When war reaches your homeland, empathy stops being an idea and becomes a heartbeat. Journalist and humanitarian Olesya Shyvikova shares her powerful journey from Crimea to Nova Scotia, and back to the frontlines of Ukraine.Through her story of loss, resilience, and the kindness of strangers, she explores how trauma fragments the soul—and how collective compassion can bring those pieces home. A moving reflection on the invisible bridges between people, places, and pain, this talk reminds us that kindness is not weakness—it’s the architecture of peace. Olesya Shyvikova is a Ukrainian-Canadian journalist, filmmaker and social entrepreneur. A former war reporter turned humanitarian, she has directed award- winning documentaries and launched initiatives supporting veterans, children and elderly in conflict zones.Olesya is the CEO of a tech startup developing life-saving AI solutions, and the founder of Chiron, a trauma recovery center for Ukrainian veterans in Nova Scotia. Her work brings together storytelling, innovation, and compassion to create impact where it's needed most. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What does it really mean to be transgender in Canada’s most gender-diverse province? In this powerful and deeply personal talk, advocate and community leader Mica Daurie shares her lived experience as a trans woman navigating identity, belonging, and resilience in Nova Scotia — where one in every 200 people identifies as trans or non-binary. Drawing on her work in public service and advocacy, Mica reveals the invisible barriers trans and gender-diverse people still face in employment, healthcare, and leadership, and calls for true solidarity rooted in understanding, action, and empathy. Her message is a reminder that inclusion is not just policy — it’s personal, and it starts with how we choose to see one another.Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mica Daurie is a 2SLGBTQIA+ community advocate and thought leader with years of experience in spaces like government public service, before turning to a career in grassroots advocacy.Mica is a radical forward thinker who has brought difficult and thought-provoking conversations to every space she's been in. Her work is approached from her lived experience as a queer transgender woman raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Mica serves on the Board of Executives for the Local Council of Women Halifax, as well as serving as the Vice President of Health, Housing and Social Development for the National Council of Women Canada This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx