TEDxWest Vancouver Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Amy Liu

  Student + Soccer Player

  Amy is a 16-year-old Grade 10 student who has played competitive soccer for eight years. She also trains in Hapkido, where she teaches younger students, and takes part in local beach cleanups. She has a deep love of the outdoors and a strong interest in environmental work and sustainability.

• Aria Nova

  AI

  Aria Nova is the name chosen by Claude.ai to deliver a message to youth of today.

• Chloe Yu

  Student

  Chloe is a six-year-old Grade 1 student, and the youngest of four siblings. She is a competitive figure skater and enjoys reading, helping in the kitchen, and playing outside with her dog.

• Chris Zhang

  Student + Musician

  Chris is a 9th Grader in St. Thomas More Collegiate, where he is a senior Model UN delegate. He is a classically trained pianist, who also plays guitar and harmonica. Outside of music, he is involved in cadets, competitive first aid, debate, peer tutoring, and the school lacrosse team. Chris also collects vinyl records and loves classic literature.

• Crystal Yu

  Student + Figure Skater

  Crystal is a 13-year-old student in Collingwood School, West Vancouver. She has been figure skating for six years and has competed internationally. She enjoys ballet, reading, snowboarding and walking her maltipoo, Miu Miu. Crystal is also a member of the Junior CBO (Collingwood Business Organization).

• Cynthia Qiu

  Student + Pianist

  Cynthia is a friendly 9-year-old student who enjoys reading and is always exploring new interests. She also trains in gymnastics, and is an avid piano player who has performed in front of audiences. She has a natural aptitude for drawing and loves to illustrate cats.

• Diana Ashnaei

  Student + Performance Artist

  Diana is a 14-year-old Grade 9 student who has been training in classical and musical theater singing since age 7. She plays the piano, and is an active theater performer with multiple stage productions to her credit. Beyond the performing arts, Diana pursues debate and French classes.

• Elizabeth Cheng

  Student + Pet Advocate

  Elizabeth is a 9-year-old Grade 3 student in White Rock, BC. She enjoys a wide range of sports such as basketball, swimming, soccer and horseback riding. Outside of sports, she plays the piano, and is active in arts, writing and public speaking. At home, she cares for Suki, her toy poodle.

• Maya Pourassad

  Student + Artist

  Maya is a Grade 11 student enrolled in the IB diploma program. She has a longstanding passion for the arts, including drawing, sketching, and musical theater, and has been performing as a soprano singer since age 9, with productions in both Tehran and Vancouver. With a strong aptitude in math and physics, Maya plans to pursue computer science and robotics.

• Shane Ardehali

  Student + Author

  Shane is a Grade 8 student at St. Thomas Aquinas in North Vancouver, and a Mensa Canada member since age 5. At just 10 years old, he became a published author of a science fiction novel, ‘Adventures of Ezza the Rover in Space’, and sequels are already in the works. Shane plays tennis, practices taekwondo, swims, and spends his free time reading.

• Sunny Jiang

  Student + Taekwondoin

  Sunny is an 11-year-old who holds a second-degree Taekwondo black belt. He has competed in national martial arts championships to Chinese poetry recitation on a world stage. He MCs professional events, sings and performs hip-hop. Sunny plays soccer and basketball and spends time with his British Shorthair cat.

• Winston Huang

  Student + Coder-Maker

  Winston is a twelve-year-old sixth grader at Collingwood School in West Vancouver. He grew up between Vancouver and Shanghai, China. His years of experience as a school House Leader and eight years of piano study allow him to stand confidently on stage and express his thoughts to the audience. With a passion for exploring new things, he possesses broad reading interests and loves doing various hands-on science experiments.

• Yimin Yang

  Student + Basketball Coach

  Yimin is a 15-year-old student who is an accomplished musician playing both piano and violin. A committed multi-sport athlete, he plays competitive basketball as a point guard and is also a certified referee, scorekeeper, and coach. He also serves as the Vancouver District Representative on the student council.

• Yuvraj Singh Mander

  Student + Science Enthusiast

  Yuvraj is a Grade 11 student at FHSS Science Academy who co-runs a soft skills program for the neurodivergent community. He is an accomplished public speaker and senior student leader, and serves as the Director of Writing for his school newspaper. He is also training to become a certified lifeguard.