Unexpected Voices Speech Competition 2026
The 2026 Unexpected Voices Speech Competition brought together young Canadians from across the country to share their vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful future. Presented by Power of Words Academy in collaboration with World Speech Day, this initiative challenged students to "Speak as a World Citizen" by addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beyond raising awareness for these critical global priorities, this journey empowered students ages 7–16 to sharpen essential life skills:
Amplifying Youth Perspectives: Turning global challenges into personal, actionable stories.
Mastering Communication: Developing excellence in persuasive writing and public speaking.
Fostering Leadership: Building the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to lead the next generation.
To every finalist who stepped onto the stage on April 26, 2026: Congratulations. Your courage to speak up and your dedication to global progress was truly inspiring. You proved that your ideas have the power to shape a better world.
🏆 2026 Winner's Circle
A Historic Day for Youth Voices! 🌟
On Sunday, April 26th, the halls of The Bishop Strachan School were filled with the brilliance and courage of young "World Citizens" from across Canada. We are incredibly proud of every student who took the stage to share their vision for a better world.
7–8 Age Category
1st Place: Irha Hafeez - Good Health and Well-Being
2nd Place: Meher Gaba - No Poverty
3rd Place: Noah Ladha - Quality Education
9–10 Age Category
1st Place: Sanjeev Bharathi - Zero Hunger
2nd Place: Arryka Baskaran - Quality Education
3rd Place: Victoria Fong - Life Below Water
11–12 Age Category
1st Place: Avira Jeyaruban - Quality Education
2nd Place: Jimin Lee - Responsible Consumption and Production
3rd Place: Aadam Ahmad - Clean Water & Sanitation
13–16 Age Category
1st Place: Bairavi Kalatharan - Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
2nd Place: Harper Hu - Gender Equality
3rd Place: Silvia Jiang - Life Below Water
📸 Media Gallery (Coming Soon!)
We are currently processing the incredible footage and photography from the event. Please check back shortly for:
Official Photo Gallery: High-resolution photos of all finalists, award winners, and behind-the-scenes moments.
YouTube Speech Archive: Every speech from the finals will be uploaded to our YouTube so you can share your "World Citizen" message with friends and family!
🌟 2026 Finals Recap: A Celebration of Global Citizenship
On April 26th, the live finals of Unexpected Voices transformed the theatres at The Bishop Strachan School into a hub of innovation and hope. It was more than a competition; it was a powerful showcase of the next generation taking ownership of our planet's future.
At this prestigious event, our finalists:
Commanded the Stage: Students as young as seven delivered compelling arguments to a packed audience, demonstrating incredible poise and confidence.
Localized Global Goals: Complex UN SDGs were brought to life through personal stories, proposing actionable solutions for climate change, quality education, and social justice.
Engaged with Experts: Speakers received thoughtful consideration from our esteemed panel of leaders in education, healthcare, and media.
The impact of this journey goes beyond the trophies. Every participant walked away with:
Unshakeable Confidence: The experience of speaking under the lights to a live audience.
Leadership Growth: The ability to move an audience and advocate for change.
Global Awareness: A deeper, lifelong connection to the United Nations’ mission for a sustainable world.
⚖️ Our Distinguished Judging Panel
The 2026 Finals featured an esteemed panel of experts across media, education, and social impact. We are grateful for their insight and dedication to nurturing the next generation of communicators.
Tara Slone
National Sports Broadcaster & Radio Host
Tara is a Juno-nominated rock artist turned legendary broadcaster. Known for her work with the San Jose Sharks and NBC Sports, she brings a masterclass in the "Unexpected Voice."
Matthan Francis
Founder, Positivity Lives Here
An in-arena host for the Toronto Maple Leafs and recipient of the Mayor’s Black Excellence Award, Matthan is a powerhouse in youth development and high-energy leadership.
Taslim Somani
Marketing & Fundraising Director, Museum of Toronto
With experience at Doctors Without Borders, Taslim is a strategist dedicated to amplifying community stories and social impact.
David Peck
Keynote Speaker & Host of Face2Face Podcast
A master of meaningful dialogue and social justice, David’s work focuses on how conversations can transform the world.
Mova Leung
Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner
An Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, Mova is a leader in science and healthcare education with a sharp eye for clear communication.
Joanne Clements
Vice Principal, TDSB & Lead Instructor, Power of Words Academy
A champion for the next generation, Joanne is a "Master of the Mic" dedicated to helping students unlock their hidden potential.
🤝 Partner with Us for 2027
Partner with Us and Make a Difference
We invite organizations to join us in supporting the next generation of leaders. By partnering with Power of Words Academy, you help inspire and develop young talent while contributing to global issues.
✨ The Journey to the Finals
Recognizing Our 500+ Submissions
Power of Words Academy was excited to celebrate 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.
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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) -
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) -
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) -
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)
🎁 Prizes & Recognition
First, Second and Third place from each age category will receive the following:
FIRST PLACE
$100 cash prize
Trophy and 1st Place Medal
$500 Power of Words Academy Gift Certificate
SECOND PLACE
Trophy
2nd Place Medal
$250 Power of Words Academy Gift Certificate
THIRD PLACE
Trophy
3rd Place Medal
$100 Power of Words Academy Gift Certificate
🌍 Our Partners
We are deeply grateful to our partners who shared our vision for amplifying youth voices:
World Speech Day: Our global partner in fostering "Thoughts for a Better World."
The Bishop Strachan School (BSS): Our generous host venue. We gratefully acknowledge BSS for providing the facilities, volunteers, and technical support that made the 2026 Finals possible.