Tim O’Loan comes from two wounded communities: one military, one Indigenous. A is a proud indigenous (Sahtu Dene) Veteran, having served 10 years (1983-1993) in the military. Throughout Tims life he experienced massive amounts of racism and trauma. The racism and his search for his identity was something Tim struggled with until his mid 40’s when he started working at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). While he was at the TRC his mental health started to decline as he realized how his story was similar to the survivors of residential schools story, one of a lifetime of trauma.
Tim O’Loan joined the army at 17 — partly to escape an adoptive father who was physically and emotionally abusive, in fact his father named him “Dim Tim”. Tim’s 10 years of service included a time when the military was called out the Oka Crisis. “Soldiers had no qualms,” he says, about sharing their feelings about Indigenous people. Anxious to avoid confrontations with fellow soldiers, he endured taunting, bullying and other abuse while trying to fit into the brotherhood, he struggled with issues of identity and self-worth. Tim O’Loan served at military bases in Winnipeg, Petawawa and Baden, Germany. At 27, O’Loan decided to leave the only career he had ever known: “I couldn’t do it anymore. I left the military physically and spiritually wounded.”
Like many survivors of physical and sexual abuse, Tim “packed away” his trauma and pondered his next steps in his life. He had promised his mother he would go back to school if he ever left the military, but he never thought he’d actually have to act on the vow. His only non-military job had been pumping gas as a teenager. Despite the struggles, Tim enrolled as a special student at Carleton University. Tim studied political sciences and received failing grades on his first four essays. He persisted and celebrated when he received his first ‘D.’ It took him four years to earn a three-year bachelor’s degree, even then he was very proud of his accomplishments as he never saw a future of college, let alone university.
The degree set him on a new path. In 1997, Tim O’Loan moved to the Northwest Territories, where members of his Dené family, including his grandfather, still lived. His grandfather was a trapper who had moved to Yellowknife to gift his children a modern education and modern healthcare, sadly to have all his children taken off to residential schools. From 1998-2006, he was a Land Claims and Self Government Negotiator and Intergovernmental Relations for the Government of the NWT. In 2006 Tim felt his BA was a good start but needed to hone in his writing skills, so in 2006 Tim and his family moved to Ottawa for his MA in Canadian Studies at Carleton University. In 2010, he was asked to join the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) as the Advisor to the TRC Chair, the Hon. Murray Sinclair.
Given his unique history, Tim O’Loan now identifies as a knowledge keeper and continues to share this unique perspective across Canada and beyond, particularly through the Indigenous Veterans lens, mental health and Reconciliation. He is also a proud volunteer of the Veterans Ombuds Advisory Council, the Aboriginal Veterans Association (AVA) and the Assembly of First Nations Veterans Council. Tim is the founder of an Ottawa based community reconciliation initiative called “Mamawi Together”. Its intent to engage and educate parents, students and community members in putting Reconciliation into action.
While Tim O’Loan was with the TRC and since, he made several presentations on Reconciliation to a range of institutions and a number of stakeholders. He continues to share this unique perspective to all levels of government, educational institutions and the private sector across Canada and the United States.
Carleton University
Carleton University
Indigenous entrepreneurship program, Business Administration and Management, General
Indigenous entrepreneurship program, Business Administration and Management, General
Feb 2022 – Apr 2022
Feb 2022 – Apr 2022
Okimaw Nipawi Kakinoosit is a proud member of Sucker Creek First Nation and a Treaty 8 Hereditary Chief. Born and raised in Prince George, BC. Nipawi spent his formative years attending College Heights Secondary School and began to get politically and socially active in opposition to the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. From there, He would go to the Native Education College in 2012 to complete his Grade 12, where he became Vice-Chief of the Student Council, Co-Founder, and Inaugural Women’s Basketball Manager for the NEC Nighthawks Athletics Program. He would also speak at various events held around the city of Vancouver having spoken at, Douglass College, SFU, UBC, NEC, on several occasions.
In 2013, Nipawi Kakinoositwould organize and lead a Caravan of Supporters from Vancouver BC to Rexton New Brunswick to support Elsipogtog and other Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Acadian, and others in their work in opposition to Shale Gas Exploratory work done by Southwest Energy (SWN). He would also be invited that year to do a territorial acknowledgement, address and facilitate a workshop during the 2013 North American Palestinian Shatat Conference held at UBC. He has gone on to represent both his Nation and the Urban Indigenous Communities of BC while attending High-Level meetings with various Governments in Canada, the US, and through work with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
In 2016, Nipawi Kakinoosit would be Head of Security and Logistics for the Treaty 8 Justice for the Peace Caravan. This Caravan left from Bear Flats BC and drove all the way to Montreal, Quebec for the “Site C” BC Hydro Court of Appeals Case. He has also worked with several Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Organizations across North America towards building better relations between the communities through direct engagement and interaction. He has led delegation to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, has given Traditional Welcoming’s, facilitated workshops and panel discussion at various Universities and Colleges across Canada and the US. Nipawi Kakinoosit is currently working with Young Diplomats of Canada leading their 2022 UNPFII Delegation and Canadian Roots Exchange as part of their Peer Program.
Health Coach Institute
Health Coach Institute
Certified Health & Life Coach
Certified Health & Life Coach
Aug 2020 – Feb 2021
Aug 2020 – Feb 2021Health Coach Institute
Health Coach Institute
Certified Transformational & Mastery Coach
Certified Transformational & Mastery Coach
Mar 2021 – Nov 2021
Mar 2021 – Nov 2021
Shannon Talbot is a former corporate executive turned Wellness Coach, Speaker and Writer on a mission to help others live happier, healthier and more present lives. For 17 years, Shannon Talbot climbed the corporate ladder in the financial services & advertising industries, working for companies such as Scotiabank, BMO, PC Bank and Publicis. Shannon Talbot excelled at leading teams, managing complex projects and building strong relationships. Due to her roles and travelling extensively, Shannon found herself prioritizing her career and family over her personal well-being. Over time, Shannon Talbot found herself completely burnt out. Shannon also struggled with anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and guilt from trying to juggle it all.
When Shannon’s then five-year-old son spent a total of 31 days at Sick Kids Hospital, Shannon Talbot had a wake-up call. She realized how important health and happiness are and set out on a journey to find them. Shannon Talbot completely revamped her lifestyle across all areas – physical, emotional and mental. Shannon Talbot learned to prioritize her well-being and, in doing so, saw the positive impact it can have on productivity, balance and happiness in the workplace and at home.
Shannon Talbot left the corporate world to become a Wellness Coach and start her own company, Path to Presence, to support other busy professionals to live happier, healthier & more present lives. She has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor of International Business from Carleton University, is a Certified Health and Life Coach from the Health Coach Institute and has worked across North and Latin America.
As a speaker, Shannon brings a unique perspective of how prioritizing self-care can lead to more success, personally and professionally. Shannon’s passion and energy connects and engages participants by sharing her expertise and personal stories. Through the use of knowledge, frameworks and tools, Shannon Talbot educates and motivates participants to implement healthier lifestyle habits that stick and fit within the context of their busy schedules.
Shannon’s primary area of expertise is with busy professionals who are trying to juggle it all. She helps them learn to prioritize their well-being so they can have more energy and patience to do the things they love while still being successful – personally and professionally.
East Kootenay College
East Kootenay College
Associate’s Degree, Business Administration and Management, General
Associate’s Degree, Business Administration and Management, General
1986 – 1988
1986 – 1988http://anextraordinarylife.ca/
Dane Stevens is a thought leader, author, speaker, facilitator and principal of An Extraordinary Life, a company that promotes and teaches transformation, empowerment and self-awareness. Dane is the author of Reclaim Your Power to Create Your Best Life, a book that shows people how to deal with and heal trauma, unwanted behaviors, and chronic conditions. He has completed the RYP book tour in Canada in the US in 2020, with his next book: Unleash Your Genius – Letting Your True Self Out, due in 2021. Stevens is now doing keynotes on the topics of: Conscious Leadership, Mindfulness, Mental Health, Overcoming, Change and Transition.
Dane is the developer of the Neuro Trauma Healing Process (NTHP) and the Soul Re-Cognition Process (SRC). Healing to Empowerment modalities that were developed out of sheer necessity when he had his nervous system seriously compromised by a well-meaning therapist, who tried to force a child-hood trauma out him. It left him in a state of constant anxiety and turned his life into complete shambles, eventually leaving him homeless, afraid and out-of-control.
Dane Stevens went on a mad search to try and figure out what the hell happened to him and how to get his life back. He sought out therapists, counselors, healers, gurus- anyone and everyone he thought could tell him what was happening to him and help him to recover; all the while sleeping in his car when he had one, or on the beach. After five years of seeking and searching he discovered a way to bring the trauma that was brought alive in him, to resolution, and stop it from running and ruining his life. The result of his healing journey is the Neuro Trauma Healing Process – NTHP. A healing modality that is achieving unparalleled results internationally, taking people from healing into empowerment, naturally and with certainty.
All his work and study of human consciousness turned a corner and became much more than he imagined though. Healing from his past took him into a place of peace and fulfillment he didn’t expect, or even know was possible. He assumed the deep inner peace and ease that had come over him was a passing thing, but it was not. He still lives in that powerfully connected place and has developed the Soul Re-Cognition Process, the process that came out of NTHP and is the natural continuation that leads from healing into full on empowerment, or full Self-expression.
Dane Stevens is very passionate about sharing the simple yet powerful learnings that have taken him from being destitute and homeless to living a healthy, rich and fulfilling life. He feels a sense of duty to teach others how they too can access their natural states of happiness, fulfillment, and success, and that it is equally available to everyone, now. Dane’s talks will inspire and show people how they can step back into their power and thrive in their life, by simply being who they truly are.
Dane’s work-shop is a fun, experiential-adventure, based in true Self-Empowerment as people get re-acquainted with their inner power. This is a very exhilarating workshop where people come away with understanding, practical tools, and a newfound understanding about what they need to reach their full potential, as an individual and as a part of a team. Dane Stevens is a Thought Leader and a Behavioral/Empowerment specialist who speaks on the topics: Conscious Leadership, Mindfulness, Mental Health, Resiliency and Overcoming, Change and Transition.
A Two Time Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist turned Adventurer and Engineer, Adam Kreek is a Social Entrepreneur who walks the talk. Adam is Chair the Board of Directors of Greasecycle, a start-up Biodiesel company on Vancouver Island, and he runs Kreek Speak Enterprises Inc. where he teaches strategies of high performance, framed in compelling narratives and supported by cutting edge research.
A world-class and interactive storyteller, Adam’s timeless performance philosophies serve to embolden organizational culture, re-boot team performance, and expand resiliency. Adam delivers keynote addresses and workshops on the topics of Shared Leadership and Teamwork, Managing Change Successfully, Cultivating a Safety Culture, and Strategies for Peak Performance. Relevant, powerful, and transformative, Adam’s keynotes motivate, inspire, educate, and entertain.
During his 13-year rowing career, Adam won over 60 medals, including 43 gold medal performances. After a disappointing loss at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Adam and his team powered their way to a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Following his Olympic career, Adam was named Athlete Leader of the Year at the prestigious Canadian Sports Awards, and was elected to the Canadian Olympic Committee to direct sports policy in Canada. Adam Kreek and his teammates were inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2014, the fourth hall of fame to recognize their momentous accomplishment.
Always eager to take on new challenges, Adam made the first ever attempt to row unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to North America in January 2013. His goals were to advocate for adventure as a tool for self-development, to educate youth about the importance of sustaining the health our oceans resources, and to collect scientific data about the state of the Atlantic Ocean. After four years in planning and 73 days at sea in their 29-foot rowboat, Adam and his three teammates capsized just 10 days short of their destination. Fortunately, the crew’s exceptional safety and emergency planning ensured that all four members survived and much of their equipment and data was salvaged.
Adam Kreek also serves on the Board of Directors of the Island Biodiesel Coop and is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the BC Biofuels Network. He is a spokesperson for Whitehall Spirit rowing boats and clubs. Adam is former Board Member of the Canadian Olympic Committee where he worked in a leadership role to ensure the benefits of sport spread to the broader Canadian society, and of Clean Air Champions, where he worked for many years to educate Canadians about the importance of the link between personal and environmental health.
Adam is a Big Brother, with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. He recently served as Honorary Co-chair of the Elk Lake Boathouse Renewal Project and helped to raise $1.3 million to renovate the community facility that houses Canada’s Olympic Rowing Team. In addition to his work with organizations, Adam Kreek has worked with tens of thousands of youth in schools, instilling within our next generation the idea that the “secret to happy living is giving.” Adam holds a degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology from Stanford University. He lives in Victoria, BC, with his wife and two children.
Karina LeBlanc is retired Olympic bronze medalist and professional athlete, Karina LeBlanc has the distinguished honor of being one of the longest serving soccer players for Canada. With a prestigious career that spanned almost 18 years at the international level, she participated in 5 FIFA World Cups and two Olympic Games, winning an Olympic medal, and making her and her team household names.
Karina has many accolades that speak to her contributions to sport and society in general. In 2019, Karina’s home city of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, acknowledged her contributions by dedicating and naming a field in her honor, The Karina LeBlanc Field. More recently, in 2020, Karina was inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame. Karina is especially proud of her role as Honorary Captain of the Canadian Navy.
Karina’s career path takes her around the globe both in person and digitally, where she participates in global leadership initiatives and delivers motivational keynote addresses, speaking to diverse audiences. She has spoken at the United Nations General Assembly events on two separate occasions, as well as the United Nations Race Against Climate Change. A dynamic speaker, she has engaged large audiences at major events including Canada’s 150th Celebration, Women Empowerment Conferences as well as several Leadership Conferences and was the Host of TED x Vancouver. Karina’s authenticity and vulnerability makes her relatable and allows her to connect with all audiences, ranging from fortune 500 companies, to small businesses, to 20,000 seat venues filled with adults and kids alike.
In 2018 Karina LeBlanc accepted the position of Head of Women’s Football for CONCACAF and its 41 countries where she works in leading the confederation with developing and growing the women’s game and using football as a means of empowering young women globally.
In March 2020, amid the COVID 19 world crisis, Karina gave birth to her daughter. Shortly after delivery, Karina LeBlanc suffered heart failure and had to be re-admitted to the hospital, separating her from her newborn and her husband. Due to possible COVID exposure, she then had to do a 14-day self-quarantine allowing no contact with her newborn or her husband. It was in this challenging and uncertain time that Karina found herself redefining her purpose.
A positive role model and highly sought-after motivational speaker, Karina is a passionate advocate for inclusion, diversity and humanitarianism. She has spoken on developing the mindset of an Olympian, her experiences traveling to some of the world’s poorest places as a UNICEF ambassador, her transition from and elite athlete to a leader in the corporate world and living in the uncomfortable of change. Her accolades include being an Honorary Captain of the Canadian Navy as well as Karina LeBlanc knows how to create an Olympic Culture in any organization.
Karina LeBlanc inspires and motivates her audience to ask hard questions, to engage in challenging conversations, and ultimately to become a better version of themselves. In Karina’s own words, she truly believes that we all have greatness within us. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we should live everyday aiming to be the best version of ourselves.
Dr. Mitchell Abrams is a Canadian Radiologist, Guest Speaker, as well as the Founder and CEO of consulting and technology company thatdelivers a multi-disciplinary approach to personal wellbeing and community health. Abrams experienced a remarkable journey through western healthcare, as a physician, division chief and open-heart surgical patient. Through these experiences, he has been afforded an intimate look into our current healthcare model and a unique perspective on life. Combining his passion for the arts and medicine, Abrams initiated a social enterprise delivering innovative health strategies and programs to support mental health and social inclusivity using the power of the medical humanities and technology.
Dr. Abrams completed his medical degree and radiology specialty from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, holds a subspecialty in Magnetic Resonance Imaging from the University of Toronto and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Abrams is an Associate Professor at Michael G Degroote School of Medical Sciences and was Department Chair of Diagnostic Imaging at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
Early in his Radiology career, Dr. Mitchell Abrams was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, a disease that can lead to sudden cardiac death in seemingly fit and healthy young people. He required open heart surgery in order to prevent the worst-case scenario. Through his experiences as a patient and department chair, he became acutely aware of the limitations of our current model of care. Disillusioned, Abrams began travelling to India, studying the Eastern holistic approach to healing, encompassing Mind, Body and Spirit, and in particular, the role of ENERGY as it relates to consciousness, the science of mind and overall health. Practicing with masters in the art of spiritual healing, Abrams began studying the intersection of science and spirituality.
Radiology is a unique specialty in the broader field of medicine, exploring the human body using energy rather than a scalpel. Combining his passion for the arts and leveraging his radiology background, Dr. Mitchell Abrams educates audiences discussing a new framework for understanding ENERGY through an East- meets-West perspective, explaining the latest brain health research and how it relates to overall health.
Dr. Mitchell Abrams founded NexGenHealth Ltd., a social enterprise creating healthy minds and connected communities through the power of the arts and technology. Through inspiring and socially inclusive co-creative programs, we heal, learn and grow together in celebration of a new vision for the future. By aligning with a variety of communities, locally and globally, Abrams is sparking a renaissance approach for improving health and renewing a sense of belonging to something bigger than the self while cultivating an awakening and a deep sense of connection among people and communities.
Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Business Administration, Marketing
Business Administration, Marketing
2008 – 2013
2008 – 2013
Certificate
Mississauga
Mahfuz Chowdhury is a National Award-Winning Brand Manager of one of the fastest-growing companies in the country (ranked on Growth 500 for the last three years in a row).
Over the last 12 years, he has been heavily involved with speaking at conferences and events to help brands, organizations, and changemakers engage their audience, generate leads, and convert them into raving fans through the art and science of creative storytelling. He has spoken to audiences from Microsoft, IBM, KPMG, PwC, EY, along with other notable organizations, and continues to focus on helping individuals amplify their brand voice and build long-lasting relationships with their customers, one story at a time.
Each talk is customized to provide the audience members with the right combination of energy and actionable takeaways. Past conference attendees tend to return for multiple talks because they learn something valuable every single time (their words, not ours)!
Mahfuz continued to demonstrate his storytelling capabilities by publishing his latest book, called “Project Reinvention: The Social Timeline of a Millennial”. This book shares Mahfuz’s personal story of resilience and reinvention, from a coffee-server to a national award-winning Brand Manager.
These personal stories and takeaways have also been shared through Mahfuz’s new podcast, called “Ride With Me”. This is a unique podcast show where you can eavesdrop on Mahfuz’s thoughts, stories, and ramblings in between his long drives (don’t worry, mic is safely attached)! Each week, Mahfuz uses this platform to actively share insights around personal branding, self development and day-to-day thoughts of a motivated millennial.
Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
Bachelor of Science – BS, Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science – BS, Civil Engineering
1995 – 2001
1995 – 2001
Erin is a dynamic, relatable, and engaging speaker inspiring leaders to navigate difficult conversations, build powerful teams, and make an impact using empathy.
Early in her career, people told her, “You’re too emotional! You gotta be tough and get a game face.” After years of unsuccessful attempts to ‘fix’ and ‘get rid of’ her emotions, Erin decided to get curious about what these emotions might be trying to tell her. She found that her leadership superpower was her emotions. In fact, it was her empathy that served as a powerful and effective tool to lead high-performing teams. Emotional intelligence and technical excellence aren’t mutually exclusive — both skills are imperative to becoming a confident, compassionate leader a team will eagerly follow.
Erin has a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Calgary and is an Associate Certified Coach through Integral Coaching Canada. Her first book, Inside Out Empathy, was published in 2017. Erin is a mother to three teenagers and an active community member. Erin chaired the Suncor Women’s Diversity Initiative in 2016, has served a term on the Advisory Board to WomenIN, an inclusive community supporting today’s women and working to build the women of tomorrow, held various positions on a number of school parent councils and actively participates in the management of her children’s sports teams.
Always up for a challenge, Erin is disrupting the long held belief that there’s no room for emotions in leadership. Erin’s eyes light up when she shares her experience and knowledge on teaching, mentoring, and coaching others to embrace their emotions, connect with empathy, and deeply engage the people they lead. She believes we can only build inclusive and diverse teams when we recognize, celebrate, and leverage our differences.
Winnipeg
Certified Speaking Professional
Certified Speaking Professional
National Speakers Association / Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
National Speakers Association / Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
Issued Jul 2014 · No Expiration Date
Issued Jul 2014 · No Expiration Date
Anders Boulanger