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).

Arts Umbrella
1400 Johnston St
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3S1
Canada

Audrey Gao

Currently in Grade 11 at Lord Byng Secondary School, Audrey is renowned for the fact that you can hear her first before you see her. Rest assured, though, as most of the ears of the people around her are still in good shape...well, somewhat OK shape...possibly deteriorating... When she is not doing her two favourite things: talking and acting, you can find her sitting in lush forests (more accurately, her front yard) wolfing down a book.

Bella Zhang

Have you ever felt the existential dread and overwhelming pain after losing and all you can think to yourself is, “I have lost everything, I am forever a disappointment and I will never recover.” That sentiment can be crushing and you may wonder, “What are they going to think of me?” or “I’ve lost such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” Bella is currently an 8th grade student. She is a passionate public speaker and debater who loves creating art and reading during her free time. One of her favourite sports is badminton. She loves playing with her grandma and brothers. Not only has badminton brought her great joy in life, but it has also fueled her competitiveness and burdened her with the potential for defeat. Through her badminton journey, she has learned not to dwell on the defeat and channels that energy into growing and learning from the experience. Through her TEDx, Bella aims to help others identify their pain from losses, embrace it, and ultimately improve in the future!

Catherine Y. Chen

Catherine is a mother, former electrical engineer, marketing executive, travel enthusiast, educator, and lifelong learner. Her speech will elaborate on how to establish a close yet independent relationship between her and her daughter through fun stories.

Eirena Wen

Hey everyone! My name is Eirena, I live in Calgary, and I am currently a grade seven student attending Westmount Charter School! I adore public speaking and also enjoy playing volleyball and debating. I'm fascinated by current events and often ponder solutions to global issues. If you ask anyone who knows me they would say I love talking, and most of all, I love arguing.

Emma Mo

Swimming holds a significant place in my life as it has taught me the value of persistence and commitment that enables me to transform challenging tasks into successful accomplishments. In addition to sports, I am also deeply passionate about music. In my free time. I possess a keen interest in reading, public speaking and story writing as well.

Ethan Li

Hi, I'm Ethan! I'm a seventh-grader who loves public speaking. I've always been fascinated by the power of words and the art of communication, which is why public speaking is one of my greatest passions. Even though I'm young, I'm always looking for ways to learn and grow, and I'm excited to see where my passions take me in the future.

Janel Wang

Have you ever felt panic take over your life? We’ve all felt it ruin something, from a test, all the way to a job interview. But is there REALLY a way to keep calm during chaos? Janel Wang is a 15-year-old high school student who loves speech and drama, public speaking, and above all, creating. After struggling with panic all her life, Janel has finally found a unique, effective way to control it. In this talk, she shares the imaginative technique and how she found it, encouraging those who are struggling with panic to stand their ground.

Jeffery Wang

My name is Jeffery and I am a grade 10 student whose strong suit is never talking. I started public speaking to get better at presentations but kept it because it was a good way to convey the messages realized or noticed. In my Ted Talk, I hope to reveal why sometimes we are stirred up and let our emotions get the best of us. And as all problems have a solution, I hope my solution works for those who try it.

Jonelle Li

Jonelle Li is passionate about sports, speech & debate, and making a difference in the world. As a high school student, she has achieved great success in competitive volleyball, dance, and swimming. Jonelle is also an accomplished speaker and debater, with a keen interest in public speaking and persuasive communication. She is a natural leader who has a heart for helping others. She believes in the development of resilience and is committed to making a positive impact in the world. She volunteers her time and skills to a community organization that empowers young women to achieve their full potential. Her passion for the environment has led her to be Alberta’s provincial representative and event organizer of the Local Conference of Youth Canada, where she advocates for environmental protection and sustainability. In her TEDx Talk, Jonelle will share the importance of supporting one another and how to bounce back from adversity.

Roya Aghighi

Roya Aghighi is the CEO of Lite-1 and a versatile biodesigner who seamlessly merges her multidisciplinary background in design and science to tackle complex challenges from a unique standpoint. Roya's journey began with a passion for changing the world through design and challenging conventional thinking. With two Industrial Design degrees and an insatiable curiosity to explore uncharted territories, she embarked on a remarkable scientific path. Roya’s work has been internationally recognized winning prestigious awards and being exhibited in the permanent collection of Museum of Modern Art Vienna, Austria.

Tianyu (Cressida) Guo

Cressida Guo, a Grade 10 student from Magee Secondary, currently living in Vancouver. Her passion is mainly on writing, and she believes it will help to communicate her belief and value throughout the world. The Tedx platform gave her the opportunity to meet people with their own interests and ideas, and sharing her message across the society is always her dream to achieve.

Tiayu (Cressida) Guo

Cressida Guo, a Grade 10 student from Magee Secondary, currently living in Vancouver. Her passion is mainly on writing, and she believes it will help to communicate her belief and value throughout the world. The Tedx platform gave her the opportunity to meet people with their own interests and ideas, and sharing her message across the society is always her dream to achieve.

Tzu-Tien (Prince) Yeh

Hello! My name is Prince Yeh and I am a grade 7 student at Lord Kitchener elementary school. I enjoy doing mathematics and public speaking but one thing I can’t resist is looking at baby ducks. They are too cute to ignore! I am very excited to be doing a TEDx speech and I hope that you will look forward to it.

Zachary Li

Zachary Li is a talented and passionate grade 7 student who is dedicated to inspiring others. Zachary believes that everyone has the potential to make a positive impact. He has a deep love of the arts and is accomplished in both speech and visual art. Since the age of 7, Zachary has been learning Speech Arts and Drama and has achieved significant success in many speech and debate tournaments. Zachary is a dedicated volunteer and teacher of debate and public speaking. He understands that not everyone has the same opportunities or resources to expose to speech program. Zachary is also deeply committed to helping others beyond his school community. He has even extended his debate expertise to kids outside of Canada. Zachary founded a school-wide leadership program in grade 6, inspiring and motivating students to be their best selves. Zachary strongly believes in the power of communication, leadership, and community, and is passionate about helping others discover their own voices and strengths.