Executive Director, MCC Alberta

Abe is the Executive Director of MCC Alberta (Mennonite Central Committee). Learn about MCC's AIDS related projects at http://mcc.org/aids/.

President of Darfur Association of Canada/Calgary

Adam was born and brought up in Darfur, Sudan and all his family members and relatives remain in Darfur. He is involved in a number of advocacy organizations that work to stop the genocide in Darfur. Adam is a Coordinator for Employment Services, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.

Adam Goehner joined the Pembina Institute in May 2011 after more than 5 years as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. He has experience in both field and office environments and has worked in a variety of properties including EOR and gas operations. At Pembina, Adam works with a wide range of companies to help them develop more sustainable business practices. Adam has conducted research and work in the areas of groundwater contamination/remediation, environmental hydraulics, waste water and drinking water treatment. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (environmental option) from the University of British Columbia.

Organic Grain and Cattle Farmer

Allan Graff is a Biological Certified Organic grain and cattle farmer of 28 years. He helped found the Biological Food Producers Association in 1984. This is a producers group which offers organic certification to members. He was President of the Canadian Organic Advisory Board, which developed the first National Standard of Canada for Organic Agriculture in 1996. In Alberta he has been involved in the first Organic committees with the Alberta Government 1991 to today.

These young Nigerian-Canadian women from Calgary represent their homeland of Nigeria in the form of rhythmic and artistic dance expression. Members of the group are Olawumi Adeniyi, Chisom Chiwetelu. Tomiwa Mosuro, Amy Umeh, Amanda Okafor, and Kemmy Nwankpa. The name Amara Ijo means "(divine) grace of dance", and is derived from both the Igbo and Yoruba languages of Nigeria. The group has appeared at Afrikadey, Globalfest, Heritage Day, and the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary Gala Nite. "Although we are Canadians, we are also proud Nigerians . Our objective is to keep our culture alive in Canada by constructing creative styles of dance and performance as a means of displaying the splendor and allure of Nigeria."

Board of Directors, Linguana Foundation and Sudanese Women for Change

Ameera was born in Western Darfur. She has been an activist within the Darfuris of Canada since her arrival in 2000. She co-founded the Darfur Diaspora Association and works to raise awareness of the Darfur situation in the international community.

Journalist, Author

For 20 years, Andrew Nikiforuk has written extensively about education, economics and the environment, in numerous newspapers and magazines. His books include Fourth Horseman and Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig's War Against Big Oil, which won the Governor-General's award. Andrew lives in Marda Loop.

In 2008, Angelita Gascon Marallag, 40 yrs. of age came to Canada under the Live-in Caregiver program hoping for greener pastures. It is also her aspiration to be able to help her family back in the Philippines. With some assistance from her sister, who is a permanent resident of Canada, Angelita was able to secure employment immediately after completing Caregiver training. Experiencing deskilling and downward labour mobility along with separation from her family has been a challenge. Angelita worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Philippine Department of Education for 20 years, a job she cherished before coming to Canada. Today she awaits the arrival of her husband and son.

International Peace Research Association

Coordinator the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) biennial conference held in Calgary this past summer.

Founder of the University of Alberta Chapter of Dignitas International

Anne is currently a third-year medical student working in Peace River and last year founded the University of Alberta student chapter of Dignitas International - an organization founded by Dr. Orbinski. She has worked with a non-government organization in Cameroon, and Zambia to develop community-based integrated approaches to HIV/TB & primary care. Over the past summer, she worked with the World Health Organization on a campaign against gender-based violence.

Associate Professor, Director, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program, University of Calgary.

Anne Hughson, PhD. (Charter Psychologist, Alberta), Associate Professor, Director, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program, University of Calgary.

Dr. Hughson teaches disability related courses in program evaluation & consultation, counseling, leadership, disability studies, inclusion, social policy & advocacy, violence & abuse, and community based research approaches. Anne also facilitates Summer Institutes on Inclusive Education, in partnership with Alberta Association for Community Living.

Associate Professor of Development Studies, Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary

Dr. Parmar's expertise includes gender and development, development studies, South Asia, immigrant women in Canada and ancient Indian political thought. Dr. Parmar is a recognized scholar, with numerous publications - book, articles, reports to her credit. She is also the past-president of India-Canada Association of Calgary and Calgary Immigrant Women's Association and Canadian Association for the Study of International Development.

Executive Director of Dafurian Congress of Canada

The Darfurian Congress of Canada, was created by local Darfuris whose mission is to protect people at risk in Darfur and Sudan while seeking justice and accountability for violations against them. In her role Barbara applies her knowledge of the issues of genocide and human rights violations and ensures the information from her weekly communications with Darfuris in the IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps throughout Sudan and Chad reaches as wide an audience as possible.

Faculty of Communications and Culture, University of Calgary

Barry Robinson, Calgary staff lawyer for Ecojustice (formerly the Sierra Legal Defence Fund), sees interesting parallels between the subject matter of Waterlife and the impacts of oil sands development on the Athabasca River in Alberta.

Barry has represented clients and worked to enhance environmental laws dealing with leaking oil sands tailings ponds, impacts on landowners from oil and gas activities, and water allocation and licensing. Barry has a Bachelors in Forestry, Masters in Environmental Studies and a law degree from the University of Victoria.

Bijan was born in Iran and studied at the National University in Tehran. As a student he was actively engaged in political discussions. Bijan has played traditional Persian music for the past 25 years and was an active member of cultural and musical groups. This allowed him to have a profound insight into the social movements in Iran. Bijan has lived in Canada since 2006 and is an active member of the Iranian Cultural group.

President of Friends of the Congo Canada

Bodia Bavuidi is President of Friends of the Congo Canada. She was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo where she spent most of her early life. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include examining various aspects of subjectivity in contemporary francophone literature of black diaspora. She has authored articles and presented communications on Congolese women, gendered resistance, identity politics, myths and symbols, as well as narratologic analysis in postcolonial narratives. As well Bodia is a member of the International Solidarity Committee of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario Division.

WATER Coordinator, CITIZENShift, National Film Board of Canada

http://citizen.nfb.ca/

Calgary Health Region's Grief Support Program

Brian is a Grief Counselor with the Calgary Health Region's Grief Support Program. As part of this position, he has been the facilitator of the Homicide Grief Support Program since its inception in 2005.

Alderman Ward 11, City of Calgary

Brian's community involvement has been primarily focused at the policy level around finding ways to ensure that our communities are thriving and healthy for everyone. He serves on various City of Calgary committees, including Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Environment, Calgary Housing Company, Nose Creek Watershed Partnership and is actively involved in moving the ImagineCalgary initiative forward.

(name and bio withheld)

Involved in the making of documentary film "Maquilopolis". Carmen, from Tijuana, Mexico, is a maquiladora (factory) worker struggling to bring about positive change

Charles Mukasi is a consultant, researcher, and lecturer in “Communication fighting against racism and genocide”. For 10 years he was in radio broadcasting Burundi where he created his own newspapers and later operated online to escape censorship. As a reporter working in cooperation international programs such as Radio Canada in 1985 and RTBF (Belgium) in 1989 he covered Congolese stories. He was jailed several times before fleeing the region in 2005. Charles also served as an elected member of the Burundian Parliament in 1993 and later resigned in 1998 to protest impunity for perpetrators of genocide and racism. Charles graduated in 1979 from Leuven Catholic University in Belgium majoring in French literature and Roman Philology.

Cher Ewing is the mother of Kristen Paige Deyell, a Mount Royal College student, who was gunned down outside a nightclub while on a student exchange program, in Guadalajara Mexico, April 23rd, 2004. She is also a part time volunteer for the Calgary Health Region - Homicide Grief Support Group.

CivicCamp

Chris Turner is the author of the national bestseller The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need, which was named one of the Globe & Mail's Best Books of 2007 He is also the author of the international bestseller Planet Simpson: How A Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation (2004). His narrated visual tour of The Geography of Hope has captivated audiences across Canada, ranging from Environmental Defence summits to Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers galas. He writes regularly on pop culture and sustainability for The Globe & Mail and contributes a column to Worldchanging.com. He is currently at work on a new book on the global shift to sustainable living.

Clint Mooney is an ordained minister of The United Church of Canada, ministering at St. Matthew's U.C. Clint has for many years worked with interchurch organizations on various justice concerns, work that is now encompassed under KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. Clint chairs the Calgary committee of Kairos. In that connection he has been involved with Corporate Responsibility issues, seeking to engage, for example, with Talisman over operations in Sudan and Peru, with TVI Pacific over mining in the Philippines, with the government's Roundtable process on accountability structures for Canadian corporations active in resource extraction.

Senior Advisor - Conservation Projects

Dave is a consultant on environmental strategies to environmental organizations and businesses looking to improve their environmental performance. He has a special interest in fostering cross-sectoral collaborations. Dave has been working for Y2Y (Yellowstone to Yukon) on issues in the central and southern parts of the Canadian Rockies since 2009.

Dave served as Executive Director of the Calgary/Banff (now Southern Alberta) Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society from 2000 to 2008, and Conservation Director of that organization from 1999 to 2000. During that time he played a leadership role in several successful conservation campaigns and in the organizational development of CPAWS at both the chapter and national level.

Prior to joining CPAWS Dave practiced law in Calgary for 11 years. He holds a B.A. and M.A., in political science from the University of Calgary, and LL.B. from Dalhousie University. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Law Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

MLA Calgary Currie

Local MLA for Calgary-Currie, deputy leader of the Alberta Liberals, and previously a long-time broadcaster and journalist

Dept of History & Classics, University of Alberta

David is the Director of the Stasiuk Program on Contemporary Ukraine at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta. He is author of twelve single-authored books and two edited books on topics ranging from 20th Century Russia, Stalinism, contemporary Belarus and the Chernobyl disaster. At the University of Alberta, he received a McCalla Professorship in 1998, the Faculty of Arts Prize to Full Professors for Excellence in Research in 1999, the J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research in 2003, a Killam Annual Professorship in 2005-06, and the University Cup in 2008.

Director of Operations for Inn from the Cold Society

David W. Lewry is Director of Operations for Inn from the Cold Society, which provides shelter and hope for Calgary's homeless families. David, who has a diploma in social work, has been a part of Inn from the Cold since shortly after its conception and beginning 12 years ago.

Public Affairs Coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross

Dena Allen is the Public Affairs Coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross. As part of her community outreach, she talks to people about the Red Cross Malaria Bites program to help prevent the spread of the disease and how Canadians can get involved. Dena has also travelled and worked in malaria-endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa and has seen first-hand how the disease can ravage human potential.

http://www.malariabites.net

Volunteer - Christian Peacemaker Teams Palestine (CPT cpt.org)

Diane Janzen has had a team of trained nonviolent conflict intervention volunteers in Palestine since 1995 at the invitation of local Palestinian communities. Diane served full-time from March 2003 to June 2006 in Hebron and the South Hebron Hills village At-Tuwani, and as a part-time volunteer since then, including summer 2010. While serving with CPT; accompanying civilians, documenting human rights abuses, and supporting the work of Israeli and Palestinian peace makers, Diane has had the opportunity of meeting and working many individuals committed to working for peace in the region. She is also a nonviolent conflict intervention trainer through Nonviolent Peaceforce's North American program.

Youth Program Coordinator - CIWA

Didem Erman is the Youth Program Coordinator for Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. Her role includes counseling girls from various backgrounds through expressive arts therapy. In her career she received the Tulip Award from the Calgary Womens Emergency Shelter for her efforts to stop gender based domestic violence, the “Who am I makes a Difference” award nominated by her student, and an award from the City of Calgary for her self-esteem and resiliency group.

President of the Calgary-Cambodian Association

Dom was born in Cambodia and arrived from Cambodia as a refugee. He spent years in camps, held by the government of Cambodia. These camps were similar to the camps discussed in the film.

Founder of Integrity Bridges Inc.

Donna Kennedy-Glans is a lawyer and businesswoman, with 25 years of practical experience guiding organizations in their management of integrity dilemmas, at head office and on the ground in 30+ jurisdictions. She was the first female vice-president of Nexen Inc. and was responsible for managing that company’s relationships with host governments and host communities across the globe. Donna is the

• Founder & Executive Director, Bridges Social Development, Canada (www.canadabridges.com)
• Principal, Integrity Bridges Inc. (www.integritybridges.com)
• Lead Author, Corporate Integrity: A Toolkit for Managing beyond Compliance (Wiley 2005)
• Author, Unveiling the Breath: One woman’s journey into understanding Islam and gender equality (2009)

Honorable Douglas Roche, O.C.

The Honorable Douglas Roche, O.C., is an author, parliamentarian and diplomat, who has specialized throughout his 35-year public career in peace and human security issues. He lectures widely on peace and nuclear disarmament themes.

Mr. Roche was a Senator, Member of Parliament, Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament, and Visiting Professor at the University of Alberta. He was elected Chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Committee at the 43rd General Assembly in 1988.

In 2005, he was given Lifetime Achievement awards from both the Canadian Pugwash Group and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians for his "promotion of human welfare, human rights and parliamentary democracy in Canada and abroad." He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

For a detailed biography please visit roche.apirg.org

Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary

Dr. Nieman has been practicing as a specialist with children for more than twenty years and has been a pediatrician in Alberta since 1987. He currently serves on the Canadian Pediatric Society's Healthy Active Living Committee. Previously Dr. Nieman served on the Canadian Pediatric Society's Psychosocial Committee which explored the beneficial and harmful effects of media on children's mental and physical health, and to identify how physicians can counsel families to promote the healthy use of the media in their homes and communities.

Dr. Nieman teaches as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary and is a regular medical contributor to newspapers and radio and television broadcasts. "He hosts a website www.healthykids.ca which is a resource for parents who want to raise healthy kids". In addition to his medical experience, he is also a parent who recognizes the challenges of raising healthy children.

Associate professor from Al-Azhar University in Daqahliya, Egypt

Bedeir is an associate professor from Al-Azhar University in Daqahliya, Egypt, the oldest Islamic University in the world. In Calgary, he teaches and serves as a Muslim Chaplain at both Mount Royal College and the University of Calgary, and is the Imam at the Calgary Islamic Centre. In 2004, Dr. Bedeir was the J. William Fullbright Scholar teaching about Islam at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

Senior Financial Analyst - World Vision Canada

Edgardo G. Gonzales became a sponsored child in the Philippines the early '70s - an experience that showed him what love, caring and sharing is all about. Edgar and his wife live in Toronto and have been married for 23 years. They have three children. Actively involved in the Filipino Community in the Greater Toronto Area, Edgar and seven other World Vision staff of Filipino descent are working together to promote child sponsorship in their homeland and to positively impact the lives of hundreds of impoverished children.

Founder of A.B.C. (Apiaries and Bees for Communities)

Eliese and A.B.C. develop sustainable communities of urban beekeepers throughout Calgary.

A.B.C began in January 2010 after Eliese attended the Impact! Youth for Sustainability Conference in the fall of 2009. It was there that she was inspired to follow her goal of creating accessible educational programming for individuals interested in learning more about honeybees and native bees. ABC brings small scale, hobby apiculture to the city through beekeeping courses, workshops and services. It supports conventional and Top-Bar Hive management practices.

Public Engagement Director with CAUSE Canada

Wilkins has been involved in International Development Work for the past 5 years. Having lived in Sierra Leone, India and traveled extensively around the world, Erin can speak to some of the realities of the developing world and provide insight into the opportunities development projects can create for communities.

CivicCamp

Judge at the Appeal Court in Kigali, Rwanda

Florentine Ngarambe served as a judge at the Appeal Court in Kigali, Rwanda from 2000 to 2004 and heard a number of genocide cases. She also trained the trainers of the Gacaca judges. Gacaca judges were Rwandese non-jurists selected by the population and asked to judge genocide criminals other than those with first degree charges. Flo also served at the High Court of Rwanda from 2004 to 2008. After completing her law degree at the University of Butare, Rwanda in 1996 she worked in the Justice Department and with Lawyers without Borders prior to becoming a judge.

Frank McShane recently joined Talisman Energy as Manager of Corporate Responsibility Policy and Ethics. He is responsible for Talisman's Policy on Business Conduct and Ethics, global corporate responsibility and ethics policies, and practices. Frank worked in exploration drilling, completed an M.Sc. in Environmental Resource Management, taught in Fiji and consulted for projects receiving overseas aid in the Pacific islands. He also completed a doctorate at McGill University, on impacts of minerals development, and then joined the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London, where he worked on sustainable development issues in the mining industry. In 2002 Frank joined EnCana where his work extended from international community relations to environmental policy, ethics, and best practices.

Alberta Progressive Conservative Party

Gary McPherson, Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, and former chair of the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities will introduce Emmanuel's Gift (Sunday 2:00 pm). Gary is a a quadripalegic since a childhood bout with polio.

Sgt. with Calgary Police Service

Sgt. Gavin Walker has been with the Calgary Police Service since 1990. He is a former member and supervisor of the Gang Enforcement Team and is currently attached to the Organized Crime Section. Check out www.getalife.ca a website associated with the Calgary Police Service addressing the issue of gangs.

Analyst within the Pembina Institute's Corporate Consulting Group

The Pembina Institute is an environmental non-governmental organization that advances sustainable energy solutions through innovative research, education, consulting and advocacy. The Corporate Consulting Group helps corporations integrate sustainability concepts into their operations. One of Greg's primary roles is to provide training in Life-cycle Value Assessment, which is a decision-making methodology that accounts for the potential triple bottom line (ecological, social, and financial) impacts of various project options over their complete life cycles.

General Surgeon

Dr. Gwen Hollaar has a Master of Public Health degree in international health. Dr Hollaar works with the University of Calgary, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Health Sciences, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and the Ministry of Health Lao PDR. She has been to Lao PDR several times in the last 8 years, working in the areas of medical education and public health.

Amnesty International

Heather is a long-time human rights advocate and supporter of the International Criminal Court. With Amnesty International, she petitioned for the court to be established and for mass rape to be included as a crime of genocide. Heather is also Director of Research and Programs for the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership. At the Foundation's 2004 symposium on Canadian Values in the World Community, Canada's leadership role in establishing the International Criminal Court was recognized.

James Nguen is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who is living in Calgary and attending the University of Calgary. He is the founder of the Biluany Literacy and Water Project, cofounder of the "Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan Association of Calgary" and a subject of the Award Winning documentary "The Long Journey Home of James Nguen."

James came to Canada as a refugee on September, 2001, fifteen years after he was forced to leave Sudan at the age of seven. James was orphaned by war and lived alone for twenty years without knowing whether any of his family was alive. In 2005, he learned that his mother was alive and reconnected with her. James works tirelessly helping others by advocating for the Sudanese refugee population in Calgary, and at home.

Jamie McIntosh, an advocate for children at risk, leads International Justice Mission Canada. IJM Canada staff and volunteers have participated in rescue operations of children from forced prostitution and families from bonded slavery. Following studies Christian ministry and leadership, Jamie is now reading for his Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

Based on referrals of abuse received from relief and development organizations, IJM conducts professional investigations of the abuses and mobilizes intervention on behalf of the victims. A multi-national team of law enforcement professionals and legal staff conduct criminal investigations and collect evidence to rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice. IJM was founded by Gary Haugen who served as the Officer in Charge of the U.N. investigation into the Rwandan genocide.

Board of Directors - Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan (CWAfghan)

Janis Rapchuk has been a member of CWAfghan since 2004. She is on the Board of Directors and on the Project CommittW4ee. Janis is a librarian by profession and first became interested in helping to rebuild libraries in Afghanistan. She has been a number of times to Afghanistan to visit the schools, libraries, and women’s cooperatives that are funded by CW4WAfghan.

Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse is an international Christian relief organization. SP with Canadian headquarters in Calgary, builds, installs and maintains Bio Sand Water Filters. To date about 70,000 have been built and installed around the world with plans to partner with Canadian donors for another 65,000 filters during the next three years.

www.samaritanspurse.ca

Host of the Calgary Eyeopener on CBC Radio

Jim Brown hosts a weekday morning show on CBC Radio One in Calgary Alberta. He was also the co-director of the film Radiant City.

Several Caregivers or former Caregivers one of whom is Josie Madayag Calub, a public school teacher from the Philippines arrived in Canada to work as a Live-in Caregiver in 2007. Prior to coming to Canada, Josie worked as a Domestic helper in Hong-Kong for 2 years leaving behind a husband and 3 children. It was in Hong-Kong that Josie decided to come to Canada to provide a better future for her children. November 2011, Josie’s family finally joined her in Canada after 4 years of being separated from each other. Today, Josie works as a pre-school teacher in Calgary.

Pembina Institute's Corporate Consulting Group

Prior to joining the Pembina team, Kasia worked as an analyst in banking and the energy sector. She has also worked internationally, most recently in Santiago, Chile for the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Purses and Projects for African Grandmothers

Kate is associated with "Purses and Projects for African Grandmothers" in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

www.stephenlewisfoundation.org

Graduate Student at the University of Calgary

Kathleen McWilliams' field of research is focused on the political participation of rural women in Rajasthan, India. A 3-year study on rural women and water management in rural Rajasthan included traditional methods of water harvesting, and women’s self-help groups. Together with Dr. Aradhana Parmar, and fellow students, she founded Aasha Society which empowers rural, often impoverished women. The women decide for themselves how to improve their lives in the harsh environmental conditions of Rajasthan.

Kelly Sundberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at Mount Royal University and former investigator with the Canada Border Services Agency. Kelly's research primarily focuses on issues of border and national security, terrorism, human trafficking, and youth gang violence. During his time with the Government of Canada, Kelly has travelled throughout Africa and other developing regions of the world to meet and consult with their local criminal justice organizations. He holds a Bachelors in Political Science, Masters in Justice and Public Safety Leadership from Royal Roads University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Criminology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Kevin Littlelight is the Tsuu T'ina Nation Administrator. Tsuu T'ina, which means "a great number of people, is described by Kevin as a hardworking and extremely resourceful nation in transition. Kevin is also a filmmaker whose "Freudian" short, "Samurai Kid" opened the program at The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmaker's imagineNATIVE event this past July.

Kevin Strange has worked in the fields of biology and natural history for twenty five years as a guide, naturalist, educator and conservationist. currently, his role is Head of Conservation Outreach at the Calgary Zoo after spending many years managing a variety of conservation, education and communications functions at that organization. In his most recent role, Kevin supports, funds, and promotes conservation and community development projects locally and in several countries around the world. As an educator, Kevin was responsible for a national and international award winning natural history education enterprise which created three ground breaking programs for both children and adult learners alike. More recently, the Calgary Zoo’s flagship Conservation Outreach initiative, the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary in Ghana, West Africa, garnered a United Nations Equator Prize as a global leader in poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation.

Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS)

Alongside serving as Executive Director of CAEFS in Ottawa Kim also serves as part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. Kim is a lawyer and teacher by training and is currently completing post graduate work in the area of forensic mental health. CAEFS is a federation of autonomous societies which work with, and on behalf of, marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized women and girls throughout Canada. Kim has also worked with youth and men during her 26 years of working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada.

Freelance writer and reporter

Kyle is a freelance writer and reporter for a variety of media outlets, including CBC radio and television. He began his journalistic career in England, where he worked for the BBC. He's been back in Canada for just over a year and continues to work in all three media - concentrating chiefly on human rights issues.

Calgary Catholic Immigration Services

A Sudanese-Canadian and Family Support Counsellor with Calgary Catholic Immigration Services

Laura Lagendyk has volunteered in Guatamala at Project Ix-Canaan in El Remate. Ix-canaan" means "Guardians of the Rainforest" and the idea behind Project Ix-canaan is to support the people, through Health, Education and Opportunity, to become truly the Guardians of the Rainforest. A project of interest is encouraging local people to gather and use local seeds. Laura works within the Department of Knowledge Management in Alberta Health Services where she works helping people make better use of evidence in their practice - learning as we go, sharing what we know.

Community Representative Volunteers for AboutFace

Leanne Popko and Hailey Pinksen are Volunteers for AboutFace in Calgary and Lethbridge respectively. AboutFace, (aboutface.ca), provides information, education and emotional support to individuals who have been born with or have acquired a facial difference, and their families. Hailey became involved with AboutFace following the birth of her son, Davis. From an ultrasound, she was informed that Davis had a cleft lip and palate. Knowing nothing about this condition or any facial difference, it left her feeling alone, shocked and scared. AboutFace provided support & resources. Leanne became involved with About Face following the birth of her second daughter who was born with a facial difference. Leanne connects families through AboutFace Tea Time gatherings committed to being a catalyst that inspires society to look beyond facial differences and to being a catalyst that inspires society to look beyond facial differences.

Literacy educator at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA)

Liette Wilson is a literacy educator at CIWA and freelance translator who has been actively involved with various organizations in Haiti since 1995. Having lived in Haiti for 2 ½ years and having led regular volunteer trips to the country, Liette has first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing the Caribbean nation, particularly in light of the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Liette is also a board member of Hands Across the Sea Haiti, a charitable organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Haiti. Founded and directed by Liette’s mother, Karen Huxter, Hands Across the Sea has a home for orphaned children, a school serving children from preschool to grade 9 and a community outreach program. Liette has four amazing children; the eldest two are Haitian-Canadian and joined Liette’s family through adoption.

Hands Across the Sea – www.hatshaiti.org

Professor Emeritus at Mount Royal College

Mahfooz Kanwar, Ph.D. is a specialist in criminology and sociology and Professor Emeritus at Mount Royal College. Dr. Kanwar continues to teach part time at the College and has frequently won Excellence In Teaching Awards. He is currently conducting a research project in Criminal Youth Gangs in Canada. Dr. Kanwar is a frequent contributor to radio, television and print media.

co-founder of INSPIRE!africa

Margaret McQuiston is the co-founder of INSPIRE!africa, a Canadian foundation supporting widows and orphans of the genocide in Rwanda. In the 2 years since INSPIRE!africa started they have raised over $100,000 and this summer they took a group of 8 volunteers to Rwanda to teach English to young adult orphans of the genocide and tour other projects they are supporting in Rwanda. Margaret has a background in community development and currently works at the National Energy Board where she advises on socio-economic and Aboriginal matters.

Maria Andrea de Luna is co-owner and Immigration Consultant for AIMS Human Resources and Immigration Inc. She had several years of experience as an immigration paralegal for various firms before obtaining her own license. She is a certified member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). Maria handles permanent resident applications, Provincial Nominee applications, all types of family class sponsorships, work permits, study permits and investor and business applications.

Director of the Bow River Basin Council

The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) is a multi-stakeholder, charitable organization dedicated to conducting activities for the improvement and protection of the waters of the Bow River Basin, considering: riparian zones, aquatic ecosystems, quality and quantity of water, and effects of land use on surface and groundwater. Mark has served as the Director for the past 8 years. Previously Mark worked in Emergency Management, never very far from concerns involving water. Either too little - as in the 1989 Manitoba forest fires emergency; or too much - as in the 1993 summer flooding, the 1996 flood and the Flood of the Century in 1997 on the Red River.

Environmental Coordinator at Shell Canada Energy

Marlow has worked on many International projects and did his master research in Latin America focusing on the energy needs of Caribbean Islands and their dependency on imported oil. He currently works as an Environmental advisor for Shell in the Oilsands Division. When he is not working he is actively involved in Alternate energy development on his acreage near Sundre, Alberta. Marlow has developed micro projects in Solar Energy (both Photovoltaic and thermal) and Bio fuels research in Bio diesel development. He is a keen advocate in conservation and energy efficiency and is a member of the International Solar Society local chapter in Calgary.

Member, Citizens Advocating the Use of Sustainable Energy (CAUSE)

CAUSE is a Calgary-based grassroots movement opposing plans for nuclear development in Alberta with the goal of informing the public about the safety, environmental, health and economic risks of nuclear power. Mary is a retired high school English teacher. She has extensive practice in facilitating dialogue and believes that important issues are only better understood by engaging in that process.

Dr. Maureen Hiebert is an Assistant Professor in the Law and Society Program at the University of Calgary and a faculty member with the Genocide and Human Rights University Program in Toronto. Her PhD dissertation was on the origins of genocide.

She is working on a book-length project examining how perpetrators of genocide use the law as a weapon to carry out their crimes. Dr. Hiebert previously taught comparative genocide at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hiebert's publications include work on the Holocaust, Cambodian genocide, and genocide in Chile. Her current research deals with the question of whether war crimes trials effectively prevent future atrocities.

Merv Chia has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for the past 9 years and is currently serving as Council President for the region. He is the President of NEX Industries Ltd, an investment company. He has always been an active volunteer in community organizations with a keen interest in international development. Merv returned from a month in Liberia on a Red Cross mission in June 2008.

Michael, a resident of Marda Loop, co-founded a community gardening co-operative in Windsor, ON and is working with others on a similar project here in Calgary. Michael's passion for these projects stems from his concern for social justice. He is currently completing a Master's degree in Communication and Social Justice and plans to continue his pursuits through PhD studies on community level food co-operatives.

Director and a Founder of Ghost River Rediscovery

Michael, a Mohawk from Six Nations has over 25 years of experience in outdoor education, leadership, community development and is a senior instructor for the Rediscovery International Trainings. With a background in the military, Michael's work has included counseling, corrections, treatment foster care, and outdoor leadership development. He is a wilderness first aid instructor, cultural educator for the City of Calgary Police and facilitator of Aboriginal awareness for many corporations in Calgary, communities in Canada and around the world. Michael brings a unique combination of rigorous professionalism, leadership experience and grounding in traditional cultural teachings.

Account Manager - Me to We [Responsible Style]

Me to We is a social enterprise committed to providing ethically manufactured, quality apparel to consumers and leading socially-responsible companies. Their product line is ethically manufactured in Canada, sweatshop-free and made using certified organic cotton and bamboo fibres. One half of profit goes directly to our partner organization, Free The Children, to develop youth leaders in Canada and implement sustainable community projects around the world; to date 450 schools have been built, which over 40,000 children attend daily! Free The Children has received three Nobel Peace prize nominations and is partnered with both the United Nations and Oprah's Angel Network.

Me to We [Responsible Style]

Educational technology specialist for Innovative Learning Services at the Calgary Board of Education (CBE).

Michelle helped spearhead the Many Faces of Poverty and Homelessness project (www.thehomeless.ca), which encourages global dialogue on issues of poverty and homelessness. Participation in this project is open to schools, students and teachers all over the world.

The spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Tikvah

Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman is the spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Tikvah, Calgary's Reform Jewish congregation. He has served in that position since 2002. Prior to that, he was a rabbi in Chicago, and prior to attending rabbinical school, Rabbi Howard was an attorney for eight years. Rabbi Howard is an active participant in Calgary's interfaith community, and hopes that these sorts of programs will increase our understanding of each other and bring more hope to the world. Rabbi Howard and his life partner, Annie, enjoy three beautiful children, Emilie, Judah, and Adira.

Rebecca Adenekan practised law in Nigeria and volunteered at the Kirikiri maximum security prison in Lagos where she supported incarcerated women. She also worked with ex-offenders in England, helping people released reintegrate back into society. Now a Calgary resident, she works with The Elizabeth Fry Society as the Legal Ease specialist and is working on qualifying exams to enable her to practise Law in Alberta.

Co-founder of Riva

Riva Mackie, and her husband Andrew are the founders of Riva. Having both grown up in the Calgary area, the couple hopes to play a part in bringing about positive change in the city they call home. Riva became a Natural Health and Alternative Living enthusiast after health problems led her to question many truths of our modern world. She is currently a practitioner of Structural Integration and a Co-Chapter leader of the Calgary division of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a group dedicated to the study and practice of traditional health and nutrition.

Roberta Lexier is an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Education at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Her research examines the history of social movements as well as contemporary examples of social activism. One issue of importance in her work relates to the use of particular tactics by various social movements and the value and limits of civil disobedience as a means of effecting social change.

Leaf and Lyre Urban Farms

Rod is father to two beautiful girls and is a farm boy from the Camrose area. He is a (semi-)professional chorister with a background in theology, who loves to garden, bake breads, and have conversation over coffee. His special passions are beauty and paradox and the depths of the human experience. His particular interests in farming have to do with the nurturing of vital nutrient dense soils and with bringing life to our living spaces.

International Program Director for CAUSE Canada

Roland Vanderburg is the International Program Director for CAUSE Canada, a twenty-five year old community development organization based in Canmore, AB, with programs in Central America and West Africa. He lived in Latin America for twelve years, ten of which were in Central America (El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala). Roland's wife is from El Salvador, and no fewer than three relatives have "taken the train" north. Mr. Vanderburg has an economics degree, and a Master's Degree in community development and microfinance from Eastern University in Pennsylvania.

Founder, Ayudamos Foundation

Sandra worked as an International Election Observer with the Organization of American States during Guatemala's Presidential elections in 2003 and toured the polling areas of Atitlan with Canada's Ambassador to Guatemala in the elections of 2007. Sandra founded the Ayudamos Foundation in 2003. Ayudamos works in Guatemala with Indigenous Maya women and their families, building homes, women's centres and most recently through educational scholarships for their children.

Sarah Smith’s work at the Calgary Zoo involves both on-grounds programming to educate Zoo visitors about gorillas and the Eco-Cell cell phone recycling program. The recycling program seeks to reduce demand for minerals from Congo where mining disturbs gorilla habitat. She is a writer, actor, and nature interpreter who has been teaching and learning about the conservation issues of gorillas for many years.

Associate Professor, UofC

Serdar Yilmaz, MD, PhD, FACS. Dr. Yilmaz has been working as a Transplant Surgeon in Calgary since 1997 and has held the position of Medical Director of ALTRA (Southern Alberta Transplant Program) since 2002. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary.

Shahab was born in Iran where he studied hydrology. During his university time he was an active member of the university student’s association and the chief editor of a liberal university magazine. Shahab writes poems and short stories that reflect the social and political currents in Iran. He has worked as an engineer with several international humanitarian organizations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He now works with a consulting firm and teaches at SAIT.

Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology

CAWST is a Calgary-based NGO that provides technical training and consulting services to organizations working to improve access to safe water and sanitation for the poor in developing countries.

www.cawst.org

Since working for UNHCR on the Thai-Cambodian border in 1982-1983, Shauna Jimenez has encouraged the private sponsorship of refugees to rural B.C., and to Calgary. Her group has sponsorship agreement holder status enabling them to sponsor refugees to Canada. The East Kootenay Friends of Burma, have privately sponsored over 200 refugees. This group managed a successful rural resettlement pilot project allowing 19 refugees to begin new lives in Kimberley BC. Three new Karen families will arrive in Calgary in late 2011, due to the effort of the recently formed group Calgary Friends of Burma.

Red Cross Operations Director

A disaster and emergency manager, served as the Red Cross Operations Director, 2004 Asian tsunami

Resettlement and Integration Services Coordinator - CCIS

In various rolls with Calgary Catholic Immigration Services (CCIS) since 1993, Sultana has facilitated all aspects of resettlement and integration of clients and the challenges that they bring. In 2001 she was among the 8 recipients of the First Jerry Sellinger Award, given to frontline workers who work with domestic violence cases. Sultana and CCIS as a whole have a vision to build a community where immigrants and refugees become contributing members of the Canadian society.

After attaining her degree from Oxford University, Susan Scott came to Canada in 1967. Currently a freelance writer in Calgary, she has also worked for three Canadian newspapers. In recent years, Susan has spent a great deal of time in Canada's underworld of drop-ins, shelters, food banks and slums gathering information for her second book, All Our Sisters, Stories of Homeless Women in Canada. Her first book was No Fixed Address, Tales from the Street. Susan volunteers with the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness and Vibrant Communities Calgary.

Terry Martin is a full time volunteer with First Steps, a Christian humanitarian organization whose purpose is to prevent child malnutrition in North Korea through programs providing essential nutrients to young children. Terry has a career with the Canadian Wheat Board that brought him to many places around the world. www2.firststepscanada.org

Since 1995, The Dorymates have been entertaining Western Canada with east coast music that get the hands and feet moving. The band consists of four lads from the Atlantic Provinces, three Newfies and a Herring Choker (that's Newbrunswick for you Westerners).

Larry Skinner, originally from Rencontre West, NL is the lead singer and jokester on rhythm guitar. Johnny MaGrath, from Bell Island, NL plays a mean button accordion. Playing the drums and bodhran and singing back up vocals, Ray Kenny hails from Canada's oldest city, St. John's, NL. Eddie Richard , from Minto, NB adds vocals and plays bass guitar.

John and Trish Pritchard, along with their children Alana and Jordan went to South Africa for 6 months to help out at the Seed of Hope Mission near Durban. The center runs various programs for the community including children and youth after school programs as well as support groups for families affected by AIDS.

Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is the Community Development Coordinator for Sisters is Spirit (SIS). The main objective of the SIS Initiative is to address violence, particularly racialized and/or sexualized violence against Aboriginal women in Canada. NWAC believes we are in an urgent state of affairs with regards to the safety of Aboriginal women in Canada

Wellness Center Coordinator at Forest Lawn High School

Tina Merali is the Wellness Center Coordinator at Forest Lawn High School, working with community agencies to support the diverse needs of students. She runs the Peer Ambassador Club. Forest Lawn student Anastasia Kochie endorsed Tina for the 2011 Hadassah Ksienski Immigrant of Distinction Award. She also received the Tulip Award from the Calgary Womens Emergency Shelter for her efforts to stop gender based domestic violence.

Urban Agriculture Consultant, and Chair of the Calgary Food Policy Council (CFPC)

Tony Prashad is an advocate of the culinary arts, and social activist, his main concerns are organic locally-grown food crops for human consumption and food security. The CFPC mandate is to work with community groups to help solve the hunger problem, work with food companies to foster more nutritious products and services, and work with farmers to develop environmentally and socially sustainable growing systems. Tony’s community gardening experience dates back to 1998 in the City of Toronto with projects like Bring Back the Don, the Leslie Spit Revitalization Project, and the John Suk-Soo Chang Memorial Community Garden.

Married to a Tibetan, Tsering was born and raised in India, left India and moved to Australia for 13 years. She has been in Canada for two years, seeking work as a registered nurse, and looking after her three children.

Foundation for AIDS Control and Eradication

The Foundation for AIDS Control and Eradication (FACE) raises funds in Calgary through various events to address the desperate AIDS situation in Africa.

Coordinator of the Committee for the Support of Mapuche People, Calgary

Victor was born in Chile, his mother was Mapuche. Victor has been actively involved in the struggle of the Mapuche nation for more that 45 years. He is a writer, educator and activist.

Past Founding President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Dr. Warren Bell has been a family physician for 32 years. For three decades he has participated in projects related to social development and the environment, as well as the peace and anti-nuclear movement, global health and the integration of healing modalities of all kinds. For ten years he wrote a weekly newspaper column entitled "Global Health". He is past president of Physicians for Global Survival, a national Canadian organization and is immediate past president of the Association of Complementary and Integrative Physicians of B.C. Dr. Bell lives in a small town in south-central B.C. running an active practice which integrates conventional and alternative or complementary remedies. He is currently president of the medical staff of the Shuswap Lake General Hospital.