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).

Bell Performing Arts Centre
6250 144 Street
Surrey, British Columbia, V3X 1A2
Canada

Carla Guerrera

CEO of Purpose Driven Development

As a globally recognized real estate developer, Carla has delivered over $1B in mixed-use real estate development across Canada’s top markets. She combines urban planning, sustainability and real estate development to create communities that benefit people and the planet, while ensuring financial viability. As the CEO of Purpose Driven Development, she believes that real estate development, when done well, is one of the most powerful tools to transform the way we live, work and thrive in our communities. Having worked in housing delivery from private sector, government, and non-profit Carla has a unique understanding of what it takes for successful affordable housing delivery. Purpose Driven Development works with non-profits, First Nations, investors and governments, to bring a proven approach to unlocking successful development to create communities where everyone can thrive.

Derek Strokon

Sales Manager

Derek is the #1 International Best-Selling Author of “Stop Stalling Start Selling”, and is in the process of completing his second book “Human being Human” (May 2023). He is a leader and business consultant whose practice focuses on resilience development and process implementation. His award-winning approach to sales excellence is driven by a team-centered approach of ‘Strength Through Vulnerability’. His relentless passion for evangelizing the ‘Human Journey’, is both inspiring and contagious. Derek received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University and is a Certified Professional Coach from World Coach Institute. Corporately recognized in 2018 as the National Sales Force Grow Leader, among many other accolades for sales excellence, he also attained his LLQP Full, MFDA, Labour Sponsored Fund and Branch Managers Course certifications.

Dr. Stefanie Green

Co-Founder and President of CAMAP, Author of This is Assisted Dying

Dr. Stefanie Green spent 10 years in general practice and another 12 years working exclusively in maternity and newborn care before changing her focus in 2016 to medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Most recently, she is the author of an international bestselling book, This is Assisted Dying, a doctor’s story of empowering patients at the end of life, a memoir about her first year providing assisted dying in Canada. She is the co-founder and President of the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) – a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the multidisciplinary professionals that provide assisted dying across the country. She is co-lead of the Canadian MAiD Curriculum Project, a multiyear, federally funded project being developed to help standardize the clinical approach to care, educate and train clinicians new to the field, and to enhance the skills of those already involved.

Dr.Tanya Gee

Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Dr. Tanya Gee is an award-winning Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine who graduated from the International College of TCM in Vancouver, B.C, Canada. She completed her post-graduate studies in Hefei and Shanghai, China and has been in private practice for more than 28 years. Best described as a storytelling, intuitive doctor of TCM who is known to belly laugh out loud and inspire everyone to be the most optimal version of themselves. Forever the optimist and one who values kindness, empathy and an “everyone wins” attitude. She is a global wellness educator and a board member of the Pneuma Institute Foundation, a Canadian non-profit society dedicated to transpersonal psychology, philanthropy and the preservation of ancient wisdom of the Q’ero Holy people of Peru and the Tibetan Buddhists residing in India.

Finn Liu

Transgender Chinese Student

A student advocate for queer voices, Finn Liu stresses the calls to action that open doors to conversation of transgender issues in a community where they’re often let untouched. Finn Liu is an openly transgender Chinese student who seeks to spread awareness of trans-identifying individuals within the Asian community. Experiencing fear and helplessness surrounding his gender identity while growing up, he recognized the lack of resources and stories shared by queer individuals of Asian descent. Since coming out at 14 years old, the internalized stigmas he has faced have only pushed him forward, becoming open to speaking for issues of marginalized intersectionalities who continue to be underrepresented in media.

Kai Chan

Professor and Canada Research Chair (tier 1) in Rewilding and Social-Ecological Transformation

Dr. Kai Chan loves science, play, fitness, and inspiring action for a planet both better and wilder. Check him out @ CoSphere.net As a professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia. He strives to understand how to make our planet both better and wilder. Kai leads CHANS lab, where inspiring students study Connected Human-and-Natural Systems. He is co-founder of CoSphere Community of Small-Planet Heroes, which is finding a place for everyone in combating the crisis of climate, ecology, and equity. Dr. Chan has published over 150 articles and chapters including in Nature, Science, and PNAS. He has also written over 135 newspaper and magazine articles.

Kai Scott

President of TransFocus

Mr. Scott is president of TransFocus Consulting, a firm that supports organizations across North America with greater inclusion of gender diversity. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College in 2002, followed by a Master of Arts degree in International Political Economy from the University of Denver in 2006. He is a social scientist who has dedicated his 15-year career to addressing complex social issues, especially related to vulnerable yet resilient populations. In the past, this has included people of colour in education, Indigenous people in mining, and, more recently, inclusion of transgender and non-binary people across industries.

Kal Dosanjh

Veteran Police Officer, founder KidsPlay Foundation

Kal Dosanjh is a veteran police officer with over 20 years of law enforcement experience. He served approximately 15 years as a patrol officer prior to becoming a detective in the Investigative Division. The steady stream of youth entering the open-air drug market became the basis for implementing youth programs. The programs focused on providing youth with constructive outlets through the portal of sports. This served as the genesis of KidsPlay Foundation, a registered charity founded by Kal Dosanjh. KidsPlay Foundation provides youth with free high quality educational initiatives, sports programming, and after school mentorship programs. Under his leadership as Chief Executive Officer, the organization now boasts over 500 volunteers, and over 70,000 youth have taken part in KidsPlay programs since its inception in 2015. The organization has grown to include chapters in major cities across Canada and internationally in Colombia and India.

Kelsey Carignan

Mindfulness Practitioner and Yoga Instructor.

Kelsey Carignan is a mindfulness practitioner and yoga instructor. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to work as a Mental Health Counselor. Kelsey completed her 200RYT Yoga Certification in 2015 and continues her yoga journey as both a student and a teacher. Kelsey’s life took a dramatic shift when she was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer in late 2018. She went through a bilateral mastectomy, 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation all before her 34th birthday. Since then, Kelsey has shared her journey and her experience, uniting others through a virtual community called Vibrant Yogi. The community meets for LIVE online classes and infuses kindness into the communities through various initiatives. Kelsey’s personal favourite is lending out Cold Caps to chemotherapy patients, helping many keep their hair during treatment.

Linda Fawcus

Founder, Gluu Society

Linda Fawcus is a software development veteran who has been in the industry since the 1990s. She is also a podcast host, writer, and founder of Gluu Society—a Canadian non-profit that helps older adults use technology to stay happy, healthy, and connected. Linda is working to ensure that older adults are not left behind with the rapid pace of technological development. Since 2015, Gluu has helped thousands of older adults gain the confidence and digital skills needed to take part in the modern world. Much of Linda’s work focuses on digital security and helping older adults stay safe online. She wrote the Gluu Guide to Digital Security, a 96-page guide to help older adults learn how to secure their devices, online accounts, and digital lives. Over 50,000 print copies have been distributed for free to older Canadians through Gluu Society. She has created the definitive courses that thousands of older adults use to learn their iPad or Samsung tablet.

Marilyn Norry

Actor, Creator of My Mother’s Story

Actor Marilyn Norry was looking for stories of authentic female characters when she found gold in the lives of mothers everywhere. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University in 1980, award-winning Canadian actor Marilyn Norry has been seen on stages across Canada, and in over 100 film and television projects seen around the world. She is also a director, writer, teacher, and story editor of plays and screenplays. Marilyn is also the creator of My Mother’s Story and founder of the non-profit Mothership Stories Society. Since its inception in 2004, Marilyn has created an online Archive for mother story submissions, edited and published three written My Mother’s Story anthologies – The Originals, North Vancouver, and Gone Too Soon – written the workbook Writing Women’s History Starting with Your Mother, and has co-created ten My Mother’s Story theatrical presentations through the Mothership.

Muhaddisa Sarwari

Hazara Refugee from Afghanistan

Muhaddisa is a 17-year-old student who arrived in Canada as a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan less than three years ago. Before that, Muhaddisa and her family lived as stateless refugees in Indonesia, where they spent five years in limbo. At ten years old, Muhaddisa discovered that she had no legal rights to obtain education as a refugee in Indonesia. Having to overcome the obstacles stacked against her education and the harsh living situation for refugees in Indonesia, Muhaddisa utilized her ongoing struggles as a fuel for growth. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of refugees and shedding light on the struggles of finding a place to call home,