Our event begins at 11:00 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave
Join us for something a little different this long-weekend Sunday – join us for a potluck lunch! Same place, same time. Come share your food, stories, experiences and insights!
We will have some small group and large group discussions planned around getting everyone talking and sharing their joys and concerns. We could have discussions and reflections on our core values, raison d’etre, and future direction. We will have a plan, but ultimately go with the flow! The food and drink should smooth the way!
When you RSVP on Meetup, please indicate, in the comments section, what you intend to bring: main dish, salad, dessert, or drinks. Thank you!
Our event begins at 11:00 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave
Our featured speaker, Yvonne Tang, is Director of Exhibitions and Events at Lord Cultural Resources, the world’s largest cultural professional practice.
Yvonne Tang inside the stunning Deir el-Medina (Tombs of the craftmen) in Luxor, Egypt.
Her clients include museums, art galleries, historic sites, festivals and events. Yvonne’s involvement on projects ranges from initial visioning to design through to opening day. She thoroughly enjoys her work behind-the-scenes at various institutions, and even though she’s been asked before, she is definitely not a spy.
In the current state of the world today – museums and other cultural institutions have a huge role to play. Yvonne will discuss how the role of cultural institutions have changed and continue to adapt today. She will also share stories from some of her recent projects including the opportunities and challenges of working internationally.
Cassie Norton
For our musical performances we will have Cassie Norton with Patrick O’Reilly. Cassie Norton is the music director of Toronto Oasis and a Toronto based singer-songwriter, classically trained violinist/folk leaning tunesmith with a punk rock heart. She has recorded two full length albums, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010). She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and at her private studio.
Patrick O’Reilly
Cassie will be performing with her band-mate Patrick O’Reilly on guitar. To RSVP to this event, visit our Meetup page.
Our event begins at 11:00 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.
Michelle Bilek
Our featured speaker, Michelle Bilek, is with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (caeh.ca). She will argue for methods such as Housing First and supporting affordable housing options – strategies like housing sharing, renting secondary units for Housing First clients, innovative building solutions and developments. Michelle will present the case that it is methods such as these and not management of homelessness by increasing shelter spaces that are the solution.
Citizen Jane
Our featured musicians will be CITIZEN JANE, a Toronto-based folk-pop duo that evocatively weaves powerful vocal harmonies with innovative string textures to create an emotionally charged soundscape.
The duo consists of married couple Reenie Perkovic (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Lea Kirstein (viola, fiddle, cello, vocals), who met while studying classical music on the west coast of Canada. The ladies have since made a home in Toronto’s vibrant music scene.
Reenie grew up in the Toronto area, after her family escaped the civil war in her birthplace, Sarajevo, Bosnia. Reenie was a semi-finalist in the 2016 UK Songwriting Contest, and has released 3 solo albums. She has opened for Juno-nominated Alysha Brilla, and Annabelle Chvostek (Wailin’ Jennys).
Lea is an acclaimed violist and fiddler, who grew up in Victoria, BC, where she studied viola and music education at UVic. Classical musician by day and fiddler by night, Lea discovered new ways of melding the two styles into one. Her passion for these genres took her across Canada & the U.S. with the Folk Arts Quartet. She has recorded with Juno-nominated artists Oliver Schroer and Teresa Doyle.
Our event begins at 11:00 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave
Nathania Rodman, a Professionally Trained Art Therapist, will serve as a guide for us to experience the healing qualities that Art Therapy possesses.
She will begin by providing an overview of Art Therapy and then move to a workshop format and invite us to create. The creating will serve as a visual voice, symbolic of our hopes, dreams, concerns, and wishes. In closing, everyone will be provided with the opportunity to share their creations, if they choose to, and ask any questions they may have for Nathania.
Nathania Rodman
Nathania Rodman is a graduate of the University of Guelph in Studio Art and Psychology and a Professionally Trained Art Therapist. She did her Art Therapy Training at Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (KATI) in Nelson BC. Through her personal experience and her learning at KATI, she came to value the person-centred humanistic worldview and the importance of mind-body integration in the healing process. Her internship was primarily at North York General Hospital working with both inpatient and outpatient Mental Health, Adult Eating Disorder, One on One through the Spiritual Cares office and Workshops for Staff and Volunteers. She also has experience with children who recently immigrated to Canada, and has volunteered at a long-term care facility in Brampton, ON. Nathania has recently opened up her own Private Practice known as Blue Lotus Art Therapy in the Toronto Beaches.
Further information can be found on Nathania’s Website and Facebook: Blue Lotus Art Therapy.
Dana Swarbrick
Our featured musician this week will be Dana Swarbrick. Dana is a singer-songwriter originally from Ottawa who found her voice in Hamilton and is now refining her sound in Toronto. Her sets feature a mixture of covers and her original music, inspired by blues, jazz, and folk that is reminiscent of artists like Norah Jones. Dana enjoys sharing the latest research in the neuroscience of music. She creates an emotional experience with her music and enlightens audience members with the neural underpinnings shaping their experience.
Our event begins at 10:30 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.
Many families and couples enter into conflict when their interpretations of religion, or faiths themselves, diverge. While conflict is, generally speaking, a normal and healthy process, there are some issues that families are unable to resolve on their own. In such situations, mediation can be a valuable tool that helps families or couples better understand one another, and move forward in their conflict. Our featured speaker, Dr. Glaholt will discuss the process of mediation, and two different approaches to conflict management (interest based negotiation and narrative mediation), as a means of providing options for those who find themselves in the midst of family strife.
Dr. Hayley Glaholt
Dr. Hayley Glaholt is an Accredited Family Mediator, practicing in Toronto. She holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Public Life, and one focus of her practice is addressing conflicts brought about by religious and ethnic difference. She is also a roster mediator with the Ministry of the Attorney General, providing subsidized mediation in Toronto’s family courts.
Willow Rutherford is a troubadour balladeer of folk, jazz, Celtic and traditional standards, with deep roots in the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver indie music scene. She has composed soundtracks for documentaries and animated shorts, and has accompanied rising stars The Fugitives, E.S.L., Annabelle Chvostek, and David Simard. Willow sings in English, French and Spanish.
Cassie Norton
Cassie Norton is the music director of Toronto Oasis and a Toronto based singer-songwriter who tells the stories behind her lyrics with sound. Cassie is a classically trained violinist/folk leaning tunesmith with a punk rock heart. She has recorded two full length albums, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010). She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and at her private studio.
Our event begins at 10:30 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House,569 Spadina Ave.
Our featured speaker, Joy Connelly.
In Toronto neighbourhoods that used to be home to blue collar workers, houses nowadays sell for $1 million and up. Even dingy basements rent for more than $1000/month. People who have grown up and lived in these neighbourhoods could not afford to move into these neighbourhoods now, and neither can their children.
It’s a story played out across Toronto. Young people stay in their parents’ basements. Employees commute two hours each way because they can’t afford to live near their jobs. Newcomer families are crowded into one-bedroom apartments.
What can be done? In this talk, our featured speaker, Joy Connelly, will present five ideas to create affordable homes for the next generation.
Joy Connelly has worked in affordable housing for over 30 years. She began doing street outreach at Dundas and Sherbourne, managed a housing co-operative, developed new co-ops, managed communications for a provincial advocacy organization, and as a consultant, completed over 150 projects for federal, provincial, municipal and non-profit clients.
Willow Rutherford is a troubadour balladeer of folk, jazz, Celtic and traditional standards, with deep roots in the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver indie music scene. She has composed soundtracks for documentaries and animated shorts, and has accompanied rising stars The Fugitives, E.S.L., Annabelle Chvostek, and David Simard. Willow sings in English, French and Spanish.
Cassie Norton
Cassie Norton is the music director of Toronto Oasis and a Toronto based singer-songwriter who tells the stories behind her lyrics with sound. Cassie is a classically trained violinist/folk leaning tunesmith with a punk rock heart. She has recorded two full length albums, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010). She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and at her private studio.
Our event begins at 10:30 am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.
Our featured speaker Gaya Navaratnam
What is the secret to weight loss? Just eat less and move more? Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? Are long workouts more effective than short ones? Does eating fat make you fat (or unhealthy)? This Sunday our featured speaker, Gaya Navaratnam, will take a science-based look into these and other long-held beliefs in the field of fitness.
You’ll also get insight into these controversial issues:
Are Low-fat, Vegetarian/Vegan and Gluten-free diets the healthiest?
Should you eat many small meals throughout the day? Or Is skipping meals ok?
Are Ketogenic and Low-carbohydrate diets just fads?
Strength training: will it make you (especially women) bulky?
Should you do Sit ups, Crunches, Planks for good looking abs?
Are Saturated Fats bad for us?
Are Carbohydrates the preferred fuel of the body and brain?
Are Fruits good for us?
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight and weren’t successful or you’re struggling with your health (diabetes, high blood pressure) or you’d just like to learn about your body and what’s best for it, this talk is for you.
Gaya is an entrepreneur, Certified Personal Trainer, Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist and mom of 4. She owns and operates a mobile fitness business – coaching clients and inspiring change in health and fitness. She also runs a Parent and Tot Fitness program for the YMCA. For the past decade she has researched and applied science-based principles in her life, and those of her clients and family. Her passion is sharing what works and debunking what doesn’t. Her website is momzonefitness.com
Our musician will be the “one man band” Chad McCoy!
This coming Sunday our gathering will as usual be at 10:30am in the Koffler building, 569 Spadina Ave.
Join us for an informative conversation about organic food. What does certified organic mean? What are the true benefits? What is a GMO? And why fungus might save us all!
Sarah Dobec is the Marketing Manager and Public Relations Coordinator at The Big Carrot Natural Food Market and a proud board member for the Canadian Organic Growers and The Carrot Cache. She received her Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, her Certified Nutritional Practitioner designation from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and her Public Relations Certificate from the University of Toronto. She is an educator, speaker and urban organic farmer. Sarah had the fortune of spending 5 months volunteering on an organic farm where she experienced food from seed to harvest and all the weeding in between!
And we are so excited to be welcoming back musical guest Kobena Aquaa-Harrison, whose multi-instrumental African music and story telling is bound to enchant you!
As usual our gathering will be at 10:30am, on the 2nd floor of Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave.
With glaciers melting, seas rising, and 14 of the 15 hottest years on record coming this century, the threat of climate change has never been clearer. But with solar, wind, and other clean energy solutions becoming more affordable and accessible every year, neither has the way forward. And with 195 countries signing the historic Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gases the world is finally united in working to seize the promise of renewables and create a safe, sustainable, and prosperous future powered by clean energy.
This is a critical moment in the fight against climate change. We can all make a difference. We can all be the voice of reality.
Our feature speaker, Deb Ellis, will have three core themes to her presentation:
We must solve the climate crisis: We have a moral obligation to ourselves and future generations to stop the crisis devastating our planet.
• We can solve the climate crisis: We have the affordable clean energy technologies to power our economy and end the crisis in our hands today.
• We will solve the climate crisis: With millions of citizens standing up to force our leaders to act, we will solve the crisis together. Deb Ellis is the Founder and President of Wings to Fly, a training and development company based in the Greater Toronto Area, and has been a guest lecturer at Schulich School of Business, York University, Seneca College, and Ryerson University. She provides people in organizations tools for success through workshops on High Performing Teams, Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Interaction Styles.
Deb earned her Masters Degree in Education, and is certified in Personality Dimensions®, MBTI®, EQ-I® True Colors®, and CTI Coach Training. Deb had the privilege of being trained last year by former US Vice President Al Gore to serve as a volunteer Climate Reality Leader and is one of thousands of trained Climate Reality Leaders from over 135 countries.
Our musical performer will be Lindsay Foote. Her song “Silence” was featured on CBC Metro Morning, CBC Big City Small World, and CJRU Double Booked. Lindsay was a finalist in the Songwriter Serenade contest in Austin. In the summer of 2017, she successfully completed an East Coast Canadian tour followed by a US Tour. For more information, please checkout https://www.lindsayfoote.com.
Further information can be found on 
