Unexpected Voices Speech Competition
Finalists Announced!

Power of Words Academy is excited to announce the finalists for the 2026 Unexpected Voices Speech Competition.

These talented students were selected from over 500 written speech submissions from across Canada, all focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their powerful ideas for a more sustainable, equitable, and compassionate world truly stood out for their insight, originality, and impact.

7-8 AGE CATEGORY

Aadvik Prasanna (Churchill Meadows ES); Alana Senthuran (Donald Cousens PS); Ava D'Mello (Webber Academy);
Emma Huang (Fred Varley PS); Erin Faith D'Souza; Irha Hafeez (Captain R. Wilson PS); Jayden Gong (Beynon Fields PS); John Thomas (Home Schooled); Kaitlyn Lay (St. Timothy Catholic Elementary); Kallias Kim ( John Wanless PS);
Madelyn Tran-Viet (Toronto French School); Meher Gaba (Pilgrim wood PS); Noah Ladha;
Sebastian Ip (Denlow PS); Vaidehi Giridhar (Lynn-Rose Heights Private School); Wyatt Lee (Chartwell JR PS)

9-10 AGE CATEGORY

Adam Yoo (Denlow PS); Alishia Ma (Silver Stream PS); Arryka Baskaran (Norman Ingram PS);
Ashley Man (Our Lady Help of Christian Catholic School ); Elakkiya Kamalanathan (Westney Heights PS);
Evaniya Raj (St Gabriel ES); George Thomas (Home Schooled); Gwenneth Hau (Willowdale Christian School);
Isabel Ebin (St. Anne Catholic School); Karthik Sreeraj (Arnott Charlton PS); Luckshana Ratnam (Ormiston PS);
Rakshan Mathanagopal (Mcleod PS); Saina Santhosh (St. Albert Catholic School); Sanjeev Bharathi (Homestead PS); Shivansh Sharma (Dr. David R. Williams PS); Victoria Fong (Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary)

11-12 AGE CATEGORY

Aadam Ahmad; Avira Jeyaruban (St James GBLC); Brandon Tong; Caitlin Wong (Home Schooled);
Dafiya Syedali Badhusha (Glenhaven Senior PS); Elizabeth Hu (The Bishop Strachan School);
Ishana Senthuran (Donald Cousens PS); Jimin Lee (The Bishop Strachan School);
Kaarthihan Kamalanathan (Alexander Graham Bell PS); Minal Yousaf (Jesse Ketchum Junior and Senior PS);
Mugunth Somasundaram (Pierre Laporte MS); Niko Papadakos (Fieldstone Day School); Nomaan Vakil (Bellewood PS); Sai Sanvi Narayanan (Bristol Road MS); Sofia Lee (Trinity Montessori School); Tristan Mitra (St. Edith Stein);
Valeria Verhaaren (Fieldstone Day School); Vikasni Mathanagopal (Mcleod PS)

13-16 AGE CATEGORY

Aahana Mugunthan (Milliken Mills PS); Aany Vital Ramos (Elmwood School); Anoush Narun (Joshua Creek PS);
Aurelia Wang (The Bishop Strachan School); Bairavi Kalatharan (Bramalea SS); Harper Hu (Pacific Academy);
Jacob Gaochen (University of Toronto Schools); Kelly Liu (University of Toronto Schools); Naksh Goyal (Coronation PS); Nethra Dave (University of Toronto Schools); Noor Al Haya Hafeez (Captain R. Wilson PS); Olivia Yang (John Fraser SS); Pehel Dhosni (Morning Star MS); Shaun Santhosh Kumar (Margaret Avenue PS); Silvia Jiang (The Bishop Strachan School); Synthuja Ratnam (Sinclair SS); Zunaira Amber (St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic SS)

Final Round – Live Speech Presentations

All finalists are invited to present their speeches live at the:

Unexpected Voices Speech Competition Finals & Awards Ceremony
Date: April 26, 2026
Location: The Bishop Strachan School (BSS), Toronto, Ontario

At this prestigious event, finalists will:

• Deliver their speeches on stage to a live audience

• Share their perspectives on the UN SDGs and global change

• Be evaluated by a panel of judges, including educators, community leaders, and communication experts

This is an exceptional achievement and a valuable opportunity for students to build confidence, public speaking skills, critical thinking, and leadership.

Ticket Information

Finalists and their families will receive an email by Sunday, March 1, 2026 with:

• Detailed event information

• The ticket purchase link for family members and teachers

Ticket sales will open to the public and all Round 1 contestants on Monday, March 2, 2026. On that date, the ticket link will be posted on this page.

Celebrating Young Voices for a Better World

The Unexpected Voices Speech Competition, presented by Power of Words Academy in collaboration with World Speech Day, is dedicated to:

• Amplifying youth voices on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• Inspiring actionable ideas for a better future

• Developing essential communication skills in students ages 7–16

To all of our finalists: Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment. Your voice matters, your ideas matter, and we cannot wait to hear you share your vision for a better world on April 26, 2026.

We gratefully acknowledge The Bishop Strachan School for generously providing facilities, food services, volunteers, and AV support for the 2026 Unexpected Voices Speech Competition Finals.

Unexpected Voices Speech Competition

Please note: Submissions for the 2026 Unexpected Voices Speech Competition are now closed.
Finalists have been announced above and will present at the Finals & Awards Ceremony on April 26, 2026, at The Bishop Strachan School (BSS).

The 2026 Unexpected Voices Speech Competition invited young Canadians to share their unique perspectives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Beyond raising awareness for these critical global priorities, the competition helps students sharpen essential skills in writing, public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Key Dates and Details

• Submission Deadline: Written speeches were accepted until January 31, 2026.

• Finalist Announcement: A distinguished panel of judges, including professional speechwriters, selected finalists from each age category, announced here on February 23, 2026.

• Finals & Awards Ceremony: The live event will take place at The Bishop Strachan School (BSS) on April 26, 2026.

We sincerely thank The Bishop Strachan School for partnering with us. Their dedication to nurturing young talent will help make this event truly memorable. We look forward to showcasing another inspiring lineup of young voices making a difference.

Overview

Presented by Power of Words Academy in collaboration with World Speech Day, the Unexpected Voices Speech Competition empowers the next generation of leaders. This event encourages young Canadians to discuss solutions for a better world through eloquent speeches focused on the UN's SDGs. It is a unique opportunity for students to develop their voice while fostering a spirit of leadership and advocacy across the country.

Our Partners

Partner with Us and Make a Difference

We invite organizations and businesses to join us in supporting the next generation of leaders while championing global awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By partnering with Power of Words Academy for the Unexpected Voices Speech Competition, your organization can help inspire, empower, and develop young talent, all while contributing to important global issues.

Whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or other contributions, your support will make a meaningful impact, raising awareness and fostering action around the SDGs among youth.

Please fill out the form below to share how you would like to collaborate. We look forward to working together to create a brighter future for our youth and a more sustainable world!

Prizes

First, Second and Third place from each age category will receive the following:

All students who submitted speeches and attend the ceremony will receive Certificates of Distinction. Finalists who present their speeches will be honoured with medals. Additionally, first, second, and third place winners from each age category will be awarded prestigious trophies and exciting prizes.

Competition Details

Theme

Students will articulate their thoughts on one of the United Nations’ 17 SDGs. Speeches must be written in English.

Age Categories (as of December 31, 2025)

• 7-8 years old

• 9-10 years old

• 11-12 years old

• 13-16 years old

Word Limits

• 300 words for the 7-8 and 9-10 age categories

• 500 words for the 11-12 and 13-16 age categories

Entry Submission

The submission period for written speeches has now closed as of January 31, 2026. Thank you to all participants for their entries! Results will be announced on February 20, 2026.

Competition Dates

• Opening Date: October 1, 2025

• Closing Date: January 31, 2026

• Results of Round 1: February 23, 2026

• Finals: April 26, 2026, at The Bishop Strachan School, 298 Lonsdale Rd, Toronto.

Downloads

Unexpected Voices 2026 Competition Rules
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Take Action for the Sustainable Development Goals
Canada's Action Plan on the Sustainable Development Goals
170 Daily Actions