SSLC 2026 Speakers

Tyler Smith, winner of The Amazing Race Canada Season 9, is a survivor, mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and public speaker who has turned personal tragedy into a mission to inspire and support others. A survivor of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, which claimed the lives of 16 teammates, staff, and coaches, Tyler has dedicated his life to raising awareness about mental health and the power of vulnerability. Alongside his partner Kat Kastner, Tyler captured the hearts of Canadians as Team #TyKat, often paying tribute to the “16 angels” lost in the tragedy. Their victory on The Amazing Race Canada was a powerful testament to resilience, teamwork, and the enduring strength of hope.
Tyler’s journey of healing led him to found Not Alone Co., a mental health awareness clothing line and social enterprise that promotes open conversations around trauma, PTSD, and mental health. He is also the co-host of the podcast Speak Your Mind, alongside NHL veteran Riley Sheahan, which focuses on normalizing discussions about mental health with guests from sports, entertainment, and beyond. Through public speaking, entrepreneurship, and advocacy, Tyler continues to inspire individuals and communities to create safe spaces to belong, embrace connections to empower one another, and support systems that enable paths of improving healing, hope and community. 

Shaun Boothe is an award-winning hip-hop artist, TEDx speaker, and creator of ‘The Unauthorized Biography Series’, a critically acclaimed musical project that celebrates the world’s greatest cultural icons through biographical rap songs – Repackaging history through Hip-Hop.

‍After spending 10+ years in the music industry, sharing stages with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, and Kendrick Lamar, a search for a more purposeful path led Shaun to the education market. It was here where he discovered how his Unauthorized Biography Series, combined with his passion for speaking, could be used as a powerful tool to both entertain and inspire others to achieve their own greatness.

A few short years later, this new direction has grown into a thriving international career as an inspirational speaker and performing artist on college campuses, youth conferences, performing arts centres, and corporate stages alike.