A MESSAGE FROM OUR CO-DIRECTORS
Dear Conference Delegates,
It is with great excitement that we welcome you to TEDxQueensU 2022: MOMENTUM. After a year of planning, we are very excited to kick off a day of sharing ideas worth spreading here at Queen’s University and in the Kingston community.
Our conference theme this year is MOMENTUM. In the last year, our communities and environments have experienced exponential and continuous change. With that being said, we wanted to dedicate this year’s conference to exploring the idea of rapid change in our society. This year’s theme emphasizes that change is needed to survive by exploring the courageous stories of individuals adapting to the world around them. We hope that you leave our conference feeling hopeful for the future around us, no matter how much change we have and continue to endure.
Today, we will be joined by seven incredible speakers. They will each share their unique perspective on this year’s theme, shaping our collective view of MOMENTUM as we enter 2022. During the past months of preparation, we are extremely grateful for their ability to adapt to the virtual environment and the many hours that they have dedicated to constructing their diverse ideas. We hope that you learn as much from them as we have.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our fantastic team. This year, we have worked alongside 43 talented individuals, consisting of undergraduate students, volunteers, and advisors, to create the best experience possible for you today. We are continually impressed and extraordinarily grateful for their resiliency, humility, and passion for TED’s motto of “Ideas Worth Spreading.” To the 2022 TEDxQueensU team: thank you.
Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank you, our delegates. Thank you for your dedication to innovation and ideas in your communities. Thank you for believing in the power of big ideas. This year, more than ever, we are grateful for our TEDxQueensU community of curious thinkers who are passionate about learning, challenging the status quo, and making the world a better place. We hope you enjoy TEDxQueensU 2022: MOMENTUM.
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Rebecca Fifield
TEDxQueensU Co-Directors
Nathaniel Loh
TEDxQueensU Co-Directors
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The TEDxQueensU would like to acknowledge that the land which we are situated on is traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. As settlers, we are grateful to currently share this land with these communities, who have lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years before us.
We also acknowledge our role in the colonial system that continues to oppress Indigenous peoples. We hope that today’s event will aid all of us to take a step forward in reconciling our relationships with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Please take a moment to think about some of the things that you are grateful for that have been enabled by the land you are situated on. We encourage our delegates to share their acknowledgement of the proper Indigenous territory on which they live in the LiveChat, which will be active throughout the event.
SCHEDULE
1:00 PM (EST)
Introduction
Speaker Block 1
Kelly Weiling Zou
"From One to Many: Reconceptualizing the Onus of Climate Activism"
Patrice Francois
"Heartbreak Is Not The End... You Are Just Transitioning"
Break (10 min.)
Origami Tutorial - George Hodges
Speaker Block 2
Sarah Guo
"Why Reading is No Longer Easy"
Sara-Maya Kaba
“What does Islam Say? (Spoiler: Nothing)”
Break (5 min.)
Innovation Lab (60 min.)
Block 1 (15 min.)
Block 2 (15 min.)
Block 3 (15 min.)
Block 4 (15 min.)
Break (10 min.)
Performance - Madelaine Baigrie
Speaker Block 3
Lindsay Rae D'Ottavio
"Escape the Beauty Propaganda Machine Through Strategic Self Talk"
Abi Tripp
"Communication and Connection: The Strength that Lies Beneath the Surface"
Dr. Chris Simpson
"The Challenges of Omicron"
Break (5 min.)
Performance - Talia D'Intino
5:00 PM (EST)
Q&A
KELLY WEILING ZOU
FROM ONE TO MANY: RECONCEPTUALIZING THE ONUS OF CLIMATE ACTIVISM
Driven by her passion for justice and liberation, Kelly Weiling Zou is an experienced grassroots organizer dedicated to supporting historically and politically ostracized communities. Zou combines her academic and lived experiences to advocate for racial, environmental, disability, and queer justice.
In the face of the impending ecological and climate crises, what does it mean to play your role in fighting for change? When fighting for change, how does the fight for environmental justice intersect with the fight for social justice? Join Kelly Weiling Zou as she discusses the popularized narratives around climate change and how these narratives are failing climate activists and the planet.
PATRICE FRANCOIS
HEARTBREAK IS NOT THE END...YOU ARE JUST TRANSITIONING
Patrice Francois, MHRM, MBA, is a dynamic entertainer, speaker, producer, writer, author and game changing trendsetter that aims to inspire. She migrated from Trinidad and Tobago in her late teens to establish a new legacy for her life. She is the host of “The Mss Francois Show,” a talk show that uses entertainment and humour to have candid conversation and help others with their dysfunctional relationships. The show was created out of the frustration and heartache over her failed romantic relationships. Many tune in to be engaged, empowered and entertained, as it provides a well needed distraction from the array of emotions that accompany different stages of a relationship. Her talk show can be seen in New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Canada, and twenty-two Caribbean countries. Her one-woman show, “Frustrated,” opened to sold-out performances. In addition, her tri-state tour of comedic monologues, performed alongside several Caribbean comedy stars, was met with great reviews. She is also the winner of the District 46 Toastmasters Humorous Speech Competition in New York. Leveraging the unique lessons she has learned throughout her life's journey, she has written two books, “Lights, Camera, Launch: Kick Start Your Own Professional TV Show by Investing in the ME in TEAM” and “Let That @#$%&! Man Go: 5 Plus Steps to Get Over a Break Up.” Francois has held several positions for Toastmasters, an organization that seeks to assist others in public speaking and leadership skills, including Area Director for District 119. She's also a member of The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce. Francois continues to remain civically engaged as she partners with youth organizations such as AIMHIGH El and World Vision. Her savvy approach to life is timeless as she continues to empower, inspire, and make others laugh.
Breakups are never easy, but they should not define or determine how you show up in the world or in new relationships. During the emotional rollercoaster and grieving processes, clarity escapes you. However, we are all able to heal from hurt. With the right steps and support, we can design a wonderful future for ourselves. The possibilities are endless. You can hear Patrice Francois discuss how to navigate relationships in her talk, “Heartbreak is Not the End… You are Just Transitioning.”
SARA GUO
WHY READING IS NO LONGER EASY
Sara Guo is a Chinese Canadian and first-year student at Queen’s University in the Smith Commerce program. At 16, she published a book titled “One Point in Time: To All East Asian Youth” after seeing the rise in discrimination and xenophobia towards the East Asian population during COVID-19. From dumplings to the Model Minority Myth, her book features a compilation of free-verse poems reflective of both her personal and shared experiences growing up in a western country. Guo hopes that her book is something East Asian youth can relate to, especially during these times when connectivity seems so hard to achieve. Since publishing, her book climbed to #25 in its respective genre on Amazon and she has been featured on CBC and OMNI Television. Guo is passionate about the importance of diversifying literature, specifically the ways in which you can add more diversity in the books that you read or the media you consume.
“Diversity” has been a hot topic for years. Companies and social media propel the need for diversity in the workplace, but the book industry is struggling to keep up. Diversity in literature allows for personal reflection, a sense of comfort and makes us wonder “whose voices are we seeing and hearing the most?” Join Sara Guo to discuss the importance of diversifying literature and specifically, ways in which you can add more diversity in the books you read and the media you consume.
SARA-MAYA KABA
WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY? (SPOILER: NOTHING)
Sara-Maya Kaba graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies from Queen's in 2021. Kaba is a dancer, a spoken-word poet, and believes that storytelling through art is one of the most powerful ways of creating social change. Having worked in education-based settings in Canada, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Mexico, and Kenya, she is inspired by how arts and culture are valuable tools for mediation around the world. Kaba’s recent experiences include serving as a program director for an international youth summit, conducting research under established scholars concerned with sonic resistance in Kashmir, as well as increasing representation of Muslims in mainstream media. Kaba is currently completing her final year of a Bachelor of Education, specializing in Arts & Community Arts Education.
January 29, 2022 marked 5 years since the Quebec mosque shooting. Islamophobia means the ‘fear’ of Islam, but it is much more than fear- it is the deliberate othering, distancing, and vilifying of Muslims. Islamophobia costs lives, and very much is a Canadian problem. Our narratives have power, both to harm and to heal. It’s time that we change the way we speak about Islam. Sara-Maya Kaba’s talk examines some of the ways we may unknowingly perpetuate divisive rhetoric and how we can be more conscious of our language going forward.
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LINDSAY RAE D'OTTAVIO
ESCAPE THE BEAUTY PROPAGANDA MACHINE THROUGH STRATEGIC SELF TALK
Society tells us that we have to fit into this tiny narrow minded mold of what is considered beautiful. Lindsay Rae D’Ottavio believes that confidence in the skin you are in trickles into every aspect and relationship in your life. She gives women permission to feel beautiful exactly as they are. D’Ottavio is an internationally published and multi-award-winning photographer, author, and inspirational speaker. Her many achievements include first place in RangeFinder Magazine's Celebrate the Body, and first place at North America's largest speaking competition, the 2021 Speaker Slam on Self Acceptance. D’Ottavio owns and operates Self Love Experience out of Troy, New York. At Self Love Experience, D’Ottavio and her glam squad showcase the natural beauty and power in every woman, helping women overcome negative self-esteem to become more confident versions of themselves. D’Ottavio is an active contributor to Women's Business Daily and Co-Author of the Amazon Best Seller and Impact Award winning book, “Success Codes: The Secrets to Success You Weren't Taught In High School.” She also won a gold medal for W3s Online Social Activism for her work on size inclusivity.
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We all want to know how to stop talking down to ourselves. Despite the obvious barriers, such as influencer culture, the real problem is that we treat ourselves in a way we would never treat the people we care about most. Yet we can all agree that when we truly respect someone, we would never intentionally minimize them. That’s why, in order to achieve this goal, we need to shift our inner dialogue and learn to respect ourselves- at the very least, as much as we respect our friends. Join Lindsay Rae D’Ottavio as she discusses how to “Escape the Beauty Propaganda Machine Through Strategic Self Talk.”
ABI TRIPP
COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION: THE STRENGTH THAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE
Abi Tripp is a two-time Paralympic swimmer. Tripp was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at birth and began swimming at age 6. Tripp’s career highlights include winning bronze medals at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 50-meter freestyle, as well as at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in the women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
Since her Paralympic debut in 2016, Tripp has grappled with a diagnosis of dystonia. Her new reality has challenged her to jump over physical and mental roadblocks that lay in her athletic career path. Through her involvement in sport, Tripp has become passionate about mental health and the importance of meaningful human connection. She is now studying psychology at Laval University.
You are never alone. Sometimes you might question your path while comparing yourself to others, but your personal journey is celebrated. Valuable lessons and relationships lie in every experience- whether they be good or bad. It takes guts to let people know that you are struggling. That necessary step can become more manageable when rooting yourself to your inner circle of people. Tripp’s dystonia diagnosis made her life unpredictable and lonely until she found a way to look outward and be vulnerable in her vulnerability. Listen to Abi Tripp’s powerful story in her talk, “Communication and Connection: The Strength that Lies Beneath the Surface.”
DR. CHRIS SIMPSON
THE CHALLENGES OF OMICRON
Chris Simpson acquired a BSc at the University of New Brunswick. While at UNB, Dr. Simpson played the saxophone with The Thomists, a 20-piece big swing band well-known across Atlantic Canada. He attended medical school at Dalhousie University, followed by internal medicine and cardiology training at Queen’s University, and then a Heart and Stroke Foundation Clinical and Research Fellowship in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Western Ontario. After returning to Kingston in 1999, he founded the Heart Rhythm Program at Kingston General Hospital, served as Professor and Head of Cardiology at Queen’s University, and Medical Director of the Cardiac Programs at Kingston General Hospital/Hotel Dieu Hospital. He served as the Vice-Dean of the Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medical Director of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization. He also served as the first president of the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society. In 2020, Dr. Simpson was appointed Clinical Science Lead of the Ontario Health COVID-19 Oversight Table. Currently, Dr. Simpson is the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Ontario Health and serves as chair of Ontario Health’s Quality Standards Committee. His non-clinical interests include access to care, seniors’ care, wait times and medical fitness to drive. Outside medicine, Dr. Simpson is a proud supporter of University Hospitals Kingston Foundation and Queen’s Advancement. He has served as Chair of the Kingston Blue Marlins Swim Team Board of Directors and as a director on the Board of Cantabile Choirs of Kingston. The proud father of three daughters and a son, he immensely enjoys watching and cheering on their academic, musical and athletic pursuits.
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Dr. Simpson seeks to shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the health inequities that have existed in Canada throughout its history. If something can be taken from the challenging and chaotic times over the past few years, it is that we must take advantage of the momentum from the exposed vulnerabilities in our healthcare system and work towards protecting those who need it most. In his talk, “The Challenges of Omicron,” Dr. Chris Simpson encourages listeners to work together to build upon the lessons we have learned from the pandemic.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
MEET OUR PERFORMERS
MADELINE BAIGRIE
HIGHLAND DANCER
Madelaine Baigrie is studying at the University of Manitoba as a psychology major. She has been a Highland Dancer for 14 years. Baigrie has represented Manitoba six times at the national level and is the reigning Manitoba champion in Highland Dance. She has had the pleasure of competing in Scotland where she received the title of “Best Overseas Dancer,'' competed in the world championships, and was selected to dance for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The TEDxQueensU team is thrilled to have Madelaine Baigrie performing for us today.
TALIA D'INTINO
AUTHOR AND POET
Talia D’Intino is studying at Sheridan College for creative writing and publishing. She has been a writer since the day she first picked up a pencil, and began writing poetry at age 12. She has written over 400 poems. In 2021, she co-wrote and self-published her first novel, “12:08,” which consists of her poetry and photographs taken by a friend. Her favourite form of poetry is slam poems, as she loves to use her writing to voice her stance on many prominent issues that we are facing in our world. We are pleased to have Talia D’Intino present some of her art for our audience. We hope that everyone not only enjoys the presentations, but also takes something away from Talia D’Intino’s powerful work.
Connected
Connected is an end-to-end product development services firm that specializes in discovering and delivering software-powered products that delight customers and benefit businesses. They assemble best-in-class, cross-disciplinary teams of product strategists, engineers, product designers, and researchers dedicated to discover and deliver impactful products at pace and scale across industries. Connected partners with ambitious leaders across industries to validate, derisk, and accelerate their organization’s product development efforts and ultimately enable them to build better products.
CFRC
Now celebrating its 100th year, CFRC 101.9 FM has been broadcasting radio at Queen's since 1922 and podcasting since 2019. CFRC’s mandate is to provide innovative, alternative radio programming that enriches and challenges the academic and cultural life of Queen’s University and the Kingston community. They strive to provide members with the opportunity to gain skills and experience in the collective operation of a radio station whose programming and practices are not constrained by demands for profit. CFRC’s mission is to empower and celebrate the diversity of Kingston and Queen’s through innovative, non-commercial, community-oriented radio programming, and podcast and broadcast learning opportunities.
Individuals interested in learning more or seeking to develop their own podcasts are encouraged to reach out to CFRC by visiting podcasts.cfrc.ca or emailing station@cfrc.ca.
Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC)
The Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) believes that everyone has the potential for creative problem solving to address pressing issues facing people in our society. Their mission is to catalyze this potential, developing entrepreneurial mindsets and fostering a culture of innovation across Queen’s University, the Kingston region, and globally. DDQIC builds changemakers by encouraging and supporting their entrepreneurial initiatives through incubators, workshops, programs, courses, and pitch competitions.
To learn more about today’s presentation, contact Bruna Guarino Moraes at bgm3@queensu.ca, or Megan Amanda Sieroka at m.sieroka@queensu.ca. Any general inquiries can be sent to the Queen's Innovation Centre, at innovation.centre@queensu.ca.
Be in the Conversation
Each chapter of “Be in the Conversation” explores a different subject that is deemed as one of modern society's controversial topics. With “cancel culture” in play, many authors are afraid to speak their mind. “Be in the Conversation” provided writers with a platform to truly explore such topics without conflict and to elaborate on their perspective. Featured author, Vonara Kalahe Pathirana, discusses the “Harsh Realities of Global Healthcare” by exploring the multiple perspectives of global healthcare worldwide. Specifically, Kalahe Pathirana chose to reflect on the healthcare system on a global scale and highlight the issues that exist within it, starting at the roots: Do we unbiasedly and thoroughly educate our scientists and doctors? Do we educate the public on scientific topics in ways that they effectively absorb the information? Why do healthcare professionals jump to prescribing medications as treatment as opposed to exploring other options first?
To learn more about “Be in the Conversation,” connect with Vonara Kalahe Pathirana. She can be contacted through her email, vonarasvkp@gmail.com, her Instagram, @vonaraa, or her LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/vonara/.
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CREO Solutions
CREO Solutions is Canada’s premier student-run consultancy, serving businesses across North America. Their highly skilled team advises a broad mix of private and public institutions from a variety of different sectors. The CREO team provides a noticeably unique perspective and cutting-edge solutions to their clientele. CREO is confident in their ability to drive meaningful change within every organization they work with, and have over a decade of experience to prove it.
To learn more about CREO, please email creosolutions.smith@gmail.com, follow their Instagram, @creosolutions, or connect with them on LinkedIn, at https://ca.linkedin.com/company/creo-solutions.
Accenture
Accenture is an Ireland-based multinational professional services company that specializes in information technology services and consulting. A Fortune Global 500 company, Accenture embraces the power of change to create 360° value and shared success in Canada for their clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.
Queen's Hyperloop Design Team (QHDT)
The Queen's Hyperloop Design Team (QHDT) is a diverse group of passionate students from various faculties and disciplines. The QHDT team works together to design and develop innovative solutions to further progress in the green transportation sector for the betterment of society.
The QHDT can be reached by sending an email to hyperloop@engsoc.queensu.ca or by following their Instagram, @queenshyperloop.
Queen's Space Engineering Team (QSET)
With over 100 active members that cover most engineering disciplines, the Queen's Space Engineering Team (QSET) is one of the largest design teams at Queen’s. Members can take on a variety of projects covering a variety of skill levels. The only requirement to join is an interest in space and engineering design. QSET offers their members the flexibility and freedom required to successfully design, research, and implement solutions to various open-ended problems.
QSET consists of two teams that operate independently on various technical projects: the Rover Team and the Satellite Team. The rover team works year-round to build a self-standing mars rover that competes at the University Rover Challenge in Utah, as well as other Canadian competitions. The satellite team develops a 3U CubeSat to compete in the CubeSat Design Challenge alongside other Canadian universities with the aim of launching a satellite into space. QSET’s goal is to provide an environment where students can develop industry transferable skills through hands-on experience to further grow their love for space.
To learn more about QSET, visit their website, qset.ca. The team can be contacted through their email, qset@engsoc.queensu.ca, or their Instagram, @qset.
Queen's University Business and Engineering (QUBE)
Queen's University Business and Engineering (QUBE) is a club that was started to unite bright engineers who are interested in a career in business. The team runs educational materials on capital markets, make mock portfolios, and work in teams with real-world clients. QUBE members have gone on to work in private equity, investment banking, consulting, and more.
For more information, contact Paul Santilli, at 17paos@queensu.ca.
INNOVATION LAB BOOTHS
MEET OUR SPONSORS
TITLE SPONSOR
CHAMPION
PARTNER
BENEFACTOR
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