Theme: Breaking Barriers

Imagine Kanata and Ottawa’s most fascinating and engaging presenters, artists and thinkers coming together to share their passions and discuss their visions for the world all within an underlying theme. Well, it’s happening at TEDxKanata! Join us for inspiration, innovation and, of course, ideas worth spreading— featuring some of Canada’s most incredible speakers.

Brookstreet Hotel
525 Legget Dirve
525 Legget Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K2K2W2
Canada

Alex Munter

CEO Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Alex Munter is President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, a world-class centre that provides outstanding family-centred patient care, pioneering research, and training for the health care professionals of the future. Since joining CHEO in 2011, he has helped CHEO earn recognition as one of Canada’s most admired corporate cultures and a leader in research, health technology and patient-centred care. A leader even in his youth, Alex founded a newspaper at age 14 and served four terms as a municipal councillor after being elected to city government at 23. He has been in the forefront of major change on public policy issues like smoke-free public places, equal marriage rights and mental health.

Andrew Pelling

Canadian Experimental Scientist

Canadian experimental scientist Andrew Pelling uses low-cost, open source materials to discover new biology and create novel living technologies of the future. He runs an interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven lab at the University of Ottawa where he researches non-genetic ways to create artificial tissues and organs. He has, for instance, grown human cells in apples and living skins on LEGOs – innovations with the potential to replace prohibitively expensive commercial biomaterials. While unconventional, much of his other experimental work has led to new insights in cancer pathology, muscle degeneration and stem cell development. Andrew has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including a TED Fellowship (2016), Raine Medical Research Foundation Professorship (2014), Ontario Early Researcher Award (2010), Discovery Accelerator Award (2009) and a Canada Research Chair (2008-2018).

Bruce Linton

CEO Martello Technologies, Co-Founder and Chairman of Tweed

As CEO of Martello Technologies, Bruce oversees corporate strategy, attracts investment capital and drives a successful M&A program. He has extensive experience as a founder, CEO, and Board member across a wide variety of enterprises, including his role as co-founder and Chairman of Tweed. Under his leadership, Martello has seen three-year revenue growth of more than 600% and garnered recognition as Ottawa’s Fastest Growing Company 2015. He began his career at Newbridge Networks Corporation and he has since held positions that include General Manager and Re-Founder of Computerland.ca, President and Co-Founder of webHancer Corp, and part of the establishing team at CrossKeys Systems Corporation.

Craig Gauthier

Entrepreneur / Communications Specialist

Craig Gauthier is an entrepreneur with two decades of leadership, communication, business, technology and marketing experience. As founder of Strategy Line, he currently works around the world with organizations helping them tell their story through video, build their brand and become market leaders in their industry. Craig is also a highly sought after professional speaker, having delivered over 500 keynotes and workshops at organizational meetings, industry conferences and global events. He has spoken for or consulted with some of the biggest brands – including National Hockey League (NHL), New Balance, Coke, Lexus-Toyota, Honeywell, Cisco, Texas State University, Microsoft, Google, Disney-ABC Television Group, McDonalds, Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger.

Doug Smith

Former NHL PLayer, Speaker, Author

Doug Smith is a retired NHL player whose career spanned over a decade. A first round NHL draft choice in 1981, he played for the Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins. His professional sports career was suddenly and tragically ended in a head first collision resulting in a broken neck and spinal cord injury. His two daughters were then just under two years old. His story of recovery and healing is unforgettable and inspiring. He is the author of three books and several papers on the subject of transition and performance including Thriving in Transition & Phenomenal Outcomes. In his latest book, the The Trauma Code, Unlocking your Performance, Doug delves into his personal story of success and trauma and explores the powerful but intricate relationship between the mind and the body.

Justina Antonia (McCaffrey)

Wedding Dress Designer

Justina Antonia (formerly Justina McCaffrey) is one of the most respected fashion designers in the wedding and evening dress industry. She shows her collection at highly regarded International Bridal Market in New York twice each year and has designed privately and on contract for many fashion houses, retailers and individuals. She has also developed other collections such as an in-house moderately priced wedding series, a bridesmaid selection, an evening wear compilation, and a grouping of luxury lingerie exclusively for Marshall Fields. Her dresses have graced the covers and been featured in the world’s top magazines and newspapers. Her creations and have been worn by countless celebrities and socialites internationally.

Kathy Kortes-Miller

Unconventional Death Educator

Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller, MSW, PhD thinks about dying and death a lot. She knows thinking about it – and teaching and researching about it – helps her to embrace life full on. An unconventional death educator with a passion for palliative care and improving end of life care for all, Kathy has inspired and challenged a generation of healthcare providers to be prepared to care for individuals who are dying, as well as their families, regardless of the setting. She has been teaching and researching at Lakehead University for over a decade leveraging her experiences as a cancer survivor, and as a palliative care provider, to challenge us to have the important conversations about dying, death and life. Kathy strives to make an impact with her teaching and research to discover, share and communicate the information that we are all "dying to know."

Sheema Khan

Patent Agent, Scientist, Columnist, Author

As a toddler, Sheema Khan emigrated from India to Montreal, where she immersed herself in Quebecois culture and quickly became fluent in French. Currently a patent agent in Ottawa, she is also a published author, soccer player and hockey mom. The path to patent agent has been an interesting one: She holds a Masters in Physics and a PhD in Chemical Physics, both from Harvard University. After completing post-doctoral research at MIT and McGill, Sheema worked as an R&D scientist in pharmaceutical sciences and is an inventor with numerous patents in drug delivery technology. In addition, since 2002, she has been a monthly columnist for Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. A collection of her columns have been published in the book Of Hockey and Hijab: Reflections of a Canadian Muslim Woman. In 2012, she was a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to Canada.