Theme: Learning to Fly

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).

Earl of March Secondary School
4 The Pkwy
Kanata, Ontario, K2K 1Y4
Canada

Brandon Crilly

Teacher

Brandon Crilly is an author (Catalyst, Bestiarium Vocabulum) and educator. His talk invites audiences into the world of “hardcore D&D,” a tabletop roleplaying experience where the goal is to tell the most riveting story imaginable as much as it is to play. Where collaborative storytelling provides an opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone, deepen your creativity and compassion, and better navigate the complexities of the real world.

Bridget Cai

Student

Bridget Cai is a Youth Sail training instructor. Her talk is a heartfelt reflection on the power of belief in young people’s potential. By telling stories with humor, from her time aboard the St. Lawrence II, she highlights how empowering children to take responsibility—whether it’s letting them haul sail lines or teaching them independence—builds their confidence and resilience. And with parenting research insights, she shows how this empowerment can be far more impactful than helicopter parenting’s “intrusive help.”

Daria Berezhnaya

Student

Daria Berezhnaya is a junior fashion designer and seamstress. With a mix of environmental science, consumer behavior, and industrial history, she reveals the hidden costs of fast fashion: our closets overflow while our planet pays the price. But she doesn’t stop at critique—she ultimately calls for a shift toward conscious consumption that leverages innovation to build a sustainable fashion future.

Derek Chuah

Student

Derek Chuah is a passionate Student Senator and active member of the student council who will speak about civic engagement, with insight from his experience with the Forum of Young Canadians. He believes that students deserve a stronger voice in policies that shape their education and future. Derek is committed to using technology and youth advocacy to bridge the gap between students and decision-makers, ensuring that young people don’t just live with change—they help lead it.

Dhisha Aravind

Student

Dhisha Aravind is a passionate student communicator with a keen interest in psychology and neuroscience. She is founder and director of the Nexify Initiative and a RBC 21 Under 21 recipient. Her talk challenges audiences to rethink how they form snap judgments and first impressions. While science says it takes just seven seconds to judge someone, we have the power to shape our perceptions and connect authentically beyond that first glance.

Emma Baillairgé

Student

Emma Baillairgé is the Head of Arts at Earl of March. Her talk reveals that quality sleep depends more on how we prepare for rest than just sleep duration. She explains the science behind sleep cycles and offers research-backed habits, like morning sunlight and delayed caffeine, to boost alertness and learning. Her personal success story motivates listeners to change their routines for better productivity and well-being.

Gregory Lauder

Teacher

Greg Lauder is a computer science teacher and communication coach. He delivers a rich, interconnected talk that transforms communication from something we do to something we are—a force that shapes and reflects the world. By drawing parallels between natural phenomena like wind, the logical patterns of computer science, and the emotional sway of music, he offers an inspiring perspective on how we can refine our "code of behavior" to unlock new connections and creative expression, and use our words to achieve maximum output.

Madelyn Ciesielski

Student

Madelyn Ciesielski champions for the timeless power of theatre in her heartfelt ode to imperfection and authenticity in a digital age. Her talk reminds us that amidst virtual filters and curated feeds, it’s the raw, unscripted moments of live performance that connect us most deeply as humans.

Muhan Shen

Student

Muhan Shen completed Harvard University’s climate change course as part of the Pre-College Summer School Program. She used to fear for humanity’s future, but the course introduced her to a hopeful future built on innovation and collective action. Muhan wants to share that now. Drawing on extensive cutting-edge research, she presents groundbreaking technologies—from carbon capture to solar geoengineering—that could reshape our planet’s destiny.

Tongyan Li

Student

Tongyan Li is a passionate artist, Art Council executive, and contract writer. She will deliver a moving exploration of art, resilience, and the search for personal meaning. Weaving together many stories, often unsung, she reveals transformations of identity, ambition, and acceptance that lie behind every brushstroke, and invites us to reflect on what it means to find our own “Starry Night”—whether as artist, artisan, or simply as a soul finding its place in the world.

Umaiza Ahmmed

Student

Umaiza Ahmmed invites us to imagine a world transformed by bioengineering, where genetic edits solve hunger and disease but also pose ethical challenges. She highlights breakthroughs like insulin production and drought-resistant crops, while addressing risks such as biodiversity loss and the ethics of “designer babies.” She calls for responsible innovation and reminds us that the future depends not only on what we can do, but what we should do.

Yunan Chen

Student

Yunan Chen is the founder of an international tutoring organization called Sprouts Education. In her speech, she explores the fascinating, often misunderstood journey of teenage autonomy. Drawing from psychology and family studies, she explains how what seems like rebellion can actually be a natural drive toward independence, and offers research-backed strategies for balancing freedom and guidance. The result? Stronger connections, open communication, and a healthier development for both generations.