an alternate form of burial called Promessa. Her discoveries led her to create Promesa Organic AB, the first facility of its kind to offer ecological burial as an alternative to today's traditional methods. Her discovery has become a national form of burial in Sweden.
	Alan Young Professor Young is an Associate Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario, and he also maintains a small practice specializing in criminal law and procedure. His practice has been primarily devoted to challenging state authority to criminalize consensual activity.