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).

W. P. Wagner High School
6310 Wagner Rd NW
Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4N5
Canada

Alexandra Slugoski

Alex is a Grade 12 Computer Science student at Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Julia Dalman

Julia Dalman is currently working as a Community Liaison in Jasper Place High School and is the founder of the Global Café program located within the school. Growing up in a family of environmentalists drew her to study an unlikely but fitting combination of Biology and International Studies at the University of Alberta. Julia currently lives in Treaty 6 Territory in Edmonton, Alberta; a city named from the Cree word ‘Monto’, meaning Creator’s spirit. Julia dedicates her work to creating community connections. Her art form is community building and she is passionate about encouraging youth voice in community initiatives. Julia has a background working in social and environmental justice movements and is a Next Up Alumni. She was selected as one of Alberta’s top 30 under 30 and is a founding member of ConsentEd, a group dedicated to eliminating sexual violence. You can find Julia reading and writing in local coffee shops, dancing, or giggling with her friends.

Lee Taal

A future paleontologist/football player who attended high school in Peterborough, Ontario, Lee’s unique career path was a complete surprise. As a graduate of Royal Roads Military College with a double major in Oceanography & Space Science, he worked in the Arctic, deployed overseas, gave advice to engineers on broken down locomotives, designed advertising at Airports, and now is the founder and CEO of EdTech ChatterHigh, helping students get the conversation started about their future. Considered a ‘philanthropreneur’ in his approach to helping schools, Lee presents at educational conferences and has talked with thousands of teachers and students in classrooms across N. America about the trait 'hope', the value of career education, and why becoming adaptable matters. He founded “Canada’s Most Informed School” and “Most Informed Student” competitions, allowing schools to raise funds and students to earn scholarships by actively exploring resources and opportunities.

Olivia Decourcier

Though Olivia deBourcier is currently studying Environmental and Conservation Studies at the University of Alberta she graduated from Victoria School of the Arts in 2016 where she developed her love of the arts. When she isn’t knee deep in books, she enjoys volunteering at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, learning everything she can about the natural world and the creatures that live within it which inspires much of her work. 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 five years. She has been a member of both the Victoria School Leadership Team and the Victoria Student Arts Leadership Team and was a nominee for the Michael Strembinsky EPSB Award. Olivia’s eagerness to explore the arts and sciences has manifested itself into personal projects, which she believes offer her new insights into learning, creativity, and curiosity itself. One of her recent projects has been to uncover the process involved in creating Visual Development Art for an animated film project. Her talk will focus on Visual Development Art and how personal projects can influence your learning.

Quinn McKinney

Quinn McKinney

Sarah Flynn

Sarah is the Faculty Evaluation Coordinator at MacEwan University, an educational developer position specializing in faculty excellence in the areas of student feedback, peer mentorship, and personal reflective practices. She has a BSc in Molecular Genetics, an MA in Sociology, and is currently completing a PhD in Sociology at the University of Alberta. She was formerly the Assistant Director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.

Scott Hebert

Scott Hebert is an educator of 8 years who has made it his goal to eliminate the stereotype that school is boring. In an effort to do this he has been recognized both provincially (Alberta Excellent in Teaching Award in 2013) and Internationally (Best Gamification in Education Project Globally in 2015) for his efforts towards promoting Gamification in the classroom. He lives by the message, “Would you want to be in your classroom?” and strives to achieve this goal daily. As a trained Physical Education teacher he is a massive proponent of fun and movement in the classroom and up to this point it has been producing results!

Warren Lake

Warren Lake is a born and raised Calgarian who considered himself to be a Biology teacher in transition; searching for ways to reconnect high school teenagers to the natural world. He started his career in the Canadian Rockies at Canmore Collegiate High School and has recently helped open a new high school in Calgary: Robert Thirsk High School. The enticement back to the city was the offer to envision and create a Natural Science program that would reignite the awe, wonder and excitement of nature in high school students and show them the future these reconnections can have. It has been and will continue to be a journey that shifts and flows with the topics that abound in environmental education and in the need to build a greater sense of nature literacy in high school students.