Theme: Dream. Act. Impact.

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).

Please reach out to us at tedxyouthlawrencepark@gmail.com with any inquiries.

Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
125 Chatsworth Drive
Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1S1
Canada

Arianna Kanji

Grade 9 Student

Arianna Kanji is a grade 9 student at LPCI. In their free time, they enjoy reading, playing the violin, public speaking, and playing table tennis. Furthermore, they have a large passion for creative writing and have even been published in multiple teen literary magazines. They also have a large interest in psychology, specifically concerning neurodivergent minds. Throughout their talk, Arianna is going to discuss the negative representation of neurodivergence in media, focusing on debunking popular stereotypes and stopping the spread of misinformation. They will highlight the importance of recognizing this negative representation, both for neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, and the detrimental affects of this misinformation on society as a whole.

Ava Fiorucci

Grade 10 Student

Ava is a grade 10 student at LP who has many interests including playing soccer, figure skating, working out, reading, and singing! Lately, her biggest passion is doing creative/sfx makeup, perfecting new looks during her free time. In addition, Ava loves to travel and fell in love with Italy while visiting with her family over the summer. Being fascinated with ancient history, in her talk, Ava will examine intriguing mysteries in our history, and challenge people to question the unknowns in our history that still remain. She will share why it is important to fully understand our history, how we can solve the unknowns, and why doing so will benefit modern society.

Bruce Legge

Grade 11 Student

Bruce is a grade 11 student at LP, who loves canoeing and does so when it’s warm out. He also enjoys listening to music, especially anything by Fastball or Sugar Ray. His talk will unpack an all too common evil in modern society: Procrastination. Bruce will discuss how having an idea is not enough - we must follow through with it, but procrastination often stops us. He will draw on personal experience to outline common patterns in procrastination, and why understanding procrastination and its consequences is relevant to us all.

Lily Powell

Grade 11 Student

Lily is a grade 11 student at LP who has many interests including movies (her favourite is Titanic!), books, board games, and animals. Her biggest passion lately has been volunteer work, her favourite currently being at the ROM. If she could spend the rest of her life somewhere, it would be at her cottage! In her talk, Lily will discuss why addictions should be treated as any other chronic illness, requiring intensive and thoughtful treatments. She will also share how addictions have a lot more to them than just the substance itself, and why people struggling with addiction should be able to ask for help without facing judgment.

Mariam Jikineh

Grade 11 Student

Mariam is a grade 11 student at LP. Her favourite pastime is reading - mainly realistic fiction. Mariam has a special place in her heart for theatre! She believes her love for theatre and presenting on stage is part of what brought he here as a speaker. In her talk, Mariam will highlight the issues with body positivity and propose a new way to look at body image: Body neutrality. She believes that this approach gets to the root of the issue - that we pay too much attention to body image as a society. Lastly, Mariam will unpack why we need to greatly reduce the effects that appearance-based assumptions have on the treatment of others, and how it connects to body neutrality.

Ryann Fineberg

Grade 11 Student

Ryann is a grade 11 student at LP who is passionate about all things animal law and food system innovation! She is a research assistant at U of T, and has presented at various conferences such as the Eighth Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School and the Fifth Annual Canadian Animal Law Conference at U of T. In her free time, Ryann enjoys swimming and practicing photography! Her talk will explore food system innovation and will discuss why young people should become involved in transforming the future of food. In her talk, Ryann will share why public awareness and interest among youth is key to advancing food technology and reducing food's environmental, socio economic, and animal welfare concerns.