EPIC Expo was a huge success this past weekend as thousands of people flooded Vancouver’s Trade and Convention Centre to learn more about sustainable development and about what they can do to help project change. I thought I would show up early on Saturday morning, but when I arrived, the space was already flooded with people eager to experience the event. EPIC featured over 300 vendors and several guest speakers who shared their ideas and information concerning sustainable development.

For The Doughnuts! Strombo Mediates Fair Trade Banana VS Poverty Gorilla video featured below.

For me, working closely with Rebecca Peel (our social media director), I was kept busy. Since Rebecca learned that I own my own digital SLR, I become responsible for capturing Fair Trade Vancouver’s main stage presentation, getting shots of interviewees at the Projecting change booth — which happened to include at least one Canadian icon (George Stroumboulopoulos), and making sure to grab images of the events and activities around the Expo — one of which involved an EPIC standoff between The Fair Trade Banana and Poverty Gorilla. While all of this was happening, I also tried to get photos of the faces responsible for making the Fair Trade Pavilion a main attraction. But I guess that’s what happens when you work with Rebecca. From her team of promoters who provided Twitter updates all weekend, to the people involved in putting together some impressive video interviews, Rebecca and the people around her can be a force to be reckoned with. It wasn’t until my second day that I managed to sneak away and experience some of the great foods, fashion, and emerging products presented at the show.

Of course, I enjoyed every minute of working with Fair Trade Vancouver and Projecting change. It’s no wonder that both groups have been making waves in Vancouver and across the country. Both organizations are full of bright and energetic volunteers that all have a passion for projecting change. Walking up and down the pavilion, there were costumed characters dressed as Fair Trade Bananas, the infamous Poverty Gorilla, tea kettles, coffee beans, chocolate, and soccer balls. They were such a hit that they were asked to perform a fashion show in the Eco Fashion pavilion. And although they did a great job of looking good, they did an amazing job running events and activities and providing information on Fair Trade and supporting its vendors.

There has been a lot of growing support for Fair Trade in Vancouver and it was great to see so many people engaged in learning more about the different vendors and their products and how they were supporting communities around the world.

Fair Trade Vancouver also presented on the Main stage where a member of Common Ground held interviews with the personalities behind the Fair Trade movement. Members of different organizations that support Fair Trade had a chance to show their faces and share their voices in explaining why Fair Trade is important and how they’ve been successful. To close off the presentation, there was the always-popular Fair Trade Banana-dance performance and then a cake-cutting to celebrate the timeliness of World Fair Trade Day.

World Fair Trade Day Celebration – Cutting the cake with Avery Gottfried Andrea Reimer, Adriane Carr, Mark Abbott (from left to right)


Fair Trade Bananas doing the Banana Dance on the Big Stage at Epic Expo!

Checkout all the amazing Fair Trade vendor displays and freshly handcrafted Fair Trade mascot costumes in our Flickr album!

Tomorrow I’m going to break a window. Whatever the proverbial breaking of the window is, I think a good documentary should do that.

One of the biggest highlights for Projecting Change was the George Stroumboulopoulos interview conducted by Rebecca Peel at the Projecting Change booth. During the interview, Strombo stressed the importance of people getting up to support movements and the impact a festival like Projecting Change could have in creating those movements. It’s one thing for a few dedicated people to go out and create films about change, but it’s up to people and audiences to support these events and the ideas behind them. Catch the full interview Epic Moment With George Stroumboulopoulos.

Fair Trade Vancouver also got some video time with Strombo as he offered his services in officiating an arm-wrestling showdown between the Fair Trade Banana and the Poverty Gorilla. It was an intense event where both contenders were locked in an EPIC struggle where it wasn’t clear who would eventually come out on top. With perseverance however, the Fair Trade Banana was able to topple the Poverty Gorilla in a win that was symbolic for the efforts and the change made by Fair Trade supporters around the globe. Not only did Strombo show his support by stealing the prize of Fair Trade doughnuts, he also promoted Fair Trade and Fair Trade Vancouver in the opening to his main stage presentation.

For the Doughnuts!

While it was great to see a name like George Stroumboulopoulos tout such an event, what’s more impressive is that so many people came out to support and learn about sustainable development. The EPIC Expo was about giving people the opportunity to engage with new ideas and to share their knowledge. Thank you everyone who came out this last weekend to help make EPIC a huge success. This is the support that we need to create change. Be sure to come down to Projecting Change Film Festival to WATCH, ENGAGE and then of course ACT.

-Bryce Tarling – @brycetarling

Q: How are your Projecting Change?

I am trying to eat more sustainably…it became clear to me how I could eat differently not just for my own health… but why its my ecological responsibility to eat a certain way.

Q: What is the most important outcome of an environmental and social issues film festival like Projecting Change?

It’s kinda gotta be like a punk rock song … it has to have you sing along and feel good in the moment but the next day you have to still be angry.

The trick to good punk rock is, I really feel good today! Tomorrow I’m going to break a window – whatever the proverbial breaking of the window is. I think a good documentary should do that.

Q: We’re talking Watch, Engage, Act?

Engage is one of those things where there is so much responsibility put on the filmmaker to engage the audience. No! You just tell a good story, it’s up to the audiences to engage.

We don’t have to campaign to get people to care, people need to care, what we need to do, what you need to do, what this needs to do, is grab the people who already care and say ‘here is where we are going’ hopefully the audience will come along.

The filmmaker does half, the audience has to do half, there will be no spoon feeding.

T: Tip from George on how Projecting Change can start some fires!

People should be motivated, you need to go find out where the gasoline lies and throw a match in that pool – as opposed to try to pour gasoline everywhere. Where is the gasoline? Light that on fire!

I was impressed, delighted and astounded by George’s genuine goodness and passion for change. A truly humble and outstanding Canadian, he didn’t even mind when I incredibly ineptly took three tries to get his name right – as seen above. Stay tuned for a video blog later in the week of George moderating an arm wrestle between the Fair Trade Banana and the Poverty Gorilla (checkout the pics on facebook).

In the words of Stroumboulopoulos, lets go break some proverbial windows!

Rebecca – @rebeccaapeel

Being a new writer/photographer in the social development scene, when Rebecca asked me to write a post on the event, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve been working a lot with Fair Trade Vancouver recently – an incredible organization. Fair Trade Vancouver will be responsible for putting on one of the largest pavilions at Epic Expo. Each year, Fair Trade steals the show with their ever-growing network of support. Be sure to check them out at the Vancouver Fair Trade Pavilion, which will feature some of the best business and organizations in the community. You’ll be able to see me there Saturday and Sunday where I’ll be providing information on Fair Trade and snapping photos of all the wonderful people and activities. Check out some of the photos from the Epic Expo and Fair Trade Vancouver mothers day event we hosted yesterday.

Check out all the pics from Fair Trade Vancouver’s “Epic” Mothers Day

While I’m at the Expo, you can be sure that I’ll stop by the Projecting Change booth where I’ll kick back and enjoy some of the new films that are screening for the 2011 Projecting Change Film Festival, AND I’ll also be sure to get a snapshot done in the projecting change photo booth. In addition to setting up a minnie movie theater Projecting Change will have a photo booth set up with old school movie props & a fun dress up bin – can’t wait to see the pictures!

At the event, there will be over 300 exhibitors ideas, entertainment, and shopping from the leading names in sustainable development. Discover which companies are leading the change in sustainable consumer goods and producing earth-friendly products without compromising style or function. Learn how to make sound choices when shopping for products and services that are better for the environment. Buy directly from the producers of these sustainable products and services and learn what makes them different. Hear leading experts on the EPIC Main Stage and learn how simple choices in your day-to-day life can make a big impact on the environment, your community and your health. See Vancouver’s top chefs create local, sustainable cuisine and sample some of the best foods and beverages in the world.

Also, make sure to see the event’s featured speakers , which include: George Stroumboulopoulos – Canadian journalism icon and host of the hit current events show “The Hour” (recently renamed ‘George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight’), which has earned 9 Gemini awards. Richard Louv – Author of the smash success book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard will launch the Canadian tour of his brand new book The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and The End of Nature-Deficit Disorder at EPIC.

EPIC will be held in the NEW Vancouver Convention Centre West building.
1055 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Phone: 604.689.8232
Toll-free: 1.866.785.8232 (North America only)
Fax: 604.647.7232
Email: info@epicexpo.com
Friday May 13 1pm – 8pm
Saturday May 14 11am – 7pm
Sunday May 15 11am – 5pm

Buy tickets online https://tickets.epicexpo.com/ and save $3!

Hope to see you down there!

-Bryce @BryceTarling