ANNUAL GALA 2015

PEARSON CONVENTION CENTER

2638 STEELES AVE E, BRAMPTON, ON L6T 3L7

I extend heartfelt greetings to all guests who have gathered to celebrate our 2nd annual Brilliant Minded Women Organization Gala Event. It’s an exciting time for our organization as we continue to grow, meet and bring inspired people together. We are honored to be able to celebrate the achievements of our amazing Award recipients.

The Brilliant Minded Women Organization is extremely grateful to all sponsors and supporters for their generosity, our event could not have happened without their participation. We are happy to have all ends of the spectrum represented and realize the impact of everyone’s participation and the necessity of the roles. We are pleased to provide you with a forum that allows the chance for us to thrive and grow. With your help, we intend to accomplish even more in the years ahead. Finally, a heartfelt thank you, to the 2015 Gala Committee. Your dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness made this evening possible allowing us to create an engaging environment.

Sincerely,

Agata Klimczak

GALLERY

HONORABLE GUESTS

Rhiannon Traill

Rhiannon is the President & CEO of The Economic Club of Canada. Each year, more than 100 key policymakers and business leaders seek out The Economic Club of Canada to make major keynote addresses. In past years, guests have included such high-profile figures as Senator John McCain; Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Victor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California. In 2012, Mrs. Traill launched the Annual Voice of Hope awards in Ottawa.

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Theresa Corazon Laurico

Theresa Corazon Laurico is an award-winning mediapreneur, social entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of SociaLIGHT. Her work has impacted thousands globally, empowering and inspiring leaders, startups, and entrepreneurs. Her annual SociaLIGHT Conference is called “A Mecca for Emerging Entrepreneurs” and brings together over 1,500 innovators. Past contributors include Sir Richard Branson, Tony Hsieh, Tonya Surman, Bob Proctor, and more. SociaLIGHT focuses on business as a force of good and the embodiment of the triple bottom line “People. Planet. Profit.”

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GUEST SPEAKER

Pierre Lalande

Based in Toronto Canada, and following an early career modeling, Pierre has made numerous appearances in television commercials, fashion magazines, and print media for major labels.

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At a very early age, Pierre evolved into the beauty industry by designing, owning, and operating his own salon, for more than a quarter-century. This is where he honed his craft and developed a finely tuned sense for color. While making regular television broadcast appearances in Canada on the Global Television Network, CTV, and City TV as an Image Designer, he focused his talent and energy on developing a sophisticated line of color cosmetics and hair care products. Pierre and the Lalande Cosmetics product line are well known in the United States as a result of his personal appearances and promotions on the Home Shopping Network over the years.

MASTER OF CEREMONY

Margaret Maye

Today she is an eclectic vocalist, a classical singer with both great respect for the past and an enthusiastic embrace of contemporary music. Her musical tastes and boundaries have continued to change and to expand. Passionately dedicated to her work, she is always striving for artistic excellence. This versatile singer and actress is constantly challenging her abilities. In her search for communication and artistic expression, she had explored and established herself as an outstanding performer in various musical styles and genres.

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PERFORMERS

Jay Harmony (aka Jay Davis)

A college professor with a passion for music, Jay Harmony’s thirst for anything musical was started in the church. As she honed her singing skills, Jay Harmony received numerous invitations to perform at various events in popular venues including the Rogers Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the CNE, and Massey Hall. While performing and further developing her talent, Jay began to infuse reggae beats to her R&B songs that proved to be an instant hit with her growing Fan base.

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Trishya Perera

Trishya Perera is an aspiring dancer, choreographer, and teacher who found her passion at a very young age. She has been training since the age of four in a range of different forms from classical to urban styles. Specifically in Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Pointe, and Hip Hop. She danced competitively, under the direction of Tammy Roberts, in each of those forms for over four years and has won many awards for her performances on stages across Canada and the United States. Trishya graduated from York University from the BFA honours dance program, which allowed her to continue her exploration of the arts. She continued to compete in Hip Hop with a crew called “StyleWize” choreographed and directed by Lineen Doung, who led them to win First Place at a competition in Rhode Island. She most recently had the chance to tour internationally to Doha, Qatar with Creativiva, performing a children’s musical “The Little Prince”.

AWARDEES

Bonnie has an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business and earned a Corporate Director’s Certificate from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Rotman School of Management. Bonnie attended St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in political science and international relations. Bonnie also studied French immersion at the Paris Sorbonne University.

In January 2012, she was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in the community. She and her husband Brian have raised three children, Alex, Jonathan, and Natasha, here in Mississauga. Bonnie speaks conversational French and Polish.

Marilyn Field, M.S.M.
Philanthropist Of The Year Award

From early family life in a garage to musician and world-class educator, Marilyn Field, has spent a lifetime as a passionate advocate for discipline, Action, Responsibility, and Excellence in education for Canadian children. Employing artists and teachers to act as mentors, she has engaged 170,000 young people. She is a former student of U of T’s Faculty of Music and OISE.

As a young teacher, Marilyn saw the impact of cutbacks in the arts in public schools, especially for children in priority communities. Her response was to establish DAREarts as a charity for children in 1996. From her teaching experience, Marilyn saw that the arts gave kids the tools to realize their potential as leaders. Then they can navigate any life challenges of poverty, abuse or neglect. For 17 years, DAREarts has been her labour of love despite limited remuneration. Her reward is hearing the children say, “I am DAREarts and I am a Leader”: the best paycheque in the world!

DAREarts has become a Canadian cultural education outreach that provides children with an intensive out-of-school immersion in all the arts. Participants, aged 9 through 19, build their confidence, courage and leadership through music, drama, dance, visual arts, architecture, fashion and literature. DAREarts empowers 10,000 children yearly to unlock their potential as leaders and ignite change in their lives and in their communities. International recognition

includes the Nobel Peace Prize’s 100th anniversary where Marilyn conducted a choir of children representing 23 countries. She has also served on the boards of Opera Atelier, Toronto Senior Strings, The Ontario Speech Foundation, Theatre Orangeville and the Esprit Orchestra (Chair) plus Chair of the CD project of the Canadian Opera Company. She has also volunteered with the Stratford Festival, Headwaters Arts Festival and Headwaters Health Centre.

Deborah Bianchi
Charity Of The Year Award

Deborah Bianchi founded Hats Off 2 Kidz™ as her way of giving back to the hospital that saved her life. Thanks to her tremendous support of family and friends, and Canada’s largest and most research-intensive hospital dedicated to improving children’s health, Deborah today is married with two children of her own. Hats Off 2 Kidz™ has become her trademark for all little kids who have endured many long nights of chemotherapy, losing their hair and having to wear hats or head covers so they can feel better about themselves. This is Deborah’s way of saying it’s okay to take your hat off and show the world that you made it!

About Hats off 2 Kidz™ Hats Off 2 Kidz™ is a charitable organization in support of Leukemia Research for the Hospital for Sick Children. Deborah Bianchi founded Hats Off 2 Kidz™ as her way of giving back to the hospital that saved her life. At the tender age of 10, Deborah was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). For 3 years, she endured challenges a child should never be deserving of. Long days of chemotherapy, radiation, endless poking at her veins, losing her hair several times, and having to wear hats to cover her bald head. The hospital became her home. At the age of 13, she went into remission. Her prayers had been answered!

Sabina M. DeVita
Business Development And Growth Award

Sabina M. DeVita, Ed.D., N.N.C.P., IPSP, CBP has been a long time environmentalist, educator, humanitarian & practitioner. When she became ill in the 1980s, with environmental sensitivities, also known as ecological illness or multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), she was forced to change her life path dramatically. She experienced many ill effects physically, mentally, and emotionally from environmental and chemical toxicities.

Her journey to wellness became her life path to helping others where she pursued a career in the healing arts. Sabina has been in private practice for close to 30 years as an eclectic energy psychotherapist/psychologist, registered nutritionist, doctor of natural medicine, and specialized in Energy Kinesiology’s.

She founded the DeVita Wellness Institute of Living and Learning, as well as, the Institute of Energy Wellness Studies- a federally recognized wellness institute. Prior to her doctoral work, she was an educator for many years in the public education system as well as a Guidance counselor of five years in an inner-city school assisting troubled & disadvantaged children, along with counseling parents and teachers. Her role entailed many responsibilities in resolving behavioral, learning, and emotional issues as those faced today with (ADD, ADHD children).

Joan John
Self Development Award

Came to Canada a visitor from Jamaica, enrolled in college but could not afford the Overseas Student fees. Visitor Status then turned into that of Illegal Immigrant for a number of years worked at various jobs from cleaning, babysitting, seamstress, trainee designer & the retail Industry. Through resilience and perseverance Joan survived that chapter of her life and because of the struggles that she had faced.

Joan then went on to work on the inside and outside of the Legal system because of her experience of also being in the Legal System. Joan has risen from the gutters of discrimination, intimidation, and Systematic Justice to obtain Education qualifications as follows:

Diploma in Restorative Justice from Queens University
Certificate in Addiction Studies from Centennial College
Certificate in Adjudication – Boards and Tribunals from The Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators
Certification – Refugee Studies at York University
IBA York University – Political Science

Anna Lopes
Best Community Service Award

Anna Lopes is a full-time property/warehouse Manager for a large printing company in Markham for over 30 years. She is a very compassionate and caring person who is full of life and love. Her greatest passion in life is to make a difference and to touch the hearts of all children that need a simple hug.

She is also very creative in event planning and making magical moments happen. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Million Dollar Smiles …Giving back to society, which she has been running for over 8 years by volunteering most of her spare time. She has brought many smiles and hugs to children dealing with life-threatening illnesses. She and her volunteers whom she calls her Angels have delivered over 200 full-size teddy bear to children that needed a hug at Christmas time. The charity also builds playgrounds for the children in their very own backyard. They have built over 81 playgrounds in the last 6 years and built 56 playgrounds in 2015. Her mission in life is to create a world of giving and contributing to our community.

Marcia Brown
Best Community Service Award

Marcia Brown founded Trust 15 Youth Community Support Organization in 2011. She started her career with the Toronto District School Board as an Educational Assistant in 2005. She has been working diligently to educate, mentor, and inspire the young men and women in her community ever since.

Marcia recognized that there was a significant need in her community for a place where youth could come and feel safe and accepted, and receive much-needed support. So she decided to walk from door-to-door in the neighborhood asking parents if they would allow their children to participate in this enriching after-school program.

Jolana Morgensten
Volunteer Of The Year Award

I came to Canada in 1981 and started my adventure into the new world by having the opportunity of obtaining a job as a travel consultant which resulted in me working with the Polish community. On the other hand, I had a very emotional interest in the artistic world that started when I was a child. That was one of the reasons I got very quickly involved in polish artistic community by arranging groups for different polish events like art exhibits, promotion meetings for writers, poets, travelers, etc. This knowledge and experience have enabled me to have a valuable relationship with Polish politicians, actors, writers, and various artistic people.

Being elected President of Polish Canadian Society Of Theatre has been an honorable award. Although I find my travel consulting still plays a major role in my life. I am excited and proud of my volunteer accomplishments within the Polish community.

I feel my achievements since arriving in Canada have been valuable throughout my life together with meeting a variety of people, helping them, and increasing the relationship between Canadians and Polish Society.

Leslie Silvestri
Volunteer Of The Year Award

Leslie Silvestri has been working in the health care sector for over 25 years as a nurse. She is a well sought after consultant provincially, offering support and advocacy to families while respecting the individual personally and their bodily integrity. Attention to detail and reflective practice has been a very important part of her delivery of service and knowledge.

Leslie is a co-host of the radio show Living in Synergy featured on Connect me radio. The hosts of this show strive to bring all the parts of life together to make you whole- focusing on health and wellness.

Magdalena Gessler
Mind, Body and Spirit Award

Magdalena Gessler née Ikonowicz (born July 10, 1953) is a Polish television personality, restaurateur, and painter. Gessler is known for presenting TV program Kuchenne rewolucje (Polish version of Kitchen Nightmares) and judging in MasterChef. Born in Poland to an Italian-Polish father Mirosław Ikonowicz and a Russian mother Olga Borkowska, Magda Gessler grew up in Sofia. Her father was a journalist and mother was a chef. In 1972 Gessler settled in Madrid, where she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. In the 1980s she married German journalist Volkhart Müller. After his death, Magda Gessler returned to Poland and married Polish restaurateur Piotr Gessler. Her current partner is a Polish – Canadian doctor, Waldemar Kozerawski. Gessler has three children: Tadeusz, Mikołaj, and Lara. Her restaurants include Zielnik Cafe, U Fukiera, Słodki… Słony, Ale Gloria, Venezia, Jadka (all in Warsaw), Polka in Żelazowa Wola, and Kryształowa in Katowice.

Danuta Domurad
Mind,Body And Spirit Award

Danuta Domurad started her journey in holistic wellness in 1993 by becoming a weight loss coach with a new concept of cellular nutrition. (Cellular nutrition concept was created to improve cell membrane absorption. Cellular nutrition is a High voltage supplement to improve absorption. When cells are getting oxygen and nutrients the mitochondria activity is improved and they produce energy, cell communication is improved and cells are in growth not in defense. Genes are the blueprints to produce healthy proteins and the environment is impacting this process. Bioactive ingredients, high voltage herbs, fruits, roots, vegetables, seeds, and nuts are key components to nourish our cells. Regenerating villi in the small intestine and unflagging them from pathogens and toxins to activate vitamins and minerals absorption is the key. That in 1993 was a new concept no one was talking about. People were cutting calories but they were, even more, depleting the body from nutrients. People were gaining weight because of malnutrition, toxicity, and stress. Proper nourishment is one of the key factors.)

In 2006, she was introduced to quantum mechanics and started her journey learning Quantum Biofeedback technology and got her certificate as a Quantum Biofeedback Technician. A year after becoming a certified Quantum Biofeedback Technician, she had opened her Reverse Aging Wellness Clinic and has been successfully running it since then.

She understands that maintaining youth is related to reversing processes causing aging which are toxicity and acidity. That emotional, mental, and spiritual toxicities are the main causes of illnesses.

She created a wide array of Integrative sessions under one roof in her Holistic Wellness Clinic to educate and change the lives of men and women across the GTA one person at a time.

Danuta is passionate about her work and she is expanding her services into meditation, yoga, and mind reprogramming workshops, as well as crystal healing, superfoods, an organic nutrition bar, tai chi, and qi gong. She is planning to do transformational programs for both men and women to empower them and their families.

Maria Nowotarska
Arts And Entertainment Award

Polish theatre, television and film actress. She graduated from the Cracow Theatre School, and then for 33 years performed at the Slowacki Theatre in Krakow, playing many important roles in the repertoire of comedy and drama. She also played on television and films. One of her most important roles was that of Andrzejowa Korczyńska in the film adaptation of the famous Polish novel “At the Niemen River”.

Maria Nowotarska immigrated to Canada as a recognized Polish actress and settled in Toronto. After one year she had created a theatre called The Salon of Poetry, Music, and Theatre, which over 24 years staged more than 100 performances. The Salon has become the largest, longest-running, and the richest in the number of performances of any Polish theatre abroad. Its repertoire consists of music, songs, dance, poetry, and prose. The performances which range from dramas, musicals, cabarets to theater’s pieces often include a large cast.

Helena Kameka
Resilience Award

Helena Kameka is President of the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, a national, charitable organization that helps over 200,000 people every year. She has been a strong administrative influence within the agency since April 2008. Coming from a corporate background in marketing and advertising, Ms. Kameka is currently helping to transition the charity to a new level, which will enable it to help even more people and in more ways than ever before.

Previous to her corporate experience, Helena Kameka enjoyed much success as a musical artist. A two-time Canadian Country Music Award winner and Juno nominee, Helena toured around the world and also performed on numerous radio and television shows including “Good Morning America“, and has also had the pleasure of working with people like Shania Twain and Roch Voisine. She performed for United Nations soldiers between 1991 and 1995 in Bosnia, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, and Germany.

Helena has been very involved as a volunteer in men’s and women’s prisons for the past 14 years, as well as a spiritual healing and recovery workshop for adult survivors for the last 8 years with Ellen Campbell. She is a Certified Practical Minister and is also the Worship Director at her home church.