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Past Speakers
Get to know the Keynote Speakers that have inspired our students throughout the years!
 2014 Speaker: Alexandre BilodeauAlexandre Bilodeau is a retired Canadian freestyle skier from Montreal, Quebec. Bilodeau won a gold medal in the men's moguls at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, becoming the first Canadian to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games held in Canada. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, he became the first Olympian in history to defend his gold medal in any freestyle skiing event. |  2013 Speaker: LightsLights (born Valerie Anne Poxleitner) is a Canadian electropop singer-songwriter. In 2009, she was the awarded the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year. Lights continues to write and produce albums, as well as tour the world to perform for her fans. |  2012 Speaker: Jessi CruickshankJessi Cruickshank is a Canadian television personality. She is the former co-host of MTV Canada's program The After Show and its various incarnations including The Hills: The After Show and The City: Live After Show with co-host Dan Levy. Jessi continues to interview high profile celebrities in current pop culture. |
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 2011 Speakers: The Buried LifeThe Buried Life is a reality documentary series on MTV. The series features Duncan Penn, Jonnie Penn, Ben Nemtin, and Dave Lingwood attempting to complete a list of "100 things to do before you die." The group released their first book as "The Buried Life, 'What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?'" on March 27, 2012. On the week of its release the book climbed to #1 on The New York Times Best Seller List. |  2010 Speaker: Clara HughesClara Hughes is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, who has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and four medals (one gold, one silver, two bronze) over the course of three Winter Olympics. She is tied with Cindy Klassen as the Canadian with the most Olympic medals (six). Hughes is one of only 5 athletes with podium finishes in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games and is the only person ever to have won multiple medals in both. |  2009 Speaker: Craig KielburgerAfter witnessing a child laborer his age murdered in Pakistan, Craig Kielburger set out to become a children's rights activist at only 12 years old. In 1995, he had created the Free the Children organization alongside his brother, Marc, which is now recognized in over 45 countries. Kielburger continues to offer support to kids in need, and spread awareness of child labour laws in third world countries. |
 2008 Speaker: Justin TrudeauJustin Trudeau is a Canadian politician and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Trudeau is the eldest son of long-serving Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife Margaret Trudeau. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Papineau in 2008, and re-elected in 2011. He previously served as the Liberal Party's critic for Youth and Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Immigration, and Post Secondary Education, Youth and Amateur Sport before becoming Liberal Party Leader. |  2007 Speaker: Sunny DaljitSunny Daljit (right) is the CEO/Broker of Record for Keller Williams Realty Solutions in Mississauga. He earned an MBA from Queen's University and is a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (FRI). At the age of 18 he entered the real estate brokerage industry and became one of the top realtors in the country, completing 100 transactions at the age of 21. He is a former recipient of the Top Forty Under Forty Award. |  2006 Co-Speaker: Michael ClemonsMichael “Pinball” Clemons is a current Vice-Chair of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Clemons’ #31 jersey number is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos. He is one of their most famous former players and also one of the most popular professional athletes in the history of Toronto. |
 2006 Co-Speaker: Paul HendersonPaul Henderson is a retired Canadian hockey left winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Atlanta Flames. He is best known for scoring the winning goal against the USSR in Game Eight at the 1972 Summit Series. |  2005 Speaker: Marnie McBeanMarnie Elizabeth McBean is a Canadian rower. McBean was the first Canadian to win three Olympic gold medals. In addition to her other exploits, McBean won a silver medal in the prestigious single scull event at the 1993 World Rowing Championships. |  2004 Co-Speaker: Robert MacIsaacRobert MacIsaac is the president and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences, a medical group composed of six unique hospitals and a cancer centre located in Hamilton, Ontario. MacIsaac is a former mayor of Burlington, Ontario. He was first elected to Burlington city council in November 1991. MacIsaac served two terms representing Ward 1 at city and regional councils. In 1997, he was elected Mayor of Burlington and was subsequently acclaimed for two more terms. |
 2004 Co-Speaker: Larry Di IanniLarry Di Ianni (left) is an Italian-Canadian politician and educator. Di Ianni served mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, from 2003 to 2006. Prior to his tenure as mayor, he served as a town councillor in Stoney Creek and a city councillor in the amalgamated City of Hamilton. |
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