TORONTO – The Banff World Television Festival has announced that social theorist Richard Florida will be the CBC/Radio Canada opening keynote speaker at this year’s Banff World Television Festival, which runs from June 8-11.
Florida, a professor and head of the Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management and the MaRS Discovery District at the University of Toronto, is best known for his work in developing his concept of the “creative class”, and its ramifications in urban regeneration.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Professor Florida as keynote speaker,” said Richard Stursberg, executive vice president of English Services for CBC. “His innovative theories about the practical role played by the creative community, particularly as it relates to the economic development of this country, will be both timely and highly relevant to Banff attendees. This will be a great way to kick off what promises to be another great festival.”
Florida’s ideas on the “creative class”, commercial innovation, and regional development have been featured in major ad campaigns, and are praised as a useful new approach to the way regions and nations do business and re-structure their economies. His holistic approach to problem-solving and strategy development has attracted interest from international diplomats to documentary filmmakers, and from Fortune 100 businesses to community organizers.
In the last 5 years, Florida has written two national bestsellers, “The Rise of the Creative Class” and “The Flight of the Creative Class”. His new book, “Who’s Your City?” looks at the way that people choose the places they live and how that affects everything from their real estate to their families.
“Professor Florida is one of the most innovative thinkers of his generation, and we are thrilled to be able to offer our delegates this opportunity,” said Banff Executive Director Jennifer Harkness. “Banff promotes the exchange of progressive philosophies that are relevant to a cross-section of industries and art forms, and there will be a lot to learn from Professor Florida in this regard.”
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