DAY ONE: November 7, 2023

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Belonging: The Intersection of Mental Health and Anti-Racism  

Anthony McLean 
Leadership, Mental Health and Inclusivity Advocate

One of the outcomes of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is to ensure people have a sense of belonging within our organizations. There is a considerable amount of overlap between mental wellness and racial equity. In this inspiring presentation, Anthony McLean contends that empathy is at the heart of both DEI work and mental health awareness, and psychological safety and creating a sense of belonging are central to both pursuits. This interactive presentation helps participants bring more compassion and courage to the work of anti-racism and mental wellness.  

You will:  

  • Learn how to approach mental health and DEI through the lens of empathy.  

  • Understand the impact systemic racism has on mental health.  

  • See how microaggressions are the "death by a thousand papercuts” to a sense of belonging.  




12:30 - 1:30 PM

Respectfully, Up Yours:
How to Play Nice at Work 

Sylvia MarusykB.A., OT (reg) MB
International Activational Speaker, Founder/Owner, MindBody Works

What makes a good workplace great? A culture of respect and cooperation. This interactive and collaborative seminar will assist people in becoming more effective individual agents of change and more respectful as a team. We will explore practical and concrete ways of bringing these ideas to life to generate a workplace of happy, engaged and supportive team players. 

In this session, you will discover: 

  • What constitutes respectful or disrespectful behavior? 
  • The effect of disrespect in the workplace on SAFETY and HEALTH. 
  • What's in it for you to change the way YOU do things? 
  • Guidelines for a respectful and psychologically safe workplace. 
  • Practical tools and strategies for becoming a more respectful workplace. 


BOOK SIGNING AVAILABLE AFTER PRESENTATION!




DAY TWO: November 8, 2023

8:00 - 9:00 AM

Power of Emotions: How to Use Emotions as the Fuel to Corporate and Personal Growth​

Leo Barbe
Speaker, Author and Founder/Lead Presenter,
Think Don’t Shoot 

Raised in Scarborough, a multicultural inner city of Toronto known for its crime and violence, Leo was able to build the foundation of his character. Nearly becoming a statistic like many of his peers Leo used his infectious energy and ambition to carve out a life no one ever thought possible. After a violent run-in with a youth trying to rob him, Leo was left for dead with two close-range bullet wounds. Hours later a mailman found his lifeless body and the journey to becoming who Leo was meant to be had then just begun.

Leo’s entertaining and dynamic performances powerfully provoke real change as he truly connects to his audience through his spoken word and comedic edge. Learn how to take control of the emotions that drive our choices; become a passionate, creative and resilient member of the team; develop communication skills that build leadership from within; handle change and transitions in and out of the office; build emotional intelligence strategies that help control each decision; adopt a proven mental health action plan that will spark positive growth; and feel united to support each other and the common goals of the company.




12:45 - 1:45 PM

Making Good Decisions 

Greg Johnson 
Tornado Hunter, TV Personality and Speaker

As the first person to stream a tornado live in Canada, Greg Johnson has had the type of career that most people only dream about.  Greg was selected by Canadian Geographic as one of Canada's top 100 explorers joining the ranks of Chris Hadfield and David Suzuki. He starred in the Netflix series Tornado Hunters and has been a panelist on CBC's Canada Reads. 

What drives a seemingly sane individual to drive toward a tornado? 

Building a legacy for your family, your business and your community requires hard work, vision and sacrifice. However, none of it would be possible if you aren’t around to enjoy it. Every news reporter knows that getting the story is important, but getting back out to TELL that story is more important. Greg uses the metaphor of storm chasing to relate the message that situational awareness, preparation and implementation are the real keys to success.

Greg will take you on an emotional journey as he shares his stories and experiences.  Taking risks in life is important, but as he will reveal, there is a great difference between taking risks and being reckless.