Theme: Bloom

TEDxSFU Bloom embraces the struggles we all face on our journey to grow. Our current situation, individually and collectively, is nothing less than a bud sprouting out of a plant in the hopes to bloom against every odd symbolizing resilience. This year, TEDxSFU invites people with different backgrounds, domains and expertise to share their stories of resilience in the face of uncertainty, of initiatives reaching maturity, of new beginnings when all you see and feel is ambiguity. We want to hear your creative and innovative ways to sustain and blossom, knowing that each one of us is a bloomer with distinct superpowers.

Anvil Centre
777 Columbia Street
New Westminster, British Columbia, V3M 1B6
Canada

Alexandra Kitson

Post Doctoral Fellow at SFU SIAT

Alexandra Kitson is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at SFU. Her multidisciplinary research across human-computer interaction, design, and psychology demonstrates how cutting-edge technologies can support positive emotions, enable connection with others, and enhance well-being. Bloom to her means self-transcendence. It's transcending our inward focus and suffering to extrinsic motivation and connecting with others.

Candida Moreira

Relational Trauma Therapist and Writer

Candida Moreira is a relational trauma therapist & writer who thrives at the intersection of language and feelings. She is passionate about smashing stigmas and encouraging folx to move through the world fully owning all of who they are. She has a knack for complicating things, colouring outside the lines, & taking the scenic route. To Candida the idea of Bloom centres in honouring the story of who you are. It's about growing into yourself and not the expectations placed on us by societal beliefs or cultural norms.

Carissa Campeotto

Social Entrepreneur

Carissa Campeotto is the Co-founder and CEO of Trendi. Trendi is a company that builds and deploys robots to combat food waste. To her, Bloom is coming into our truest form and reaching our fullest potential.

Dinara Mukh

Certified Health Coach

Dinara Mukh is a women’s health coach whose work is centered around helping women tune into their bodies by living in harmony with their menstrual cycles to improve their health, enhance creativity and productivity. She believes that understanding the female body is everyone’s business regardless of gender if we want to create a truly inclusive environment.

Len Pierre

Coast Salish consultant and cultural knowledge keeper

Len Pierre is a Coast Salish consultant and cultural knowledge keeper specialized in decolonization, reconciliation, development of educational programs, and Indigenization. To him, Bloom means re-birth and a fresh outlook!

Lisa Bournelis

Transformation Leader

Lisa Bournelis is a transformation leader for one of Canada’s largest health authorities. She is also a new author, blogger, podcaster, mom, taekwondo black belt, and former humanitarian aid worker. For her, Bloom represents the growth after a period of challenge that creates a new individual, mindset, skillset and spirit.

Mariah-Jane Thies

Dance and movement educator

Mariah-Jane Thies is a dance and movement educator. She enjoys helping teachers to guide their students to reach their full potential. She loves animals, travel, big questions and deep conversations. To her, the act of blooming is the idea of openness, knowledge, sharing and embracing a growth mindset.

Matthew Provost

Current undergraduate student at SFU

Matthew Provost is Siksikaitsitapii from Treaty 7 Territory. He is a current undergraduate student at SFU and advocates for Indigenous students within the institution. Bloom to him is being able to achieve growth regardless of circumstances, and knowing that we always have an opportunity to bloom.

Robert Woodbury

Retired professor of computational design

Robert Woodbury is a Professor Emeritus at Simon Fraser University. Robert designs and makes things: systems, furniture, policy, programs, old car parts and books. At the core, all involve making choices among options. Bloom signals change, and the start of something new. As a designer Robert sees bloom as an apt metaphor for almost everything designers do.