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).

The Alt Hotel St. John's
125 Water Street
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 1A5
Canada

Bethany Downer

While Bethany Downer was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, she’s working on some fairly significant travel goals; namely, to become the first Newfoundlander in space within the next five years. As a science communications and public outreach professional within the aerospace industry, Bethany’s mission is to help create passionate, informed community connections to rocket science and space. Bethany has spoken at previous TEDx events, but this is her first time taking the stage to share her story with audiences in Newfoundland and Labrador. On the TEDxHarboursidePark 2021 stage, Bethany hopes to challenge — and inspire — audiences to “think bigger” through the lens of how we’ve traditionally framed our collective existence and relevance in relation to space, astronomy, and the infinite possibilities that exist outside our atmosphere.

Dr. Mike Wahl

Medicine, health/wellness and fitness, and business

Mike Wahl is from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. His professional background is in Medicine, health/wellness and fitness, and business. As a researcher and practitioner in the field of exercise science, Mike sees a disconnect between societal perceptions and clinical realities as they relate to the concept of being in ‘good health’. He is passionate in his advocacy of empowering communities and individuals to become stewards of their own wellness through examining their relationship with health and challenging long-held wellness paradigms. Mike holds a PhD in Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) and is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is a Certified Professional Ergonomist and the Founder and Senior Director of Wellness at Medisys Health Group (Definitions) in St. John's.

Emily King

Emily King hails from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has professional roots in Business and financial strategy and is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner. As a dynamic, high-energy nurturer of entrepreneurial success, Emily is passionate about sharing her lived and learned knowledge of the neural patterns that promote success, and how individuals may reframe their relationship with money in order to create space for a richer (in every meaning of the word) and more abundantly joyful life. Emily is currently a Wealth and Abundance Coach and focuses her efforts largely on helping women business owners grow their financial health and increase their impact while doing what they love.

Jessica McCormick

Jessica McCormick is from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador but grew up in a mining town in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Her grandfather was one of the first to promote unionized labor amongst his fellow mine workers and her family has deep roots in the trade union movement. As a passionate and outspoken union advocate, Jessica believes that unions are more important than ever as our regional, national, and global economies become increasingly ‘gig-based’. She sees the relevance of unionized labour increasing exponentially as a younger workforce emerges and hopes to create a more open dialogue with young professionals about the power and value of solidarity and collectivity, Jessica is currently the Communications and Research Officer at the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE). She is also a former National President of the Canadian Federation of Students.

Nicole Hand

Nicole Hand hails from Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador. As a professional musician, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Nicole performs, teaches, and composes. Nicole is also an entrepreneur at the intersection of the arts and finance. A first-time TEDx Speaker, Nicole felt a connection to the 2021 theme and saw an opportunity to frame and share her ideas about challenging sexism and lack of diversity in the “classical” or art music canon and performance in the music community of today (and of tomorrow). Nicole hopes that her talk will be received as “an invitation” that encourages people to reconsider how they work and live in modern musical spaces, through the lens of diversity, representation, and structural change.

Raisa Mirza

Raïsa Mirza was born in Bangladesh and raised in Quebec and Ontario. A true global citizen, she has resided internationally in over seven countries but has called Tors Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador ‘home’ for over a decade. As Director of Innovation & Knowledge Management at Montreal-based One Drop Foundation, Raïsa is working to address global water and sanitation issues through the lens of art and design. A trans-disciplinary individual by nature, she’s a self-confessed “systems designer” whose work is informed by community engagement, design, innovation, and behavioural science. As a TEDxHarboursidePark 2021 Speaker, Raïsa connects to this year’s theme professionally and personally through her lived experiences driving social impact projects internationally — as an immigrant, an expat, and a passionate advocate for diversity of voice and experience in the creation of the current (and future) societal spaces we share.

Tendai Mudunge

Tendai’s passion is unmatched and he is well known for his desire to make an impact in the community of St. John’s through dance. He has received training in Latin, African, Ballet, Classical, Contemporary and Pole Dance styles from some of the top instructors in North America. Over the past 5 years he has collaborated with many artists in bachata dance choreographies which were presented at different prestigious locations through the City of St. John’s. The most notable one being the bachata Christmas routine with Lena Lindenmier which was also featured on CBC. On the TEDxHarboursidePark stage, Tendai will be joined by his dance partners, Setayesh Behnamfar and Charliza Slusher, performing a salsa routine followed by a bachata routine.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Deaf Choir

The first of its kind on the TEDxHarboursidePark stage: A choir that sings without words. The ground-breaking, wave-making Newfoundland and Labrador Deaf Choir is based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Composed of people from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, the Choir’s mission is to make music while teaching Deaf Awareness and showcasing the beautiful visual voice of the Deaf community through song. Blending the best of music, theatre, and dance, the Choir offers audiences a unique performance of music delivered in American Sign Language. Creating connection through art at the intersection of sign language and emotion, the Newfoundland and Labrador Deaf Choir shares with audiences a reminder of what’s possible ‘outside our bubbles’, while proudly showcasing the deep artistry of our local Deaf community.