Speakers – Toronto Oasis, Secular Community

Here are some of our recent speakers who have generously volunteered their time to give two or more talks at Toronto Oasis:

Speaker: Mark Reimers
Dr. Mark Reimers is a quantitative neuroscientist at Michigan State University working to elucidate how dynamic brain activities give rise to mental functions and moods. Dr. Reimers has worked at the US National Institutes of Health, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and at the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics.
Speaker: Helen Lenskyj
Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, Professor Emerita, University of Toronto, where she taught sociology. Her work as a researcher and activist on gender and sport issues began in the 1980s, and her critique of the Olympic industry include: Inside the Olympic Industry; Olympic Industry Resistance; Gender, Athletes Rights, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport; and released earlier this year, her most recent book The Olympic Games: A Critical Approach.

Helen grew up in Australia and has lived in Toronto since 1966. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 1983, and was a professor from 1986 until retiring in 2007. As well as writing books, she enjoys swimming and kayaking. Her website is www.helenlenskyj.ca

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/helenje63185798
Speaker: Margrit Eichler
Margrit Eichler is Professor Emerita of the Department of Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Speaker: Erick Carreras
Erick Carreras has a background in clinical surgical research, nutrition and methylmercury assessments in the Amazon of Peru, and was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Faculty of Health Science at McMaster University when he graduated with a Master’s of Science in Global Health (2017). During his MScGH, Erick took a term to study abroad in the Netherlands at Maastricht University to specialize in a branch of Sociology known as Science and Technology Studies (STS), where his scholarly work investigated the economics of capitalism as a contributing driving force to the establishment of psychiatry as we know it today. Since the completion of his studies, Erick Carreras has worked to promote Gender Equity and Social Inclusivity in the workplace of the private sector in Barranquilla, Colombia; completed free-lance English to French translation work for a non-profit that helps establish Syrian Refugees coming to Canada who identify as a part of the LGBTQ2+ community; and currently supports the field work and administration of social programs created by, and for, urban Indigenous of Turtle Island residing in Ontario. Using his website (erickcarreras.ca), some social media platforms, public presentations (such as this one), and his upcoming book, Erick hopes to raise the consciousness of the world, at scale, to make the impact he hopes to have on the world: contribute to empowering the collective so we may all iteratively co-create a holistically healthier world for all, by all.
- Sun Jan 26 – How You Can Be a Part of the Solution: Economics for Everyone
- Sun Sep 15 – The Trans Mountain Pipeline
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.
- Sun Nov 24 – The Twilight of a Law-Based International Order, Part II
- Sun June 09 – The Twilight of a Law-Based International Order
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
- Sun Nov 17 – Creating Green Zone Relationships
- Sun Nov 25 – Green Zone Living is Peaceful Living
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.
- Sun Jul 28 – Genomes, Ancestry, and the Sweep of History
- Sun Mar 10 – Being Mindful of Waste
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.
- Sun Jul 14 – The Power Flower & Social Location
- Sun May 12 – Adoption History and Myths
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!
Speaker: Catherine Francis
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
Speaker: Clive Hannah
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.
Speaker: Dan Cooperstock
Dan Cooperstock is the Toronto Oasis Treasurer, an atheist Quaker, and a software entrepreneur, writing and selling software for churches and charities.
Speaker: Tania Akon
Tania Akon is one of the organizers of Toronto Oasis. She earned a B.A.Sc degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and a B.Ed from OISE, also at UofT. She is currently a high school teacher and teaches Science-Physics/Mathematics/Computer Science.