Grit keynotes in Kingston, Ontario — including Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario sits where Lake Ontario meets the Cataraqui and the St. Lawrence, and it is home to Queen’s University — one of Canada’s best-known campuses. Paris Norriss has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario. He is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, and The Grit Code is available for further Kingston bookings: campus programmes, corporate offsites and regional conferences, in person or virtually.
Queen’s University, Ontario
Paris’s confirmed Canadian speaking work so far is at Queen’s University in Ontario. That campus relationship is the reason this page exists as more than a generic city template. Organisers at Queen’s and elsewhere in Kingston can book the same method he uses internationally: purpose, adapting plans under pressure, and team habits drawn from the 2023 Pacific row and the World Marathon Challenge. Canadian city and hub pages are also for organisers who want him elsewhere in the country; see keynote speaker Canada.
This page is for Kingston, Ontario, Canada — not Kingston, Jamaica.
Who Paris speaks to in Kingston
Universities and student leadership
Campus keynotes, faculty events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners — building on his Queen’s talks.
Corporate and professional services
Regional firms and Kingston-based teams that want a grit keynote without travelling to Toronto.
Healthcare, education and public institutions
Rooms that value evidence, clarity and a speaker who briefs carefully.
Conferences and association days
Eastern Ontario programmes that use Queen’s venues, downtown hotels or waterfront spaces.
Where Kingston meets
- Queen’s University venues – including performing-arts and conference spaces used for campus and external programmes (such as the Isabel Bader Centre for larger keynotes)
- Downtown and waterfront hotels – corporate days and association meetings
- Conference and banquet rooms across the city – mid-size leadership and awards events
- Virtual delivery – for hybrid Queen’s or regional audiences across Ontario time zones
Ways to book Paris in Kingston
Options: keynote, 45 to 60 minutes · workshop, 90 minutes up to half a day · virtual session, 30 to 45 minutes · host or MC for your event. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
Talks at Queen’s University
Confirmed Canadian speaking work at Queen’s University in Ontario.
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
Seven marathons on seven continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
By rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023 with three teammates (Brothers N Oars).
Shows in 123 countries
Adventure TV distributed worldwide; Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
See also keynote speaker Canada · keynote speaker Toronto · The Grit Code
Speaking in Kingston, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Kingston, Ontario, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker Vancouver, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Kingston’s economy and who the talk is for
Kingston’s economy blends higher education, healthcare, public institutions, tourism linked to the Thousand Islands and a growing services and innovation base. Queen’s University anchors much of the city’s conference and visiting-speaker calendar.
Higher education. Student, graduate and faculty audiences respond to grit as a skill that can be trained. Paris’s Queen’s talks sit in that lane; further campus bookings can lean on expedition film and on his role as CEO of Blazing Sand Studios so the message stays commercial as well as inspirational.
Healthcare and institutional leadership. Hospitals, education boards and public bodies often want resilience without hype. The Grit Code uses real numbers and a briefing call to match tone.
Corporate and professional Kingston. Law, accounting, tech and regional headquarters book speakers for offsites and year-start kick-offs. Sibling pages for Toronto and Vancouver cover larger Canadian metro stages.
Tourism and destination events. Waterfront and heritage venues host association programmes where an adventure keynote fits the setting.
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want — including whether to reference his previous Queen’s talks.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Kingston
- University welcome weeks, leadership programmes and alumni events at Queen’s
- Corporate offsites and sales kick-offs for Eastern Ontario teams
- Association conferences using campus or downtown venues
- Hybrid all-hands with a virtual version for staff across provinces
- Awards nights where Paris can speak or host
Credentials at a glance
- He has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. In North America he has also spoken at Surfbreak in Honolulu and to US Army soldiers at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Queen’s first — more of Canada available
Paris’s confirmed Canadian speaking work so far is at Queen’s University in Ontario. Canadian organisers elsewhere can still book him in person or virtually; the Canada hub and city pages for Toronto and Vancouver are part of that booking map.
Bring grit to your next event in Kingston, Ontario
Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. Share your date, venue and audience via contact.
See also: keynote speaker Canada · Toronto · Vancouver · speaking · all locations
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Kingston, Ontario?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, campus events and leadership programmes in Kingston, in person or virtually.
Has Paris spoken at Queen’s University?
Yes. He has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario. That is his confirmed Canadian speaking work so far.
Is this Kingston Ontario or Kingston Jamaica?
Kingston, Ontario, Canada — home of Queen’s University. This page is not about Kingston, Jamaica.
How far ahead should we book?
About three months ahead is typical.
Does Paris present in English?
Yes. He presents in English, and every talk is tailored in a briefing call for your audience.
Is there a workshop option for Queen’s or Kingston teams?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day.
Can the keynote be delivered online for Ontario teams?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. In Canada he has given talks at Queen’s University in Ontario.