Catherine Wreford

Catherine Wreford

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Amazing Race Canada Winner | Cancer Survivor | Actor | Dancer | Advocate

Catherine Wreford is a true inspiration and a force to be reckoned with. Catherine's extraordinary journey is defined by resilience, passion, and remarkable achievements. However, her path took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer after the birth of her second child. Undeterred, Catherine defied the odds and embraced her true calling as a performer and a motivational speaker. Her triumph on Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada, alongside her best friend Craig Ramsay, amplified her mission to raise awareness and find a cure for brain cancer. Catherine Wreford is a living testament to the indomitable human spirit, an unwavering advocate for life, and an empowering voice that encourages us all to embrace our own extraordinary journeys.

CATHERINE WREFORD BIOGRAPHY

Catherine Wreford was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her passion for performing was first recognized at age 3 when she learned how to roll out of a handstand with a professional flair. She went on to train at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.

After high school, Catherine Wreford moved to Toronto and performed in the Stratford Festival production of West Side Story directed by Kelly Robinson and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. At age 20, she was cast in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street, directed by Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner. She performed with the cast in the opening number for that year’s Tony Awards.

Catherine Wreford was also in the original cast of the 2002 revival of Oklahoma!, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman, and performed in the 2002 Tony Awards. For two years, Wreford delighted audiences as Peggy Sawyer, the lead role in the U.S. tour of 42nd Street. Other notable theatre credits include Cassie in A Chorus Line, Roxie in Chicago and Alison in Fun Home.

Wreford is a woman of many talents. She previously ran a mortgage company in Los Angeles and later spent four years becoming a nurse. She is also a survivor. In 2013, after giving birth to her second child, Wreford was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Given two to six years to live, she decided to return to her performing roots in Canada.

In 2022, Wreford teamed up with her best friend Craig Ramsay—they met as teenagers at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School—to win Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada. Wreford sees the win as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on finding a cure for brain cancer.

Catherine Wreford has made a significant impact by raising awareness for brain cancer research and inspiring individuals to overcome adversity. As a survivor herself, she shares her story to foster community support and raise funds for vital research initiatives. Catherine’s advocacy extends to empowering women, promoting mental health awareness, and fostering inclusivity.

Through her motivational speaking, she encourages people to embrace their strengths, pursue their passions, and create positive change in their lives and communities. Her unwavering dedication and personal achievements make Catherine Wreford a beacon of hope, inspiring others to make a difference and contribute to a better world.

Catherine Wreford is a performer, a teacher, an adjudicator, a stretch expert, a survivor, a mentor and a motivational speaker. Most of all, she is a lover of life who encourages and inspires everyone she meets to run their own amazing race!

Videos

Podcasts

Play

Unstoppable Overcomers

SBC

Unstoppable Overcomers Ep. # 80 Catherine Wreford Ledlow & Craig Ramsey
Play

BrainTumourFdn

SBC

Personal Story of Hope – Catherine Wreford Ledlow

Catherine Wreford Topic Presentations

promoting mental health awareness

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • Catherine Wreford has faced many life challenges related to mental health issues. She tackled them all face on. Catherine has always talked openly about her mental health, even when she was experiencing difficulties managing her issues.  She always felt compelled to share as a way of helping others as well as herself.  In this keynote, she shares her experienced success in speaking non-judgementally to others about their situation and potential solutions.  She understands that mental health is just as important as physical health.

    Catherine feels strongly that those who share their stories of mental health challenges should never feel alone. She stresses the need to have a safe place for people who are experiencing mental health struggles to open up and move on in a positive way.  In this presentation, she will share her experiences with healthy coping mechanisms to decrease symptoms associated with mental illness.

    By speaking opening about her own mental health, Catherine Wreford normalizes discussions about mental health and helps others to seek and receive the support they need to live their best life.

empowering women

fostering inclusivity

overcoming adversity

surviving cancer

Testimonials

I engaged with Catherine in the Fall of 2022 to explore whether she would consider doing the Keynote presentation at our first-ever Patient and Family Conference at CancerCare Manitoba. From our first interaction and meetings, Catherine was warm, flexible, and eager to meet the needs of our audience. When putting together an event for cancer patients and their loved ones, having a speaker who is attuned to their needs and mindful about their experiences is essential. In planning the Keynote, Catherine took all opportunities to ensure the various aspects of the presentation were working, from doing a rehearsal presentation to review content, to attending a technical trial to ensure she was...

Emma Higgs, MSW, RSW

Projects & Education Coordinator | Community Oncology Program
CancerCare Manitoba

As chairperson of Domain Women’s Institute, Domain MB, I am pleased to have this opportunity to support Catherine Wreford as keynote speaker.  Catherine spoke to an audience of 160 women and men at our 75th (plus one) anniversary celebration on May 10th, 2023.  The Women’s Institute came into being in 1897 as a support group for rural women who were isolated on their family farms.  In 1910 the movement became part of Manitoba rural life.  Our Domain group chartered in 1947.  At present we have 16 members.  We wanted to have a speaker who would inspire us, who would bring us a real life story of courage and triumph.  Enter Catherine Wreford. Catherine shared her story.  Hers was...

Janice Harrison

Chair
Domain WI

We had the pleasure of asking Catherine Wreford to be our keynote speaker at our international women’s day event, and I must say, she left an indelible impact on everyone in the crowd. Catherine’s heartwarming story resonated deeply with all the attendees, as she shared her journey of resilience and triumph over adversity. Her ability to connect on a personal level and deliver her message with authenticity, humour and passion was truly remarkable. Catherine’s keynote address was not only captivating, but it also instilled a sense of empowerment and motivation in all of us, reminding us that we have the strength to overcome any obstacle and achieve our dreams. Her story...

Sharilyn Knox

Mayor
Portage La Prairie

Articles & Media

'The Amazing Race Canada' winner on bringing hope to others, 9 years after devastating diagnosis

CTV News

Catherine Wreford Ledlow is no shrinking violet. She studied with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, performed at the Stratford Festival, danced on the stage in Toronto, achieved her life’s dream of being on Broadway and tasted success in Los Angeles. She and best friend Craig Ramsay even won Amazing Race Canada, beating out nine other teams in a gruelling competition. Not too shabby! A triple threat artist: dance, vocals, acting. Catherine’s motto, she will tell you, is, “I can do that.”
View
How these Amazing Race Canada winners overcame adversity through faith

Broadview

When Catherine Wreford and Craig Ramsay met in 1997, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet was their church. Ramsay, then 19, heard about another dancer at the school who loved musical theatre as much as he did. He tracked down 16-year-old Wreford, and their friendship was instantaneous. Both had ambitions of performing on Broadway, and both had grown up in the church. But they didn’t connect on the basis of faith at that time. They lived and breathed dance.
View
Local Amazing Race Canada winner speaks on faith, friendship

WINDSOR STAR

Craig Ramsay credits faith, friendship and answered prayers with pulling himself and his partner through Amazing Race Canada. The Harrow native, who won Season 8 of the popular race-around-the-world show with best friend and race partner Catherine Wreford, spoke at Riverside United Church Sunday for “Racing with Faith:” sharing messages of faith, family and friendship. They were joined by fellow racer Kathy Hunter.
View
Winnipegger with terminal brain cancer teams up with longtime friend to win Amazing Race Canada

CBC News

Catherine Wreford says she wanted to show others how obstacles can be overcome. Catherine Wreford and Craig Ramsay had already experienced a hurdle more difficult than any reality show challenge by the time the friends of 25 years appeared on Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada. When the 42-year-old, Winnipeg-born Wreford was diagnosed in 2013 with anaplastic astrocytoma, a malignant brain tumour, she was informed that she would have anywhere between two and six years left to live.
View
Official W5

SBC

AMAZING grace: Winner of The Amazing Race Canada on her battle with brain cancer | W5 INVESTIGATION
View
CBC

Q with Tom Power

The Amazing Race Canada winners share the inspiring story behind their teamwork and friendship
View

Books

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How to book Catherine Wreford for an event?

Catherine Wreford keynote speaker is an expert presenter and has a wide range of experience speaking to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. Catherine Wreford delivers keynotes, workshops & training sessions. They may also host or emcee events. Hire Catherine Wreford from Winnipeg, Manitoba for your event to inspire the audience to take action and make change in their work and their lives. Your workplace will benefit from our keynote speaker and their keynote talks and speeches will shift the mindsets or behaviours for the audience members in Canada. 

Interested in booking Catherine Wreford for an event?

Are you looking to hire Catherine Wreford for your event? Catherine Wreford Winnipeg, Manitoba is a dynamic and engaging speaker that offers audiences researched content paired with expertise and a dynamic speaking ability. Catherine Wreford is also a Canadian corporate consultant and coach and facilitates workshops and training sessions for a corporate audience. Catherine Wreford is an expert keynote presenter and speaks on wide variety of topics. Hiring a great speaker for your event is important and working with a thought leader like Catherine Wreford from Speakers Canada's roster will engage audiences into the content of the presentation to bring awareness and a fresh perspective for their approach to their work and their lives. Book Catherine Wreford to educate, motivate and activate the audience through an interactive and entertaining presentation at corporate meetings and gatherings.

Known as a popular key note speaker in Canada, Catherine Wreford creates life changing experiences for the participants with practical insights and strategic advice they can implement right after the session. Working with a one our leading expert speaker like Catherine Wreford from Winnipeg, Manitoba offers organizations a fresh perspective to assist the people of the organization. No matter if it is a government, association, or business crowd, Catherine Wreford is a perfect speaker for your event. Through unique practical insights for trending topics and years experience speaking to different organizations, Catherine Wreford focuses on changing individuals to make better decisions at work and their lives. No matter if you are holding an in person or virtual event, having an influential speaker such as Catherine Wreford will engage, motivate, and activate the audience to make a change in their lives and inspire action for results to meet organizational goals. Your workforce will benefit from Catherine Wreford's presentations and speeches, with measurable results set to shift the people of the organization and core direction of the company. Book Catherine Wreford speaker for your annual general meeting, conference, summit, or convention in Canada.

How much does it cost to hire Catherine Wreford for a keynote presentation or virtual event?

Catherine Wreford is an expert professional key note speaker with a lot of experience speaking and delivering engaging talks to organizations and audiences in Canada. Each of Speaker Bureau Canada's talent have different ways to assess their fees, and Catherine Wreford speaker fee ranges depending on the size of the audience, event format (in person or virtual), event location, and if the organization booking them is a non profit, association, government department/government agency or business/corporation. The speakers we work with are flexible with their fees, and it is important for us to learn more about your event before we approach them, as it is our role to work for you, and to help you find a speaker within budget. 

Please contact Speakers Bureau of Canada and provide us with your event details so that we can contact Catherine Wreford to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Catherine Wreford for your event. As Catherine Wreford's agent and as a Canadian top speaker bureau and talent agency for speakers, we are able to propose each event opportunity from each host organization's behalf to try to help you get in touch with Catherine Wreford and confirm them for your in person or online meeting/event. We can also provide and advise on the booking process and potentially negotiate their fee. Speakers Canada is a client focused speaker agency, and we work for you in finding good speakers for your team meetings and booking processes.

Catherine Wreford Disclaimer

Speakers Bureau Canada assists companies and event planning teams seeking to hire talent like Catherine Wreford for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, conference appearances, training sessions and workshops facilitations. Our Canadian speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Catherine Wreford, however they are represented by Speakers Canada, and we work with them closely for their Canadian speaking opportunities and bookings. As Canada's top speaker bureau, we represent Canadian motivational keynote speakers and professional guest speakers that will be available on your upcoming events date and location that are withing the budget. Our talented bureau speaker booking agency can help find business speakers or celebrity speakers that aligns with each organization, audience, event theme and the topic themes you hope for the speaker to address in their presentation. 

When SBC receives a request to book Catherine Wreford we provide you with their speaker fees, travel costs and check their schedules. We work closely with the host organization's event planning team and the speaker to handle the logistics and to relay or negotiate associated costs. Our talented team members then will work with our talent directly or their agent/manager/assistant to confirm the Canadian speaker fee and travel expenses, so that event planning teams can receive an official quote for the speaker appearing at the event. Speaker fees and travel costs vary per speaker and our role is to contact Catherine Wreford about your event, after we have connected with the event organizers to learn all the event details and/or conference program. Each booking request is unique since session durations and audience sizes can vary which may affect the speaker's fees. If you are looking to hire Catherine Wreford, we recommend filling out the booking request form so a booking agent from Speakers Bureau Canada can get in touch with our talent to help you coordinate with your team to engage the speaker for a successful event.