“Do or do not… there is no try.” – Yoda

It’s our pleasure to announce that Canadian’s newest national wireless provider, WIND Mobile (@WINDmobile), is now the lead sponsor of Twestival Toronto.

WIND is a mobile company that listens before it speaks. One that believes conversations always make things better. One that knows speaking with our local community is the path to shaping a mobile experience like no other.

“We’re very pleased to support Twestival this year and Concern Worldwide.  By joining the ongoing conversation being had by thousands of Twestival volunteers and organizers, we want to help spread the word about the importance of education as the best weapon to help change the world.

Using social media for social good is at the heart of WIND Mobile, and our shared passion to changing things for the better make Twestival TO and Concern Worldwide powerful community partners.“ – Erin O’Neill, VP of Digital at WIND Mobile

Stay tuned next week as we introduce you better to the local WIND team, network and awesome. They’ll also be out at the event in a room at Tryst to say hello. Join us in thanking them for supporting @Concern by tweeting, sharing and spreading the word.

The Power of Conversation:

Next Steps:

1. Follow @WINDMobile on Twitter
2. Friend WIND Mobile on Facebook

May the force be with you,

#TwestivalTO

You know how they say the clothes make the man? Well in our opinion the venue makes the party.

That’s why we’re so excited that Twestival Toronto will take place one week today at Tryst Nightclub in downtown Toronto. Tryst is located at the the corner of King and Peter street in the heart of the Entertainment District and bills itself as "part parlour, part garden, part labyrinth under the stars."

The nightclub has three distinctly designed salons - the Havana Lounge has teal wood paneling and chandeliers, the Loft has 20-ft shimmering ceilings, and The Club provides a place to cut a rug. So whether you’re in the mood to dance, network or catch up with friends IRL there’s a spot to do it at Twestival Toronto. And if you’re in one area, keep up with what’s going in everywhere else with the livestream of the event Tweets on the ScribbleLive screens.

Usually only open Friday-Sunday, Tryst will be opening their doors to the Twestival Toronto crowd next Thursday. The nightclub is interested in social media, with a Twitter page (@TrystToronto) and a desire to connect with the wired community in Toronto, and they’ve generously donated their space and services for this event.

So how about it Toronto - can we show them how the Twitter community can throw it down - while also raising money for a great cause?

See you at Tryst next Thursday - and get your tickets now if you haven’t bought them already.

Thanks,

#TwestivalTO

If you’ve been following us @TwestivalTO on Twitter, you know that we excitedly sold out of early tweeps tickets after only 3 days of sales opening up!

We have an allotment of regular admission tickets now available at $20 each. Remember that 100% of all ticket sales and contributions go directly to projects with Concern Worldwide. Along with the 10+ sponsors already on board, we’ll be announcing more details on what’s happening at the event in the next week.

It’s a win-win situation.

Next Steps:

1. Buy your ticket to the third and largest Twestival Toronto yet! http://twestivalto.com
2. Become a sponsor or contribute to the raffle prizes. TwestivalTO2010@gmail.com
3. Follow us on Twitter for the latest announcements. @TwestivalTO

Thanks,

#TwestivalTO

We are ecstatic to announce that ticket sales are now open!

Join your community for the third and largest Twestival Toronto yet! We’re working hard to bring you fun hosts, loud music, mix/mingle areas, big raffles, lots of cash bars, tons of Twitter fun, and an all-around exciting event experience.

Act fast to get into a limited pool of early tweeps tickets at a discounted rate.

Buy tickets now at the brand new http://twestivalto.com!

Learn more about the event, see the blog and tweets, and check out our coverage and sponsors. Thanks to the creativity and hard work of the team at Jet Cooper for building our new digital experience.

Next Steps:

1. Buy your early tweeps ticket now at http://twestivalto.com.
2. Become a sponsor by learning more at http://twestivalto.com/sponsor.
3. Spread the word by posting this to Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks,

#TwestivalTO

Twestival (or Twitter Festival) is excited to announce it’s return for Twestival Toronto 2010. We will be joining hundreds of cities around the world to rally around the important cause of education in support of @Concern Worldwide.

This comes after an amazing contribution from 700+ Torontonians of $16,000+ in 2009 (for @charitywater followed by @mealexchange), adding to the global total of $750,000+. Read the summary of February 2009 and September 2009.

Many of your familiar Twestival Toronto faces, and a whole lot more new ones, are working hard to get the details together for Thursday, March 25.

Next Steps:

1. Save the date! Hold on to Thursday, March 25 because ticket sales will open up this week.
2. If you are interested in sponsoring, email us to see the options or discuss your requirements. We’re happy to work with you to get the right mix.
3. If you are interested in volunteering and haven’t yet gotten in touch, reach out to us. Look out for a list of volunteers on the blog next weekend.

Follow Us:

1. http://TwestivalTO.com – Official site launches soon.
2. http://twitter.com/TwestivalTO – Official Twitter feed.
3. TwestivalTO2010@gmail.com – Official email account.

Thanks,

#TwestivalTO

We set out to heighten awareness about the issue of hunger in our city and a through volunteer run party, raise funds for an innovative organization who’s initiatives make an incredible impact and positive change in our own community.

Twestival Toronto saw over 400 people participate in an amazing night time cruise, on a beautiful ship donated and run by the amazing team at Mariposa Cruise Lines. It was an awesome party!

Our goal was to raise $5000 for Meal Exchange to be able to continue their amazing work; empowering youth leaders and running several initiatives giving food to families that might otherwise go hungry.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that through the generous support of the citizens of Toronto, over $6000 was raised for Meal Exchange!

This $6000 will directly enable over 214 youth leaders being mentored and 7500 meals being distributed.

Thank you Toronto. Your show of solidarity has achieved incredible impact in our own local area.

We’re proud to be a part of such an amazing community.

THANK YOU.

We’re only hours away from the magic and we couldn’t be more excited!

We just wanted to share a couple more last minute details so you know where you’re going & when.

The party starts at 7pm tonight down on Pier 6 where we’ll be boarding onto the Northern Star Cruise Ship.

The boat will be docked right outside the Watermark Pub, which is at the Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay West. PLEASE BRING YOUR TICKET WITH YOU.

The boat will be leaving shore at 8pm sharp, so make sure you arrive on time! It would be super terrible if you missed the boat. We’re asking everyone to arrive before 730pm so that we can roll up the red carpet and get on board ourselves!

We’ll be partying out on the water until 1130pm - when we’ll return to port. But the party doesn’t end there! Twestival attendees can join our global live update sponsor, ScribbleLive, when we dock at the Watermark Irish Pub. They will be hosting the after boating drinks. Space is limited and first round is on them.

It’s going to be such a great night - we can’t wait!

If you haven’t bought your ticket, there are still some available at Amiando.Com/TorontoTwestival

Tickets WILL be available at the dock for $20 each - so long as we don’t sell out during the day.

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

As if you needed another reason to join the party tomorrow evening, but we’ve just learned about an exciting appearance being made that we couldn’t bear to keep to ourselves.

Joining us on the red carpet tomorrow evening will be none other than the ARGOS CHEERLEADER TEAM.

Come meet the team!

Join the party on the dock tomorrow evening 7pm and have your picture taken with some of the lovely ladies of the Argo’s Cheerleading Team!

Get your ticket now! http://amiando.com/torontotwestival

With only 30 hours to go until the big event - we need your help!

Thanks to the support of the Toronto community, there have already been over a couple hundred tickets sold for tomorrow’s cruise and exactly $4100 has been raised for Meal Exchange.

Completely awesome, but that’s still $900 short of our $5000 goal. We need your help to get us there!

That’s only 45 more tickets at $20 each.

If we can donate $5000, Meal Exchange will be able to mentor 178 youth leaders and give out over 6000 meals to people who would otherwise go hungry. An amazing opportunity for us to make a huge impact.

We can do this Toronto! Let’s show the world what an amazing community we are.

If you haven’t bought your ticket yet - do it now! http://amiando.com/torontotwestival

As if being on out on the water, partying in style with other fabulous people whilst doing your part to curb hunger in our city wasn’t enough - we’re excited to announce yet something else to look forward to!

A chance to win several amazing prizes.

Thanks to donations from some amazing sponsors, we’re pleased to announce that we’ll be running contests over the evening (entry into which will be through donations to Meal Exchange of course!) where you could win one of several incredible gifts!

Tying into the night’s hollywood theme, the team at RBC is giving you the chance to walk the red carpet at Toronto’s International Film Festival. We’ll be giving away exclusive tickets to an invite-only TIFF screening & after party. You can’t buy these tickets! We’re excited to be able to offer this sure to be incredible experience.

With the social community coming together for the evening, Toronto’s amazing bloggers, podcasters & media extraordinaires will be out in full force. We’re anticipating a frenzy when they discover the amazing, brand new wearable camcorders from local startup uCorder. We have 2 uCorder cameras to give away - we’re excited to debut this new technology startup to the scene and know you’re going to love their concept.

Another concept the city knows and loves - FreshBooks invoicing. We’ll be offering one lucky winner a one year subscription to FreshBooks Shuttle Bus package. That’s a $228 value!

Our friend’s at Molson are proud supporters of Meal Exchange and have been a supporter of Twestival from the very beginning. We’re thrilled to announce their donation of a CFL Tailgate Prize Pack!  The prizes includes BBQ, CFL merchandise and a beer store voucher for Molson product!

So, just to recap:

Your $20 ticket gets you onboard a spectacular boat from the amazing Mariposa Cruise Lines

100% of that $20 goes directly to Meal Exchange initiatives fighting hunger in Toronto

While on board, you’ll enjoy free appetizers courtesy the lovely team at Sprouter

You’ll dance to music spinned by awesome local DJs Duarte Da Silva & Aaron Kaufman

And through out the evening - you’ll have several chances to win amazing prizes including a Palm Pre, two brand new uCorders, tickets to an exclusive TIFF event, a subscription to Freshbooks and a Molson CFL Tailgate Prize Pack!

So what are you waiting for? The boat leaves this Saturday evening - if you don’t have a ticket - you won’t be on it. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of an amazing event - get your ticket now!

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.amiando.com/torontotwestival

Don’t miss the boat. Get your tickets before their gone!