A journey of song and growth paving the way for the next 150 years. Craig is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Known throughout Canada, Craig is developing a following throughout North America and into Europe. With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair. Infusing his music and lyrics with a uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today’s production-heavy climate. Craig Cardiff builds landscapes of sound using live digital loops, bringing the room to a hush. Edged, folk, beautiful, melancholy and left leaning, one song breaks your heart, and the next one puts it back together.

A message to Canadians: be loud, proud and tell your story, or risk being forgotten. Inspired by the Hopi American Indian proverb, “Those who tell the stories rule the world”, Melanie’s passion lies in telling fascinating stories on multiple platforms and connecting with people. As the Director of Content and Engagement at Canada 2020, Melanie has turned this passion into a career, leading the independent, progressive think thank’s content creation and social media initiatives. She is also a digital communications instructor at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication focusing on social media and storytelling in the digital age.

Are charity donors at the root of poverty? Please, stop giving to (bad) charities and learn how to truly support those in need. In 2000, Allan Brown made a radical mid-life shift by selling his IT consulting firm in order to fully dedicate himself to international development work. Today, Allan is the International Director and Founder of Compasio Relief & Development, an organization that seeks to love, protect and empower those who are vulnerable. From responding first-hand to the devastation of the 2004 Asian tsunami, to pioneering sustainable programs for victims of trafficking and abuse in high-risk refugee populations, Allan provides insights into the good, the bad and the ugly of development and charitable response. Allan has recently returned to Canada after 15 years abroad overseeing work among displaced ethnic minority communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Social media has made people significantly more vulnerable to sexual violence and abuse. It causes us to question whether Black Mirror is a reflection of the world we live in today. Dillon Black is a gender-nonconforming anti-violence activist meets tech feminist media-maker who is passionate about changing the Internet, challenging cyberviolence, and empowering young women and LGBTQ youth. Dillon believes the greatest challenge the internet faces today is the issue of violence and abuse. Dillon works tirelessly to end violence against women with the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women. Dillon has spent the last 5 years studying and challenging rape culture on campuses and online with the support of Status of Women Canada. Recently, Dillon was appointed by the Honourable Minister Patty Hajdu to the Government of Canada’s Advisory Council to Help Shape the Federal Strategy on Gender-Based Violence as the Cyberviolence and LGBTQQI2S expert.

Innovation in the next 150 years is rooted in the connected economy. John Weigelt spends most of his days looking at the future. As the National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada, John has the unique role of looking ahead 3-5 years and working at the intersection of innovative technology to determine how it impacts strategic policy and business decisions. In this role, Mr. Weigelt helps business and governments innovate with technology while avoiding the unintended consequences that might arise. He leads Canadian outreach for a variety of technology policies, including: Economic Development, Privacy, Security, Government 3.0, Accessibility, Environmental Sustainability and Interoperability.

What do Einstein and ballet have in common? The answer will help shape the future of STEM and help eradicate “ugh, science” stereotypes. Who says you have to graduate high school in order to make a compelling TEDxKanata speaker? As a Grade 12 student at École secondaire publique De La Salle, Mathilde Papillon is helping shape The Next 150 through her combined love of dance, science and community involvement. Mathilde is a strong believer in the student voice. In fact, she represents the voices of youth from all over the province as a member of the Ministerial Student Advisory Committee of Ontario. Particularly passionate about engaging youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Mathilde sits on Actua’s National Youth Council, which is the Federal Ministry of Science’s organization of choice for promoting STEM amongst young Canadians. Mathilde also strives to help make environmental education more widely available within Canadian schools, as the co-founder of a registered NGO called PAPLEN Education for Eco-sustainability.

Want more creative, productive and engaged employees? A "passion day" each week may just be what they need. Mark Dabrowski is not your typical computer nerd. Recognizing the positive impact of following your passions, Mark is constantly striving to improve himself and others’ happiness, productivity, and work satisfaction. Upon completing his education in computer engineering technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Mark was recruited by Terry Matthews and Wesley Clover to come to Kanata where he co-founded Teldio - a two way radio applications company. Mark is currently the Director of Research and Development. In 2015, Mark’s love of technology and the environment merged when he participated in the inaugural AquaHacking Challenge. Tying for first place with his teammates, the event thus marked the birth of Water Rangers. Water Rangers is a not for profit organization which aims to connect citizens to their local rivers, lakes and streams. Mark currently acts as the Director of Technology.

What happens when an academic research lab allows pure curiosity to guide its investigations? What happens when that lab opens its doors and invites the community to come in and play? Andrew Pelling launches a bold idea to create a street-level research lab that amplifies ideas through a potent mixture of craft, serendipity and curiosity. What would happen if we provided our communities with accessibility and resources to explore audacious ideas? Can we accomplish even greater things if we all work together? 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).

Why is it important to write our own story? It speaks to our individuality, our independence, our integrity. It speaks to our humanity. Use the pen of your conscience to write your own story. 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.

No Wi-Fi? No water? What’s your problem? We are more connected, informed and aware than we have ever been. Yet, with all this access we continue to lose sight of the bigger picture –real world problems, like access to safe water. We have become distracted, over-scheduled and seduced by technology. In this energetic and thought-provoking talk, author Craig Gauthier questions our perspective on the things that really matter. He provides insight into why we need to change our relationship with technology – in hope of finding humanity in our digital world. 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.

When his professional hockey career ended suddenly at age 29, Doug learned how the mind could very well be one of the strongest barriers we consistently face. What can be said for our physical versus our mental boundaries? He says there is a surprising beauty, opportunity and positive outcomes that can result from trauma—or other initially perceived negative experience. 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.