In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Royal Alberta Museum
12845 102 Ave NW
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

Adriana Zelada

Student

Jade Vidal and Adrianne Zelada are students at Austin O’Brien High School. Jade is a passionate and active member of the Model United Nations debate team. She is a flutist for the Concert Ensemble, a photographer/editor for the Yearbook Team and a competitive member of her school’s Soccer and Badminton teams. Adriana Zelada loves acting, singing and dancing, as well as public speaking. She finds public speaking truly fascinating and its power to create change in the world is like nothing else. Through public speaking, she hopes to bring positivity to the lives of all those around her.

Andy Lee

Student

Andy Lee is a high school students at Strathcon High School in Edmonton, Alberta. He is passionate about getting youth to see the world differently.

Anna Zhang

Student

Anna is a professional, 17-year-old, teenager. What makes this occupation so intriguing is that she is one of many, born into the first ever generation that is indulged by two worlds: one that is real and one that is virtual. In the virtual world, she is Anna Zhang, a petite, airbrushed golden skin toned girl with 700 friends on facebook and 460 followers on twitter. In the real world, not so much. However, in this world, Anna is a student of the University of Alberta, a business owner and manager of her own professional music studio, AZ Piano Studios, and the winner of various awards such as the Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation “Most Likely to become a Professional Performer” scholarship and the “McKitrick Memorial Speech Scholarship” for Speech Arts and Drama.

Erika Buhler

Student

Erika Buhler, a grade twelve student at St.Joseph's High school, is part of the Jean Forest All Girls Leadership Academy. A proud feminist and the secretary of the school's Student Union, she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters throughout the school year and with the City of Edmonton's Leaders in Training program during the summer. Erika is part of the school's Student Public Relations team and part of the Grad Committee.

Ghalia & Hania Aamer

Student

Sisters, Hania and Ghalia, are passionate about youth within their community. They strive to create unique opportunities to engage and empower youth. Hania, a grade 12 student at Old Scona Academic High School is a motivated and diligent individual who hopes to influence societal views on controversial topics such as youth, women, and other minority groups. Besides being a debate coach, she is also the president of four clubs in her school with the goal of motivating her fellow peers to create societal change. Ghalia, an active, determined fourteen year old wishes to take steps to help youth discover their roles in the community. She attends Grandview Heights School and plays on her school’s basketball team, while also serving as Vice-President of the student council.

Jack Chen

Student

Jack Chen is a Grade 11 student at Old Scona Academic High School with a curious mind, an optimistic vision, and a passion for... math??? He has written mathematical articles, participated in mathematical contests, and has a general liking for the subject. In addition, Jack enjoys Cross Country running, leads his school's UNICEF club, and volunteers at the Telus World of Science.

Jason Wong

Student

Jason is a high school from ME Lazerte high school in Edmonton. He is very involved with student council and passionate about getting involved in his community and learning.

Keenan Ramji

Student

Kenaan is a compassionate and thoughtful grade 11 full IB student at Old Scona Academic High School. As president of Brain Care Youth, Blind Awareness and executive of Right to Play club, he has worked to use both science and sports to contribute to his community in meaningful ways. As founder of the Syrian Orphanage and Refugee Fund, he raised over $3000 for people affected in Tartus, Syria and organized a refugee welcoming event at the Edmonton International Airport, which was featured on CTV Edmonton. In the summer, he represented Edmonton’s Men’s Soccer at the Canadian Ismaili Games and continues to devote his time to both ice hockey and soccer.

Madura Katta

Student

Madura has loved words for as long as she can remember. A senior at Old Scona Academic High School, she is a fervent speaker, debater, poet, writer and reader. This has given her great respect for self-expression and all it can implicate in the empowerment of youth. Self-expression and language can produce unique ideas that have changed the world, but can also create spaces to discuss contentious issues of relevance and empower young people to pursue their passions. Having volunteered with vulnerable persons who do not have access to platforms for speech, and having herself participated in various poetry readings and speech competitions she understands the need for opportunities to speak.

Noah Burghardt

Student

Noah is a high school student from Beaumont who has a unique way of looking at the world and creating new and innovative ideas.

Olivia deBourcier

Student

Olivia deBourcier is an eighteen year old student at Victoria School of the Arts. When she isn’t knee deep in books, she enjoys volunteering at the Edmonton Valley Zoo and the John Janzen Nature Center, learning everything she can about the natural world and the creatures that live within it. She has performed in shows including The Odyssey, Beauty and the Beast, and Once on this Island, and was part of Victoria School’s Improv ensemble for 5 years. She has been a part of both the Victoria School Leadership Team and the Victoria Student Arts Leadership Team.

Olivia Menard

Student

Olivia is in her senior year at Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School. A fond lover of plaid and brass, Olivia spends her time at her cadet squadron, teaching the marching band and leading the biathlon team at provincials. When she isn’t playing her euphonium (or her trombone) she is usually found practicing mathematics or saying puns. She likes to think that she is rather witty, which leads to her overarching enthusiasm for making people laugh. More than anything, Olivia is an avid lover of the younger generation and cannot wait to be a music teacher.

Rachel Wang

Student

An avid advocator for meritocracy and equality, Rachel is currently a professional student in her senior year of high school. Despite currently focusing more on feminism, she believes that the eradication of all inequality is essential for the progression of societies, as gender inequality is not a standalone issue. With the seven things (and people) she is most in love with being: chemistry, US politics, HSMUN, British accents, Captain America, Sebastian Stan, and Tom Hiddleston — Rachel hopes to integrate her passions as the motivation of her future pursuits.

Raelynn Desmarais

Student

Raelynn is a grade 12, fine arts student at Louis St. Laurent. She participates in all aspects of theatre including being an actress, a director, a set, costume and makeup designer, as well as a stage manager. She has achieve many goals throughout her life such as becoming a black belt in Taekwondo and the captain of her volleyball team. Her greatest achievement has been sharing her experiences with mental illness through an online blog called Scars with Stories.

Samhita Nair

Student

Samhita Nair, is currently attending grade 11 at Strathcona High School. She is known for her vocal performances in many languages including English. She has also participated in numerous dance performances. Samhita’s passion for helping people has motivated her to volunteer at the Stollery Children’s Hospital along with a variety of other medical centres. She takes a keen interest in learning and understanding different perspectives and she consistently makes an effort to better herself in any way she can.

Sean Currie

Student

Sean is a grade 12 French immersion student at Archbishop MacDonald. He was bitten by the “Stage Bug” at the age of 12 when he first performed improv at the Varscona Theater. With a passion for making people laugh he has continued to perform improv on stages around the city. He is currently a captain of the Archbishop MacDonald improv team. This self-described “average student” is passionate about the world and people around him.

Varun Kundra

Student

Varun Kundra is a Grade 10 student who is passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and is currently conducting interdisciplinary research on Alzheimer's disease with two professors at the University of Calgary. He also enjoys volunteering in leadership positions with the Calgary Public Library, Salvation Army, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and many others. In the past, he has been recognized with the Emerging Leaders Award from the Calgary Public Library and is a Youth Scholarship Winner of the Immigrants of Distinction Awards.