Uncover Your Essence

Conference 2026
Report & Plan

Equipping and empowering individuals, families, and communities to embrace their identity, uncover their potential, and lead with purpose.

April 20, 2026
Halifax Convention Centre
1600+ Attendees
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Youth & Chaperones
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Schools
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Hub Orgs
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Speakers
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Rural Students
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BIPOC Identifying
Our Foundation

About Us

Uncover Your Essence (UYE) is a non-profit organization based in Nova Scotia, dedicated to equipping and empowering individuals, families, and communities to confidently embrace their identity, uncover their potential, and lead with purpose.

Our mission is to foster environments and initiatives that promote personal growth, self-care, and self-love, thereby boosting self-confidence and self-esteem among individuals and communities. We believe that by nurturing these qualities, we can inspire leadership and purposeful living.

Our Story
UYE 2026 Team

Our organization grew from the experiences and community work of founder Tiffani Young. Running self-care workshops in her business, she saw how many youth were struggling with challenges she had navigated herself, and set out to do something about it.

That vision became Uncover Your Essence Society, focused on closing gaps in representation, exposure, and access to resources that many young people face.

UYE’s first initiative was the 2025 Uncover Your Essence Conference for youth 13-18. After a successful inaugural year, it returned for a second time, continuing to empower youth through connection, education, representation, and opportunity.

A Transformative Day

Conference Overview

The second annual Uncover Your Essence (UYE) Conference, held on April 20, 2026, at the Halifax Convention Centre, brought together more than 1,500 youth, chaperones, speakers, performers, and community leaders from across Nova Scotia for a transformative day of empowerment and connection.

Targeting youth aged 13-18, the conference offered a full-day immersive experience centered around self-esteem, leadership development, cultural identity, and career readiness. The event featured a dynamic mix of breakout sessions, panel discussions, access to 29 interactive booths within the Fun & Knowledge Hub, and our newly introduced Discovery Zone.

What made UYE 2026 especially impactful was its continued intentionality for provincial representation. Every speaker, host, and participating organization is based in Nova Scotia.

How We Create Lasting Impact

Core Values

The four pillars that guide every UYE program and event.

Empowerment

We equip people with confidence, skills, and leadership tools to recognize their strengths and lead with purpose.

Representation

We amplify diverse voices and visible role models so people can see themselves in what is possible.

Community

We create spaces that foster connection, belonging, and collaboration rooted in partnership and shared growth.

Self-Love

We center identity, well-being, and self-worth supporting people to grow with confidence and care.

Seven Pillars

Conference Objectives

The Uncover Your Essence (UYE) Conference 2026 was designed with the following key objectives. Click each to learn more.

Create a supportive environment where youth recognize their inherent worth, talents, and leadership potential.
Provide youth with tools, mentorship, and exposure to leadership pathways that equip them to lead confidently in their homes, schools, and communities.
Celebrate the diverse identities of Nova Scotian youth while fostering pride in cultural heritage and community connections.
Connect youth to real-world opportunities in education, trades, entrepreneurship, arts, STEM, and other career pathways through workshops, speakers, and the Fun & Knowledge Station.
Provide dedicated workshops and resources focused on building resilience, overcoming self-doubt, and promoting overall well-being.
Remove barriers to participation by covering transportation, meals, and event registration at no cost, with a focus on including youth from rural, marginalized, and underserved communities.
Develop new initiatives informed by youth voices and continued post-event follow-up to encourage ongoing youth involvement, innovation, and leadership development.
Provincial Reach

Participants & Reach

1,500+ Youth & Chaperones
75+ Schools
5 School Boards
128 Rural Students
Auburn Drive High Bedford and Forsyth Education Centre Bicentennial School Charles P. Allen High Citadel High Clayton Park Junior High Cole Harbour High Dartmouth High Dartmouth South Academy Fairview Junior High Gorsebrook Junior High Halifax Central Junior High Halifax West Junior High Highland Park Junior High Island View High J.L. Isley High John Martin Junior High Lockview High Millwood High Oxford Junior High Rockingstone Heights Junior High Rocky Lake Junior High Sackville Heights Junior High West Bedford High
Amherst Regional High School Bible Hill Junior High Dr W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School Hants East Rural High Hants North Rural High New Glasgow Academy Northumberland Regional High Pugwash District High Riverside Education Centre South Colchester Academy
Annapolis West Education Centre Avon View High Bridgetown Regional Community School Central Kings Rural High Hortons High Kings County Academy Middleton Regional High Northeast Kings Education Centre West Kings District High Wolfville School
Boys & Girls Club of Preston Upper Hammonds Plains Community Development Association

25 youth attended independently, representing 3 additional HRCE schools, 4 Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP) schools, and 3 homeschooled students.

École du Carrefour École Mer et Monde École Secondaire Mosaique École Secondaire du Sommet Ellenvale Junior High Graham Creighton Junior High Woodlawn High
Speakers & Hosts
30+ Nova Scotia-based leaders brought the day to life. Tap or click on an icon to see the full image.
Honourable Leah Martin
Honourable Leah Martin
Minister of Youth
Carrie Hage
Carrie Hage
Rideau Hall Foundation
Otni Asare-Adjei
Otni Asare-Adjei
Entrepreneur & community leader
Keonté Beals
Keonté Beals
Recording artist & performer
26 Organizations

Fun & Knowledge Hub

A vibrant, hands-on expo space gave youth the opportunity to explore opportunities in a fun, inspiring, and approachable environment.

Post-Secondary

Leadership, Careers & Entrepreneurship

Health & Wellbeing

Interactive STEM

Creative Arts

New in 2026

Discovery Zone

The Discovery Zone was a vibrant, interactive hub that brought creativity, skill, and storytelling to life through live demonstrations and real-time audience engagement. Designed to move beyond traditional booths, this space allowed youth to experience careers and creative pathways in action.

Live Demo

Barbering Showcase

Nathaniel Johnson, a barber, showcased his craft while sharing his personal journey in the industry. This activation gave attendees insight into the discipline, entrepreneurship, and creativity involved in barbering, while highlighting it as a viable and rewarding career path.

Live Music

Beat-Making Session

KekeBeatz, a music producer, led a live beat-making session alongside an artist, collaboratively creating a song in real time. Youth contributed ideas, sounds, direction, and vocals, becoming part of the creative process and seeing themselves as creators.

Day at a Glance

Program Highlights

A full day designed for energy, engagement, and exploration — from arrival to departure.

1
Arrival & Breakfast
1,443 youth arrived via 36 chartered or school buses, 4 taxis, and 1 shuttle taxi. Volunteers welcomed attendees into the Fun & Knowledge Hub for a catered handheld breakfast.
2
Opening Ceremonies
Performance by Studio 26; opening remarks by Otni Asare-Adjei; National Anthem and Lift Every Voice by Keonté Beals; remarks from Carrie Hage and Hon. Leah Martin; DJ Shaed energized the room.
3
Breakout Sessions
Youth chose from six inspiring workshops, each with a panel of two to four experts and a host, all active leaders in their respective fields.
4
Lunch & Networking
Catered lunch accommodating various dietary needs. Youth continued to explore the Fun & Knowledge Hub and network.
5
Departure
Schools gradually began their departure from designated hubs supported by UYE volunteers.

Six Breakout Workshops

Tailored to youth interests and future aspirations. Select a workshop to view its panel.

🏀
Succeeding as a Student Athlete
Sports
View session ↗
🎓
Preparing for Post Secondary
Education
View session ↗
✊
Be the Change
Leadership
View session ↗
🛠️
Tools for the Future
Entrepreneurship
View session ↗
🔬
STEAM
Science & Arts
View session ↗
💚
Brighter Future
Health
View session ↗
Key Takeaway

The energy, excitement, and sense of belonging among youth were palpable. Many youth, educators, and community members expressed that they are already looking forward to UYE 2027!

Inclusion By Design

Equity & Accessibility

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility were top of mind when designing and executing this conference. Youth from marginalized and underserved communities represented over 70% of attendees.

The event provided free transportation, accessible buses, accommodation, meals, a quiet room, an accessible venue, speakers and volunteers that represent various communities.

Use of Funds & Impact

🚌
Cover transportation for rural students
🏫
Cover transportation for students within HRM
♿
Support event logistics, volunteers, and accessibility services
🍽️
Provide meals, speaker honorariums, and printed materials
📣
Pre-event and post-event engagement activities
Measuring Success

Evaluation Highlights

Feedback received from speakers, hosts, volunteers, and attendees consistently rated the conference as top tier in terms of organization, content, and youth engagement.

Key Impact Areas

Based on pre-event engagement and conference feedback, several priority areas for continued youth development were identified.

Entrepreneurship

Economic empowerment and small business pathways

Health & Wellness

Mental and physical wellbeing support

Skilled Trades

Apprenticeship awareness and exposure

STEAM Education

Innovation including artificial intelligence

Leadership

Community engagement and civic skills

Outcomes - Youth

Youth participants reported increased self-confidence, greater awareness of career and educational pathways, and a stronger connection to resources and opportunities.

Outcomes - Partners

Partner organizations praised the event's logistics, flow, and youth-centered approach, emphasizing the depth of engagement and excitement among participants.

Looking Ahead

Next Steps

Ongoing Engagement
Follow-up outreach and engagement activities will continue through June 2026, providing additional opportunities for youth to remain connected and for feedback collection.
Post-Event Evaluation
A detailed survey was distributed throughout the conference and will continue to participating youth, schools, and chaperones during the week of May 3, 2026, focusing on overall satisfaction, knowledge gained, skills developed, and areas for future programming.
2026-2027 Planning
Learning from the UYE 2026 Conference will directly inform the structure, partnerships, and programming for UYE's expansion across the region, including rural Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as well as the development of UYE 2027.

Thank You

The Uncover Your Essence Conference 2026 successfully met its objectives and delivered a meaningful experience for youth across Nova Scotia. With the generous support of our funders, we were able to continue our mission to remove barriers, inspire confidence, and create space for future leaders. We look forward to continued collaboration and expanding our impact in the years ahead.

With Gratitude

Sponsors