Theme: Equilibrium

Equilibrium is a state of rest or balance due to the equal action of opposing forces. At our 2017 event the ideas of our wonderful speaker's big ideas are going to create an equilibrium of mind, body and spirit for our audience. Our 5th TEDx event will see over 1100 students from the Durham Catholic District School Board, from grades 7-12, and numerous guests come together to see that all it takes to ignite the world is a spark.

Durham Catholic District School Board Office
650 Rossland Rd W
Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 7C4
Canada

DO'CARTS

Student Perfomers

The arts will come alive as the students of the Dennis O'Connor arts department, from Ajax Ontario, showcase their work.

Andrew Zeitler

TED-Ed Club

Andrew Zeitler is a 17-year-old student in grade 11 at St. Mary CSS. Growing up, Andrew has had many influences from his three siblings and parents. From a young age, he has spent a lot of time working with computers. This experience with computers has allowed Andrew to develop a passion for computer related topics such as electronics and programming as well as partake in the school’s robotics team. Andrew is also interested in music and is a member in the school’s senior and jazz bands. Within these bands, he plays both the tuba and bass guitar. On top of this, Andrew also works part time as a deli clerk within a grocery store. When he finds spare time between school and work, Andrew works on developing different programs and algorithms for learning purposes. After graduation, Andrew hopes to study in the field of computer science at a nearby university. This will be Andrew’s first TED event and he looks forward to having the opportunity to share his ideas.

Chelsea Nolan

TED-Ed Club Member

Chelsea Nolan is a 17 year old student at Monsignor John Pereyma CSS in Oshawa. Chelsea is a singer/songwriter and performs with her sister, Saleen, in a band called 2 Cute 4 Country. The two have performed at a multitude of events over the years. Performances include: the HYPE music talent competition where they won Best Original song in all age categories, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and the Whitby, Lindsay, Bownmanville, and Port Perry Ribfests. Chelsea has also performed at many charity events such as Chazzapalooza, Tunes for Teya, Be Brave for Brady, as well as the Canadian Transplant Games in Toronto, Pan Am Games in Oshawa, and several Habitat for Humanity events. Chelsea also starred as Annie in Monsignor John Pereyma's musical production of Annie. She is involved with the school's eco team, student council, choir, and she actively participates in the school's talent shows where she performs original music and helps other students develop stage presence.

Daniela Garabito Silva

TEDed Club

Daniela Garabito is a 17-year-old, grade 12 student at St Mary Catholic Secondary School. Due to her parents’ jobs, Daniela has been able to spend her childhood and adolescence living in various cities in Canada and Colombia. This experience has allowed her to acquire a love for travel, culture, and foreign languages. Daniela is also passionate about politics and debating. She has participated in various Model United Nations conferences, federal and provincial politics programs for youth, and recently at the National Student Commonwealth Forum in Ottawa. These programs have motivated her to become an advocate for animal rights, LGBTQ rights,and sustainable development. Daniela aspires to pursue a degree in Economics and later specialize in agricultural or development economics. Daniela is very excited to have the opportunity to hear the astounding and breathtaking talks at this year's TEDxstmarycss event.

Eddy Robinson

Educator/Indigenous Artist

Eddy Robinson: Eventually ending up in the care of his grandparents, Eddy found himself caught in the same cycle of violence and addiction that dominated his childhood. He credits a Catholic priest at the Native Peoples Parish located in Toronto for first encouraging him to seek out his roots. He pointed Eddy to a traditional Anishinaabe Vision Quest/Fasting held at “Dreamers Rock” located on Manitoulin Island, ON; that would imminently begin his journey towards understanding his Indigenous identity and helping him leave behind the family legacy of abuse and violence.

Jordan Axani

Keynote speaker/Lie Expert

Jordan Axani is a social researcher that helps employees and students share their unspoken fears, struggles and hopes with their peers – driving performance, engagement and happiness at work and school. He calls this building “cultures of belonging.” On-stage, Jordan helps people take off the “masks” they wear around others, leading them to accept themselves as they are, and enabling unprecedented peer support around the idea of living authentically. However, in late 2014 everything changed. On a dare, Jordan posted a message online, offering anyone who shared the same name as his previous girlfriend a leftover ticket for a trip around the world him. The post earned a shocking four-billion media impressions, and made Jordan one of the biggest social media sensations, ever.

Kayleigh Melcher

TED Ed Club

Kayleigh Melcher is a Grade 11 student at St. Mary CSS in Pickering, Ontario. Her love of music began when she started playing piano at age 7, which has now led to her commitment to the school’s singing program. While school and her part-time job as a lifeguard keep her busy, she also finds time to participate in the school’s choir, Vocal Jazz, Reach for the Top and the swim team. She has competed at OFSAA for swimming three times and won the swim team MVP award. She received the leadership award at the Cairn Family of Camps, where she will be working as a counsellor this summer. Kayleigh has volunteered at local swim meets as a timekeeper, helped in a Grade 1-3 class at Blaisdale Montessori School and sung at various events such as the Mayor’s Gala and at Canada’s Wonderland. As an honours with distinction student, Kayleigh has aspirations to study in the field of science at a Canadian university. This is her first year in the TED Ed Club and she couldn’t be happier to be involved.

Kelly Lovell

Youth Motivator

Kelly Lovell, an acclaimed Youth Mobilizer and Social Entrepreneur, is bridging the gap between business and community to create opportunities for the next generation to thrive. She is a 15-time award-winning thought leader, 3-time TEDx Speaker, and CEO of Lovell Corporation and My Effect Inc. With work featured in Forbes, INC., Globe & Mail, FOX News, and Entrepreneur, Kelly Lovell is sought out for her expertise in understanding and engaging with the needs of Millennials and Generation Z. Most recently at 23 years old, Lovell became a 2016 Queen’s Young Leader and personally met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace to receive an international award . In less than four years, Lovell has grown her company portfolio to five distinct brands that harness media and technology to provide mentorship, skill-building, and entrepreneurship support for youth. Notable projects include: a short documentary film that profiles the stories of exceptional young leaders to combat ageist stereotypes that exist in media; a global education project that introduces students to key problems affecting today’s world through the lens of their peers across 59 different countries; and, a personal development platform that helps youth track the transferable skills they gain from community service and extracurricular leadership. Her first book, The Power of YOUth, shares over 200 stories of youth aged 6 years-old to 30 years-old who are changing the world. Connect with Kelly on social media @kellyalovell or learn more at www.kellyalovell.com

Mark Correia

Performer

Mark Correia is a world renowned magician, actor and world record holder with over fifteen years of experience. He specialized in comedy and drama at The Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto, Ontario, before graduating from The National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. Mark is the brains and talent behind Escaping Parkinson’s—a stunt supported by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Mr. Fox himself—raising over $15,000 in one summer and seen by an estimated 31 million people worldwide. For fourteen days Mark lived strapped inside a regulation straitjacket. On the fourteenth day he escaped on Global's "Morning Live." He garnered international attention with this stunt, and set a world record for “Longest Amount of Time Wearing a Straitjacket." The project is currently being produced as the documentary Two Weeks Strait, as well as an autobiographical book under the same title.

Natasha Sharma

Happiness Expert/Relationship Expert

Natasha Sharma is a Psychotherapist, TV/Media Personality, and “Doctor of Psychology” Candidate. She is also the author of The Kindness Journal, owner of NKS Therapy, and a Co-Founder of Rule Your Emotions. In 2007 Natasha walked away from her 6-figure salary job that "a million girls would kill for" to study psychology at Johns Hopkins. Since then, she has been devoted to inspiring and helping others to master emotional fitness, learn how to be happier, and live their most fulfilling lives, counselling thousands of individuals and couples. Natasha’s expert advice been featured frequently in the Media including The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, The Huffington Post, Elle, Global News, and Breakfast Television. She is a regular contributor to the globally renowned Yummy Mummy Club, and frequently lends her expertise through collaborations with her other Alma Mater, McMaster University. As a seasoned Speaker, Natasha enjoys integrating her clinical knowledge with personal and meaningful stories that help people connect to the importance of mastering their emotions…and how to do it. For more information visit: www.thekindnessjournal.com, www.nkstherapy.com, and www.ruleyouremotions.com

Sacha Visagie

Singer

Country Recording Artist @CCMAOfficial @Socanmusic @TheCMAO Winner of The Next Country Music Star 2016. Find out more: www.IAmSacha.com www.facebook.com/sacha4music www.twitter.com/sachavisagie www.youtube.com/SachaNTasha

Teresa Chan

Doctor/Researcher

Dr. Chan is an emergency physician, base hospital physician, and clinician educator in Hamilton, ON. Since 2014, she has also been the Director of Continuing Professional Development for the Division of Emergency Medicine. Nationally, she has held positions with the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine as the journal’s inaugural Social Media Editor.