Theme: Highlighting the Best of Saint Mary's University

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).

Loyola 290
923 Robie Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3
Canada

Andrea Ngui

Mindset Results Coach and Functional Medicine Practioner

Andrea Ngui is the founder of HEROVI COACH as a Mindset Results Coach and Functional Medicine Practitioner. Andrea is a multi Best-Selling Author and documentary executive director. Andrea is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Earning a double degree in Entrepreneurship and Human Resources

Heidi Weigand

Assistant Professor

Heidi Weigand is an assistant professor with Mount Saint Vincent University, and a part-time instructor at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University. Heidi has over 20 years of professional sales and marketing experience with IBM and Xerox Corporation. Heidi is a research associate with the Centre of the Study of Sport with a focus on developing a holistic student-athlete village model.

Henry Annan

Medical Doctor

Henry Annan is a second-year paediatrics resident at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He served as president of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students from 2017-2018 and on the Board of the Canadian Medical Association from 2017-2019. He is passionate about global health and social justice in medical education.

Justine Colley-Leger

Public Speaker and Athlete

Justine is a former Saint Mary’s student-athlete who played on the women’s basketball team and was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport’s Hall of Fame with an astonishing 2,376 points. Justine is a wife, mother, community advocate, and is the African Nova Scotia Sexual Violence Community Engagement Coordinator with the East Preston Daycare and Family Resource Centre.

Kanaar Bell

Public Speaker

Kanaar Bell is a familiar face around HRM communities. A former SMU Varsity Football player, he left his beloved sport of 10 years to explore ways to make an impact in the lives of vulnerable persons and communities. He went on to become an avid mental health advocate on campus, in the community and abroad by working with international community development initiatives such as Venture 2 Impact and Saint Mary’s Conflict Resolution Society.

Raymond Sewell

L'nu Drummer

Pipukwes Latto'law (Raymond Gilbert Sewell), BA, MA is l’nu from the Mi’kmaq district of Kespek - specifically Ge'gwapsgug. He is a “community bridger” working at Saint Mary’s University in two roles, indigenous student advising/ religious studies lecturer. He is also a traditional instrumentalist as well as performer with an extensive background in music.

Redempta Ishimwe

International Student

Redempta is an international student at Saint Mary’s University, born and raised in Rwanda. She is now completing her final year in accounting and global business management. She has a wide range of experience working with international students, and newcomers in general, and is currently working in Enrollment services at Saint Mary’s University. Redempta believes that international students are full of courage and potential, and that the transition from other countries can be smoother.

Ross Arsenault

Entrepreneur

Ross is the Co-founder and COO of Ashored Innovations, a sustainable ocean tech start-up, developing a bottom-bound ropeless fishing system to minimize the risk of entanglements and trap loss, while allowing fishers to fish in zones closed to fixed fishing gear. Ross will explain the art of “making the jump” into entrepreneurship and unifying his dreams with reality.

Shelly Whitman

Humanitarian

Dr. Shelly Whitman is currently the Executive Director of the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, which uses a preventative approach to ending the use of child soldiers. Shelly's talk will be a personal perspective of her impact and efforts as she has spearheaded the growth of this organization.

Syed Adnan Hussain

Assistant Professor, Religious Studies

Syed Adnan is an Assistant Professor at Saint Mary’s University who teaches primarily in Religious Studies on modern Islam and Religion and Film. He specializes in exploring colonial and postcolonial histories of Islam and particularly our connections to the past and how they can transform our relationship to the present. He has served as a co-chair of the American Academy of Religion section on Colonialism Postcolonialism and Religion as well as a steering committee member of the Religion, Film and Visual Culture Unit.