Growing up, Wali Shah faced pressure from his Pakistani immigrant parents to choose a profession that would justify their many sacrifices. He surprised them by becoming a poet and public speaker, inspiring youth at hundreds of schools with his powerful, provocative verse. He is a fresh and current voice of the times at a diverse range of corporate events, he has delivered TED Talks, and he once closed out a keynote speech made by former president Barack Obama. Recently he served as poet laureate for the city of Mississauga, Ontario.

Eric Walters is a Member of the Order of Canada and the author of over 125 books that collectively have won more than one hundred awards, including a 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches. A former teacher, Eric began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. Eric is a tireless presenter, speaking to over one hundred thousand students per year in schools across the country. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.