Langley resident Chelsea Minhas is one of 12 speakers at the next TedxSurrey event, and her talk will focus on a shift in thinking about youth homelessness.
“This topic is important because these youth are worth it. We all have a role to play and can all be a part of the shift that reduces youth homelessness,” Minhas told the Langley Advance Times.
The 12 selected speakers will be joined by entertainers and more for the sixth edition of TEDxSurrey, curated by Alan Warburton as a daylong “Shift in Thinking” gathering in the theatre at Sullivan Heights Secondary.
Minhas recalls that as a child raised by foster parents, who struggled with their own trauma, she often wondered how things could have been different for them and her family, if they were provided the support they needed.
Her childhood sparked a passion for her to get a masters in social work, and she’s worked as the chief program officer at Covenant House Vancouver for 16 years focusing on youth programming and advocating for social policy changes.
“The toughest part of my career has been the explosion of the overdose crisis and the lack of a developmentally appropriate response… Our kids are dying at an alarming rate, it is now the leading cause of death for youth in our province,” Minhas shared.
More than 13,500 British Columbians have died in connection to unregulated drugs since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016. Unregulated drug toxicity has become the leading cause of death among British Columbians aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural disease combined, according to the BC Coroners Service.
RELATED: Drug death rate in Langley still high: data
“I spend a lot of time advocating and collaborating with regards to support young folks with complex substance use and mental health needs. We need to do better, these young people deserve it,” she said.
There are 235 people living with homelessness in Langley Township and Langley City, according to a report released by the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count.
Neighbouring municipalities like Surrey and Ridge Meadows have a reported 759 and 86 people living with homelessness.
“I truly believe that an investment in youth is an investment in community,” Minhas said.
She adds that helping a young person not only impacts them, but impacts their family and friends, and their futures.
“[It’s] generations of impact, from one investment, one relationship.”
READ MORE: More people living in shelters, on streets in Langley
The TedxSurrey event is on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey.
Tickets are available online for in-person attendance starting at $79 or to watch online for $9.99 at tedxsurrey.ca. In-person tickets include lunch and refreshments.
The 2024 list of speakers also includes Andrea Neil (past captain and coach of Canada’s World Cup women’s soccer team), Dr. Andrew Miki (registered psychologist and the founder and Chief Science Officer of Starling), TJ Dawe (Canadian playwright and director) and Carla Pelligrini (executive director at Food Stash Foundation).
The eight others are Alexandra Stevenson (co-founder of an anti-human-trafficking nonprofit), Aminullah Shirazi (Grade 10 French Immersion student at Panorama Ridge Secondary), David Norwell (author of “A Complex Coast: A Kayak Journey from Vancouver Island to Alaska”), Josh Green (actor, comedian, business venturist), Michael Timms (mountain climber, author of “How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability”), Mollie Kaye (stage performer, promotions consultant) and Pamela Dangelmaier (mindfulness practitioner, life coach).
Prior to 2021 the event was known as TEDxBearCreekPark. In 2022, a partnership with Surrey School District welcomed students among the featured speakers.
SEE ALSO: VIDEO: Langley honours more than 300 lost to toxic drug supply on Aug. 31