TEDxSelkirk College Countdown

Lukas Armstrong, principal of Stand Architecture Inc. in Nelson, BC, is an architect, passive house designer and LEED accredited professional. Notable projects include his own home, Canada’s first passive house-certified multi-unit residential building; the world’s first certified passive house car dealership for Subaru in Red Deer, AB, and most recently, the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, which combines passive house and mass-timber technologies. Lukas is most passionate about creating healthy, resilient, low energy and low-carbon projects that serve local communities. He enjoys growing food in his permaculture inspired garden and spending time on the lake and in the mountains.

Malin Christensson is an educator and ecotherapist. Originally from Sweden, she lives in
Nelson, BC, Canada, on unceded Sinixt land, where she runs a nature school for kids called The Forest Path. 

She has survived a deadly tropical cyclone, made a bet with the
Swedish environmental minister, started a food bank garden and failed saving old-growth forests.

Malin is passionate about the connections between mental health, anticolonialism and systems change.

Ben is the executive director of Youth Climate Corps BC and has led the organization to complete over 10,000 days of youth-led community climate action. 

A former outdoor leadership instructor with over a decade of experience, he holds a Master’s in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University. 

When he is not working on community climate action, he enjoys exploring the mountains around Nelson, BC.

Keith Wiley helped start West Kootenay Transit Action, a grassroots citizens group pushing governments at all levels to invest big in buses and transit in rural BC.

He is active in a range of climate events and hosts the weekly environment radio news show, The EcoCentric, on Kootenay Coop Radio.

Dr. Mel Reasoner, PhD Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta. 

Since moving to Nelson in 2004, Mel served on the steering committee for the City of Nelson’s Community Energy and Emissions Action Plan and contributed to the City’s ‘Path to 2040’ planning process. Beginning in 2007, Mel’s work with the All One Sky Foundation’s Climate Resilience Express program and the Columbia Basin Trust’s climate change programs involved the compilation of historical climate records and model projections for dozens of communities in Alberta and British Columbia and the delivery of many climate science presentations for these initiatives. 

In recent years, Mel has been working with Climatic Resources Consulting as a climate scientist.

Diksha Salwan is a Selkirk College student pursuing a postgraduate diploma in accounting. 

With experience at leading banks in India, she aims to apply her financial expertise in Canada, where she has been living for six months. 

Outside of academics, Diksha enjoys hiking and works as a food tester, blending her culinary passion with her professional goals.

Drew Storey is an emerging singer-songwriter and band leader from Langley, BC, with a unique blend of introspective lyricism, pop hooks and rock energy. Writing and performing as a solo artist since 2015, Drew makes music that captured the essence of personal reflection while delivering the kind of infectious energy that resonates with a wide audience.

Drew's performances have drawn comparisons to acts like Rex orange County and Matty Maltese, blending thoughtful lyrics with vibrant, dynamic sounds that leave a lasting impression. Drew's ability to craft melodies and deliver memorable live performances has made him an artist to watch in the indie scene.

Since 2022, Drew has been leading his own band, furthering amplifying his sound and refining his live performances. His passion for music is matched by his ability to connect with listeners through relatable stories and captivating energy.