ANNUAL GALA 2018

Although she changed her home base, Marta has maintained her professional interest in film by founding the Ekran Toronto Polish Film Festival ( www.ekran.ca ) shortly after her arrival in the city; under her direction, this annual event is fast approaching its tenth anniversary. Along with her work on the festival, Marta also continues to pursue her acting and modeling career and has recently added real estate sales to her list of professional activities.

As someone who believes in giving back, Marta is also active with the Polish Orphans Charity ( www.polishorphans.org ), volunteering as its Director of Communication and Entertainment in order to help ensure the annual success of its two main fundraising events: the White Christmas Dinner and the Ball Pologne.

Marta’s life is completed by her family, which now also includes two young boys. There is perhaps nothing she loves more than spending time in their company, whether at home in Toronto, nestled in their little red brick “dollhouse,” or away on a holiday, enjoying new experiences and cultures or the now-familiar beaches of Costa Rica.

G was classically trained under the Royal Conservatory of Music, and was a member of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. While continuing his musical studies, he also earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from McMaster University. In his hometown, G was an altar boy for 10 years, a runway model for Beaumonde Productions and part of the disc jockey group, Dynamic Tension. These experiences have contributed to Grenville’s sound religious roots, versatility and showmanship.

G now resides in Toronto and performs professionally across North America and Internationally for special events and concerts. His wide repertoire of music, bubbling personality, and love for entertaining others, are just a few reasons that make him a perfect addition to any special event!

Here they recorded an album at MGM Studios where memories of seeing Carol King record are forever etched in Patti’s mind. Representing Canada at the Sopot Music Festival in Poland, Patti sang with Charles Aznavour, winning the prestigious Musician’s Favorite Award in front of an audience of 50,000 and televised to 60 million. Patti performed twice in the legendary Royal York Hotel Imperial Room, starred in
her own CTV national special, A Family Christmas and toured with Thai sensation Manee throughout Europe and Thailand, filming the documentary Superstar.

She was then drawn to study classical singing and has been pursuing it for the past few years under the tutelage of soprano Kinga Mitrowska. She has since found success in competitions and performances at prestigious venues for distinguished guests in Canada, the United States, and Poland. Karoline works as a radio producer in Toronto, having completed a degree in Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson University.

Born in 1921 in the community of Port Daniel, Quebec on the Gaspe Coast, her father, Herbert Armard Journeaux, owned a fishing and canning company, while her mother, Amanda Maude Travers, was a homemaker and ran the family farm. The family also comprised two older sisters and two older brothers. After graduating from Quebec High School, Hazel McCallion attended a business secretarial school in Quebec City and Montreal. She has stated, especially while receiving university honours, that she would have wanted to attend university, but her family could not afford it. After secretarial school, she began her career in Montreal with the Canadian Kellogg company and was soon transferred to Toronto in 1942, where she helped set up the local office. Over 25 successful years later, Hazel McCallion left the business world in 1967 to devote her life to a career in politics.

That career began in Streetsville, Ontario, where she and her husband, Sam McCallion, owned property. Her first campaign was in 1964 for the position of deputy reeve, and it was unsuccessful. But by 1970, Hazel McCallion became Streetsville’s Mayor, and in 1978, after her town was amalgamated with the Town of Mississauga and Town of Port Credit to form the City of Mississauga, she was elected as Mayor of Mississauga. At that time she sat on virtually every committee in the city and in the Peel Region. Since then, during her12 terms in office as Mayor, spanning 1978 to 2014, Mississauga grew from a small collection of villages to one of Canada’s largest cities. Today it is home to over 750,000 people and 55 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Hazel McCallion has shared her ideas and experiences at meetings and speaking engagements throughout Canada and the world, she sits on numerous boards of community organizations and businesses, and she has received countless awards, including the Leadership in Public Service Award from the International Economic Development Council, runner-up for the World Mayor Award, Membership to the Order of Canada, and the Key to the City of Mississauga, just to name a few.

A mother of three, on her 90th birthday in 2011 she was assessed by Dr. Barbara Clive, a geriatrician, who stated that “at 90 her gait is perfect and her speech is totally sharp. She’s the poster child for seniors”.

Dauna Jones-Simmonds is also the President of DEJS (Diversity) Consulting, where she shares her unique experience and facilitates the transfer of her accumulated knowledge – including over 37 years of HR experience – through consulting and diversity training activities. She has a broad-based education from Ryerson University and Cornell University, and she is a Certified Facilitator. Energetic and goal-driven, she has a proven track record of measurable achievements and first-hand knowledge on roadblocks and challenges encountered by new Canadians.

As the Lead Architect behind the 100ABCWomen national project, Dauna Jones-Simmonds recognizes, spotlights, and documents the achievements of Black Canadian Women. She is also one of the Co-Authors of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, a book that is now in its second edition. It is no surprise therefore that she is also an active champion for diversity and mentoring, and that she has won numerous awards for her leadership style, result orientation, and diversity efforts.

Additionally, Dauna Jones-Simmonds is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors for ACCES, an organization that supports the employment of new Canadians; an active member of the Rotary Club of Toronto; and a Board Member of the Delta Family Resource Centre (DFRC) – a not-for-profit organization that offers a range of support services to caregivers of children, settlement programs and services, community support, and a range of activities that enhance individual skills and promote healthy communities.

In the past, Dauna Jones-Simmonds served as a Board Member for SKETCH, an organization that supports homeless young people as well as at-risk youth. She was also the Executive Director for Ontario JOIN (Jobs Opportunity Information Network) – an organization that supports the employment of people with disabilities –, she had been a mentor to over 36 individuals, and she was involved in TRIEC’s “Mentoring Partnership” program for New Canadians.

Dauna Jones-Simmonds is an avid sports fan, gardener and she loves to create Caribbean dishes

In 1991, Ghada Hamadani left her country of origin on a summer vacation and then never went back again. She knew she had to follow her dream and passion for delivering business benefits by working for Fortune Global 100 companies, Blue Chip global organizations and Tier One technology companies. In so doing, for many years Ghada Hamadani has led global teams across continents in the areas of organizational strategy and execution.

In later years, her journey brought her to the Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto, Canada, where she sharpened her craft. She also then obtained a Diploma in Fashion Design from Yorkville University and a Project Management Professional Certificate from PMI, Pennsylvania-USA.

Among many of her activities, Ghada Hamadani has also worked tirelessly to support initiatives that empower women and children through social and economic integration. She is involved with over 30 North American and International Humanitarian NGOs in that regard.

She has been recognized locally and internationally for her continuous contribution towards both business growth and humanitarian work.

Nevertheless, after the birth of her second son, Tania Malak launched into a career in real estate. She first worked at Royal Lepage Your Community Realty for eight years. During this time she met successful people who influenced her career and served as professional role models. By 2010 another opportunity arose: Tania Malak was invited to work as an office manager to help establish a new real estate brokerage, Home Land Plus Realty. Those five years served as a priceless experience that was indispensable for the next step in Tania Malak’s career: opening up Royal Team Realty, her own company in the same industry.

Throughout all the chapters of her career, Tania Malak dedicated herself to building a solid reputation for quality client service and support – something she continues to do today. She believes that there is no other country in the world where she could have achieved as much as she has in Canada, and for that she is grateful.

After leaving her job as an educator, NesrinThabet became an active interpreter working for the court system as well as a helper to many Syrian refugees settling in Canada. In so doing she also became an extremely important part of the Arab community.

In that spirit, she also started a radio show, Basamatalaljudran al mahjer, where she discusses important topics and issues that concern the Arab community. As a result of the radio show, women from around the world have reached out to NesrinThabet for help. From aiding migrants to settle in Canada to assisting high school girls with makeup for their prom, and building up confidence amongst young women through her organized events and motivational speeches, NesrinThabet has done much for her local and global community via the radio show.

She is an amazing motivator, supporter, mother, and friend.

Outside of public service, Doaa Mohsen is a business transformation and change management consultant interested in economic development, trade and investment promotion, policy and strategic planning, and the role of innovative technology in the future of global economic development. In the field, she is known for her customer service excellence and business transformation initiatives.

Doaa Mohsen is also an experienced professor, previously having taught at a considerable number of universities, training institutions, and think tanks in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Egypt on the topics of trade reform, investment promotion and development, and modernization initiatives.

Doaa Mohsen is an AWF 40 over 40 award winner and the 2017 recipient of the Excellence in Civic Engagement Prize that is bestowed annually on International Women’s Day. She also won the People’s Choice Award for Community Activism and was featured in the Globe and Mail Waterfront Magazine in 2018.

Always eager to help others, over the last 20 years Izebella Tinc has worked in the office environment, raised four children (three of her own and one foster son), volunteered with the Polish Canadian Heritage Foundation, helped homeless communities and local homeless shelters for which she organized personal care packages and winter survival kits, and she educates others about misconceptions around homelessness.

In 2009 after the birth of her daughter, Izebella Tinc made a career change and started taking interest in photography. Today she offers her photography services at numerous charity events as well as for underprivileged families who can’t afford the service.

A recipient of the Ontario Volunteer Award, Izabella Tinc currently resides in the Kitchener area.

Eventually, in 1990, Bogumila Golebiowski immigrated to Canada, where she has resided ever since. Circumstances with migration made it incredibly difficult for her to continue her teaching career, but she didn’t allow this to let her down. Instead, she decided to explore another passion: fashion.

By 2000 she successfully opened her first ladies’ apparel boutique in Mississauga, and soon after, the business expanded, with more stores propping up in large plazas across the Greater Toronto Area. Today Bogumila Golebiowski proudly manages this chain and has found renewed fulfillment since the days of her being an early childhood educator. She finds it especially rewarding to help her clients find outfits that best express their personality and beauty.

Contact with clients at boutiques also exposed her to the reality that many people are faced with unsolved problems in their personal and professional lives. This made BogumilaGolebiowski want to do something to help. Since then, for ten years, she has been a volunteer, dedicating her time, money and other resources to help the Canadian Polish Women’s Heritage Foundation, the Prometheus Foundation -Poland Orphanage, the Child Care Home, the School for Blind Children in Krakow, and other Polish-Canadian charity organizations and parishes.

In 2016 Bogumila Golebiowski received the Prometheus Gold Order of Achievement and the Commander of Cross from the Grand Magistry of the Order of St.Stanislas – Poland, signed by Grand Master Jan Zbigniew IX, Count Potocki.

Ellen Schwartz has written two books, “Lessons from Jacob: A Disabled Son Teaches His Mother About Courage, Hope and the Joy of Living Life to the Fullest”, and “Without One Word Spoken”. Without One Word Spoken rated a National Best Seller by the Globe and Mail.

Ellen Schwartz has the ability to move and inspire audiences with her unwavering belief in her son’s abilities, her steadfast commitment to education and research on neurodegenerative diseases, and her heartfelt desire to help others cope with life’s toughest challenges.

She was honoured as “A Woman of Action” by the Israel Cancer Research Fund, and she was recognized for her efforts byVe’ahavta and Aish Toronto. She was likewise awarded a Queen’s Jubilee medal, the Meritorious Service Decoration by the Governor-General of Canada, and the Canada 150 Exemplary Canadian Award.

Ellen Schwartz lives in Toronto with her husband Jeff, and their three children, Jacob, Beverly, and Ben.

Dipika Damerla was born in Secunderabad, India (present-day Telangana). After immigrating to Canada she earned her MBA from the Rotman School of Management and the University of Toronto and worked in corporate banking upon graduation at the Royal Bank of Canada followed by the Bank of Nova Scotia. Prior to her first election to the Ontario Legislature, she was a Senior Policy Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Dipika Damerla lives in Mississauga with her daughter, Sharmeila.

Cozette Dagher has been highly involved in political campaigns. She helped develop winning strategies for municipal, provincial and federal movements, and had senior roles on three winning leadership campaigns in the last four years. Her more recent success was the 2018 Ontario election, where she served as a Director of Outreach and Stakeholders Relations on Doug Ford’s campaign. She was also involved in the Doug Ford PC Leadership Campaign where she served as a Field Director and the French spokesperson, and she was the former President of the PC Riding Association of Scarborough.

Cozette Dagher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Spanish. Often interviewed for her insights on current issues, she has been a political commentator on Radio Canada, TFO, Tag TV, and other multicultural networks.

Cozette Dagher also serves on the board of directors of Our Lady of Lebanon, and she contributes to various school boards and parent-teacher associations. She is an advocate on anti-bullying and mental health matters, and a liaison between new immigrants from Arab countries and their integration in Canada.

Laura Arci’s IBM career began in system engineering. She speaks English, Italian, and French and has held multiple bilingual roles. She was consistently ranked top 10 in sales worldwide, progressed rapidly to the ranks of a senior executive in the global context, and was ranked one of the youngest IBM executives with continued proven performance and successful sales track record globally. As a visionary leader Laura Arci was based in New York with direct reports worldwide and she was instrumental in leading IBM around transformational change, working significantly with CEOs and CFOs in the Fortune 100 sector.

Laura Arci’s visionary leadership and successful management of multiple organizations lead to the development of highly effective innovative Marketing and Sales Strategies, leveraging advertising, Internet-based marketing, telesales, database analytics, direct marketing, social media, event planning, and leading-edge lead management and tracking systems. Her executive sponsorship and management of IBM publications and IBM Server catalogs business proved to be very successful in driving increased sales and strengthening IBM business partnerships.

Laura Arci is likewise a successful author focused on inspiring the lives of many by sharing stories of courage, confidence, perseverance, and successful life-changing strategies. She mentors, coaches, and professionally speaks to small groups and to audiences the size of 10,000+ business professionals. She has a magnitude of experience and continues to expand her knowledge by playing instrumental executive roles on multiple boards. Laura Arci was pivotal in leading the IBM Global Senior Marketing and Sales Review Board as the Chairperson driving major strategic decisions. She was also a Board of Director at Blue Mountain Resorts in Ontario.

Laura Arci’s extensive knowledge in construction, renovation and property management lead to the acquisition of a multitude of residential and commercial properties, which has proven to be very lucrative. Her real estate success influenced her second career as a powerhouse Realtor. She works diligently and effectively representing her seller, buyer, and investor clients exceeding expectations and tremendously increasing their real estate wealth.

Linda Leatherdale can also be heard every Saturday on the Roy Green Show, on 11 talk radio stations, and on the Corus Radio Network across the country. She was host the popular Money Line TV Show and Linda’s Money Show. She was also a regular financial commentator on City TV’s Breakfast TV and on Global TV, as well as a contributor for numerous publications.

Outside of journalism Linda Leatherdale is the Vice-President, Marketing and Business Development for Cambria Canada; a privately-held, family-owned, U.S.-based manufacturer of natural quartz surfaces, and one of the fastest-growing companies in North America that are exporting its products globally. Cambria brand advocates have included supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, actor/author Mariel Hemingway, Linda Leatherdale’s good friend rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, an Order of Canada recipient, and HGTV star Scott McGillivray.

Linda Leatherdale is the author of the best-selling book, Money Is A Girl’s Best Friend, and she is working on two new books. She has sat on numerous boards, including the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Credit Canada, Southside Shuffle, and the Arthritis Society of Canada. She has likewise served as Chair of the Bronte Business Improvement Area (BIA). Linda Leatherdale is married and is the mother of two children.

In a standalone boutique/gallery located on Hamilton’s hip James Street North, she features women’s and men’s couture, handbags, accessories, jewelry, as well as contemporary Indigenous art. Angela DeMontigny believes in only using the finest materials with quality care and workmanship being of utmost importance. Her designs feature custom silk prints, use of luscious leathers and suedes, Mongolian lamb and shearling, along with exciting finishes of bold metallics, sexy fringe, and beautiful hand beading. She also custom designs for special occasions including bridal gatherings, stage performances, and red carpet events.

A consummate trailblazer, Angela DeMontigny has produced some of Canada’s most prestigious showcases and galas for Indigenous designers and has been a passionate advocate and supporter of Indigenous designers, artisans, women, and youth entrepreneurs throughout her career. She is regularly asked to speak at international symposiums and conferences using her influence on the mainstream fashion industry to educate audiences on the vibrant culture, art, and history of Indigenous people across North America.

She is the Co-Founder of the Canadian Aboriginal Design Council, the Co-Founder of the newly launched Ontario Fashion Exchange (OFEX), aBoard Member of the Hamilton Arts Council, a Member of the Humber Programme Advisory Committee for Fashion Arts & Business, and a Board Member of the newly formed, Aboriginal Conservation and Ecology Inc. (ACE).

Throughout each cycle of creation and production for her house of design, and her various roles in the community, Angela DeMontigny makes an impact by mentoring and collaborating with other up-and-coming Indigenous designers on the revival of tradition and artistry through marketing and exporting business innovation, and fashion.

Angela DeMontigny has an exhaustive list of local, national, and international wardrobes. She has also been interviewed many times on national television shows, for documentaries, and for music videos featuring her designs and artistic direction.

Carol Starr Taylor’s passion is to ignite, inspire, and create experiences to facilitate the personal growth of others within themselves and with each other. This guides her coaching work and led her to found The Travelling Sisterhood, a growing global community of heart-centered women aiming to inspire and connect women in the community, without exclusion.

Carol Starr Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours and a specialty in Mass Communications. She has had numerous appearances over the years on radio, television, and in articles.

Being the child of immigrants, Kristina Kulikova has always felt the need to give back to her parents for the sacrifices they made, and to be the best of the best in all that she does. And she did just that. Post finishing her Undergraduate Degree in Economics and Finance at Ryerson University, Kristina Kulikovaestablished a successful career in investment banking at Setter Capital, where she was graced with the mentorship of the firm’s founder, Peter McGrath.

Meanwhile, there have always been two facades to Kristina Kulikova: one in banking and the other in dance. Since the age of 6, she has actively pursued Ballroom/Latin dancing. With the encouragement of her parents and her relentless dedication, she rose to the top of North American Dancesport, taking the title of Canadian and North American Finalist in National and International Championships, all while completing her university degree on a nearly full scholarship.

Post decided to retire from competitive dancing and leaving the dance world for nearly a year to pursue her banking career, Kristina Kulikova realized she was missing that strong connection to self-expression through movement, creativity, and inspiration that one experiences in performance and dance. In turn, she came back to her true calling in the arts and established an entertainment production company: KulKat Entertainment.

KulKat Entertainment is an industry leader in providing entertainment across a multitude of dance genres, combining the artistry of unforgettable costumes, makeup and performance. Since inception in 2014, it has performed for wide audiences and also community organization/events such as Sick Kids, Canadian Tire, TIFF, and Hellenic Heritage Foundation & West Jet, to name a few.

For Kristina Kulikova, Kulkat Entertainment has given her the power to create unbelievable show numbers, and to meet and work with some of the best-trained dancers in Canada including, World Ballroom & Latin Champions, Canadian National Ballet Artists, as well as former Cirque du Soleil performers and the like.

The family then settled in Vancouver, where Helen Nejmeh spent her time managing the household and raising children, while her husband supported the family by investing in real estate, restaurants, and retail. By 1987, the Toronto real estate boom encouraged the family to head east.

As their children grew, Helen Nejmehestablished a career in retail, working with Sears Canada for two decades until she retired in 2010. During retirement, she has nurtured her passion for helping others and spends much of her time serving in different capacities at her church and its women’s ancillary.

The break of the Syrian Civil War seven years ago, and the mass number of Syrian nationals seeking asylum in Canada, in turn, hit home for Helen Nejmeh; especially as members of her own family were directly affected by the war, including one relative who got kidnapped. Helen Nejmehhas responded by opening her arms and home to sponsoring refugees and helping them settled in Canada, just as she did decades ago herself. She has since been providing aid ranging from assisting newcomers with completing government paperwork, to getting them enrolled in English classes and looking for a place to live. She also recently organized Ladies of Syrian her role as a member of the Beaux Art Gallery in Brampton -a two-week art exhibition featuring eight Syrian artists.

Helen Nejmeh is proud to help her fellow Syrians during a tumultuous time in their home country. She plans to continue to do what she can to help those coming to Canada transition with relative ease and start their new lives.

Margaret Priscilla Cordova believes that learning outside of the classroom and applying what she has learnt to serve her community is just as important as her grades. She uses almost all of her free time learning something new or serving her community. Case in point: Margaret Priscilla Cordova has been a passionate musician from a young age. She plays the guitar, the ukulele and the piano (she passed theRoyal Conservatory of Music Level 8 Practical Piano exam with honours). Wanting to keep the connection with her Hispanic roots, she is also part of a folkloric Peruvian dance academy with which she competes inside and outside Ontario, and performs alongside her brother for various charity events. Finally, Margaret Priscilla Cordova loves to swim, and after completing all the swimming levels with The Lifesaving Society, she now works as a lifeguard and a swim instructor at various pools. In addition to this, she was on her high school swim team for four years, received the Most Valuable Player Award and has won many performance ribbons and medals.

Using her talents, Margaret Priscilla Cordova also serves her community. She teaches children how to play the piano, she tutors youth who need assistance with learning French, and she has taught English grammar to a group of young women from Argentina. She is also fully immersed in her Catholic faith and dedicates many hours to teaching children about the Church and the Sacraments, and coordinating various large events and retreats alongside her parish priest.

Margaret Priscilla Cordova loves to lead and believes that the best leaders are the ones who serve others, and less those who seek others to serve them.