Featured Speakers
Dr. Edward Doolittle
Dr. Edward Doolittle (Kanyenkehake, Mohawk) is Associate Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at First Nations University of Canada. He earned his PhD in pure mathematics from the University of Toronto and later studied Mohawk full time in his home community of Six Nations. His work bridges mathematics and Indigenous knowledge systems, with interests in probability, partial differential operators, and Indigenous approaches to mathematics. He explores Indigenizing mathematics, traditional mathematics, and ethnomathematics as ways to reimagine how mathematics can be taught and learned. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal (Gold) and has been recognized in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.
Vanessa "The Math Guru" Vakharia
Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa Vakharia is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto that’s changing stereotypes about what math education looks like. She is also the host of the Math Therapy podcast, author of the NEW bestselling book Math Therapy, and lead singer/keytarist for rock band Goodnight Sunrise. She has her Bachelor of Commerce, Teaching Degree, and Masters of Math Education. Her goal is to totally change math culture so that math is finally as cool as every single Taylor Swift song ever written. She failed Grade 11 math twice, which was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Kyle Webb
Kyle Webb (he/him) is a teacher, author, learning consultant, and professional development leader based in Saskatchewan, Canada. Never satisfied with the status quo, his passion is improving learning experiences for all students. With experience teaching grades 6 through 12, and in his roles as a teacher coach and school division numeracy consultant, Kyle works to transform classrooms. He has spearheaded the successful implementation of Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) and modern assessment practices, and is co-author of Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades 6–12 (Oct 2025). He has supported hundreds of teachers in implementing BTC through modelling, co-teaching, and collaborative planning to foster environments where all students can thrive.