CBWC | Ontario Region

Wellness Revolution 2021

WHAT IS THE WELLNESS REVOLUTION?

The Congress of Black Women of Canada is invited Black women from across Ontario to join us on a Wellness Revolution for our community. As women, we routinely prioritize the needs of others before our own. It is a form of activism when Black women take time to focus on and nurture our wellbeing.
Stay updated with rolling announcements on our Facebook, Instagram & website!
Instagram: @congressofblackwomenon
Website: www.cbwc-ontario.com/home
Facebook: Congress of Black Women Ontario Inc.
Stay tuned for all CBWC’s Wellness Revolution sessions to be shared online for our community members.

E-SUMMIT SESSIONS

Session 1: Nurture Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

As women, we routinely prioritize the needs of others before our own. It is a form of activism when Black women take time to focus on and nurture our wellbeing. Equipping attendees with practices, strategies, tools and resources, which will empower and strengthen them in addressing barriers to great levels of mental and emotional wellness.

Session 2: Nurture Physical Wellbeing

This session focused on empower black women on their wellness journey, with a focus on nurturing physical wellbeing! Equipping attendees with information, inspiration, and strategies to help us cope in these challenging times as we continue to navigate our way through the pandemic and the ever-changing restrictions imposed.⁠

Session 3: Nurture Family & Financial Wellness

After conducting a province wide survey in 2020, we realized that our community wants to know more about navigating financial wellbeing. This session will focus on addressing the questions and providing insight into financial fundamentals. Join us on May 29th for the final session of the CBWC’s virtual Wellness Revolution.

Thanks to our Partners and Sponsors

We want to take this opportunity to thank our corporate sponsors for their thoughtful and meaningful donations and contributions. So much value has been added, we are grateful.

A BIG THANK YOU TO

PEPSICO

Our sincere thanks to PepsiCo Mosaic Team. We could not have offeredThe Wellness Revolution without your support.

THANK YOU

Our sincere thanks to all the Toronto-based, female-founded organizations who have contributed and donated in support of our efforts.

Summit 3 Speakers

Lianne Hannaway, CPA, CA

Lianne Hannaway is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), an experienced financial executive and an investor. Lianne is the founder of wealthnuvo, a financial platform designed to help good little savers become badass investors and build generational wealth.

She is a Board Member and Treasurer at The Equality Fund, a groundbreaking collaboration that supports women’s rights organizations and feminist movements globally with a backing of $300 million from the Canadian government.  She is also a board member of Ideal Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital and private equity company that specializes in investing in companies founded by women and Black, Indigenous, and people of colour that create impactful technology solutions. Previously, Lianne served as an advisory partner at KPMG, and held a variety of senior finance roles at the TMX Group.

Valentine Njoroge, Co-Founder & CEO, Africa’s Pocket

Valentine Njoroge is an investment professional and entrepreneur, with a business and economics education from Philadelphia’s Drexel University and an MBA from Oxford University (Saïd Business School).
Valentine began her career in wealth management at Morgan Stanley, New York before joining Dry Associates in Nairobi. She served as Projects Director at Centum Investment Company, where she ran a $5M fund focused on investing in startups and managed special projects within the Centum Group. She is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Africa’s Pocket, a  financial education platform that equips you to make the right financial choices for your life through digital courses and tools. Your one-stop shop to learn about, plan for and act on your finances.

Marcia Gayle, Parenting Coordinator | Clinical Counsellor

Marcia Gayle is a registered Social Worker with a Masters degree in Social Work.  She also has two Bachelor’s degrees – one in Social Work and the other in General Wellness, and a Diploma in gerontology.

Marcia has worked in healthcare sector, the shelter system, and with women’s, children’s and family rights for over 20 years.

She is a therapist and an administrator by trade and her practice is grounded in narrative therapy, strength base and solution focus healing.

She is the Clinical Supervisor, Parenting Coordinator and Clinician at Malton Neighbourhood Services (MNS), where she is currently leading the Black Family Support Program.  This is a specialized program for the Black communities.  The goal of the program is to increase parenting capacity within the Black communities.

Dr. Melvia Agbeko, ND

By the age of 7 years, Dr. Melvia already knew she wanted to be a doctor or a teacher. She was inspired seeing her own father, a medical doctor, holistically improve the lives of so many.

He inspired her to commit to helping people get the results they wanted in their lives and health, in a profound and strategic way. As a result of her own health challenges, she sought out how to feel better long term without “band-aiding“ the problem. 

She eventually was treated by a Naturopathic doctor and her energy, digestion, mood and hormonal health all drastically improved. At this point, she instinctively knew that she needed to study Naturopathic medicine. Today, she runs a family practice with a special focus on Women’s health. In practice, her “Best of Both worlds” approach allows her to address the whole individual while incorporating specific diagnostic labs to effectively help patients.

They benefit by understanding and resolving the blockages that keep them stuck, thereby moving them from confusion to clarity in 4 key areas of their lives- health, career, relationships and personal growth. In addition, she teaches students physiology and psychology (among other subjects), and carries the same passion for seeing them get the results they want in their studies and career.

Meet Our Host

Nicole Waldron

A professional event planner, inspirational speaker, community advocate and podcaster, the multi-faceted Nicole Waldron works tirelessly for the advancement, progress, and prosperity of her community.

Nicole has enjoyed a 28+ year career spanning fields as varied as project management, arts administration, public relations, governance and social advocacy.

In 2020, Nicole launched The Victory “Speaks” Podcast, providing listeners with the tools to be Mentally Fit. In addition, she launched the Victory Speaks Online Show, where she hosts the Inspired Conversation Series.

Passionate about the success of particularly future generations, she has worked to raise awareness on affordable housing issues with organizations such as the Co-Operative Housing Federation of Canada.  The community advocate has also been passionate about issues related to Violence against Women, Mental Health and issues affecting the Black Community.

Summit 2 Speakers

Dr. Nekessa S. Remy

Dr. Nekessa S. Remy is a leading health and wellness professional & expert with a passion for injury prevention and enabling others to be their own health champions.  Her philosophy stems from her believe that healthy living is a RIGHT and not a privilege.

Through her blogs, seminars and media appearances, Dr. Remy uses her knowledge and experience to educate others on how to become their own health advocates. 

She is the founder of Mississauga’s award-winning  multidisciplinary clinic, The Chiropractic Office & Health Associates, which has been serving the community for over 10 years and is also the creator of The Better Posture Program, an online course geared towards helping people take control of their posture. She has worked with professional and Olympic athletes and lectured at large corporations such as Nissan Canada and Scotiabank. Over the last few years, she has become a sought-after health and wellness expert for various media outlets including, CP24, CTV News, Breakfast Television and Global Morning.

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/DrNekessaRemy

Instagram : @Dr.NekessaRemy

Website : www.thechiropracticoffice.ca 

Winsome Dewar

Winsome Dewar is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, nutrition counselor, public speaker, and seminar leader.  She obtained her degree in Natural Nutrition from The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and is a member of the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC).

She is author of The Healthy Options Healthy Options and Weight Loss Plan booklet, which has been featured Chatelaine Magazine, and The Toronto Star

Winsome is the host of Rogers TV’s cooking show – Cooking with Winsome, focusing on helping the audience prepare healthy meals in minutes.  Guest chefs from some of the top local restaurants share their secrets and illustrate how a few modifications create lighter, healthier versions some tasty favourites.

Winsome Dewar is the president of Healthy Options – a company she founded in 1996. At Healthy Options she specializes in developing and delivering nutritionally balanced meal plans and nutrition programs for weight loss, sports nutrition, and specific medical conditions.  Programs are offered through individual counseling at her Mississauga Clinic or online via Skype; and corporately through group sessions in the workplace, or other facilities.  The company’s corporate programs include on-site weight loss groups, lunch and learn nutrition & stress management seminars, and blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screening clinics.

She is also the volunteer President of the Peel Chapter Council of The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario – helping the Foundation meet its fundraising and community education goals in Peel since 2000.

She has an extensive background in assisting hundreds of individual and corporate clients achieve their wellness goals. 

She has also written nutritional columns for The Mississauga News and Being Well Magazine published by Southlake Hospital, has been a featured speaker at the National Women’s Show in Toronto, and makes regular appearances  on Rogers TV, promoting healthy eating for children and adults. 

Additionally, she has worked with the Credit Valley Hospital as a nutritional consultant for their out-patient Schizophrenia Program.

She is currently a consulting Nutitionist with Nature’s Source Natural Health Stores, as well as running her Nutrition Practice – Healthy Options.

Winsome was awarded a Civic Award of Recognition from the City of Mississauga for her volunteer work with the Heart & Stroke Foundation in June of 2010.

Debbie King

Debbie King is a Toronto-based masters athlete, fitness leader and advocate who uses her platforms to inform and inspire action in women and local communities. As a masters athlete, Debbie has represented Canada in the women’s 40-44 age category in the 100m and 200m sprint events, and was voted ByBlacks People’s Choice Athlete of the Year in 2019.

As a fitness leader, she’s been an ambassador for fitness events and apparel and was recently named an Optimyz Magazine Top 100 Canadian Health and Fitness Hall of Famer. Other roles include executive positions on the Fast and Female Board of Directors and Queen Victoria Black Student Success Committee. 

Outside of her fitness and community work. Debbie enjoys downtime playing games and trivia, diving into a great memoir, and downtime with her husband and 11 year-old daughter.

Dawna Mensah

Dawna Mensah, a Wellness Warrior with over 15 years experience in the  fitness industry, has a passion for helping people make moves to elevate themselves in mind, body and spirit.

Evolving as a Fitness Instructor (teaching a range of formats from. Dance Fitness to Yoga), Personal Trainer, Master Trainer, Program Consultant and Wellness Educator, she continually strives to share her knowledge and passion with others.

She creates a sense of community in her programs, motivating women to live happier, healthier lives and to feel good about feeling GOOD!

Summit 1 Speakers

Dr. Natasha Williams

Dr. Natasha Williams is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of  Ontario and the past Chair of the Board of Directors at Women’s Health in Women’s  Hands, a Community Health Centre for black women and women of colour in Toronto.

Williams is a member of the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA), Canadian  Psychological Association (CPA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).  She was the OPA’s diversity delegate representative at the APA State Leadership  Conference in Washington D.C. in 2011 and is the past Chair of the OPA Diversity Task  Force whose aim is to raise awareness of the importance of diversity and to promote  ongoing efforts to influence social change in the field of psychology practice in Ontario. She is also a past board member of the Ontario Psychological Association.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse

Uchechi is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, International Speaker, Author, Publisher and Wholesale Expert; helping passion-driven entrepreneurs increase wealth, confidence, impact and freedom.

Featured on Rogers TV, Hay House Radio, The Huffington Post, Mompreneur and named “Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020”.  She’s a multi-passionate entrepreneur and Founder of My Empowered Living and Bossurike. Author of From Aspiration to Fulfillment ~ Bridging the Gap from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, which is available at all major online booksellers, and Chapters-Indigo stores across the country. She’s also the Creator of the Dream Life Designer Planners, a goal setting planner system that’s been used by thousands of customers worldwide.

Haze Schepmyer

Hazlon (Haze) Schepmyer is an intuitive, strengths-focused consultant who has spent the last 30 years encouraging people of all ages at all stages to assess, develop, implement, and celebrate their GRIT.

She launched Gritty Guru Company to make her unique approach to self-discovery available to even more individuals who want to explore their options for change at work, home, rest or play.

Facilitator and Speaker, Haze invites you to explore and upgrade your default 

setting in the face of obstacles and 

challenging situations (i.e., your GRIT). 

Through her GRIT Growth Guide © and 

personal development programs, you can access the tools to approach challenging situations with renewed passion and purpose!