Generation Y and Diversity Issues BreakfastGeneration Y and Diversity Issues Breakfast
Friday, May 7 2010
Michelle Dagnino is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and holds a Master's degree in Political Science from York. She is a social entrepreneur, author, lawyer, consultant and speaker.
Michelle is a leading expert on youth engagement, organizational health and generational change. Michelle's insight into generational demographics allows her to keep ahead of trends as they begin with Gen Y and move upwards into the broader market. This expertise, coupled with Michelle's exciting style, is why clients continually retain her to flip the mindsets of senior leaders and develop new strategies for engagement.
Michelle is currently the Executive Director of The Critical Thinking Consortium. Since her teen years, Michelle has been an advocate for social reform. As a high school student, she founded ASPIRE, a community mentorship group that paired young women with community leaders to promote healthy self-esteem and provide exceptional role models. Since then, Michelle has worked tirelessly to promote youth activism, mentorship, empowerment, global awareness and leadership within Canada and around the world.
Her nationally recognized founder projects include Aspire; Where is the Love?, a national media literacy program using images and examples from hip hop and pop culture to teach engagement, global issues awareness and leadership; and YouthActivism.ca, a national portal of youth-led initiatives and opportunities.
Prom Night in Mississippi With Morgan Freeman
Monday, May 3 2010
Paul Saltzman is a two-time Emmy Award winning Toronto-based film and television producer-director known for over 300 productions.
In 1968-69 he was second-unit director and production manager of the first IMAX film, produced for the Osaka 1970 World's Fair. In the early ‘70s he produced a Leonard Cohen live concert tour, and in 1972 he produced and directed his first film, a half-hour documentary on Bo Diddley.
In 1973, Paul founded Sunrise Films Limited. He produced and directed the acclaimed documentary series Spread Your Wings. Seen in over 100 countries, the series explored creativity in young people, and the passing down of creative traditions from one generation to the next in different cultures. His work included producing, directing, writing, editing, cinematography and sound recording. In the following 10 years he produced 60 documentaries.
Turning to drama, he produced and directed the premier of HBO's Family Playhouse and a special for American Playhouse. In 1983, he co-created and began producing the family action-adventure television series Danger Bay. The hit, CBC-Disney Channel series ran for 6 years and 123 episodes. He also produced the TV series: My Secret Identity, Max Glick and Matrix.
Mr. Saltzman co-produced the feature film Map of the Human Heart, an international epic directed by Vincent Ward, starring John Cusack, Jason Scott Lee, Anne Parillaud, Patrick Bergin, and Jean Moreau. He also executive produced Martha, Ruth & Edie as well as Sam & Me, which received an Honorable Mention in competition for the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2000, Paul released a book of his photographs, The Beatles in Rishikesh, with Penguin-Putnam; and in 2006 self-published the deluxe Limited Edition box set, The Beatles in India. He has also optioned the film, video and related CD-rom rights to the Vatican Library.
Paul is a member of: Director's Guild of Canada; Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
Monday, May 3 2010
Prom Night in Mississippi is Producer Patricia Aquino's first film. She is co-owner, with Paul Saltzman, of Return to Mississippi Prods. Inc. She began her media career as a franchise owner of Black Isle Communications and in 2000 she joined Saltzman as V.P. of Operations and Administration for the The Beatles in India.
Aboriginal Youth Experience
Tuesday, May 4 2010
Cst. Richard D. Huculiak is the School Resource Officer; D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Officer; School threat & Risk Assessment Officer; Crime Prevention Officer and, Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program Coordinator at the Hobbema, Alberta RCMP Office. Cst. Huculiak is responsible for 9 First Nation Schools on the Four band (Samson, Ermineskin, Louis Bull & Montana) Cree Nations in Hobbema, AB. He is also responsible for the Administration, Operation, Financial and Public Relations of the successful Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program and the 965 registered Cadets and 65 registered Cadet Instructors. He assisted Sgt. Mark A. Linnel in starting the Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program on November 22, 2005. Cst. Huculiak was awarded the Alberta Solicitor General and Public Safety Crime Prevention Police officer of the Year Award in 2006 for his volunteer mentoring and youth in the D.A.R.E. Program and the successful Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program. Cst. Huculiak has volunteered over 13,000 hours to the successful Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program from 2005 to February 2010 to ensure the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of the Program.
Cst. Huculiak has completed 21 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge, Alberta with a Bachelor Degree in Sociology 1982; Diploma in Law Enforcement, Diploma in Business Administration & Certificate in General Studies from the Lethbridge Community College 1979; Diploma Associate in Criminology from Douglas College, New Westminster, BC 1980; Certificate in Justice Administration (Corrections) from Mount Royal College, Calgary, AB 1981; Diploma in Police Science from Montreal, Quebec 1993; Diploma in Counseling Skills from Montreal, Quebec 2002; Diploma in Supervisory Management from Toronto, Ontario 2005 and a Diploma in Drug & Alcohol Counseling form Toronto, Ontario 2008.
Gangs Are Not Child's Play
Wednesday, May 5 2010
Constable Garret Swihart is currently working as a Police officer in the Community and Youth Section for the City of Calgary, and has over 22 years of policing experience. Most of his career experience involved working on the streets, but for the past seven years his focus has primarily been helping youth steer clear of gangs, drugs and the Criminal Justice System. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to work with our youth and is currently a seven year member of Alberta Association of School Resource Officers (AASRO). Through years of hands-on experience and related training courses Constable Swihart is recognized as a subject matter expert on youth gangs here in Calgary.
In 2008, at Chicago Illinois, Constable Swihart was awarded the Frederic Milton Thrasher Award for Superior Service in Gang Prevention for K-12 Schools, from the National Gang Crime Research Center.
In 2009 Constable Swihart's endeavors in creating working partnerships with a variety of agencies that were helping youth at risk, earned him the Solicitor Generals Award in recognition for Crime Prevention in Alberta.
Constable Swihart's presentation is from first hand experience and based on the belief that by educating our youth to the realities of gangs, we empower them to make more positive decisions in their lives, and we recognize and encourage them to be part of the solution. Constable Swihart is part of the Calgary Police Service's proactive education and prevention team which provide support for youth and parents in building a safer community.
Cultural Diversity in K-12 Education
Thursday, May 6 2010
Hieu Van Ngo is pursuing doctoral studies in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. His dissertation focuses on criminal gang involvement of children of immigrants.
Ngo is grounded in solid life experience, education and professional practice. He spent three years in a refugee camp in Thailand and has experienced life as a first generation immigrant in Canada.
Ngo has been known as an advocate for immigrant children and youth. Through his involvement with the Coalition for Equal Access to Education, he has worked with stakeholders to promote quality, equitable education for learners of diverse backgrounds. His work has raised awareness about systemic barriers in our education system that disadvantage ethnocultural learners, and has offered practical solutions to effective multicultural education.
Ngo has generously contributed his time and expertise to various organizations in the community. He currently serves as the vice-chair of the Ethnocultural Council of Calgary, the vice-chair of the Centre for Newcomers, and as a member of the Arts and Culture Grant Committee of the Calgary Foundation. He is the past chair of All Nations Theatre.
Ngo has received a number of awards for his work, including the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Scholarship, and the Izaak Walton Killam Scholarship Award.
Immigrant and Refugee Experience
Friday, May 7 2010
A former child soldier, Michel Chikwanine has already endured and overcome unimaginable pain and struggles. His passion and belief in the possibility for change makes him a truly remarkable individual and humanitarian.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Michel grew up amid the terror of the Great War of Africa. He witnessed the torture of his father, who was singled out for his political beliefs, the rape of his mother and endured torture of his own. Much of Michel's childhood was ravaged by the death and decay of a war that claimed the lives of 3.8 million people, his father included.
Forced to leave his home as a refugee at the age of 11, Michel has since traveled to many African countries, witnessing firsthand the problems facing the developing world, but also the beauty of the communities and people who live there.
Today, Michel is an accomplished motivational speaker, addressing audiences across North America. He has spoken to over 100,000 people and was also on Oprah's O Ambassadors Roots of Action speaking tour, which largely reached students at resource-poor schools. Sharing his personal story, Michel has captured the attention of national media, including CBC, CTV and major daily newspapers as he inspires people to believe in their ability to create change.
Michel leaves audiences with a new perspective on life, a sense of hope through social responsibility and a desire for change.