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.
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!
Amateur is the solo project of self-teaching composer and accordionist Tristan Murphy. The title “Amateur” is both a disclaimer and a mission statement: a confession that he does not have formal training or a depth of cultural lore, nor any professional comprehension of genre or trend; but also a reminder that it does not matter, and that music can be made in a way that is explorative, for its own enjoyment, without striving toward or against existing musical standards. A link to Amateur: https://www.facebook.com/anamateur/
Kid Grit’s folk songs are quiet and pensive reflections of a life lived. From the depths of isolation possible in a digital age, to the heights of exaltation, living and growing up in nature. His music travels through the processes of life and how we heal, through gentle whisperings, swelling warm harmonies, and sometimes painful personal admissions – attempting to find peace and truth in the smallest of things.
Erik Bleich is a singer songwriter whose genre blends classic pop and folk traditions – from street lit lullabies to manic, rambling romps. It’s his vision of folk music for the Internet Age. Check out his website: www.erikbleich.com
Cassie Norton is the music director of Toronto Oasis. At times fragile and sweet, at other times strong, bold and even harsh, this Toronto-based violinist/singer-songwriter tells the stories behind her lyrics with sound. Cassie’s music is, at times friendly, familiar, and simple, examining ordinary characters with an extraordinary level of depth. Other times it is more adventurous, rumbling with dissonant and irreverent sounds and epic themes.
Cassie and her band have been performing at Toronto venues such as Burdock Hall, Arrayspace, and The Supermarket since January 2018, and released their first EP: Lullaby for the End of Time in February 2019. In addition, Cassie has recorded two full length albums as a solo artist, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010).
When she isn’t busy making her own music, Cassie shares her love of music with others through teaching. She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and through her private studio. Check out her website: https://www.cassienorton.com/
Catherine Francis holds Bachelor of Arts (1981) and Bachelor of Law (1985) degrees from the University of Toronto and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1987. Catherine is a long-time partner at Minden Gross LLP, a mid-sized downtown Toronto law firm, practicing principally in the areas of commercial and insolvency litigation. Catherine was raised in a secular household with a strong belief in equality rights and is keenly interested in legal issues affecting the interests of non-believers and the separation of Church and State. Her website is: https://www.mindengross.com/our-people/details/catherine-francis
Clive Hannah is a Toronto Oasis volunteer, helping us manage our social media. He has a passion for community building. In addition to his volunteer work with Oasis, Clive is also an organizer for Toronto Adults with ADHD Support Group and volunteers his time with a men’s group called MasterHeart. Professionally, Clive is an independent software consultant in IT Enterprise Architecture. All of Clive’s work, professional and volunteer, is driven by wanting to create his life rather than letting life happen to him.
Our program will run from 11 am to 12:30 pm but you can join in to the meeting starting at 10:45 am. Volunteers please join by 10:30am.
Dave Warnock
Our featured speaker will be Dave Warnock, a former pastor who is now atheist. Diagnosed with ALS in February 2019, he has been traveling the country, talking about living and dying as an atheist, grabbing as many moments as he can. For more information, you can check out his website: https://daveoutloud.com/
Our program will run from 11 am to 12:30 pm but you can join in to the meeting starting at 10:45 am. Volunteers please join by 10:30am.
Over the past 20 years research has resulted in the concept of distinct right brain left brain functionality being discredited. However recent studies have shown that the dual functions of the brain do explain what happens when we dream or have intuition, and the dangers of trying to repress our dreams. In this talk we will learn a little about dreams and a lot about ourselves.
Phil Cheney
Our featured speaker on this topic will be 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.
