TEDxYorkU

Enjoy the highlights of our final block of the day:

Spoken Symphonies opened our final block with a musical spoken word performance. Their poetry and smooth, jazzy acoustics was both awe-inspiring and a treat for the ears.

Melanie Baljko, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, spoke about the notion that assistive technologies used to help those with disabilities are commercial products. These technologies are expensive and not easily accessible by those who truly need it. Assistive technologies are at the mercy of supply and demand yet these technologies suffer due to this. Baljko proposes the possibility of using innovative research at universities to make these technologies more available to the public. She leaves the audience, stating that this change could shift the status quo and make the world a better place.

After a makeshift game of Mad-libs (aka Greg and Len libs), Talisha Ramsaroop, recipient of the Lincoln M. Alexander Award, discussed the negative connotations that accompany the Jane and Finch community. “I did not expect more from myself and others did not expect more from me” stated Ramsaroop. She related this to stereotyping of race, culture, and sexual orientation. She volunteered the idea that people need to dig deeper and stop making immediate assumptions based on something as minuscule as where someone grew up. Ramsaroop encouraged the audience to see their peers as equals and to keep that in mind with every new person they meet.

Thank you to everyone who came out today and to all the volunteers who put their time and effort into making this day a huge success! Recorded talks will be available on YouTube in the coming weeks, other recaps are on our website and Twitter.

The second part of TEDxYorkU has come to an end, but it won’t be forgotten. Take a look at some of the highlights:

The York Dance Ensemble dazzled the audience with a well-choreographed dance routine, playing off the theme and meaning of ricochet. The Ensemble danced to a combination of varying sound effects and a soft piano melody; the perfect way to welcome the audience back after lunch.

Juan Garrido, 4th year Sociology and Drama Studies student, spoke about being diagnosed and living with multiple sclerosis. The condition is dangerous and unpredictable, but Juan discusses rising above his struggles as so many have done before him. Juan now works in student affairs and is an advocate for the MS Society. He left the audience with the message of looking at their vulnerabilities not as obstacles but as stepping stones, and the emphasis on the importance of continuing to grow.

Brendan Schulz, Executive Director of the Strategy and Planning Division of Students at York University, talked about the philosophy of treating others the way you would like to be treated, the Golden Rule. Schulz went on to say that this philosophy could be selfish, as we tend to assume that our preferences match that of everyone else. Instead we should follow the Platinum Rule: “do unto others as they would have you do unto them”. Although this isn’t always realistic, Schulz states that as a community we should invest in this rule and strive to attempt to understand the needs as others as much as our own.

Tim Cork, President of Straight A’s Inc., spoke about what it takes to be the best person that you can be and how to unleash your full potential. Cork states that people are always having conversations with themselves via thoughts, feelings, and emotions. These conversations dictate how you go about your life and what choices you will make. Cork puts an emphasis on the virtue of generosity and how giving to others will pave the way to success.  

Our third block will continue online on our livestream and Twitter feed!

We’ve come to the first break at TedxYorkU 2015, and we’re off to a great start! Here are some highlights:

The Eagle Women Singerz opened the show with a spectacular drum circle. Both the harmony and rhythm were kept in perfect sync, an ideal way to usher in the talent and voices of today’s event.

Greg and Len, our masters of ceremonies, welcomed the audience while spouting humorous oxymoronic facts about one another, putting an emphasis on the theme of ricochet.

Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell, professor and director of OUCH Laboratory, gave today’s first talk. She discussed infant mental health and how infants can react to the actions of adults. “Infants have been screwed over by the medical system,” said Dr. Pillai Riddell, showing slides of babies on operating tables being poked and prodded by doctors. Dr. Pillai Riddell stressed the fact that such treatment of infants can have severe negative effects on the infant’s mental and physical health. She encouraged the audience to be aware of these facts in order to be successful caregivers themselves.

Markus Giesler, York’s youngest tenured marketing professor, spoke about understanding innovation as a social system. He told a story of his failed attempts to feed the birds in Wells Hill Park and how simple changes to an environment can change and affect those who coexist. As he discussed the innovation of Botox and Uber, he volunteered the notion of exploring one’s market and understanding the effects of the system instead of focusing on trying to make an innovation go viral.

Danae Peart, CEO of CHRY Radio, spoke abougt her experiences and career in radio broadcasting. Peart states, the belief that “radio is dead” is completely false but radio has had to go through transitions. The radio had to combat rising social media platforms in order to stay afloat. She stresses the importance of creating “incubator spaces” where new voices and ideas can be heard and honed. Like radio, success can be achieved by taking in the bounces and incidences to continue moving forward. This concluded the first block of the day.

Be sure to continue following along with us live on our video stream and Twitter!

Cree/Métis / Micmac-Wolf Clan,  member of the Metis nation of Ontario Blu's family is from Big River Saskatchewan, Star Blanket Reserve And Bra’dor Lake, Cape Breton Nova Scotia. 

Currently working at York University and Seneca college as an elder on campus Providing Traditional teachings and One on One Counseling. Blu grew up with her grandmother and learned about traditional medicines performing extractions, healings, and care of the sick and teachings. She was adopted by a white family. At 10 and grew up and lived in Parkdale. Blu spent many years in High Park, hunting geese, rabbits, ducks, muskrat, harvesting medicine plants and maintaining her connection to Mother Earth.  

She has traveled to Nova Scotia to learn from Herbal medicine people and the Queen Charlotte Island in British Columbia where her brother is a Shaman. And medicine man. She studied landscaping and Horticulture for four years and has studied herbal medicine. Blu was also the national caucus Representative for the Toronto urban aboriginal strategy for 5 years working with the community of Toronto and the Government. 

She also is a graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology receiving her business software, micro computer architecture, and A+ certification. 

Dr. Pillai Riddell is an associate professor of psychology at York University, a clinician-researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto. She has been directing the Opportunities to Understand Childhood Hurt Laboratory (OUCH Lab) since 2004.  Dr. Pillai Riddell was a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator (2007-2014) and is currently one of York University's inaugural York Research Chairs (2015-2019).

Paula Todd is an award-winning investigative journalist, digital media professor, lawyer and the author of three best-selling non-fiction books. She's a well-known social media analyst and broadcaster who's written, hosted and reported for Canada's largest media outlets, including the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, CBC, TVO and CTV.

Paula’s latest book​, Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online (M&S/ Random House), is an in-depth look at the  surprisingly varied reasons kids, youth and adults use the Internet to humiliate, harass, bully and sexually extort friends, colleagues and strangers -- and how we can help end the abuse. It was shortlisted for the 2014 Hilary Weston Writer's Trust Prize for Non-Fiction.​

Todd was the first Canadian journalist to break news in an e-book when she tracked down notorious serial killer, Karla Homolka, in Guadeloupe. She details her in-person interview with the killer in Finding Karla (Kindle Single/CWG).

A Quiet Courage: Inspiring Stories from All of Us (Dundurn Press), takes an international look at  how harrowing experiences create personal power. Paula teaches broadcast and digital journalism at Seneca@York in Toronto, and chairs the Digital Issues Committee of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, where she sits on the Board.

A daughter of the Jamaican soil, Danae channels the foundation of her upbringing, embodying a life where goals are realized and dreams accomplished. Sixteen years ago, Danae embarked upon a new adventure in Toronto, Canada, equipped with years of work experience in Jamaica’s financial sector and an articulated dream of working in media.

Toronto’s York University became her launching pad. While pursuing two undergraduate degrees in Communications and Linguistics and Urban Studies, Danae joined CHRY Radio (105.5 F.M.) and struck the perfect balance between her academic pursuits and professional dreams. Volunteer, host and programmer are some of the roles Danae held at CHRY before accepting the controls as Chief Executive Officer. Danae also holds a Masters Degree from the University of Waterloo (focus on Local Economic Development LED).

Tim’s career spans 25 years in the hi-tech, commercial real estate and communications industries both nationally and internationally. He has over 83,000 hours in leadership roles. Tim is currently the President of Straight A’s Inc., an International provider of Leadership development, Coaching and Sales Training. He is a sought after speaker and has been published in numerous magazines and papers. Known as “The Networking Guru” by The Globe and Mail and Breakfast Television and “The Career Guru” by the Toronto Star and Huffington Post, he educates, entertains and shares his wisdom with thousands every year.

Click here to reserve your spot for our March 28th event.