- 00Days
- 00Hours
- 00Minutes
- 00Seconds
We Have a Dream
2022 Rotary District 7070 Conference, 2022/2023 Governor Iosif Ciosa
Speakers - Summary
Medical Officer of Health (outgoing), Peel Public Health and Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto
Dr. Lawrence Loh
District Rotary Foundation Chair, Rotary International District 7070
Bob Wallace
Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography and Environment and with Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Western University, London, Ontario
Professor Gordon McBean, CM, OOnt, FRSC
D7070 DEI Committee Member / Assistant Empowering Girls Ambassador Zone 28 & 32
Nikita Williams
Director of Education & Training, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Darryl Gray
Grandfather Drum Carrier / Cultural Consultant, Chippewa Travellers, Shining Water Singers, Anishnaabek Nation, Bear Clan
Jared Big Canoe
Biographies and Conference Titles
The Race to Vaccinate Canada: What We Saw and We Learned
Dr. Lawrence Loh
Medical Officer of Health (outgoing), Peel Public Health and Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto
Dr. Lawrence Loh is perhaps best known as the Medical Officer of Health who guided the Region of Peel through the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking the helm on March 14, 2020, Loh would subsequently guide one of Canada’s hardest hit communities through the longest and most extensive emergency response in its history. With his team and partners, he would also oversee the Peel community’s contribution to the largest vaccination rollout in Canada since confederation. Loh completed his medical degree at the Schulich School of Medicine and residency at the University of Toronto, where he also earned a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins. He holds fellowships in Family Medicine in Canada and in Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Canada and the United States.
Building an Inclusive Rotary
Valarie Wafer
Vice President 21-22 and Director 20-22, Rotary International
Valarie had a 27-year career as the owner of 14 restaurants in Toronto. The brand, Tim Hortons, is the most recognized and iconic franchise in Canada. The Wafer’s operation was best known for its inclusive hiring practices and accessibility. As the chair of the Rotary International Global DEI Task Force, Valarie brings a strong background of learned and lived experience to this important topic.
Building an Inclusive Rotary
Nikita Williams
D7070 DEI Committee Member / Assistant Empowering Girls Ambassador Zone 28 & 32
Nikita has been with the Rotary family for over 10 years starting her journey with Interact then Rotaract and is transitioning fully to Rotary. She’s a L&D professional, who is tremendously passionate about empowering others and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. She’s all about:
– Helping clubs establish DEI committees/working groups
– Helping leaders set strategic DEI goals to attract, retain and empower members who feel a sense of belonging
– Empowering members to lead cause-based passion projects
Dreaming of Improving Humanitarian Assistance
Rahul Singh, O.Ont
Executive Director, GlobalMedic
Rahul Singh is the Executive Director of GlobalMedic, a registered Canadian charity which has provided life-saving aid in the aftermath of disasters since 2002. Since then, Singh’s tireless efforts have created a globally recognized, innovative and efficient organization – earning him a spot on Time Magazine’s List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2010. GlobalMedic was founded based on the idea that aid could be delivered more effectively and efficiently.
Caring for the Environment: Minimizing Food Waste
Barry Friesen, P.Eng.
Executive Director, Cleanfarms
Barry Friesen is Executive Director of Cleanfarms Inc. a national, Canadian not-for-profit organization that manages collection, recycling and safe disposal of agricultural waste from 190,000 farms across the country. A professional engineer who has worked for years in the waste-resource management business, he continues his mission to eliminate waste in our society. As a volunteer and member of the board of the Etobicoke Rotary he was deeply involved in minimizing waste from the club’s annual Ribfest events that routinely attracted 100,000+ attendees. With a unique program that targeted zero waste, Barry and his team of volunteers were able to divert an impressive amount of waste from disposal at these massive community events.
The Power of Purpose
Michael Burns
Executive Chairman, Canada’s Valour Games
Michael Burns’ professional career spans more than 25 years; during that time, he has worked in both the private and non-profit sectors in marketing, financial services, technology, fundraising and sport. He is currently the Executive Chair of Canada’s Valour Games, in which elite teams of ill and injured Canadian military service people compete in more than a dozen adaptive sports. Michael believes that to ensure your organization is successful, you must know your purpose and what truly makes you remarkable. Knowing your purpose is a powerful tool that informs what you do and what you say to inspire all those around you.
Making Your Weakness Your Strength
Victoria Nolan
Education Project Lead, CNIB
Victoria Nolan is a teacher, mom, Team Canada athlete, author, TV show host, World champion, and she is blind. Victoria lost her sight after the birth of her two children. While many doors seemed to close on her goals and dreams, she quickly learned that looking at things differently brought about new opportunities that she could never have imagined.
Open Conversation: Creating Opportunities in Rotary & Rotaract
Mary Lou Harrison
Rotary Public Image Co-ordinator 2022-24, Special Advisor on Rotary Family Engagement, Rotaract Canada, 2019-21, Zone 28, Rotary International
Mary Lou constantly seeks to increase the diversity of Rotary’s membership and leadership to better serve our world. Rotaract has much to contribute to the conversation about the strength, creativity, agility, and relevance that comes from diversity. Integrating Rotaract leadership within Rotary’s decision-making and policy setting structures is one of her goals.
Open Conversation: Creating Opportunities in Rotary & Rotaract
Gus Lopes
Assistant public image coordinator (Rotary Title) / PR and media relations consultant
Gus is a passionate Rotaractor, former Ryla participant, Interactor and Youth Exchange student who made a career in Rotary out of managing challenging and candid cross-generational conversations. When not busy with Rotary, Gus spends his days working with some of Canada’s and the world’s largest brands, supporting in managing relationships of trust between his clients, media, the public and the communities they do business in.
Membership: Creating a Successful and Agile Club
Joan Barrett
Past President, Rotary Club of Scarborough
Becoming a Rotarian 10 years ago, has afforded Joan many roles over the years; in both their club and for the last few years, in the district. Joan is a member of 2 Rotary Action Groups, an ICC, and as of July 1, 2022, became the Chair of District 7070’s Membership Committee. Membership is a very important piece of Rotary, as we strive to enhance participant engagement. We need to ensure ALL are properly engaged as Rotarians are people of action.
Membership: Creating a Successful and Agile Club
Jim Louttit
Past District Governor, Rotary International District 7070
Past District Governor Jim Louttit is a member of the District Membership Committee having served as its Chair in the Rotary year 2014-15. He is an active Rotarian and is a member of three Rotary Action Groups and two Rotary Fellowships. Jim sees Rotarians as people of action that want to create lasting change in communities across the globe and is quick to ensure new Rotarians are properly engaged.
Global Polio Eradication Update
Dr. Bob Scott
Chair Emeritus, International PolioPlus Committee
Retired doctor and happy to be so. Chair Emeritus International PolioPlus committee. Active in polio eradication worldwide for 36 years and still at it.
Our Rotary Foundation
Bob Wallace
District Rotary Foundation Chair Affiliation, Rotary International District 7070
I have seen first hand the work of the Rotary Foundation, how we fund projects and execute the projects all over the world. Through the breakpoint session we will give the Rotarians and Rotaractors more Foundation information.
Mind-Body Moments: An Introduction to Everyday Wellness
Paige Fernandes
Wellness Coach, President, Toronto-Leaside Rotary 2022-23
Paige is an advocate for mental health and wellness and has led a very active lifestyle for over 10 years. This passion led her to pursue her NASM Personal Training certification in 2020. She looks for opportunities to expand and share her knowledge of wellness and personal training with others. She has co-developed and implemented a successful wellness program for the staff at the long-term care and retirement home she worked at in response to stress from the COVID-19 pandemic which was presented to associations such as AdvantAge Ontario, the Ministry of Health Community of Practice, American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2021 and at networking events.
Climate Change: Call for Action for All
Professor Gordon McBean, CM, OOnt, FRSC
Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography and Environment and with Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Western University, London, Ontario
Building on my scientific expertise as a climate scientist, I have chaired international and national scientific programs on climate and environment. I was Assistant Deputy Minister for the Atmospheric Environment Service of Environment Canada (1994-2000), President, International Council for Science (2014-18) and now Board Chair, Canadian Association for Professionals in Climate Change. For actions to address global climate change for all.
Building an Environmental Groundswell: How to Make Your Local Actions Have a Big Impact
Emmay Mah
Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance
Emmay Mah joined the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) as Executive Director in 2019. For the last 20 years, Emmay has worked in the non-profit sector, developing and managing programs focused on child rights, health, and the environment. She has worked internationally, in East, West and Southern Africa, as well as in Northern Ontario. More recently, she has focused on building local movements to achieve a more equitable and sustainable Toronto.
Building an Environmental Groundswell: How to Make Your Local Actions Have a Big Impact
Darryl Gray
Director of Education & Training, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Darryl Gray is the Director of Education and Training at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Darryl leads a diverse team that focuses on advancing community knowledge and practice related to sustainability and watershed management through professional, school and community learning in ways that enliven and animate TRCA greenspaces and local neighbourhoods. Darryl and his teams are responsible for leading edge programming at major public institutions such as Black Creek Pioneer Village and the Kortright Centre for Conservation, along with sector-focused programs including TRCA’s Professional Access into Employment (PAIE) newcomer bridge training, Partners in Project Green (PPG), Sustainable Neighbourhood Retrofit Action Plans (SNAP), Sustainable Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) and others. Darryl holds a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University and a Diploma in Municipal Administration and is an active community volunteer, sitting on a number of local boards and committees in his home community of Newmarket.
Building an Environmental Groundswell: How to Make Your Local Actions Have a Big Impact
Stan Mathewson
President, Sustainable Orillia
Stan has been involved in a variety of volunteer work in communities across Ontario. Both he and Sophie support the Sundial Creek Project with the Couchiching Conservancy and are citizen scientists supporting the Conservancy’s work. Since 2019 Stan has been President and Chair of Sustainable Orillia, an incorporated Not for Profit whose vision is that “Our community is achieving long term sustainability through the principles of social, economic and environmental justice, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050”.
Stan has been involved in a variety of volunteer work in communities across Ontario. Both he and Sophie support the Sundial Creek Project with the Couchiching Conservancy and are citizen scientists supporting the Conservancy’s work. Since 2019 Stan has been President and Chair of Sustainable Orillia, an incorporated Not for Profit whose vision is that “Our community is achieving long term sustainability through the principles of social, economic and environmental justice, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050”.
Making our dreams a reality: The importance of allyship in supporting Indigenous women’s leadership
Cora McGuire-Cyrette
Ontario Native Women’s Association, Executive Director
Cora McGuire-Cyrette is a proud member of the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation). She lives in Thunder Bay with her husband, three children and grandchildren. Cora joined the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) in 2006, serving as Executive Director since 2015, tripling programs, increasing the association’s employment 400% and increasing services to over 30,000 people across the province during the pandemic. Cora champions the rights of Indigenous women to speak on their own behalf as the knowledge holders in their lives.
Sharing in Indigenous Culture (breakout session) and Social: Indigenous Drumming & Dancing
Jared Big Canoe
Grandfather Drum Carrier/ Cultural Consultant, Chippewa Travellers, Shining Water Singers, Anishnaabek Nation, Bear Clan
Jared Big Canoe is a member of Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. He is the son of Becky Big Canoe, a respected Elder and Water Walker. Jared was raised in an environment that encouraged artistic expression. If his parents were not at a Pow Wow or Ceremony, they were on film sets working on movies or in the recording studio working on music. Jared wrote his first poem at the age of seven. By the age of fourteen, he discovered his passion for song writing. His music is heavily influenced by the Traditional Songs and Stories of his culture as well as contemporary themes and issues Indigenous People face today. Jared and his family drum group “Chippewa Travellers” have travelled and performed coast-to-coast as well as collaborated with notable artists such as: The Hallucination (formerly A Tribe Called Red) and Juno Winner Cris Derksen. Jared is a traditional Grandfather Drum Carrier with his group “Shining Water”. He believes the drum brings everyone together in a good way. Jared is a Cultural Knowledge Keeper and is doing his part in raising awareness for Indigenous Issues. Jared will continue to be a voice that celebrates the Indigenous community and their contributions to larger society
Moderator &
Keynote Session Moderator: Building an Environmental Groundswell: How to Make Your Local Actions Have a Big Impact"
Nilam Bedi
Nilam Bedi has worked in numerous public and private sectors organizations, the World Bank and the United Nations, where he was Chief of the Technical Cooperation Program in the 13 countries within the Western Asia Region.
He was the President of the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club and Chair of the club’s Foundation, Nilam has co-chaired Global Grant projects for water and sanitation across ten schools in Uganda. As a member of Rotary International’s Cadre of Technical Experts, Nilam has evaluated complex social sector projects, such as human trafficking in California and vocational training in India. He provided significant input into the rewrite of Supporting the Environment Area of Focus Policy Statement and was also a member of the four-person team that rewrote the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Global Grant Guidelines. Currently, he is the Chair of the Environmental Action Committee of Rotary International’s District 7070. He is working closely with the Global Footprint Network to explore how evidence-based information and ecological footprint trackers can be customized for Rotary in a meaningful way that both informs and motivates Rotarians in diverse settings. As well, Nilam has been active in various ESRAG activities, including the Climate Taskforce, discussions on COP 26, among others.
Opening Remarks & Master of Ceremonies
Neil Phillips
Past District Governor 2017-18, District 7070 – The Rotary Club of Toronto
Neil has been a Rotarian for more than 20 years. Professionally, he is the President of DGN Marketing, a co-packing and third-party logistics firm. Outside of Rotary and work, Neil has visited all seven continents, has a second home in France, and enjoys music & literature. He is a certified sommelier and wine educator, loves exploring the world of wine and food, and during the pandemic connected Rotarians through over a hundred virtual tastings.
Entertainment
Instant Hilarity...Just add Audience!
Pat McKenna, Neil Crone, Kevin Frank
Neil Crone
Kevin Frank
Patrick McKenna
Neil Crone
Neil has performed in dozens of television and radio commercials, TV
shows and feature films and is the voice of numerous cartoon
characters every Saturday morning. Probably best known for his six
seasons as Radio Redneck ‘Fred Tupper’ on CBC’s hit comedy series,
Little Mosque on the Prairie, Neil is also a Second City Mainstage
alumnus, an award winning syndicated humor columnist and a Canadian
Comedy Award winner for his work on Q107 as Bad Santa.
Kevin Frank
Kevin Frank has made a career of not being Kevin Frank. Whether it’s
playing the 250 different characters on his Gemini-nominated
Comedy/Pet show Pet Project or his countless appearances on popular
series: the Red Green Show, Daily Grind or Due South, Kevin has had
fun not being himself. When he is himself, he’s sitting behind his
drum kit keeping time for the eclectic country/rock band “Glendale One
” and the Adult/Contemporary band ”Spyre”.
Patrick McKenna
Patrick may be best known for his fifteen seasons as the loveable,
nerdy, techno-geek, Harold on the hilarious Red Green Show.
But he started his career as a Stand Up comedian before joining
Toronto’s Second City mainstage company. Patrick is a three-time “Best
Actor” Gemini Award winner for both comedy and drama and is currently
starring as Dr. Healy in TVO’s acclaimed new series, Hard Rock
Medical. You can also hear Patrick in no less than five regular
animated series.
3 times Juno nominee
Jay Douglas
Jay Douglas first took to the stage in Montego Bay, Jamaica many years ago as a teenager. With over 45 years of showmanship, he has developed a wide-ranging repertoire of American blues, West Indian rhythms, jazz standards, fancy footwork, and plenty of stage charisma. Back in the early ‘60s, Jay fronted tough R&B band “The Cougars,” who, with their skill and verve, lit up Toronto’s Young street bars in the 70’s with Soul, Funk & Reggae. Jay has since shared his gift at various venues all the way from Hong Kong to the Mediterranean.
On top of numerous television appearances (It’s Happening, Music At Midnight, Breakfast Television) and acting roles (Heaven Before I Die, starring Omar Sharif), Douglas has earned prime-time support slots for a veritable “Who’s Who” of musical legends including Fats Domino, Joe Tex, Percy Sledge, Melba Moore, bluesman Roscoe Gordon, soul stylists The Manhattans, The Drifters, Reggae icons Toots and the Maytals, Sly & Robbie, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, The Fab 5 band, actor/comedian Jim Carrey, and others, too many to mention.
A Toronto based performer, area, the city of Toronto invited Jay to perform at several events during the recent 2015 Pan Am games. His noted awards are: winner of NOW Magazine’s “Best R&B Act” (2006) in Toronto. The Annual Canadian Reggae Awards also knighted Jay, “Male Reggae Vocalist for 2007,” and in 2012, he was given the prestigious Harry Jerome Award for “Best Male Entertainer.” Bolstered by the overwhelming media support for “The Jamaica to Toronto” concert launch in July, 2006, at Harbour Front Centre, Douglas acted as catalyst and band leader for this compilation of musicians from the 60s, which has also been successfully performed in Montreal and Vancouver.
The multi-talented craftsman has since found time to release his well received CD “A Touch Of Magic,” which carries contributions from Jamaican music institutions Sly and Robbie. This CD was followed by “Whirl Stimulation,” then his 2011 release, “Lovers’ Paradise,” featuring the hit song, “Hallelujah.” The “Hallelujah” music video can be seen on UTube by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCEY-5i4Ag
Jay who also performed at the Havana Jazz Festival a few years ago, is also a two-time Juno nominee.
For booking information, call (416) 712-4242 or visit his website at www.jaydouglasmusic.ca