In-Person Events

Keynote Topic:

Relationships Matter: The Power of Story
We must learn to celebrate the idea that we are members of a species who communicate best through storytelling. In this session, Bill helps us consider how to best listen to and share stories with one another in order to make for better communication and deeper connections in our workplace and our private lives. Using ancient techniques and sharing modern neuroscience, Bill explains how the ubiquitous use of story works to build relationships in our personal lives and in the society around us.

Communication Expert | Award-Winning Humourist
For over 25 years, Bill Carr has been making people laugh at what’s trivial while helping them think deeply about what counts. His unique blend of humour and insight inspires laughter and helps people see their world with a fresh perspective. An award-winning writer, speaker, actor, and coach, Carr offers custom-tailored performances, keynotes, and workshops to deliver exactly what organizers need, no matter the event.

Carr’s career has seen him perform on stages across the country most notably in Nova Scotia at Neptune Theatre, Mermaid Theatre, and the Atlantic Theatre Festival. He has written and performed in numerous radio dramas and news programs for CBC and has appeared on countless television programs and several movies.

Carr can currently be seen as “Judge Campbell” in season 2 of Diggstown on CBC and has a principal role as Jack in the movie, Spinster, which premiered at the Whistler Film Festival in December 2019. He has previously played Lloyd Dallas in Neptune Theatre’s live production of Noises Off. In 2020, Carr began hosting a weekly radio segment on Rogers 97.5 FM in Halifax called “Shift For Brains”, which examines current affairs and news.

Keynote Topic:

Balancing Life with Humour

We are all jugglers and the first ball to drop is usually our own.

Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and to offer creative solutions to defuse the frustrations in the home and workplace. Davis’ generous insight and outspoken character provides a powerful combination to help organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

Between our jobs, home, relationships with family, friends, and co-workers, learning how to balance our busy life demands a strong sense of personal development and, most importantly, a sense of humour.

People who attend Davis’ “Balancing Life with Humour” lecture leave with an understanding of practical techniques for refueling, rediscovering, and reengaging their true selves. Learning to use humour as an instrument of communication creates an atmosphere of compassion, caring, and productivity.

Connectivity Expert | Humour in the Workplace | Work–Life Balance

A hit comedian, who has opened for the likes of Seth Meyers, Bill Clinton, and Barbara Walters, Davis’ generous insight and hilarious presence is a powerful combination that helps organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

Theatrically trained in England, Davis went from a successful run on the Canadian stage to the many stages of motherhood, before she found her passion for comedy. Now she is a 12-time Canadian Comedy Awards nominee, including a nomination for the prestigious Phil Hartman Award, and the star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network. In addition, Davis has appeared on Breakfast Television, Star TV, Toronto 1, Prime, WTN, TVO, and CBC Radio’s The Debaters. She also stars, writes, and produces the hit web series “Best Before”, which won at the Canadian Comedy Awards, and was chosen for “Standup and Pitch” at the Just For Laughs Comedy Pro. In 2018, Davis joined the Debaters Live theatre tour with Live Nation.

On stage, Davis has performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Hubcap Comedy Festival, and the Kitchener Waterloo Comedy Festival, while also headlining across the country. During the 2008 season of Last Comic Standing, Davis’ sense of humour endured and carried her into the finals in Canada.

As a writer, Davis has been published in Today’s Parent and Mom and Caregiver magazines. She is also the author of two books, The Breastfeeding Diaries, which won the iParenting media award, and Second Best Mom: Stories, Tips, and Okay Advice. In 2019, Davis released her comedy album, House Arrest.

Keynote Topic:

Moments that Matter: Leading Culture NOW

It’s said that “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste”. The global pandemic has unfrozen us from long held patterns of being, united us in a “remember when moment”, and created a uniquely sticky time which is valuable for shaping your culture — now. What are the things that you want to have stick for your organization? What are the most important ways of being you want to embed moving forward?

During this keynote:

• Get clear on why now and what it means to lead culture by design not default in a way that feels organic, not orchestrated.
• Discover why the best way to predict the future is to co-create it and how to make this happen.
• Take away the simplest actions that most powerfully signal and shape a new way forward.
• Experience the power of “mattering matters” and how it builds the human-to-human connective tissue essential to build cultures that matter.

Former Director, Culture Activation at WestJet

Visionary, purpose-driven leaders recognize that there is untapped potential in their organizations. When this potential is left unrealized, it can lead to misalignment between an organization’s brand promise (external experience) and culture (internal experience). Through her high-energy keynotes, Pam August helps leaders and their teams unlock this potential to see transformational results. She equips audiences with practical strategies to help activate potential, at home and work, for greater performance and impact.

August was the Director, Culture Activation at WestJet, where for 14 years she was a fierce champion and developer of people and culture as a key enabler of strategic success. Today, she is a trusted partner for high-performance organizations around the world through her consulting firm, Connecting Potential.

With a background in leading culture development and experience working with diverse organizations, August knows what it takes to uncover, align, and activate the best of what organizations already are and what they want to develop into. She brings deep insight and appreciation for what it takes to influence change and the energy and discipline it takes to see it through.

August is a sought-after guide, facilitator, coach, and co-creator with a strong foundation of lifelong learning. She has a Bachelor of Adult Education, a Master of Arts in Leadership, and certification as an Organization and Relationships Systems (ORSC) and Brain-Based Coach.

Keynote Topic:

Built to Fly

Kellylee Evans speaks about her journey to recovery, sharing an inspirational message of self-care and finding your own superpowers. It’s a message that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever had their life interrupted by a setback they have worked to overcome.

Juno Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter | Motivational Speaker

Internationally acclaimed Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Kellylee Evans has been making waves around the world with her energy-charged performances. She shares her inspirational journey of recovery and showcases the importance of self-care and finding your superpower. Evans’ keynotes resonate with anyone who has ever had their life interrupted by an illness or a setback.

With multiple albums to her name and a gruelling touring schedule, Evans experienced a life-altering event in 2013 when she was struck by lightning while washing dishes in her home. For several months, she worked to regain her health, stamina, and balance; however, in 2015, she suffered a devastating concussion that left her unable to tour. For the next two years, this mother of three dedicated herself to recovery so she could get back to making and sharing her music.

In the summer of 2017, Evans triumphantly returned to the stage, and in 2018 her album Come On was nominated at the Juno Awards for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. In 2021, Evans released her long-awaited EP, Greenlight, to rave reviews.

When she’s not on tour, Evans takes the stage to share her story in hopes of inspiring others to find their superpower even in the face of adversity. Combining storytelling with music, she creates a memorable experience for all audiences.

Keynote Topic:

Moments that Matter: Leading Culture NOW

It’s said that “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste”. The global pandemic has unfrozen us from long held patterns of being, united us in a “remember when moment”, and created a uniquely sticky time which is valuable for shaping your culture — now. What are the things that you want to have stick for your organization? What are the most important ways of being you want to embed moving forward?

During this keynote:

• Get clear on why now and what it means to lead culture by design not default in a way that feels organic, not orchestrated.
• Discover why the best way to predict the future is to co-create it and how to make this happen.
• Take away the simplest actions that most powerfully signal and shape a new way forward.
• Experience the power of “mattering matters” and how it builds the human-to-human connective tissue essential to build cultures that matter.

Former Director, Culture Activation at WestJet

Visionary, purpose-driven leaders recognize that there is untapped potential in their organizations. When this potential is left unrealized, it can lead to misalignment between an organization’s brand promise (external experience) and culture (internal experience). Through her high-energy keynotes, Pam August helps leaders and their teams unlock this potential to see transformational results. She equips audiences with practical strategies to help activate potential, at home and work, for greater performance and impact.

August was the Director, Culture Activation at WestJet, where for 14 years she was a fierce champion and developer of people and culture as a key enabler of strategic success. Today, she is a trusted partner for high-performance organizations around the world through her consulting firm, Connecting Potential.

With a background in leading culture development and experience working with diverse organizations, August knows what it takes to uncover, align, and activate the best of what organizations already are and what they want to develop into. She brings deep insight and appreciation for what it takes to influence change and the energy and discipline it takes to see it through.

August is a sought-after guide, facilitator, coach, and co-creator with a strong foundation of lifelong learning. She has a Bachelor of Adult Education, a Master of Arts in Leadership, and certification as an Organization and Relationships Systems (ORSC) and Brain-Based Coach.

Keynote Topic:

RESILIENCE
To be interested in resilience, we must be interested in the relationship we have with our actions and past events. What if failure and bad luck did not exist? This is what Corneille tries to discover with the public during the conference.

Corneille’s Bio:

The inspiring speaker and singer with a soulful voice.

A French-speaking singer, he was born in Germany to Rwandan parents. Today, writer, singer-songwriter, director, genocide survivor and speaker, Corneille will charm you with lectures that inspire and motivate participants.

He discovered his passion for music in 1993 when he was introduced to songwriting and songwriting. However, his life will change after the Rwandan genocide of 1994 when Corneille witnessed the murder of his parents and siblings when he was 17 years old. Fleeing, he finds himself in Germany, where he remained before immigrating to Canada in 1997. Surviving these circumstances is difficult, but he survived and built a career as a singer-songwriter and now a lecturer. He learned from his parents the resilience and power of diversity, as well as the power of love. Being creative requires being daring, getting to the bottom of things and listening to yourself.

His survival, his hopes, his happiness, his dreams, his successes, his history, his roots are the secret of Corneille’s wisdom.

Keynote Topic:

RESILIENCE
To be interested in resilience, we must be interested in the relationship we have with our actions and past events. What if failure and bad luck did not exist? This is what Corneille tries to discover with the public during the conference.

Corneille’s Bio:

The inspiring speaker and singer with a soulful voice.

French-speaking singer, he was born in Germany to Rwandan parents. Today, writer, singer-songwriter, director, genocide survivor and speaker, Corneille will charm you with lectures that inspire and motivate participants.

He discovered his passion for music in 1993 when he was introduced to songwriting and songwriting. However, his life will change after the Rwandan genocide of 1994 when Corneille witnessed the murder of his parents and siblings when he was 17 years old. Fleeing, he finds himself in Germany, where he remained before immigrating to Canada in 1997. Surviving these circumstances is difficult, but he survived and built a career as a singer-songwriter and now a lecturer. He learned from his parents the resilience and power of diversity, as well as the power of love. Being creative requires being daring, getting to the bottom of things and listening to yourself.

His survival, his hopes, his happiness, his dreams, his successes, his history, his roots are the secret of Corneille’s wisdom.

Keynote Topic:

Employee Retention & Wellbeing: How To Recognize And Reverse Burnout To Build Trust, And Optimize Energy Levels

Burnout is costing companies more than ever before, and retention is at an all-time low. My mission is to increase the capacity of leaders and foster healthy workplace relationships. In this five step framework, I educate on healthy habits that unlock a deeper sense of belonging, create genuine relationships, lower absenteeism, and reduce health-spending costs. These tools support the mental and physical health of teams who work from home, from the office, or in a hybrid structure.

Attendees will learn:

• Expanded perspective on embracing change, recovering from setbacks, and finding the opportunities within challenges.
• How to recognize, overcome, and support team members in burnout.
• Strengthened commitment to the importance of self care.
• Develop strategies that integrate with the workplace to foster the development of emotional intelligence.
• Research-backed ways to ensure healthy boundaries, enhance company culture, connection, focus, and overall team wellness.

This engaging conversation enables teams to build trust, optimize their energy levels, enhance resilience to stress, and get them on the path to achieve success without spending exorbitant amounts of mental effort.

Mandy Gill is a health and wellness advocate who is passionate about connecting with organizations and individuals on a personal level to unlock productivity and engagement through incremental habit development practices. She has appeared more than 200 times on various television programs, including CTV News, has completed Harvard’s Leadership Program, and launched the Hooked On Habits Podcast featuring conversations with some of the world’s most successful individuals and businesses who continue to rise to the top, resiliently. As a business builder, national athlete, and having run 34 mile ultra marathons, Mandy knows first-hand what it takes to lead through and implement healthy habits to produce consistent and incremental improvement. Mandy’s experience and passion for delivering expert knowledge is transformative and leaves audiences motivated to take the next step in their health journey.