Speakers

The Inclusion Project (TIP) is a social innovation network and resource hub for organizations, communities and institutions engaged in knowledge development and practice to further racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI). TIP operates a non-profit and full-service consultancy to support and strengthen intercultural competence through REDI audits, readiness assessment, coaching, mentoring, benchmarking and strategic action planning and framework development. Our theory of change is predicated on the need for innovative change in process, policy and practice.

Ruth is the Founder & CEO of The Inclusion Project. Ruth brings extensive lived experience and grounded expertise to her work in racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI). Her research and solutions design focus on an intersectional and inter-generational approach to address complex issues of race, decolonization and gender equity. She leads organizational EDI strategy development and coaching among multi-level stakeholders in public and private sectors, including finance, tech, non-profit, media, academia, among others. Ruth is indigenous to the Yoruba tribe from western Nigeria. She migrated to Canada in 2015 to pursue a master’s degree in intercultural & international communication at Royal Roads University. She also holds certificates in community organizing & leadership from Harvard University and community-based participatory research from the University of Victoria. She has contributed to and led many research projects, including the Community Social Planning Council’s Financial Inclusion in the Green Economy, and Simon Fraser University’s Equity in Public Engagement. She is a director on the national board of the Canadian International Council where she leads efforts on inclusive policy development, a director on the board of Excellence Canada, and she supports other regional boards, committees and advisories.

John Borrows is a world-renowned law professor at the University of Victoria. He's Anishinabe/Ojibway and a member of the Chippewa of the Nawash First Nation in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Borrows specializes in Indigenous legal rights and comparative constitutional law. He has written and spoken extensively on Indigenous legal rights and traditions, storytelling, treaties and land claims, and constitutional and environmental law. His publications include Recovering Canada: The Resurgence of Indigenous Law, Canada's Indigenous Constitution, and Drawing Out Law: A Spirit's Guide. Dr. Borrows is widely recognized as an authority in the field of Indigenous law, and has received many honors and awards for his work with and for Indigenous peoples in many countries. Dr. Borrows is a recipient an Aboriginal Achievement Award in Law and Justice, a Fellow of the Trudeau Foundation, and a Fellow of the Academy of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (RSC), Canada's highest academic honor, and a 2012 recipient of the Indigenous Peoples Counsel from the Indigenous Bar Association, for honor and integrity in service to Indigenous communities.

Laurie Weston Bellman is an experienced geophysicist who started her career with Shell Canada in Calgary, doing seismic processing and interpretation in the central plains area of Alberta. Thereafter, she worked for LASMO plc in London, and then got back to Calgary and took a consulting contract with Nexen Canada Inc., where her main professional interest migrated to the Canadian oil sands.

After this stint, Laurie starting her own consulting company in 2007 called Oil Sands Imaging, which was later re-branded as Sound QI and sold to Canadian Discovery in 2012. At present Laurie is President of Sound QI Solutions Ltd., Calgary, offering quantitative interpretation software and services for integrated reservoir characterization.

Laurie was the 2017 CSEG Distinguished Lecturer, and is also the recipient of the 2017 CSEG Honorary Membership Award for her many technical contributions to geophysics.

Deyanira will  present some work she did in a community in Mexico and a model she came up with.  Brian is a great storyteller and will present their 26 month motorcycle trip.

Missing interaction during Wednesday meetings? Your S&S Committee has arranged to have some “Chat” sessions in place of a speaker, about every month, well, with you. Table Chats will see us broken into random tables (rooms) of 6. Each table will have an S&S facilitator introducing important topics like “what’s the worst job you’ve ever had?”.  Or “What was fun about where I grew up??  The idea is getting to know each other a little better while having 10 minutes of fun during the meeting. 

This meeting will take place Tuesday evening and replaces the regular Wednesday meeting June 23rd.

This meeting replaced by evening meeting June 22nd.

Pat Johnson, past international president of Toastmasters, is the owner of Pat Johnson & Associates, where she coaches leaders to help them find their greatest versions of their authentic selves. She works to help individuals overcome their self limitations and to aspire to more in life. She is also an affiliate and mentor coach at Accomplishment Coaching.

Providing members with more opportunities for personal and professional growth is at the core of the newly formed Rotary/Toastmasters strategic alliance. There is much excitement to leverage unique and similar strengths and meet the evolving needs of current and prospective members. Get behind the efforts to establish fellowship and connections, and potentially strengthen your clubs and diversify membership!

Missing interaction during Wednesday meetings? Your S&S Committee has arranged to have some “Chat” sessions in place of a speaker, about every month, well, with you. Table Chats will see us broken into random tables (rooms) of 6. Each table will have an S&S facilitator introducing important topics like “what’s the worst job you’ve ever had?”.  Or “What was fun about where I grew up??  The idea is getting to know each other a little better while having 10 minutes of fun during the meeting. 

Missing interaction during Wednesday meetings? Your S&S Committee has arranged to have some “Chat” sessions in place of a speaker, about every month, well, with you. Table Chats will see us broken into random tables (rooms) of 6. Each table will have an S&S facilitator introducing important topics like “what’s the worst job you’ve ever had?”.  Or “What was fun about where I grew up??  The idea is getting to know each other a little better while having 10 minutes of fun during the meeting. 

Missing interaction during Wednesday meetings? Your S&S Committee has arranged to have some “Chat” sessions in place of a speaker, about every month, well, with you. Table Chats will see us broken into random tables (rooms) of 6. Each table will have an S&S facilitator introducing important topics like “what’s the worst job you’ve ever had?”.  Or “What was fun about where I grew up??  The idea is getting to know each other a little better while having 10 minutes of fun during the meeting.