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Speaker Slam® News: Recap of The Reinvention 2026 Competition

Recap of the Reinvention 2026 Competition

By Speaker Slam®

2026 Speaker Slam Final Event Recap: A Night of Courage, Reinvention, and Unforgettable Storytelling

The final event of our 2026 Speaker Slam season was a powerful reminder of why these stages matter.

Every competition brings together a completely unique group of speakers, and this night was no exception. What unfolded was an evening filled with honesty, vulnerability, courage, and moments that stayed long after the final speaker left the stage.

As we now look ahead to the Grand Slam on November 21 at the CBC Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto, we celebrate the voices that brought this season to a close.

1st Place: Japji Anna Bas

Titles: Dr. Japji Anna Bas is a Regenerative Leadership Advisor, Wellbeing Systems Scholar & Systems Change Speaker

Speech: Warrior Woman Rising

Prizes Won:

2nd Place: Wilfred Lun

Titles: Disability Inclusion Advocate, Workplace Inclusion Leader, Resilience Speaker

Speech: Rebuilding in the Dark

Prizes Won:

3rd Place: Carol-Anne Schneider

Titles: Real Estate Broker, Life Coach, Reiki Grand Master Warrior, Board Certified Integrative Neurosomatic Practitioner

Speech: [SPEECH TITLE]

Prizes Won:

Top 4 Finalist: Bethelene Hart

Rounding out the Top 4, Bethelene Hart brought the room to life with her comedic and heartfelt talk, “Mother Superior.”

Her ability to balance humour with truth gave the audience exactly what they didn’t know they needed that night: laughter, release, and connection.

Every Speaker, Every Story

While we celebrate our winners, this night was never about just four names.

Every single speaker who stepped on that stage brought courage, presence, and honesty. See the full lineup in Meet the Speakers for Reinvention 2026. Together, they created one of the most memorable evenings of the 2026 season.

From laughter to heartbreak, from reinvention to resilience, the room was a reflection of what happens when people choose to tell the truth out loud.

Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen

Read more about the panel in Meet Your Judges for Reinvention 2026.

Thank You to Our Momentum Community

To our Momentum family, thank you for showing up the way you always do.

Your energy, support, and belief in our speakers is a huge part of what makes these nights so meaningful.

A Special Thank You to Lucky Book Publishing

We are grateful to Lucky Book Publishing and Samantha Moonsammy, our Grand Slam publishing partner.

At the Grand Slam, one speaker will be awarded a publishing deal, an opportunity that has the power to change the trajectory of their message and career.

Closing the Season

What a season. What a night.

And now, we turn toward the biggest stage of the year.

The Grand Slam | November 21st, 2026

CBC Glenn Gould Theatre Toronto

Join us for another unforgettable evening of powerful stories, meaningful connection, and speakers who are ready to inspire.

Watch Every Speech from Reinvention 2026

Dr. Japji Anna Bas speaking at Reinvention 2026
1st Place
She Sued the Children's Aid Society That Failed Her and Won
Wilfred Lun speaking at Reinvention 2026
2nd Place
I Woke Up After Amputation and Didn’t Recognize My Life
Carol-Anne Schneider speaking at Reinvention 2026
3rd Place
Life Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Ever So Wonderful
Bethelene Hart speaking at Reinvention 2026
I Grew Up With a Mother Who Spoke for God
Damali Austin speaking at Reinvention 2026
I Saw Regret in a Patient’s Eyes… and It Changed Everything
Debbie Bairos speaking at Reinvention 2026
You Can’t Hate Yourself Into Healing
Gillian Nycum speaking at Reinvention 2026
I Almost Didn’t Write This Speech
Grace Riza Ti Kieng speaking at Reinvention 2026
I Kept Going Until My Body Forced Me to Stop
Katherine Scott speaking at Reinvention 2026
I Used to Run Toward Emergencies. Then I Became One
Teresa Vozza speaking at Reinvention 2026
12 Feet That Changed My Life Forever

Could Your Story Be Next? Apply to Compete

Speaker Slam® is accepting applications for upcoming competitions. One speech can change your life.

Apply to Compete