Elaine Froese (CSP), is a lifelong farmer. Every day, she uses her background in conflict resolution and communication to help fellow growers and ranchers face make-or-break issues head on – so they can focus on the business of farming. Starting with 4-H presentations in Manitoba at age nine and moving on to audiences today in Mexico, Australia and beyond, she has always understood that communication is the key to building trust and understanding, especially when your family members are your business partners.

Elaine is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, and an award-winning author of two books: Planting the Seed of Hope: A Celebration of Prairie Life and Do the Tough Things Right. She currently writes a regular agricultural column for Grainews for 20 years, and previously appeared on Canada’s national AgVision TV. Elaine Froese is also member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors

Elaine Froese has personally experienced the stresses and frustrations that only families in today’s agriculture climate understand. Froese has seen it all, heard it all, and survived it all — from buying the in-laws’ farm, the isolation of farm life, a sudden illness or death in the family, and every crisis you can imagine. She has given families worldwide the practical tools they need to save their marriages, hold onto their farms and gain some much-needed peace of mind.

Elaine Froese hates it when people say “she must be busy.” As a certified coach from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara, Elaine has amazing strategies for mapping out a great way to live intentionally and make conscious choices. She removed “all hurriedness from her life” after a serious bout of post-partum depression. Her empathy for mental health is widely appreciated by her audiences as she confronts the true challenge of self care which is not selfish. As a depression survivor, Elaine Froese places a high priority on staying healthy.

She knows it is never a quick fix project, but an ongoing process of choosing what is most important to you in the present season of your life. More than 600 families have received her personal coaching advice, along with thousands more who have attended her keynote presentations on emotionally complicated topics -and walked away with life-changing results. If you want relief from uncomfortable discussions about roles and responsibilities, arguments over ownership and succession agreements, and procrastination on planning for the future, there are several ways to put Elaine Froese’s expertise to work for you.

A geo-economist and long term thinking advocate, Eric Noël helps leaders better anticipate and better prepare for tomorrow’s global markets and politico-economic, demographic and technological changes.

He launched his first information company at the age of 18 and began his career in journalism, finance, and international business publishing, with assignments in China and Europe, including with The Economist Intelligence Unit. He joined Oxford Analytica in 1993 to open the Canadian market. Oxford Analytica is a leading global analysis and advisory firm which draws on a worldwide network of 1,400 experts in 150 countries to explore events and trends at the nexus of politics and economics, state and business. In addition to serving several government and international agencies including the Government of Canada and the UN, Mr. Noël has served 11 Fortune 100TM, almost half of Canada’s 25 largest funds and companies, and advised on transactions totaling more than $30B in some 30 countries.

Mr. Noël is the initiator of the Canada Towards 2030 Project, an independent foresight initiative and series of events that have attracted more than 4,700 participants coast-to-coast. He is also an executive fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary; and a judge and mentor at XPrize Foundation in Los Angeles. Author and speaker. A Rotary Foundation Scholar and ambassador of Goodwill, he graduated from Bishop’s University, Institut d’Études européennes, and Solvay Business School.

Cowboy Smithx is an Award Winning filmmaker of Blackfoot Ancestry from the Piikani and Kainai tribes of Southern Alberta, Canada. Cowboy Smithx is the founder and curator of the highly acclaimed International Indigenous speaker series “REDx Talks.” He also serves as the Artistic Director of the Iiniistsi Treaty Arts Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to activating the true spirit and intent of Treaty #7. Cowboy writes, directs and produces film works in documentary, narrative, music video and experimental. He is currently working in Indigenous education, Cultural consultation and Youth work around the world. Cowboy has been featured as a keynote presenter at over 150 conferences, symposiums and festivals across the globe. Cowboy facilitates dozens of interactive workshops for professionals, artists, youth and elders.

Cowboy Smithx is also the founder of the Elk Shadows Performing Arts Clan and the Noirfoot School For Cinematic Arts.

Curt Minard had a dream in 2012. Which was to set out and inspire individuals who didn’t “believe” they could achieve greatness, simply because they had a disability.

In September of 2008, Curt  was involved in a electrical contact accident. That warm fall day began seemingly like any other, yet a series of missed barriers led to Curt being electrocuted with 14,400 volts of electricity. Curt’s body struggled to hold on, after 5 amps of electricity had forged their path of destruction. However, his will to survive was much stronger. With insurmountable odds against him, Curt was determined not only to survive such a tragedy, but also to thrive. Curt’s story and his determination to conquer the odds are as impactful as they are inspirational! Curt’s narrative of his journey from being able bodied to an individual with different abilities is inspirational and entertaining. Curt shows how one man’s worst nightmare can become another’s dream.

Not only does Curt know how to excel in athletics… but he is an avid Trades Professional as an Interprovincial Red Seal Powerline Technician.  Curt brings a humbling experience to every audience he is able to speak to as he shares a dark and traumatic journey.  To date, Curt has had the opportunity to speak to over 100 different audiences from workplaces to schools as a key note speaker and advocate for injured workers all over our country. These presentations describe in detail how close to death Curt was and his motivation to become LIMITLESS.

Curt believe in pushing personal limits of inner determination, it also empowers work environments of the importance in safety, in the hopes to save just one life or accident in the workplace.

On July 29th, 1999, Curtis Weber was 17 years old and working as he did everyday as a Construction Laborer on the Saskatchewan prairies. After a long day at work, he and his crew were attempting to transport a grain bin under a power line with our picker truck. Prior to performing the task, they assessed the risk of moving the bin under an overhead power line. After a brief discussion, they talked about the power line and how it “had the potential to kill somebody”. Just minutes later, it nearly did.

They had to be cautious. They thought they could get the job done safely. As they worked against the elements, he steadied the bin from the high winds while they approached the overhead line. Then the predictable happened. The preventable happened.

As they approached the overhead line, the operator of the crane did not boom down far enough and backed directly into the power line. Curtis immediately became the ground point for the electricity as 14,400 volts of electricity surged through his body three separate times. He was surrounded by steel and as each cycle of 14,400 volts passed through his body, the electricity tried to eject him from the live zone, instead throwing him violently from one end of the steel structure to another as the 2nd and 3rd cycles of 14,400 volts of electricity passed through him.

Curtis Weber was given a 0% chance of survival, his family were told he would not survive his injuries. Instead he has 3rd and 4th degree burns to over 60% of his body and is now a double amputee. Let him tell you his story of triumph over tragedy and share with you how and why he was lucky that day.

After the near fatal injury and the 6 year recovery that followed, Curtis has spent the last 10 years developing skills, experience and building an education in order to provide services in Occupational Health and Safety to organizations throughout Canada as well as developing an exceptional skill set of facilitation and presenting to workplaces, Schools, Conferences and other events.

Curtis Weber’s qualifications and certifications:

• Safety Officer – Prairie North Health Region (2013 -present)
• Safety Consultant/Trainer – Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board (2006-2013)
• Spokesperson – WorkSafe Saskatchewan/WCB – events and campaigns
• Influencer Training (VitalSmarts, 2010)
• Diploma, Adult Education (St.Xavier University, 2009)
• Safety Program Development (Enform, 2009)
• Obligations & Liabilities (CSSE, 2008)

Dan Comiskey played in the Canadian Football League for 13 seasons retiring in 2010 as a perennial all-star, but more importantly to him, as part of two Grey Cup Championship’s with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Throughout the last half of his career Dan became passionate about worker’s safety and started developing leadership and behavioural programs that were used by major oil and gas, construction and manufacturing companies. These programs included classroom leadership training as a field level leadership coaching program designed to improve leadership and safety culture.

Dan has co-authored a number of books including The Truth About Success, Enduring Principles of Leadership and Thirty-Eight Stories in Coaching, and is currently working on his next book, The Alignment Paradigm.

There is no audience that Dan is unable to reach, from frontline workers or leadership groups at safety meetings, to mixed audience conferences. With a combination of twenty years experience in football, and a decade of experience in industrial safety, Dan has become sought after by numerous organizations to deliver his message and improve the safety culture through his leadership coaching.

Daniel Lewis is an acclaimed high-energy and high-content, inspirational speaker. Daniel Lewis is the funky- bowtie wearing founder of the modern, award-winning tea company, T By Daniel Inc. His crazy outlook on business and his Willy Wonka inspired retail tactics have garnered him and his company nation-wide recognition and many awards and honours, such as the 2016 Business Excellence Award and 2017 and Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneurs.

Daniel’s success with his retail tea brand have even landed him a new exciting title as one of three Global Entrepreneurship Week Ambassadors for Canada and also paved the way for him to launch MARSketing Boutique Agency. Daniel has a popular blog where he shares his story and his “outside-of-the box perspectives” with audiences all across North America.

What many don’t know about Daniel Lewis is the story behind his drive and passion and his desire to spread it to any pair of ears that will listen. After being a victim of a nearly fatal stabbing, (where Daniel was stabbed four times), he decided to make the best of his second shot at life, by turning a bitter situation into an opportunity to help impact and inspire the lives of others in a special way, using a tea business as the means to do it. This is the motivation behind the tea company and the man, Daniel Lewis.

By facing life and all its ups and downs head-on, with a smile on his face, Daniel Lewis challenges, youth, business owners, professionals to appreciate the NOW, Master the Miniature and Make Crazy Look Normal!

Danièle Sauvageau has the passion, instinct and leadership that was instrumental in the historic win by the Canadian Women’s Hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. As the general manager and coach, Sauvageau transformed a fear of losing into an absolute desire for victory, a radical turnaround that enabled her players to achieve their Olympic dream. Danièle Sauvageau has taken part in six Olympic Games, as women’s hockey coach, general manager and coaching consultant. She played a key role in her team’s wins in seven consecutive world championships, and in the silver medal they won at the Nagano Olympics. With her dedication, involvement in developing her sport and her winning record, she has become the undisputed guru of women’s hockey in Canada. She also holds a master’s certificate in coaching from the National Coaching Certification Program and a management certificate from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales.

Danièle Sauvageau has a degree in social work and has served with the RCMP and Montreal’s police department for over 24 years, including the narcotics division. Sauvageau has done undercover narcotics work, busted a car full of drug dealers, and ordered the forced entry and rescue of a double agent whose life was in jeopardy. Sauvageau currently works as advisor to the strategic development department.

Sauvageau’s expertise is not limited to just one sport. She has contributed to the success of a number of national programs, including the national synchronized swimming team and the women’s water polo team. She is involved as a coaching and performance consultant with the Canadian Olympic Committee in preparation for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. As such, she is closely associated with the success of Canadian short-track speed skaters and figure skater Joanie Rochette.

Drawing on her expertise in human resources management, coaching, leadership, situation assessment, communication and the formation of winning teams, Danièle Sauvageau speaks on various topics related to performance. In 2003, Sauvageau began to offer her services as an executive coaching consultant. She has supported and assisted numerous public and private-sector clients in building a new vision and managing change in order to gain a competitive edge. Danièle Sauvageau is a well-known figure in the media and is often asked to comment on developments in hockey and elite sports in general.

Over the course of her career, she has been featured on CBC, Radio-Canada, TSN and NBC, as well as many articles in Canadian and American publications. She is also the co-author of The Golden Tears, the Journey to the Olympics. Danièle Sauvageau was the spokesperson for the Coaching Association of Canada and a member of the Coaches of Canada, as well as serving on the board of directors for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics bid.

If anyone understands that life is what you make it, it’s Darci Lang. She quite literally went out and built the life she wanted. She has worked for great leaders and not so great leaders, built three award-winning businesses and let them go when the time was right. All she has accomplished has been done on her own terms and by focusing on the 90% – the positive in her world versus the other 10%.

Darci Lang has discovered a solution to help you live your life, do your job, and connect with the people who matter most, to the fullest. Darci has a bold, joyful presence – illuminating the good in audiences lives with her dynamic message. For 24 years, Lang has been sharing tough love with empathy, creating perspective shifts and having an impact on hundreds of businesses in diverse industries. Darci Lang helps to transform cultures, employee engagement and in turn – morale and profitability. From farmers, ironworkers and linesmen to medical professionals, educators and administration people, her connection to her audience is astounding.

Darren Lang has lived his talk. Having gone through a major rut in his own life, everything he talks about are the tried and true tools he used to pick himself up and get back to feeling great. Throughout his career, Lang has shared his stress busting techniques to help thousands of individuals and hundreds of organizations by sharing fun and powerful stories and ideas on how to take control of stress and stay more connected and balanced.

Darren Lang has a degree in Business Administration as well as an MBA. He is a professional member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) for over 10 years and is also past president of the Saskatchewan chapter of CAPS. In addition, Darren has been a member of the Saskatchewan Association of Human Resources Professionals (SAHRP) for over eight years. For the past 21 years, he has worked with several different companies designing and conducting training sessions and in the last eight years, Darren Lang and his wife, Darci, have operated their own corporate speaking and training company, XL Enterprises.

Tired of working with a stressed team? Is your group suffering from burnout, apathy, absenteeism and health trouble? Stress can have a huge impact on your team, resulting in poor decision making, lackluster performance, stress leave and staff turnover. Darren Lang shares his own journey with stress and the tools that brought him back to feeling his best.