Keynote Presentation - Mike Shoreman

Bio: Mike Shoreman’s life exemplifies persistence, resilience, and incredible transformation. Renowned for his authenticity and influential mindset, Mike addresses how to confront uncertainty and fear with positivity and success. As a gifted storyteller, he blends inspiration, likability, and candor, offering practical solutions to challenging situations based on his remarkable journey.

A nationally recognized coach with Paddle Canada, Mike’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in 2018. This condition led to severe physical impairments, including loss of mobility, hearing, and vision, chronic vertigo, and facial nerve collapse, culminating in a mental health crisis.

After a grueling physical rehabilitation and mental health recovery, Mike found a new purpose. Defying medical expectations, he returned to paddle boarding, ultimately making history in 2022 as the first person to paddle board across all five Great Lakes.

His journey supported national mental health organizations and raised significant awareness across Canada and globally. Mike’s Great Lakes Crusade and his own experiences underscore that resilience can be built through facing everyday challenges.

Speaker - Nathan Clement

Bio: What matters most is how well you walk through the fire" is a quote that has defined Nathan Clement’s life.

A two-time Paralympian, Paris 2024 silver medalist, three-time Para-Cycling World Champion, and recipient of the King’s Coronation Medal, Nathan shares his journey of growing up as a stroke survivor and the pursuit of a Paralympic medal.

Through his story, Nathan highlights the power of possibility and recovery in disability, the strength of resilience, and the importance of community while laying the foundation for the next generation. 

Panel Presentation - Andreia Pacheco

Bio: Andreai Pacheco is the founder of  The Inclusive Mindset Movement, an initiative dedicated to breaking barriers, creating diversity and equity for inclusion, and fostering empowerment and understanding for people of all abilities.passion lies in challenging stereotypes and promoting a mindset of acceptance and respect. She firmly believe that by shifting perspectives one person at a time, we can create a more equitable and inclusive society. 

Panel Presentation - Jenna Kedy

Bio: Jenna Kedy is a 21-year-old chronic illness advocate, youth mentor, and self-proclaimed glitter enthusiast from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age 11 and fibromyalgia at 14, Jenna has spent more than half her life navigating a healthcare system that often overlooked what couldn’t be seen. She knows firsthand what it’s like to look “fine” on the outside while fighting pain, fatigue, and stigma on the inside—and she’s here to talk about it with honesty, heart, and just a little sparkle. She’s the founder of Hope by Heart, a digital storytelling collective that uplifts hospitalized and disabled youth through real, raw, and creative stories. From sitting on youth councils to presenting at healthcare conferences, Jenna has become a fierce voice for patient partnership, accessibility, and making advocacy spaces fun and inclusive.

Panel Presentation - Tyler Harris

Bio: Tyler R. Harris is a blind queer mad woman from Dundas, Ontario Canada. She holds an undergrad and Masters in History from McMaster University, attended the Humber School for Writers, and has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire.  She is currently doing her PhD in Poetry— writing a collection on disability joy, queerness and life as a visually impaired woman. Her poetry has appeared in Arc Poetry Magazine, Knee Brace Press, and others. She is passionate about raising awareness around disability and accessibility, and enjoys running poetry workshops for the queer and blind community in her area.   

Speaker - Michayla Del Guidice

Bio: Michayla Del Guidice is a neurodiverse student affairs professional, speaker, and soon-to-be mother dedicated to building a lasting legacy of confidence and authenticity through her work and service. As founder of REAL Queens United and host of The REAL Queen Revolution podcast, she empowers women and girls to grow their self-worth through actionable confidence building lessons and tips for day-to-day life. Michayla has inspired over 2,000 people through speaking engagements with several Learning Disabilities Association chapters, including Ontario, Halton, Hamilton, and Windsor-Essex, and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, and has been featured on several international podcasts. Once told she wouldn’t succeed in higher education, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education and now supports student success at a leading Canadian college, proving that determination and heart can break barriers both personally and professionally.