Amy Oliver is the founder and President of Amy Oliver + Co, offering dynamic and trusted advisory services and executive coaching to drive high performance and impactful change to practitioners, leaders, and organizations within healthcare, social services, and academia. She specializes in assisting practitioners, health organizations, and leadership teams in the areas of strategy development, project planning, operations, leadership and engagement, and diversity and inclusion.

Amy Oliver speaks publicly on collaborative and authentic leadership and value-based strategy in healthcare offering a mix of practical advice and inspiration. Her personal experiences launching a firm, running a corporate healthcare portfolio, and attending grad school while raising three young kids has fostered her passion for supporting the advancement of women’s full and equal participation in healthcare, leadership, and business.

From the 1960s to 1980s women in Canada were continuing to fight for rights to their reproductive health, equal pay for equal work, and the right to get a professional education. The progress and rights of women have been built on the shoulders of many women who fought for equality before us. Now, nearly two hundred years after the suffragettes began their movement, Amy Oliver continues to educate and empower others to join the movement towards gender equity and the elimination of harmful barriers and stereotypes that hold women back at societal, organizational, and individual levels.

Amy Oliver weaves in personal (yet all too common stories) through her motivating and inspiring delivery. Amy Oliver holds an MBA with a dual concentration in Organizational Leadership and Health Administration. She is a licensed pharmacist, a Certified Leadership Coach, and a globally certified Project Management Professional. She also holds certificates in Emotional Intelligence and Advanced Strategic Management and Leadership. Amy Oliver has won multiple health sector and leadership awards and most recently has been selected as a member of the prestigious 2020 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference.

Nathan Hall is an award-winning entrepreneur, business leader and educator.  He is the CEO of Culture Check, an anti-racism support centre for the workforce.  They provide support and resources to individuals who have faced racial discrimination at work, while aggregating the stories and data to educate business leaders around their true experiences of racialized employees. Hall is also the CEO of Simple Story, a video marketing agency that specializes in helping brands tell their story.  He has worked with companies like Shopify, P&G and Shutterstock to help craft their visual storytelling.  Powered by stories, Nathan Hall utilizes his position to amplify the voices of the marginalized and underserved within organizations.  Specializing in anti-racism and inclusive cultures, Hall’s ability to simplify complex issues and put audiences at ease when discussing such uncomfortable topics has been his secret weapon. 

Nathan Hall is equipped with an Honours degree in Sociology from the University of Ottawa, a Masters in Ecommerce from McGill University and an MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics and Strategy from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.  Paired with his experiences of being “the only one”, or one of a few in all the offices and boardrooms he finds himself in, Hall has a rich wealth of knowledge at the intersection of race and business. Adamant on making everybody around him better, Nathan Hall has always worked hard to be the change he wishes to see.  He feels the utmost responsibility to break down as many walls as he can, to help make the road for everyone following him just a little easier.  Hall’s work has led him to being named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40, the BBPA’s Harry Jerome Young Entrepreneur of the year, and his company was named small business of the year. 

Jean-Francois Dupras is originally from Québec, but he have been living in Canmore Alberta for the past 15 years. Most of his life Jean-Francois have been looking for a career opportunity where he could help people, just to realize, a few years ago that he was the one that needed help first.

 

It was following traumatic events in his early teens that he began to be affected by depression, without really knowing it. At that moment in his life, Jean-Francois tried every possible means to free himself from this suffering that prevented him from living a normal life. From substance abuse, stealing and gambling, he tried to live any high sensations that would make him feel alive again, without success. At the age of 20 years old, he felt more confused, lost and frustrated than ever before, until one night he decided to end his life.

 

Over the next few years, Jean-Francois went through several phases related to depression. Finally 5 years ago after a work related injury and a second depression, he made the hardest decision of his life, harder than any mountains he ever climbed and decided to seek professional help. That decision changed his life forever. It was only with the help of medication and professional guidance, that he have been able to make peace with his past, to love himself and to simply enjoy life. From that point on, not only did he start to live a better life, but he decided to help and inspire other people.

 

Shortly after,  Jean-Francois created a project called Overcoming mental illness One summit at a time, his mission with his project and his talks is to share his story in order to raise awareness about mental health, still misunderstood by the majority of the population, and to demonstrate the importance of listening to one’s passion and following one’s dreams. We all have a mountain to climb !

 

Jean-Francois Dupras dream is to climb the 7 summits, the highest summit on each of the seven continents in the name of mental health. Climbing the 7 summits is a mental and physical accomplishment only completed by less than 430 persons worldwide and only few Canadians.

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]To Jeremiah Brown, reinvention and resilience are the lifeblood of progress, and as such, he’s spent his life harnessing the power of resilience to adapt to new environments and overcome setbacks. The Olympic medalist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker delivers a compelling message – realizing your potential requires adapting to change.  To get to know Jeremiah, explore the six related areas of his work.

Within only four years of learning how to row, Jeremiah Brown helped power rowing crews to World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic medals. Jeremiah began his career as a commercial banker with TD Bank, managing the lending risk for an $80 million portfolio of loans to SME businesses on Vancouver Island. After the 2012 Olympics, Jeremiah was selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee to lead the development and implementation of Game Plan – a holistic athlete wellness and transition program designed to support over 3000 national team, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes in their transition out of elite sport and into their next phase of life. The work of Jeremiah Brown and his team has been featured by major news outlets including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CTV, CBC, Radio Canada, Al Jazeera, and Jeremiah has been consulted by the International Olympic Committee for his expertise while continuing to support the development of athlete welfare programs around the world. It took Jeremiah four years to get to the Olympics and five years to write the book about it, but with resilience and dedication he got it done. The 4 Year Olympian, published by Dundurn Press, spent five weeks as the #1 bestselling sport memoir in Canada, and has achieved a cult-like following in Canada and the USA. The book has transcended the sport memoir genre with its raw honesty and appeal to anyone chasing a big dream. 

Consistently ranked as one of the top speakers on resilience, leadership, and transformation, Jeremiah Brown brings an engaging warmth and humour while delivering powerful, inspiring, and practical keynotes. His presentations are customized for every event, ensuring a highly relevant and valuable outcome. Through his talks, Jeremiah has inspired thousands of people around the world. Beginning at age eight, Jeremiah became a dedicated musician. He studied piano and drum set for ten years, and has shared the stage with Randy Bachman (on keys) and The Arkells (on drums). He was named honourary fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2013 for his advocacy for the arts. Jeremiah brings the creative mindset he cultivated as a musician to all his business and speaking endeavors. A passionate advocate for mental health, Jeremiah volunteers his time every week with the Alzheimer’s Society in order to improve the quality of life for those suffering with mental illness. Jeremiah Brown brings a unique and diverse set of experiences to every keynote. He helps people and organizations become more resilient in the face of adversity, and more prepared to build a strong vision for their future. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

 

Dr. James Makokis leads one of North America’s most progressive family medical clinics serving both LGBTQ2+ and First Nation peoples from all over Canada. He is a proud Cree, Two-Spirit doctor from Saddle Lake First Nation in Northern, AB. Known as one of Canada’s most progressive doctors and experts on numerous topics, he is on a mission serve marginalized populations and to change the outcomes for Indigenous and LGBTQ2 peoples. Dr. James Makokis and his partner Anthony Johnson were crowned winners of the Amazing Race Canada Season 7, where they received international recognition for their advocacy of marginalized individuals by making the world aware of the impact of discrimination and the mistreatment of anyone labelled as being “different”. They both currently reside on Treaty 6 Territory outside of Edmonton.

Dr. James Makokis has received international attention for his holistic approach to medicine. He is also one of the few doctors that combines traditional Cree and Western practices. Known for his compassion, numerous accomplishments and his unique insights, Dr. James Makokis has inspired all types of Canadians to challenge stereotypical and often discriminating views towards First Nation and LGBTQ2+ peoples. Dr. Makokis has won numerous awards, sat on many boards and councils, and continues to give back to his communities in any way he can. Through his work and his previous contributions, he continues to break down stigmas and identify the societal structures and forces of oppression that LGBTQ2+ and First Nation people face.

Dr. James Makokis wanted to be a doctor since he was four, and it was during his education that he decided to focus on LGBTQ2+ and Indigenous health so that he could make a difference for those often left out of the healthcare system and society as a whole. Because of the attitudes and discrimination individuals he serves face it often leads to his patients being misguided by the healthcare system, which then leaves them to mistrust the advice they have received. Dr. Makokis is here to create real change by serving marginalized populations and rebuild relationships with those who have are often left behind. Many of his patients travel from long distances to receive his advice and services.

Dr. Makokis earned his Master’s in health science from the University of Toronto in 2006 and graduated from the University of Toronto’s medical school in 2010 and the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Family Medicine Residency Training Program in 2012. He is also trained in family medicine. continue to save lives through his medical practice and his unique approach to medicine. Dr. Makokis has also worked as an instructor at the Yellowhead Tribal College, the University of Toronto, and the University of Alberta, teaching courses on Indigenous health, Indigenous cultural practices, and traditional medicine.

Dr. James Makokis faced many challenges earlier on in establishing his career as an Indigenous doctor. Being Two-Spirit, from a small segregated and poverty stricken forced him to prove himself, try to ignore hurtful statements against him, and to develop coping strategies to manage systematic and social forms of discrimination. This is in large part a big part of his success as a doctor as he can relate to his patients and can emphasize with them before providing his medical advice. He has worked from travelling alongside former Governor General Michaëlle Jean on a diplomatic mission to Brazil and had the rare opportunity to work next to Dr. Patch Adams in the Amazon Jungle. He also received certification from the Aboriginal Family Medicine Training Program and served as the Spokesperson for the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s Role Model Program for many years.

He brings his mix of expertise, knowledge, commitment, understanding, compassion and ultimately – love to every person he interacts with, and we are all blessed to hear his progressive approach and his unique insights. Dr. James Makokis has been called to serve individuals that struggle to make sense of themselves and to bring awareness to become an ally in improving the lives of those who struggle to find purpose and make sense of their world. He shares the stories he and his patients live with while celebrating each person’s uniqueness and showing us all how to contribute to improve each other’s lives and our world.

Valerie Cade has earned worldwide acclaim as a professional keynote speaker and business consultant.  Valerie truly has a gift for inspiring those who work to support and lead others, whether it’s in healthcare, government, the corporate sector, education or not‐for‐profit settings. Her uplifting, inspirational and acclaimed presentation style always inspires the audience with practical solutions for teamwork, communication, workplace culture, leadership, conflict resolution and productivity.

1 out of 6 people have come face to face with a bully in their life.  Bullying has become a silent epidemic. Valerie brings hope for organizations and individuals to overcome destructive bullying and harassment behaviours by colleagues. The “winning with difficult people” strategies do not work with workplace bulling or highly adversarial situations. In fact, traditional conflict resolution doesn’t work either, yet this is what people try to apply- but to no avail. Valerie Cade’s presentations are enthusiastic, engaging, creative, humorous and genuine. She gives attention and takes pride in researching each client’s situation to tailor her presentation to meet and exceed audience member needs and aspirations.

Valerie Cade is an award-winning presenter who is one of North America’s top experts in the field of coping with and stopping workplace bullying. She is author of the best selling book “Bully Free at Work: What You Can Do To Stop Workplace Bullying Now” which is currently distributed in over 100 countries. With a solid organizational development background, not purely an academic or an “opinion based” approach, Valerie’s style is not only informational, but inspirational; you will feel hope to turn the corner – even with the most challenging situations.

Valerie’s 20 years of experience as a relevant and results based implementation practitioner have had her sought after by organizations throughout North America. For the past 20 years, Cade has led hundreds of sessions throughout North America, Europe, China and Russia, with a relevant, humorous and heartfelt approach combined with a true sense of wisdom. She has a stand up comedian presence while still talking seriously and strategically about the realities and implementation of workplace bullying in organizations.

In addition, Valerie Cade became a Certified Speaking Professional Designation (CSP) in 2001. The CSP is the highest speaking designation in the world with less than 1000 recipients worldwide. She is one of the Canada’s first females to receive the CSP. Valerie’s presentation ratings average 4.9/5.0 for all size audiences. As CEO of one of Canada’s largest training companies for 10 years, Valerie helped turn this near-­‐bankrupt company into profitable success. In addition, her work in creating inspired workplaces, where people “want to”, helped raise satisfaction levels in organizations to over 80 – 90% -­‐ sustained.

Valerie Cade was the 2002 National President of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and has received the President’s Award for distinguished service – twice! She was also unanimously voted by the National Board to receive the “Spirit of CAPS” Award for her outstanding contribution and professionalism to the speaking industry worldwide.

Cade understands dedication as she is the first woman to receive the Top Candidate Award for Canadian Basic Military Training. Valerie Cade has a genuine passion for helping people and organizations to become world class and receive the respect and dignity they deserve. Above all Valerie Cade is knowledgeable, well‐researched and can deliver powerful presentations in an inspirational way. Valerie is genuine and possesses a great amount of compassion. Her presentations offer audiences and individuals solutions to improve communication, become more resilient and deal with conflicts in the workplace in a calculated and constructive approach.

Vanessa Judelman is President of Mosaic People Development, consultant and a leadership expert. Through her HR background and business practice, Vanessa has developed a solid reputation for knowing what it takes to inspire great results in the new world of work. Her personal leadership experience allows her to intimately understand what leaders struggle with and the difficulties they encounter every day. She knows that leadership can be rewarding and understands that it can also be extremely stressful and challenging.

For this reason, Vanessa is dedicated to developing great leaders, building collaborative teams and giving leaders the tools they need to be happy and productive. For almost two decades, Vanessa has been developing her “secret sauce”. She knows that there is a science to developing leaders and has created a proven formula to develop results-oriented leaders who feel empowered and confident to do their job.

Whether keynote speaking, facilitating a group discussion or training, Vanessa Judelman’s programs have achieved strategic and successful change outcomes with organizations such as Motorola, Torstar Digital, Campbell’s Soup, the United Nations, Workopolis and Food Bank Canada. She is also a guest lecturer in the MBA program at Ted Rogers School of Management. Her fresh perspective on the world of work will challenge the misconceptions and myths often found in today’s workplaces.

It’s obvious that “old school” leadership is no longer working. A top down approach just doesn’t fly any more. People want their leaders to be authentic. People want their leaders to care about them. People want their leaders to help them to learn and grow. The bottom line is that people just want to be happy at work. Yes, it is that simple!

Vanessa Judelman will teach your audience how to become an effective leader, find the time to give feedback, coach their team and connect with them in a meaningful way. She will create a strategy to improve your team culture from unproductive to disengaged to productive and high-performing.

As a co-active, certified coach, Vanessa Judelman motivates teams and individuals to exceed their goals and her consulting experience and practice and regularly helps companies and organizations in Talent Management, Performance Management, Intergenerational Workforce, Succession Planning, and Learning and Development and Leadership. Judelman is noted as an expert in her industry and has been featured in the Globe and Mail and National Post.

What does it take to leave an audience altered through a keynote or workshop presentation? It takes the kind of talk that delivers such a fundamentally penetrating message that you are left compelled to act on what you hear. This is exactly what you get when Vik Maraj speaks.

Vik Maraj is more than inspirational. His message is transformative. Vik Maraj combines humour, engaging gestures and a clear presentation with audience involvement techniques to deliver a riveting and compelling presentation. He is one of Canada’s leading experts on teamwork, leadership, workplace culture and communication. Maraj is a memorable speaker that always sparks innovation. He therefore leaves the audience with thought provoking practical and strategic solutions after his presentation. Vik Maraj conveys superior content throughout his uncompromisingly authentic delivery.

Vik Maraj’s ground breaking content and is a pathway to human and organizational potential that has likely remained unfulfilled within your ranks. Maraj opens up this pathway with his ability to convey messages that are inspire audience members with permanent awakening; to what lies beyond the ordinariness of most organizations and individual’s toleration levels. His material and delivery transcend motivation and inspires audiences by the reinvention of practices, communication skills and leadership.

Vik’s dynamic presentation content comes from his day-to-day work with groups of people. Every day, he engages his training in neuro-science and molecular biology. He also combines high-stakes conflict resolution, dynamic group processes, systems thinking, and ontology to permanently expand individual performance. His down to earth approach captivates the audience and allows them to rethink their roles and their responsibilities at work. As a result, Vik’s messages create workplace synergy among all team members. He focuses individuals on strategic organizational goals, propelling them and their organization into the future.

Vik Maraj is also the co-founder and former CEO of a two hundred plus person international education company. In many ways, cutting his teeth as an entrepreneur and leader was his “rite of passage” into the real world of organizational performance. All this has led to a penetrating understanding of the truths and understandings between the correlation of people and performance – and it is not more adVike, formulas, or motivation.

Vik has created transformative shifts in governments, boards, corporations, not-for-profits, rural communities, municipalities, NGO’s (including the United Nations), and people from all walks of life. Similarly, Maraj has been involved in restoring a billion dollar international environmental collaboration. Maraj has also empowerd the leadership of Canada’s First Nations and rewriting the future of rural communities. Above all, Vik Maraj’s is one of Canada’s business and organization experts. He transforms what is possible when people come together to fulfill their purpose.

Known as “The Falcon”, Viviane Forest is an inspiring public speaker at corporate, education and community events. Her presentations are genuine, strong, and they motivate people to be active and reach for their goals and dreams. In the past ten years, she has spoken to approximately 10,000 people in Quebec and Alberta. She is frequent presenter to corporate gatherings and often accepts speaking engagements for public events or fundraisers. She has experience speaking to small groups like a classroom or large conference gatherings as a keynote.

Viviane’s keynote address, Failure is Not an Option appeals to many organizations because of her charm and ability to speak authoritatively in both French and English. Forest can also facilitate team building sessions. Viviane Forest is a Triple Gold Medal Paralympian of 2000, 2004 and 2010. Viviane is one of Canada’s most decorated Paralympic athletes. After a nine-year career as a member of the national Goalball team, she now competes for Canada in Para-Alpine skiing. Viviane Forest has seven Paralympic medals from three different Paralympic Games.

Viviane was born in Montreal but now calls Edmonton home. She has been in competitive sports since the age of four. Viviane played hockey and ringette, participated in karate, judo, track and field, cycling and provincial level swimming. The one thing that differentiates Viviane from other athletes is that she has only 4% of normal vision. Yet she excels at the highest possible levels.

Viviane Forest races down the ski slopes, with her guide, at speeds over 100 km/hr. They use a two-way radio system, trust and confidence to prevail on the slopes of the world. At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Viviane won medals in all five alpine race disciplines: a Gold in the prestigious Downhill, three Silvers in Super-G, Slalom and Super Combined and a Bronze in Giant Slalom. With two Paralympic gold medals won in Goalball at the Sydney 2000 and the Athens 2004 Paralympic Summer Games, Viviane has become one of a few female high performance athletes in the world to win gold medals in both summer and winter Paralympic or Olympic Games.

Recently Viviane Forest has national recognition for her sporting accomplishments: Canadian Paralympic Committee inaugural Debut Award, and Alpine Canada TELUS Award of Excellence Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. In addition to her sport accomplishments, the community also is lucky to Viviane as a leader and role model. She is the recipient of the Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence (October 2010), and The Global Woman of Vision (May 2010).

Viviane’s story is stunning and captivating. Her five-medal podium finish at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games had her collecting over 25% of Canada’s medals while injured. Her tenacious determination and commitment to her dreams create a humourous and intense story, sure to inspire. Between training and competing, Viviane is an inspiring public speaker at corporate and community events. Her presentations are genuine, strong, and they motivate people to be active and reach for their goals and dreams. In the past ten years, she has spoken to approximately 10,000 people across Canada.

She frequently speaks at corporate gatherings and often accepts speaking engagements for public events or fundraisers. Forest has experience speaking to small groups like a classroom or board meeting and large conference gatherings in convention centres.

Viviane Forest tailors her Failure is Not an Option presentation for the following topics:

• Motivate / Inspire
• Resiliency
• Believe in Yourself
• The Journey of a 3 Time Paralympic Champion
• Overcoming Adversity
• Perseverance
• Goal Setting
• Public Appearances, Autographs, Photo Opps

Wade Sorochan is an accomplished Alberta broadcaster and national award winning speaker, author and mental health advocate recognized as Canada’s “Social Media Expert.” Wade first gained recognition for his pioneering impact on the #1 rated radio talk show and “Canada’s most unique radio talk show”: The Bill & Bill Show. Nicknamed “The Tone Arm”, Wade Sorochan became the first broadcaster in history to spontaneously use song clips to enhance a radio talk show. Wade went on to host his own popular radio and television talk shows in a career that has spanned four decades.

As a mental illness survivor, Wade Sorochan is a sought after speaker sharing his inspiring story of living with mental illness; being emotionally abused and abandoned as a child, experiencing five mental breakdowns, eventually hitting rock bottom, and how he is surviving and thriving with mental illness. Wade’s warm and friendly style and sense of humour creates an instant and genuine connection with his audiences.

Wade Sorochan is the author of the ground-breaking book Unsocial Media: Virtual World Causing Real World Anxiety. The book reveals how social media can affect mental health. He is also the author of the book Fastest Tone Arm in the West: Chasing a Radio Dream. The book features entertaining stories from a successful radio career and inspiring story of surviving child abuse and mental illness.

Wade Sorochan’s Awards

•   CAMH National Difference Makers Award , Recognizing 150 Leading difference makers for Canadian Mental Health
•   Canada 150 in 150 Award , Recognizing 150 Inspiring Albertans

Wade Sorochan’s Media Coverage

• The Toronto Star, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, CTV Edmonton, Global TV Edmonton, City TV Toronto,
• CBC Radio Edmonton, CHED Radio Edmonton, CJOB Radio Winnipeg, News Talk 770 Calgary