Speakers to Watch in 2016 | Rio 2016 Olympic Speakers
Last year saw historic events take place around the world: From changing political landscapes in North America, to the global refugee crisis, drone technology going to mass market, to giant technology and e-commerce IPOs. But alas, 2016 is here! As a tribute to these new beginnings, throughout the week we will be featuring a selection of ‘Speakers to Watch’ in the year ahead; speakers who inspire, engage and challenge us. Today we take a look at speakers set to have plenty of buzz heading into the Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 
Chantal Petitclerc | Paralympic Champion & Canada’s Chef de Mission for Rio 2016
Chantal closed out 2015 with plenty of excitement. In October, she headlined the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame class of 2015. As one of the most successful athletes on the Paralympic platform, she has won 21 medals, 14 of which are Gold. In December, she kicked off a cross-country tour which will run until the spring. The tour visits ten Canadian cities including Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax and Calgary. At each stop, she will visit schools, play wheelchair basketball, give speeches, meet with athletes and coaches in the region as well as with municipal elected officials. In 2016, Chantal will lead Canada’s contingent of between 170-200 paralympic Athletes into Rio as Canada’s Chef de Mission. In the role, Chantal acts as the official spokesperson for the Canadian Paralympic team; she is a mentor, a leader and an inspiration for athletes of all abilities. Her role in supporting the Paralympic team is a volunteer initiative that requires a great deal of commitment and determination.
Adam Kreek | Olympic Gold Medallist, Adventurer & Social Entrepreneur
Adam Kreek was towed to gold in men’s eights rowing at the Beijing Olympics alongside his incredible teammates. Now a father and working stiff, he aims to inspire adult men to take small measures to improve their health every day. He’s a corporate speaker and trainer as well as a champion for the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. Adam is currently part of CBC’s Road to the Olympic Games where he contributes weekly opinion pieces and video content on performance and success in sport and life. His latest article looks at toxic New Year’s resolutions and how to make them more realistic and manageable. You can read it here or view a full list of his articles here. Watch highlights of Adam’s Gold Medal Moment talk with the #NSBest Vancouver audience last fall:
