Pecha Kucha Night returns to the Esplanade on Sept. 24
After more than two years, Pecha Kucha Night is returning to Medicine Hat on Sept. 24.
Derived from the Japanese phrase meaning ‘chit chat,’ Pecha Kucha is a public speaker series, held in more than 1,200 communities across the globe.
Each Pecha Kucha Night, eight to 10 community members are invited to give a short presentation on a topic important to them. Topics can range from professional insight, to passions or hobbies, to personal journeys.
To help explain their topic to the audience, presenters are aided by a 20-slide slideshow comprised entirely of pictures. However, presenters are allotted only 20 seconds to speak per slide, meaning each presentation lasts just over six minutes in length.
“They’re basically nights to just learn more about your fellow community members,” Gillian Reimer, Medicine Hat Public Library’s head of marketing services, told the News. “I think, since the pandemic, we’ve definitely lost that connection with our community members (so) we’re really happy that it’s back.”
Reimer, one of a team of volunteer organizers from MHPL and the Esplanade, believes Hatters will also welcome Pecha Kucha Night’s return after it was paused due to the pandemic.
“We had one during COVID, that was virtual, which was good – we had lots of views on the talks,” said Reimer. “But, it just isn’t the same as being together in-person. So we’re really excited about this (upcoming night).
“We have a couple of people confirmed already, (including) Ana Schlosser. She’s a psychologist in town. And she’s going to be talking about psychedelic healing – basically using psychedelics in therapy. So, that’ll be really cool. Then we have JoLynn Parenteau. She’s a
Métis woman and she actually has a column in the News. And she’ll be talking about being Métis, writing and the financial part of the work that she does. And then Jason Openo; he is the head of the Medicine Hat College library and he’s going to be talking about a book he read recently called Our Town. It’s a book about building community, and it’s perfect for trying to rebuild after the pandemic. And Annie Anderson; she’s an energy worker. And Rondi Neuven is also going to be talking about her journey to weight loss. Her talk is called Diary of a CRAPaholic and CRAP stands for ‘carbonated, refined, artificial and processed.’”
All are welcome at the upcoming Pecha Kucha Night, being held at the Esplanade. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at 8:20 p.m.
Organizers invite attendees to pay what they will. Admission proceeds will be used to fund future Pecha Kucha nights.