A month ago I had never heard of a "Twestival". Yesterday I was on my favourite morning radio program,  CBC Radio 1 with Gregor Craigie, talking about the Victoria Twestival. 

How does something like that happen… Twitter.

I’ve been on Twitter for a couple of years but it’s just been in the last 6 months or so that things started to happen in Victoria. It started with the Victoria Social Media Club founded by Paul Holmes and Catherine Novak. That blossomed into "Tweetups", which are in-person meetings of Twitter users at various locations around the city. (BTW – there’s a tweetup tomorrow morning 8:00am at Cabin12 if you’re interested.)

And now the Twestival. A few weeks ago @lacouvee announced at the SMC meeting that she was looking for volunteers to help put on Victoria’s first YYJ Twestival. A few hands went up, including mine, although I really wasn’t sure what I was getting in to, let alone what a Twestival was. We met briefly after that evening and the first Victoria Twestival committee was formed.

And what a group of amazing individuals they are, which is what I wanted to talk about. There seems to be something about the culture of Twitter that attracts a certain type of person. The vast majority of the people I have met via Twitter, and various Twitter related events, are simply good, big hearted, benevolent people. Not sure if it’s a Twitter thing, a Victoria thing or what, but I do know that I met them all through Twitter, and I’m fairly certain I would not have met them otherwise.  

Since that first committee meeting much has been accomplished with only one in-person meeting and the majority of the communications happening via Twitter and email. The non-profit candidates put forward by the committee were voted on via TwtPoll to determine which one would be the sole recipient of the funds rasied at the Twestival. The non-profit organization chosen was Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society.

So with 4 short weeks to go until the Victoria Twestival happens on September 12, volunteers are busy talking to potential venues, entertainers and sponsors. We are still looking for volunteers to help with the event as well as sponsors and prize donors. If you are interested in getting involed, shoot me an email or leave a comment below.

Hope to see you at the Twestival.