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).

St. George's Anglican Church
99 Woolwich Street
Guelph, Ontario, N1H 3V1
Canada

Dana Schaffner

Dana Schaffner is a 12+ student at Guelph C.V.I. She loves the outdoors, video games and hockey. She can usually be found playing or cuddling with an animal of any sort. Some of her hobbies include writing and performing. Dana is a mental health advocate and founded Open Minds, a club at her school that promotes taking care of your mental health and decreasing the stigma of mental illness so people aren't afraid to get the help they need.

Jasper Smith

Jasper is a passionate community organizer and currently works as a sexual health educator with HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health and helps to coordinate their transgender peer program. They have delivered a wide array of workshops and sessions on the unique needs of LGBT2Q+ people when it comes to mental health as well as ways in which we can cultivate a sense of meaning, strength, and resiliency - even in the toughest of times. Jasper also works as the director and program coordinator of the trans, non-binary and gender variant group Gender Intersect spearheading a variety of trans-specific programming, workshops, socials, special events and educational workshops. In the rare instances that they're not working, they enjoy photography, hiking, kayaking, reading, back country camping, urban exploration and are always on the search for something new to learn. Jasper is a white, trans masculine, non-binary person who uses they/them pronouns.

Josh Cassidy

Joshua Cassidy was born November 15th, 1984. He came into the world fighting a non-congenital cancer which primarily affects children, Neuroblastoma. The doctors told his parents that their newborn had a narrow chance of survival. Perhaps through a combination of medicine, family prayer, and a will to live, Joshua won miraculously. The damage done to his spinal chord left his legs partially paralyzed. Where many saw obstacles ahead, this young boy saw opportunities. This blessing gave him the blocks needed to overcome hardships and build a life of success, love, and happiness.Josh's early love of sport eventually led to athletics, and in 2008 he competed in his first Paralympic Games in Beijing, in front of 90,000 spectators. At the London Marathon in 2010, Josh recorded his first ‘big’ win, against the best in the world.Now a three time Paralympian, winning many races around the world, Joshua is known internationally for his work ethic and fortitude. He has beaten every competitor in the world at least once. He is currently preparing for his fourth Paralympic Games in Tokyo.