TEDxYYC Announces First Three Speakers for 2013 Lineup: a Provocative Author, a Groundbreaking Paralympian and a Renaissance Woman
Governor General Award winning author John Vaillant; Paralympic silver medallist Josh Dueck; and local theatrical innovator Rebecca Northan are the first three speakers announced for TECxYYC 2013 being held at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. TEDxYYC Talks from 2010 to 2012 have been viewed more than 1.2 million times by idea-sharing enthusiasts across the globe.
John Vaillant
John Vaillant is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker,The Atlantic, National Geographic, and Outside, among others. His first book, The Golden Spruce, was a bestseller and won several awards, including the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction (Canada). His most recent book, The Tiger, is also an award-winning bestseller. His first novel, The Jaguar’s Children, will be published by Knopf in spring, 2014. Of particular interest to Vaillant are stories that explore collisions between human ambition and the natural world.
Josh Dueck
In 2004, Josh Dueck was in a life-changing accident that left him as a T11 full paraplegic. From his hospital bed with the long months of recovery ahead, it was the initial encouragement from his mentor Rick Hansen who helped Josh re-dedicate his life to freedom, adventure and helping those who can learn from his example. By 2009, Josh was the Para-Alpine World Champion; he won a silver medal for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics; and followed that performance with an X Games gold medal. He then landed the first back flip on a sit-ski, which also landed him on the Ellen Degeneres Show.
Rebecca Northan
Rebecca Northan is a renaissance woman and theatrical innovator. She works simultaneously as a writer, producer, director, actor, improviser, corporate trainer, and teacher. Rebecca grew up in Calgary and now works across Canada and the States, having been the lead in two television series (“Alice, I Think” – CTV, “The Foundation” – Showcase). Her groundbreaking and daring one-woman show, “Blind Date” was picked up by Broadway Producer, Kevin McCollum (RENT, Avenue Q). She is also an alumna of the world famous Second City and has appeared several times at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival.
