Speakers

MEET THE TEDxPugwash 2026

Keegan McClary

Keegan McClary, 16, is from Oxford, NS. He is committed to becoming the best version of himself, no matter how long it takes. He values honesty, resilience, and meaningful connections, and loves sports, staying active, and pushing himself to new challenges. Keegan believes true growth comes through effort, and who you become always matters more than what you achieve.

Beth Charlton

As a retired educator, Beth’s career has ranged from teaching young learners in Grade Primary to adult learners at the master’s level. Today, as an author and consultant on local, national, and international literacy projects, she champions those who learn differently and are often overlooked. Beth believes every learner thrives when their unique background, culture, and experiences—their funds of knowledge—are recognized, and their potential is nurtured with purpose and care.

Bev Wells

Bev Wells is a Canadian speaker and author whose work explores the space between survival and peace. After enduring profound loss and rebuilding from the ground up, she developed a practical approach to interrupting trauma-driven patterns in real time. Through her talks and coaching, she challenges audiences to see peace not as an outcome, but as a practice.

Molly Wilson

Molly Wilson is a Grade 12 student at Pugwash District High School who is deeply interested in social involvement and passionate about helping the community. Molly hopes to use this platform to inspire thoughtful conversations and create positive change.

Ella Bollong

Ella Bollong is a grade 11 student at Pugwash District High School (PDHS). She is the student editor of the yearbook, a member of the dance committee, and participates in the table tennis and softball teams, while also pursuing a pre-professional ballet program. Ella has an interest in sciences and history, and is looking to pursue a career that incorporates these interests, potentially in education.

Jenny Kassen

An educator, researcher, and illustrator, Jenny is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Cape Breton University. They teach in both the Bachelor of Education program and the Master of Education (Holistic School Health and Well-Being) program. Jenny’s research focuses on the experiences of trans and gender-diverse youth accessing mental health support in secondary schools. Prior to joining CBU, they worked as a secondary school teacher in Alternative Education and as an Educational Consultant.

Liz LeClair

Liz LeClair is a fundraiser and intersectional feminist with 20 years of experience, and the founder of UpRising Philanthropic Consulting. Based in Punamu’kwati’jk (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia), she works with nonprofit organizations through a community-centric fundraising lens that centers equity, inclusion, and ethical philanthropy. Liz is a vocal advocate and activist in the gender-based violence space, a prolific opinion writer for The Coast, and is working to ban the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in Canada

Camryn Reid

Camryn is a sixteen year old who has loved playing sports for as long as she can remember. Outside of athletics, she enjoys reading, baking, and making memories with her friends and family. She’s driven by a passion for helping others and aspires to build a future by working in nursing or healthcare.

Sheree Fitch

Sheree Fitch is a poet, storyteller, story doula, life long learner, literacy advocate and social justice educator. Her books are being read to a third generation of children. She holds three honorary doctorates, is an Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of the 2025 Writers Trust Matt Cohen award celebrating a writing life. She is currently at work creating The Dreamery, a non profit educational arts and nature sanctuary in River John, Nova Scotia.