Guest Musician: Pickle Juice Trio

The Pickle Juice Trio is an exploration of rhythms, structures and melodies derived from the blues, gospel and swing music of the mid twentieth century by three musicians who crossed paths in the improvised music scene in Toronto.  All three are eclectic musicians who’s playing and influences cross many stylistic boundaries. Arnd Jurgensen has been a prominent contributor to TO’s improvised music scene but here channels influences ranging from Blind Blake to Blood Ulmer with his finger style guitar playing and baritone vocals. Percussionist Bob Vespaziani, also a staple on the improvised music scene, demonstrates his years of experience backing numerous blues and swing performers around town. Last but not least, violinist Cassie Norton with influences from folk, jazz and classical music adds an unusual and intriguing colour to this not so conventional blues trio.  Cassie Norton is also the music director of Toronto Oasis.

Speaker: Arnd Jurgensen

Arnd Jurgensen grew up in Germany, received his BA at NYU and MA and PhD from the University of Toronto in Political Science.    His research has focused on issues related to development, environment and democratic governance.  He has taught in the faculties of Applied Sciences and Engineering, interdisciplinary studies and currently teaches courses on international relations and U.S. Foreign Policy at the University of Toronto. He is also active as an environmental activist and musician.

Speaker: Dr. Sohail

Dr. Sohail was born and raised in Pakistan. After receiving his medical degree from Peshawar University, Pakistan he came to Newfoundland to study psychiatry. After getting his FRCP in psychiatry he moved to Ontario and now practices in his Creative Psychotherapy Clinic in Whitby Ontario. He has published more than 20 books in Urdu and English. His books are available on Amazon Kindle. Check out his website: www.greenzoneliving.ca

Speaker: Phil Cheney

Phil ‘Philosofree’ Cheney is awed by the Cosmos, and excited about human potential. He is a renaissance man who appreciates life, having worked in over 55 countries, including as a university lecturer in his native Australia, Trade leader in Thailand, Government budget consultant in Papua New Guinea, software distributor in Zimbabwe, marketer in Germany, Building Construction in China, farm exporting in Japan and author in his current home in Toronto.

Philosofree is a mystic who is curious about integrating science and the metaphysical. He has published 8 books, 5 CDs of original music and won awards for software design and clinical practice in medicine. His education background includes degrees in Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology. Phil prioritizes his wife, daughters and grandchildren, and loves to sing and dance with them.

Speaker: A. D’Agio

Born in England, A. D’Agio resides now in Toronto, writing poetry and lyrics about humans, and their quirksome relationships with each another. Experience first hand the mind numbing madness https://twitter.com/HumanistPoet or https://www.facebook.com/HumanistPoetAdagio

Speaker: Ryan Zhang

Ryan Zhang graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Toronto majoring in Human Biology and minoring in History. He is currently a second-year student of the Environmental Technology Program at Georgian College and aspires to become a professional in the environmental field when he graduates. He is intensely curious and enjoys keeping fish, learning about nature, listening to history podcasts, and obsessively reading Wikipedia articles for fun.

Guest Musician: Julia Fedec

At 21 years old, Julia Fedec has kicked off her music career with works that have been carried with her for years. For Julia, music has been the outlet through which she explores herself and the world around her – the only outlet that seemed apt to express the beauties and pains of vulnerability, finding inner strength and the complexities of life.  Julia only started performing publicly in 2018, and is in the process of writing and recording new music to release.

Guest Musician: Philosofree

Phil ‘Philosofree’ Cheney is a Corporate, Executive and Life coach, author, consultant, poet and writer, composer, musician and builder. He has published 8 books and 5 CDs of original music. You can check out his music at https://philosofree.bandcamp.com and https://www.philcheney.com/music/.

Speaker: Michelle Edmunds

Over the past two decades, Michelle Edmunds has been involved in adoption reform, has researched child welfare legislation and adoption practices in both Canada and the US. She created and produced a podcast (2006) where she interviewed adoptees and mothers and fathers who had lost children to adoption, politicians and celebrities, such as playwright, Edward Albee and rapper, Daryl McDaniels from RUN-DMC (both were adopted).

Michelle has also been involved with diversity and inclusion training for over a decade. One of the topics under inclusion is the Power Flower.

Speaker: Alex Beckmann

Alex Beckmann studied physics in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He did his Ph.D. in theoretical physics in String and Field Theory. He taught physics at the high school and university levels in Ukraine and Germany. Alex currently lives and works in Toronto. His work in Toronto is in IT and involves cloud-based solutions for markets, investment banking, and research. However, Alex still enjoys teaching physics!