Sheri is our Event Manager for mesh and meshmarketing. She oversees the events from planning to execution. Please email Sheri with any questions or suggestions.

Welcome to mesh conference 2011

We’ve been busy creating an exciting and thought-provoking program of keynotes, panels and workshops. Some of the topics include the role social media is playing within political protests in the Middle East, the value and importance of influence, the changing work landscape, and the psychology of online behaviour and motivation. For more details, please check the schedule or the information about the group of presenters.

Key Dates:

March 21, 2011: Registration Opens
April 20, 2011: Early Bird Deadline.

Last chance to save $100 off the ticket price $539 CDN+HST.

Regular admission will be $639 CDN+HST on April 21.
May 24, 2011: Pre-party. Details TBA
May 25, 2011: Conference starts.

On-site check-in starts at 8:00 am. General session starts at 9:00 am.

Our Conference Location on May 25 & 26

Allstream Centre

Officially opened in October 2009, Allstream Centre is an environmentally friendly meeting venue for mesh. The The Allstream Centre combines history and state-of-the-art technology. Targeted to be Canada’s first LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) conference centre, the Allstream Centre is conveniently located at Exhibition Place. Best news…the venue has free Wi-Fi!

Location: AllStream Centre, 105 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, ON  M6K 3C3 | directions and parking

From away?

There’s lots to do in Toronto. You can start at seetorontonow.com, blogto.com and Toronto.com, or visit Ticketmaster. You can also check out Now, Eye Weekly and Toronto Life to find out what else is going on while you’re here, or just leave a comment on the blog and information will magically find its way to you. If you’re looking for a place to stay, Expedia has info on some great hotels close to downtown.

Insider Advice

In advance of mesh11

  1. Register in advance. History has shown we sell out at mesh events. We anticipate the same is true this year.
  2. Plan to stay for socials. The networking is a big part of the experience. We will be announcing these details shortly. Best bet is to save the dates for the evenings of May 24, 25 & 26. We’ll have great opportunities to mesh, network and socialize.
  3. Keep visiting the Web site. We’ll be adding info right up to the event. Follow @meshconference on twitter or the stream at #mesh11.  Subscribe to our RSS feed and get email updates via Feedblitz  or feedburner to stay up-to-date. You can also add yourself to our Newsletter list so that you’ll get the latest and greatest on mesh11.

During mesh11

  1. Be sure to pack your laptop, camera, audio recorder and/or camcorder. We’ll have lots of Wi-Fi at the conference. Don’t forget your power adapters because we’ll have charging stations. You can record, photograph and film to your heart’s content. But it’s up to you to get the permission of anyone you you want to photograph, record or film. Unfortunately, everything that happens in Toronto does not stay in Toronto.
  2. Bring your business cards and prepare to meet lots of fantastic people. This event offers lots of great content in the session rooms. However, outside the session rooms in what we are calling the Village, you can connect with really talented folks…you’ll share ideas…and you’ll get inspired.
  3. Be prepared to talk. This event is as much about your thoughts and ideas as it is about what is said from the stage. We really want to hear from you.

If we’ve missed something that you need to know or think that we should add, contact us at info [at] meshconference [dot] com. On Twitter, we’re @meshconference and @meshcon.

Need more information?

Here are the other questions that you ask most. If we’ve missed something in the FAQ, contact us at info [at] meshconference [dot] com, or you can find the organizers on Twitter.

Why is mesh happening?

mesh is happening because five people with an enthusiasm for the Web and all the next-generation things happening around us decided an event like this one had to take place in Toronto.

Who’s behind mesh?

There are five founders:

We’re all house-trained – mostly – and passionate about what’s happening online in Canada.

Where can I get information about mesh and who’s speaking?

Information is available on the site, but remember we are adding names regularly. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our RSS feed. You can also follow us on Twitter – @meshcon and/or @meshconference and check out the action on hashtags (and to contribute, use “#mesh11″ in your twitters).

Want to know more about past meshes? You can see pictures from past meshes on Flickr under the tags mesh06, mesh07, mesh08, mesh09, andmesh10, and there are videos on Youtube for mesh06 through to mesh10, as well as our channel. There are lots of mesh-related videos on the site in the Resources Tab thanks to our friends at File Mobile. Loren Feldman also shot some videos at mesh07, which are here. We have an archive page here that ties a lot of this, and other content, together.

Should I register in advance?

Yes. We expect tickets to sell out fairly quickly.

When we announce mesh is sold out, we mean it. We’ve received the emails like this, “I’ve heard that mesh is sold out. Pshaw! How do I get a ticket??” Our response is there are no tickets to be had. Our recommendation: buy early while quantities last.

Are there discounted tickets for students?

Absolutely. We continue to be committed to offering a block of student tickets at $99 CDN + HST. We see this as our chance to support the next generation to connect, share and inspire. It goes without saying (but we will say it) those that have chosen to study technology in Canada are a big part of the conversation and the future of the web. Keep in mind this is not a student conference so tickets in this block are limited. Please secure your ticket early.

And don’t forget, you will be asked for your student ID at check-in. This means either your secondary school or your post-secondary student id.

Will there be exhibitors at mesh?

No exhibitors but we have sponsors who showcase in our Village. Learn more by contacting Alicia at alicia [at] meshconference.com

If I’m interested in becoming a mesh sponsor, who do I contact?

Have we mentioned Alicia at alicia [at] meshconference.com? She is ready to help you find the best sponsorship opportunity that fits your goals and needs. And, in advance, thanks for your interest, consideration and support.

Will there be Wi-Fi at mesh?

Of course. As well, the main conference room has power and the Village has a charging station, which means your laptop won’t go dead in the middle of a brilliant blog post.

Will there be any kind of social events happening?

Head over to the Social Events section what Maggie and the SMG gang has been planning for this year’s After-Party. Edelman is also cooking up a night to remember. And there is still even more planned, thanks to our friends at CIRA. Really, mesh is as much about the networking as it is about the sessions…and this year is no different.

Is there is way to make speaker proposals?

No. mesh isn’t your typical pitch-us-a-speaker type of event (sorry, PR folks). We look for people we would like to hear from – and think you would like to hear from – and then we invite them to participate.

Can I volunteer for mesh?

Yes, we’d love to have volunteers help us make mesh happen. We do have a students first policy so we can make sure students have the chance to build their resume and their network. To learn more about volunteering, please go to the volunteer section of this tab. Or if you’re interested, send an e-mail to us at info[at]meshconference.com.

I don’t care about conferences – tell me about the T-shirts.

Yes, there will be swag. More than last year, probably, but we’re still working out the details.

I’m a mesh panel moderator. Have any tips to help me make the panel tasty and delicious?

Jeremiah Owyang has a post on moderating conference panels that has loads of great tips. And keep in mind that guest participation is a big part of mesh – we suggest you ask for questions early and often. Good question karma is very mesh-y.

Is there a way to stay informed about new mesh developments and events?

Sure. Subscribe to our RSS feed or get email updates via Feedblitz (sign up on the right) to stay up-to-date.

  

Seth is our Web designer, which means he’s the one who never sleeps. If it all works, it’s because of his genius. If it isn’t working quite right, we’ve probably messed up his design in our tinkering. Not to worry…he’ll fix it soon. Seth is also the founder of Think Thirty Three Inc.