• Dr. Jessica Grahn

    Topic: Music and the Brain: Why Rhythm Makes Us Move With many degrees and awards to her credit, Dr. Grahn brings her knowledge and experience in neuroscience, piano performance and the psychology of brain and mind to our podium. Her research is currently funded by the National Sciences and Engineering Council, Parkinson Society Canada, the […]

  • Youth Speaker: Jackson Martin

    Jackson Martin is a 15 year-old student in the French Immersion Program at Sir Wilfred Laurier Secondary School in London. He will be our Youth Speaker on Thursday October 8, 2015 at Centennial Hall. Jackson is the son of Katherynne and Richard Martin and has been in 17 films, mostly shorts. He attended the Cannes […]

  • Dr. Ken Shonk

    Topic: Jest for the Health of It Dr. Shonk says he works hard to show that “there ain’t much fun in medicine but there is a lot of medicine in fun!” A retired Family Practice doctor with a special interest in Pediatrics and Palliative Care, Ken believes in using humour in stress management, relationships, parenting […]

  • Youth Speaker: Jasmine Ryu Won Kang

    Jasmine Ryu Won Kang is 13 and in grade 9 at Central Secondary School in London. She is the 2015 Kathryn Sells Scholarship recipient. Jasmine won first place at the Ontario Provincial Finals for grade 9 piano in 2014 and received honourable mention for grade 10 piano in 2015. Last year, she had the honour […]

  • Michael Vanhevel

    Topic: Music We Love at Christmas Michael Vanhevel is a 23-year-old “crooner” from Grand Bend. He has performed in Halifax, Sudbury, London, Cambridge, Niagara and Stratford and to sold-out houses at the Stratford Festival, The Victoria Playhouse, and several Drayton Entertainment venues. He is delighted to be back at Centennial Hall following his performance there […]

  • Jeff Eames

    Topic: Humanitarian Aid With Dignity A professional contracting engineer and an active humanitarian aid worker, Jeff has traveled and worked in over 180 countries. From East Africa to Cambodia to the Middle East to Afghanistan, he has spent years giving aid. Now he heads up TARA International, is a member of the board of the […]

  • Youth Speaker: Courtney Coleman

    Courtney Coleman, 15, will speak about her experiences as a model and actor. After modeling and taking acting classes in New York City in the summer of 2014, she became involved with improv theatre. That lead to her stunt work in a short film which will be released this year. In November, she was named […]

  • LCdr Kelly Williamson

    Topic: Operation Renaissance 15-01: A Look Back At Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team In Nepal. LCdr Kelly Williamson joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1996. She is currently the Senior Public Affairs Officer for Expeditionary Operations at Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), the Lead CJOC Public Affairs Planner and Senior Public Affairs Officer for the […]

  • Youth Speaker: Emily Schuyler

    Emily Schuyler is from the Oneida First Nations of the Thames and currently attends Saunders Secondary School. Her traditional roots have kept her grounded and motivate her to share her Indigenous knowledge through her art.

  • Jean Alice Rowcliffe

    Topic: A Royal Nanny: From Palaces to Private Life Born in London, Ontario, Jean Alice Rowcliffe has embraced decades of challenges and rare opportunities that have taken her to the United Kingdom, Europe and California. She graduated from the prestigious British Norland College to become nanny to the children of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and [...]