Fenwick entrepreneur to participate in inspirational speaker competition

NEWS RELEASE

SPEAKER SLAM

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Ivan Fredette, a speaker, serial entrepreneur, and father of three from Fenwick, Ont., is getting ready to take the stage at Speaker Slam, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition. He’ll be competing on May 27 at Lula Lounge in Toronto, where ten speakers from across Canada will share personal stories on The Power of No and how saying “no” helped them take back control of their lives.

For Ivan, it all started with loss. After his cousin died by suicide, he spent 17 years numbing the pain with alcohol. Then, on Boxing Day 2020, everything changed. Ivan made a life-altering decision — not to die for his family, but to live for them. He made the decision to get sober — not just to survive, but to lead by example for his family. That choice sparked a new path forward, one rooted in purpose, discipline, and radical responsibility.

“I didn’t get sober to survive. I got sober to lead,” Ivan says. “Saying no to alcohol was the first time I truly said yes to myself, my family, and the man I wanted to be.”

Since that turning point, Ivan has built two successful businesses: Safe Tree, a tree care company serving Niagara, and Ironclad Brotherhood, a men’s coaching community helping others take back control of their lives. He’s now using his story to speak to a deeper issue: the pressure men feel to stay silent, stay strong, and keep pushing until they break.

“Too many men are just surviving. They’re stuck, they’re numbing out, and they don’t know how to ask for help,” he says. “I want to show them there’s another way.”

Speaker Slam’s Power of No event is the third competition of the year in a five-part series. Contestants will compete for a $10,000 prize package, including $2,000 in cash, and a spot in the Grand Slam Finals in November where the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year is up for grabs.

Speaker Slam Co-Founder Dan Shaikh says Ivan’s message couldn’t be more timely:

“Ivan is the real deal. His journey from addiction to leadership is raw and powerful—and it’s exactly what we need right now with Men’s Mental Health Month around the corner. He’s not just talking about change. He’s living it. Ivan shows what’s possible when men take responsibility and lead with integrity.”

Speaker Slam®, based in downtown Toronto, offers a platform for everyday people to share their stories with a live audience. The competition features five themed qualifiers each year, where 10 speakers deliver powerful 5-minute speeches in front of industry judges. The top two contestants from each event move on to the Grand Slam on November 22, 2025, at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, where they will compete for the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year and a $50,000 prize package.

About Ivan Fredette

Ivan Fredette is a Men’s Transformation & Leadership Expert, Resilience Speaker, and Serial Entrepreneur. He is the founder of Ironclad Brotherhood, a coaching and mentorship community rooted in his A.R.M.O.R. Framework, and the creator of The Warrior’s Journal. He also leads Safe Tree, a 7-figure arborist company in Niagara and home to NS2, the world’s first chemically profiled mulch division. Ivan lives in Niagara with his wife and three children.

About Speaker Slam:

Speaker Slam is North America’s premier speaker development agency, known for uncovering and launching the next wave of inspirational speakers. Since 2016, it has provided a stage for storytellers, thought leaders, and changemakers to share their journeys and inspire global audiences. Speaker Slam alumni have gone on to deliver TEDx talks, secure book deals, and gain media recognition on outlets such as CityNews, CTV, The Social, CHCH, Breakfast Television,Global News and more.

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