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).

Theatre Saint-Denis
1594 Rue Saint Denis
Montreal, Quebec, H2X 3K2
Canada

Annette Verpillot

Annette Verpillot is the founder of Posturepro, a health company specializing in body neuromechanics and Posturology. She is a Canadian entrepreneur, therapist, public speaker and internationally esteemed Posturologist. Annette has developed some of the world’s most advanced rehabilitation and injury prevention training protocols, while also creating an international Posturology training program. Her unique postural evaluation system has gained great distinction and is recognized throughout the world for addressing chronic pain, increasing strength, and increasing sports proficiency. Today, she is regarded as one of the most experienced Posturologists in North America and has had numerous opportunities to present and teach Posturology to professionals in various fields (medicine, chiropractics, dentistry, naturopathy, sports therapy and ophthalmology). Annette has presented her methods and Posturology on Breakfast Television, ICI Television, Collectively Beautiful, and has provided teachings to significantly large international organizations as well as renowned strength coaches, elite athletes and team coaches from professional and college-level leagues. She also hosts various podcasts and holds a semi-regular spot on a local radio station. She continues to recognize and address the various factors associated with global health issues and pursues to amaze professionals who have an open mind that wish to truly and lastingly help their clients and patients.

Audrey DuBois Harris

Critically acclaimed, international classical artist Audrey DuBois Harris has graced the world’s stages in opera, classical, jazz, sacred, gospel and inspirational music. Celebrated for possessing an incomparable voice of rich splendor, extraordinary beauty, exquisite artistry and soulful intensity. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin recently featured Ms. DuBois Harris in her gospel concert: Aretha Presents the Gospel Legends in Detroit, MI. She also dazzled The White House in a White House hosted Christmas event where she presented a full program of sacred classical and gospel selections as well as an assortment of classic Christmas carols. On several occasions, she has performed as the ‘President’s Soloist’; singing The National Anthem for President Barack Obama. Ms. DuBois Harris was also recently presented in a U.S. State Department sponsored tour of Russia. She performed in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Siberia and Dubna with the Orpheus Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Krasnoyarsk Philharmonic. In addition, she was privileged to perform as a U.S. Arts Ambassador in full concert at The US Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Shining light on worthy causes, Ms. DuBois Harris has extended her voice for such foundations as: Yele Haiti (founded by Grammy Award Winner, Wyclef Jean), Helping Hands Bring Sunshine, Stroke of Hope, Saved for Life, PepsiCo Foundation, Midnight Run, The Cancer Society of Barbados and The American Red Cross. A native of Miami, Florida. Ms. DuBois Harris is a graduate of The Juilliard School in NYC.

Cameron Chell

Cameron Chell is the CEO of Business Instincts Group, a Venture Creation Services Firm whose focus is building high-tech startups. Cameron’s success as both a serial entrepreneur and investor has been built on the founding principles of Clarity, Alignment and Measurement. He spends his time working with entrepreneurs and investors’ determining what is most important in projects and specifically how to get it done. Taking this approach, and his tenacious pursuit of creating possibility, Cameron created Business Instincts Group, focusing their energies on answering “What If?” Cam has lead companies and teams to great success including Urthecast which he co-founded, Cold Bore Technologies, Slyce, Futurelink, Raptor Rig, Trace and Trax.

Carol Devine

I am a global and earth health activist and researcher. I can’t help but see of parallels in health challenges in the global North as in some low and middle-income countries in the global south such as access to health care, impact of climate change, remote medicine and decentralized and adapted community health responses. I have a love for polar regions, led a small civilian clean up expedition to the Antarctic in collaboration with The Russian Antarctic Expedition and spent years reading and writing about the Antarctic as a social scientist. The book I co-uthored, The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning, is a record of that stewardship expedition. Now I’m looking North and have started learning about circumpolar health and wellbeing for four million people living in the Arctic. I was a fellow of Arctic Summer College and presented on their behalf at the Arctic Circle Forum in Iceland in October 2016. I participated in a clean up in Svalbard, Norway above the Arctic Circle and brought home a survey marine debris from that trip which is now collected by the Canada Science and Technology Museum and is photographed in an exhibit she photographed, Aquamess: Portraits of Garbage at the top of the World. Aquamess has exhibited in a group show at The New York Hall of Science and is in an upcoming exhibit Photograph As Response, at The Centre for Fine Art Photography, Colorado. Previous I have also worked with The Museum of AIDS in Africa (Program Manager and Strategic Advisor), The Stephen Lewis Foundation (researcher, rapporteur and co-facilitator) and with Dignitas International (Policy Advisor). I have an MSc degree in The Politics of Rights, Faculty of Economics (London University) and an undergraduate degree in from McGill University. Currently I am Humanitarian Affairs Advisor with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) Canada.

Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard is a University of British Columbia and McGill-trained Emergency Physician who practices in Canada’s subarctic and is the Vice President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE). Motivated by work on a Médecins Sans Frontières pediatric malnutrition project in Djibouti, and by climate-related health impacts on her Northern patient population, she led the successful campaign to have the Canadian Medical Association divest from fossil fuels and for MD-Financial to create a Fossil-Free Fund for individual physician investment. She has contributed to advocacy efforts in active transportation, hydraulic fracturing and coal phase-out, including the recently-announced Accelerated Canadian Coal Phase-out and frequently on climate-health at medical conferences across Canada and internationally. Research-wise, she led “FLOW-Finding Lasting Options for Women,” the first randomized controlled trial comparing menstrual cups to tampons, and is writing up the “SOS: Summer of Smoke” research project on the Northwest Territories’ severe 2014 wildfire season under the leadership of Dr James Orbinski. Courtney. She has been honoured to win the Canadian College of Family Practice’s Environmental Health Award in 2013 and its Mimi Divinsky Award for History and Narrative in Family Medicine in 2015. Courtney represented CAPE during COP21 in Paris when it became a founding board member of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and continues to be CAPE’s main contact with the international climate-health community. Mother to two young daughters and married to Pediatrician Dr Darcy Scott, she can frequently be found dancing with them in a little house on the shores of Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife.

Evelyn Rodinos

Evelyn Rodinos is a psychologist and workshop/training facilitator at McGill University. During her 25 year career, she has been a university lecturer, supervised Masters and PhD counselling interns and has provided psychotherapeutic interventions to college and university students in both individual and group formats. In addition to working at educational institutions, Ms. Rodinos operates a successful private practice and often acts as a Service Provider for Health Canada to help promote Mental Health literacy.

Joanna Kerr

Joanna Kerr is the Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada, part of a global network working to stop climate change, protect precious biodiversity and advance Indigenous rights. A lifelong feminist and activist, Joanna previously served as the first female Chief Executive of ActionAid International, a global federation based in South Africa working in 50 countries for a world free from poverty and injustice. There, she led an organization-wide strategy that put climate resilient sustainable agriculture and women’s rights at the core of its work. Before that, she led the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, transforming it into one of the most significant global conveners and feminist campaigners, for which she was awarded a leadership prize from the Sigrid Rausing Trust. Joanna has held senior positions with Oxfam Canada and the North-South Institute, where she wrote and edited numerous publications on women’s rights, development and globalization. She currently serves on the Board of CIVICUS and is the Chair for the MATCH International Women’s Fund.

Kimberly Sunstrum

Kimberly grew up listening to old-time country music, South African pop hits, American folk and classic R&B. Blending powerful vocal ability, heart-felt lyricism and skillful instrumental compositions, Sunstrum’s performances are energetic and accessible while still conveying an intimate and soulful connection to the listener. “I think a common concept and theme musicians grapple with is the desire to bridge the gap between the music and its connectedness to the listener. There is a tangible moment while performing when you feel like you have successfully bridged that gap and connected to the audience. Suddenly you are able to navigate seamlessly through the music with the support of a room of receptive listeners who have transitioned from distant or even disconnected observers to the greatest support system. “

Liliana DeLeo

Liliana De Leo is a Laughter Yoga Master Trainer certified by Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga. She is a prominent teacher, fitness professional, and dynamic public speaker. Liliana’s energetic teaching style is influenced by her 20 year experience as afitness trainer in the field of health & wellness. Liliana is a dedicated Laughter Fitness Professional with over 15 years experience helping people use laughter as a form of exercise to increase stamina, productivity and resilience. Her keynotes, trainings and classes have helped thousands of people live healthier and happier. Liliana offers Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher & Leader Trainings, Motivational Keynotes, and Stress Reduction Programs.

Maria Alpha Gumboc

Alpha Gumboc, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend, is currently working as a Field Program Specialist. But she is also a motivational speaker and a volunteer at the St. Nino Decarie Center; a family Maria Alpha Gumbocowned spiritual center providing spiritual guidance, healing and assistance to the community. She devotes her time helping people, especially women by giving personal development workshops, counselling and also healing. Her mission in life to be an agent of change especially to abused women, to help them build their self-esteem and confidence through empowerment, encouragement and motivation.

Nakuset Sohkisiwin

Nakuset, the Executive Director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montréal, is Cree from Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan. She has three beautiful boys, Kistin, Mahkisis and Mahihkan. She was adopted by a Jewish family in Montreal and draws on her adoptee experience in her advocacy work for Indigenous children in care. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Montréal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network. Her most recent accomplishments include creating, producing and hosting the television series “Indigenous Power”, as well as being voted “Woman of the Year 2014” by the Montreal Council of Women. Nakuset is dedicated to improving the lives of urban Aboriginals.

Phoebe Farber

Dr. Phoebe Farber is a psychotherapist (NYU MSW/Ph.D.) with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. She started her career as a social worker in the psychiatric emergency room at Bellevue Hospital. In 1997 she moved to The Adolescent Health Center at Mount Sinai Hospital where she worked with adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS. She is currently in private practice in Montclair, New Jersey, specializing in adolescents and young adults. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Farber is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, where she teaches a class entitled Mental Health. This spring, she will teach a class called Creative Thinking, focusing on the psychology of the creative process. A variety of artists, writers, dancers and musicians will come as guest speakers and share their experience with the creative process. Dr. Farber has presented at a number of conferences on topics such as resilience, the sense of self from a religious perspective, aging and spirituality and adolescent development. Phoebe is also a playwright. Her plays have been seen in a number of theaters around New York and New Jersey. Her one-act play Nina will be performed in the Emerging Artists Theater Festival in New York City this October.

Rachel Kiddell-Monroe

Rachel Kiddell-Monroe is a lawyer and an activist, specializes in humanitarian assistance, global health, governance and bioethics. She is currently a member of the MSF International Board of Directors. Rachel was first elected to the International Board in June 2013, and relected for a second term in 2016. Rachel was President of the Board of Directors of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines from 2007 to 2013 and now serves as UAEM’s Senior Policy Advisor. She was recently appointed to the McGill University Health Centres Clinical Ethics Committee (adult). After working on indigenous rights and East Timor independence with grassroots organisations in Indonesia from 1989 to 1992, Rachel joined Médecins sans Frontières. With MSF she headed emergency humanitarian missions in Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) and Rwanda before, during and after the genocide. After becoming programme director of MSF Canada, she was appointed Regional Humanitarian Affairs Advisor for Latin America based in CostaRica from 1999-2003. Returning to Canada in 2003, she led the MSF Access Campaign in Canada until 2007. Rachel has also lectured on international development at McGill University and consulted for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (www.dndi.org), the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network on the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime (www.aidslaw.ca) and MSF (www.msf.org). Rachel has specialised her academic and professional career on global health and institutional governance. She completed her LL.M in Bioethics at McGill in 2013 and her thesis focused on a multicentric approach to global governance for health. Rachel has authored several peer-reviewed publications in this field and most recently a working paper on her proposal for multicentric global governance for health was published and presented at the international ISGlobal (www.isglobal.org) governance seminar in November 2013.

Sabrina Sassi

Sabrina studied in Canada for a semester in 2010 where she participated in an international communication challenge. Sabrina and her team were ranked among the world Top 8 Most Talented Students in international communications. As part of the “Compagnons du Monde” program, she decided to create an international network to build cultural and social links between St John’s and Saint-Malo. It is with the support of this international network that she laid the foundation for her future intercultural projects. Joining the African Diaspora Youth Network in Europe (ADYNE) helped her keep up the efforts to promote intercultural dialogue with a special focus on youth from the African diaspora. She has moderated and facilitated various workshops and lectures on civic engagement, democratic participation, youth culture, social innovation and social entrepreneurship. As a Jeanne Sauvé Fellow, in alignment with the program’s theme of Public Leadership for Culturally Diverse Societies,her and her cohort decided to collectively explore the complexities of refugee integration in Canada. To advance their learnings, they led a critical reading group, conducted site visits, and met with a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including refugees and parliamentarians. Their team project’s goal was to develop and pilot an approach to refugee integration in a holistic and practical way that delivered both impact and thought leadership while espousing core values of agency, inclusivity, fairness and cultural sensitivity. During these two years, Sabrina also focused her energy on learning about preventing violent extremism among youth. In tackling the issue of refugee integration and implementing their team project, the Fellows wrote a policy brief (which they presented to several ministers while in Ottawa) and an op-ed, produced a short film on refugee experiences in Montreal as well as organized a series of public events exploring refugee integration in Canada. Now a member of the Global Shapers Montréal hub, she is dedicated to mobilize allies in fighting all forms of discrimination and hate speech in Canada. If you catch her after work hours, she will probably talk to you about social interconnectedness and intersectional advocacy but it will probably while she puts together a delicious meal for you and her friends.

Saima Shah

Saima worked for 20 years in corporate environments such as financial software development, banks, financial companies, engineering and standards certification companies. She currently provides coaching programs for individuals and proactive corporations. Saima has three degrees in business marketing, MIS and finance. She is an intuitive life coach, certified clinical hypnotherapist, yoga instructor and experienced meditation trainer. She has one musical son and lives in British Columbia near the Fraser River. Saima is currently completing the book, “111 Questions About Meditation”

Sara Diamond

Sara Diamond is championing her honest story as an original independent artist. “Back To You,” Sara’s first single of 2017, is a song about enduring the “feel trip” of a fresh breakup, day after day. It’s an emotional R&B-flavored pop song that pulls listeners right into the exact moment where a relationship Untitled design (23)went wrong. She wants to bring these moments to the surface, because the truth is that heartache is never that polished. There was a time that even music had forsaken her too. A former child singer who sold millions of records and landed endorsement deals in various pop groups, Sara quickly became uneasy with the grind and little control she had over her trajectory. But she was always born to be a performer. Now at 22 years old, Sara Diamond steps back into the arena with original music that she’s written. “This is about empowerment. It’s throwing caution into the wind, and making myself write again and love again,” says Sara. Sara Diamond brims with wisdom and infectious pop instincts. Driven by a love for love, Sara Diamond is releasing songs in 2017 that explore the good and the ugly about falling for another human being.

Sophie Tarnowska

Sophie Tarnowska is a ‘fun-raiser’ and the founder of WeDoSomething Mtl, a non-profit organization whose objective is to be an antidote to powerlessness. She has lived and worked on five continents in a wide range of industries, from standing in a field selling TV advertising to a cow farmer in the Cayman Islands, to crafting marketing strategies for l’Oréal Canada. She has interviewed lepers in Calcutta and world-class thinkers here in Canada, traveled to Thailand as a brand builder, and to lac Mégantic to help build a public art installation to commemorate the explosion of 2013. Today, she is an impatient idealist who believes it’s time for a new way to give, in order to bring people together and connect them to causes and communities that need support. WeDoSomething Mtl allows her to use her unorthodox background to do something good about bad news, one event at a time.

Tali Goodfriend

Raised on a small kibbutz in the Arava desert in Israel, Tali Goodfriend is the eldest of nine children. She has been living in Montreal for over 30 years, teaching at Vanier College in the Continuing Education Department, Early Childhood Education. She also teaches at Concordia University in The Art Education Department. One of the courses she created and teaches is “Art As A Means for Social Awareness”. She is a member of “The Montreal Dialogue Group” and certified facilitator in “Compassionate Listening Project”. In her role as Compassionate Listening facilitator, she works with diverse groups in Montreal and Co-leads Compassionate Listening Delegations to Israel/Palestine.She holds a BA in Studio Arts and a Masters degree in Art Education from Concordia University. The current focus of her art is exploring art for social change.