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Growing Together Conference & Summit: Building Community

Be Motivated and Inspired By Two Keynote Speakers

Mike MacGillivray

Mike MacGillivray

Mike MacGillivray

Resiliency: From The Soil Up 

 

  • Mike MacGillivray shares his deep-rooted philosophy on building resilience through regenerative farming. Drawing on centuries of family farming experience, Mike emphasizes the vital role that healthy soil plays in creating a sustainable future—not just for farms, but for communities and ecosystems at large. Mike will explore how regenerative agriculture principles—like enhancing biodiversity, minimizing soil disturbance, and prioritizing animal welfare—can revitalize the land and produce healthier food systems. Attendees will learn how fostering resilience in the soil directly impacts the health of the animals, the environment, and the people it nourishes. With humor and passion, Mike will discuss his farm’s journey from conventional methods back to the regenerative practices of his ancestors, demonstrating that farming doesn’t just feed people—it heals the planet. From ensuring pigs can be pigs to using organic, locally sourced feed, Mike’s approach shows how honoring nature’s processes can create a thriving, resilient system from the ground up. This speech will inspire farmers, food producers, and advocates alike to rethink agriculture’s potential, highlighting how regenerative principles can lead to a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

 

Bio

  • Mike MacGillivray is an 8th-generation farmer in North Glengarry, Ontario, carrying on his family's proud legacy of farming that dates back to 1796. With deep roots in the land, Mike is committed to sustainable, regenerative practices that nurture the soil, animals, and community. His philosophy is simple: build resilience from the soil up by embracing nature’s principles and fostering a balance between the land and its inhabitants.


Kirkview Farms  Mission

  • At our farm, we prioritize regenerative agriculture to steward our land, improving our soil, animals, and community. We ensure our animals can naturally express their species' behaviors, and we feed them locally sourced organic nutrition, enhancing their health and eliminating the need for antibiotics. Ethical and humane treatment is a cornerstone of our philosophy, from daily care to processing. By combining regenerative principles with permaculture, we aim to create an agroecosystem that strengthens not only our farm but also our environment and community.

Shannon Ferguson

Mike MacGillivray

Mike MacGillivray

 Cultivating Your Dream Life


  •  Close your eyes and think of what your dream life looks like. Do you already have everything you hoped for or are you still striving for more? Whether it is business, family or personal success the first step in cultivating your dream life is planting the seeds in your mind that will develop into the garden you always wished for.
    Learn how to create the story of your life in your mind and watch it come to life before your eyes. Whether it's creating a new business or reaching a personal goal, Shannon will discuss how speaking your story into existence can help you achieve your dreams.
    Shannon Ferguson is an award-winning tech founder who has scaled her business, FanSaves, across North America and who has been able to achieve many of the goals she aimed for using a combination of manifestation and hard work, pairing the logical with the existential and using the Law of Assumption to cultivate the professional and personal life she always dreamed of. 


BIO

  • Shannon is an award-winning entrepreneur who currently leads the growing team at tech startup FanSaves, as Co-Founder & CEO. With nearly 20 years of marketing and sponsorship experience, her skills extend into branding, leadership and sales which have helped her scale her company across North America. Shannon is also a keynote speaker, a writer, a TV Host and the current co-host of the Living the Startup podcast. She has won an Ottawa Forty Under 40 (2022), a Canadian Business Elite 40 Under 40 (2023), Ottawa’s Businesswoman of the Year- Emerging Entrepreneur (2022) and multiple other awards and recognitions.


About FanSaves

  • FanSaves is a digital platform that offers users discounts and deals from sponsors and affiliated brands of their favourite teams and organizations while capturing customer analytics with every redemption. The platform is used as a sponsorship revenue generator and fan engagement tool for teams in 24 different sports leagues across North America, featuring thousands of deals from local and national brands and businesses.
     

Opening Remarks With Michele Allinotte

Michele Allinotte is an (almost) lifelong resident of Cornwall and area. She is a business

owner, volunteer, engaged citizen and advocate.

She has been involved in various local organizations – Rotary Club of Cornwall, Agape Centre, CUREA (Coalition for Unity, Respect, Equity and Equality for All), Children’s Aid Society Board, Eastern Ontario Training Board, and many more organizations. She has also done many public education sessions both as a lawyer and as a volunteer.

As a lawyer, she helps people who have lost a loved one with estate matters; works with families and businesses plan for their future with wills, powers of attorney, trusts, and corporate matters; and helps people buy, sell and refinance real estate.

When she is not working on Journey Law, or her travel agent business, Michele is going for long walks with her dog Finn, spending time with her children, partner and step-children. She regularly travels and never met a new destination she didn’t like.

Speakers- Panel Facilitators- Workshop Leads

Louis Béland, Executive Director Eastern Ontario Agri-food Network

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

 

Louis is inspired and driven by the success of entrepreneurs in Ontario. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, he has gained experience across a wide range of sectors, from multimedia production and agricultural automation to coffee roasting, a venture that earned him the Young Entrepreneur Award for two consecutive years.

From start-u

 

Louis is inspired and driven by the success of entrepreneurs in Ontario. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, he has gained experience across a wide range of sectors, from multimedia production and agricultural automation to coffee roasting, a venture that earned him the Young Entrepreneur Award for two consecutive years.

From start-up management to business succession, Louis enjoys sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm. As Regional Director of the Société économique de l’Ontario, he implemented youth and entrepreneurial programs and built the largest team of GrowthWheel-certified business advisors in Canada.

Currently, Louis is leading workforce development and agri-food initiatives in the region through his work with the Eastern Ontario Training Board and the Réseau agroalimentaire de l’Est ontarien. His roles allow him to merge his entrepreneurial insights with a dedication to supporting the local communities.

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

 

Juliette is known for her passion for community. In the last five years in her role at United Way Centraide SDG (UWC SDG),she has shown this region that the UWC SDG is more than a fundraising organization. Her leadership pushed the UWC SDG to be a unifying voice in the region by building strategic community partnerships. In March 2020, s

 

Juliette is known for her passion for community. In the last five years in her role at United Way Centraide SDG (UWC SDG),she has shown this region that the UWC SDG is more than a fundraising organization. Her leadership pushed the UWC SDG to be a unifying voice in the region by building strategic community partnerships. In March 2020, she created the Regional Emergency Response Council with the Social Development Council of Cornwall which brought together over 25 agencies, non-profits and service clubs to invest millions of Federal Government investments into the nonprofits of this region. This group continues to work together today, meeting bi-monthly to discuss critical community issues and working on solutions collaboratively.

During the very challenging years to fundraise that lay behind us, she continued with her team to innovate and push limits, increasing the UWC SDG’s financial investment in projects, creating new and inventive solutions to some of our most pressing issues, and therefore increasing how our community helps our most vulnerable.  This was achieved through relevant, and key partnerships that continue to grow today.

Her commitment to ‘housing for all’ played a key role in the City of Cornwall’s Winter housing plan that brought individuals from encampments into transitional and supportive living arrangements over the winter of 2023.  The UWC SDG continues to be at the forefront of Housing initiatives in this region and has great ambitions for the possibilities if we all worked together and grow from each other.

David Wood, President Rotary Club of Cornwall

Juliette Labossière, Executive Director, United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry

David Wood, President Rotary Club of Cornwall

 

 David Wood is a joyful and curious individual with a genuine love for his fellow man and a desire to uplift those less fortunate than himself. He is currently serving as the President of the Rotary Club of Cornwall, where he has been a Rotarian since 2001, participating in numerous community projects and committees. He is the husband of

 

 David Wood is a joyful and curious individual with a genuine love for his fellow man and a desire to uplift those less fortunate than himself. He is currently serving as the President of the Rotary Club of Cornwall, where he has been a Rotarian since 2001, participating in numerous community projects and committees. He is the husband of Sandy Wood and is deeply dedicated to their four grown children and four grandchildren.

As a member of the First Baptist Church in Cornwall, David serves as a worship leader, driven by his lifelong passion for music. He and Sandy also led youth ministries there for many years and served on the Board of Directors.

Career-wise, David began as a police officer in 1980 before transitioning to work with high-risk teens in the community. He served as a youth worker, program supervisor, director, and eventually president and CEO of Youth Now Intervention Services. In this role, he employed over 100 youth workers and oversaw five community residential centers and open custody facilities under contract with the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth. He retired in 2019 after a long and fulfilling career. David has served on many community panels and boards both locally and provincially.

David enjoys golfing, cycling (both motor and pedal), kayaking, fishing, and playing the piano (albeit badly). He is a news junkie and enjoys craft beer with friends.

 David’s commitment to the community can be demonstrated through his involvement over the years with the following organizations, where he has significantly contributed to the impact on communities: 

Youth Justice Ontario (Officer/Director)

Provincial North South Partnership with First Nations People (Member)

Coalition to End Family Violence in SD&G (Board of Directors)

Justice and Mental Health Coordinating Committee, SD&G (Chair)

Champlain Valley Justice and Mental Health Coordinating Committee (Member)

Centre York Centre (Board of Directors)

Heart of the Family Child Care (Executive Director/Board Member)

Youth for Christ Eastern Region (Board of Directors)

Boys & Girls Club SD&G (Chair)

First Baptist Church (Board of Directors)

Rotary Club of Cornwall (Board of Directors)

Rotary District 7040 Passport Club (Board of Directors)


 

Doreen Ashton Wagner Founder & Executive Director Business Sisters |

Brenda Norman, Founder Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects Nonprofit & Community Leader

Doreen Ashton Wagner Founder & Executive Director Business Sisters |


Doreen Ashton Wagner is an accomplished entrepreneur and advocate for rural women

business owners. With a background in marketing and hospitality, she co-founded Greenfield

Hospitality Service Inc. and later transitioned to consulting for non-profits and associations. In

2018, Doreen established Business Sisters | Consoeurs en Affaires, a bi


Doreen Ashton Wagner is an accomplished entrepreneur and advocate for rural women

business owners. With a background in marketing and hospitality, she co-founded Greenfield

Hospitality Service Inc. and later transitioned to consulting for non-profits and associations. In

2018, Doreen established Business Sisters | Consoeurs en Affaires, a bilingual social enterprise

dedicated to supporting rural women entrepreneurs in SD&G and Prescott-Russell. After selling

her business in 2016, Doreen returned to graduate school and focused her research on the

entrepreneurial resilience of rural women business owners at a time of crisis. During the

pandemic, she worked with ACCFutures to assist business owners to access financial support.

Doreen’s vision extends beyond resilience, aiming to create thriving communities for rural

women entrepreneurs. Based in Alexandria, ON, she is passionate about rural

entrepreneurship, social enterprise and sustainability. She can be reached at hello@Business-

Sisters.ca or on social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Angie Parker, Community & Animal Advocate Founder A Cup of Kindness Tea Company

Brenda Norman, Founder Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects Nonprofit & Community Leader

Doreen Ashton Wagner Founder & Executive Director Business Sisters |

 

 

Angie Parker is a dynamic project coordinator and non-profit leader, renowned for their exceptional research, management, and communication skills. With a passion for climate mitigation and adaptation planning, Angie has spearheaded innovative initiatives that tackle environmental challenges head-on.

Beyond her environmental work, Angie 

 

 

Angie Parker is a dynamic project coordinator and non-profit leader, renowned for their exceptional research, management, and communication skills. With a passion for climate mitigation and adaptation planning, Angie has spearheaded innovative initiatives that tackle environmental challenges head-on.

Beyond her environmental work, Angie is a fundraising and grant-writing wizard, securing essential resources to fuel impactful non-profit projects.Her love for animals inspired the creation of A Cup of Kindness Tea Company, a delightful venture that blends compassion with entrepreneurship.

With a zest for making a difference and a knack for bringing people together, Angie continues to inspire and drive positive change in the community. Her journey is a testament to the power of dedication, creativity, and 

a heart full of kindness.

\

Brenda Norman, Founder Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects Nonprofit & Community Leader

Brenda Norman, Founder Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects Nonprofit & Community Leader

Brenda Norman, Founder Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects Nonprofit & Community Leader

 

 

 Brenda likes to call herself a “seasonal worker” because with every season, her work changes—from farmer to educator to community developer. Brenda Norman is a Senior Consultant at Vectors Group, where she focuses on supporting the diverse needs of Non-Profits, Social Enterprises, Charities, and Communities. 

With a BA in Arts and Scien

 

 

 Brenda likes to call herself a “seasonal worker” because with every season, her work changes—from farmer to educator to community developer. Brenda Norman is a Senior Consultant at Vectors Group, where she focuses on supporting the diverse needs of Non-Profits, Social Enterprises, Charities, and Communities. 

With a BA in Arts and Sciences and Human System Intervention, and Education Brenda brings 30 years of experience in Community Development, Education, and the Nonprofit fields. She uses her creative processes, resourcefulness, and integral approaches to motivate and unite individuals and organizations, helping them build on their mission, vision, and project mobilization.

In her role as VP and Community Developer, Brenda orchestrated all the pieces of the inaugural Growing Together Conference and Summit. This event aims to unite all stakeholders and community members to collaborate, build a shared vision, and mobilize growth through change and innovation from the bottom up.

As a Trainer with Vectors Institute, Brenda turns theory and best practices into experiential learning opportunities for those interested in or working in Nonprofits. Her expertise includes strategic evaluation, critical analysis of roles and responsibilities, funding diversification, marketing, stakeholder engagement, project development and management, group dynamics, team and leadership development, 

and capacity building.

Brenda’s dedication has earned her several accolades, including the Governor General’s Award for Community Development, the Canada 150 Community Volunteerism Award, and the Excellence in Leadership and Community Development Award from Concordia University.

Crystal Preston, World Traveler, Culinary Explorer, Human Advocate

Danielle McCormick, Public Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Maison Baldwin House

Crystal Preston, World Traveler, Culinary Explorer, Human Advocate

 

Crystal Preston is an avid traveler and culinary enthusiast with a profound appreciation for culture and its many expressions. Her journey through diverse landscapes and cuisines has not only enriched her palate but has also deepened her understanding of the world and its people. Each trip she embarks on is an opportunity to explore new 

 

Crystal Preston is an avid traveler and culinary enthusiast with a profound appreciation for culture and its many expressions. Her journey through diverse landscapes and cuisines has not only enriched her palate but has also deepened her understanding of the world and its people. Each trip she embarks on is an opportunity to explore new flavors, traditions, and stories, all of which she cherishes and weaves into her daily life.

Resilience is a cornerstone of Crystal’s character. Throughout her career and personal experiences, she has faced numerous challenges that have tested her strengths and determination. Each obstacle has taught her valuable lessons about perseverance and adaptability. She believes that being resourceful is essential in navigating both the professional realm and personal endeavors. Crystal constantly seeks innovative solutions and creative approaches to overcome hurdles, ensuring that she remains focused on her goals.

In her professional life, Crystal has cultivated a robust skill set that spans various administrative disciplines, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to any team or project she is a part of. She thrives in collaborative environments where she can share her insights and learn from others, fostering a culture of mutual growth and support. Her ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds enables her to build strong, impactful relationships that are essential for success.

Crystal is passionate about continuous learning and approaches each new challenge as a chance to expand her knowledge and skills. Whether through formal education, professional development, or personal exploration, she firmly believes that growth is a lifelong journey. Her commitment to self-improvement drives her to seek out new experiences, whether in the kitchen experimenting with international recipes or engaging with local communities.

In summary, Crystal Preston is a force to be reckoned with, blending her love for travel, culinary arts, and culture with resilience and resourcefulness. Her journey is a mosaic of experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today, and she looks forward to the adventures that lie ahead as she continues to explore and celebrate the rich tapestry of life.


Yafa

Danielle McCormick, Public Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Maison Baldwin House

Crystal Preston, World Traveler, Culinary Explorer, Human Advocate

Danielle McCormick, Public Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Maison Baldwin House

Danielle McCormick, Public Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Maison Baldwin House

Danielle McCormick, Public Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Maison Baldwin House

 

Danielle McCormick has been the Public Educator and Volunteer Coordinator for Maison Baldwin House for 8 years. She believes that education is a crucial step in removing the stigma surrounding the shelter and its services, and it is also key to prevention. Every time she speaks to a group, Danielle creates awareness about what healthy re

 

Danielle McCormick has been the Public Educator and Volunteer Coordinator for Maison Baldwin House for 8 years. She believes that education is a crucial step in removing the stigma surrounding the shelter and its services, and it is also key to prevention. Every time she speaks to a group, Danielle creates awareness about what healthy relationships should look like and makes people aware of red flags and signs of abuse. By planting the seeds of respect, consent, and healthy communication, she hopes to help stop abuse before the cycle has a chance to start.

Danielle has also been a significant part of Serendipity Boutique, a social enterprise that supports the organization. As a collaborator and advocate, she is on a mission to help and support survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking today.

Speakers

Our Team

Our team is made up of licensed therapists, social workers, and other mental health professionals who are passionate about supporting mental health and wellness in our community.

Cornwall Civic Complex & Patio

11am to 5pm

  

Network and connect! 

 

Community Brainstorming and Mindmapping!

 

Participate in workshops, panels and hands on learning!


Come contribute and become involved in your community! 


Delicious Food & Drink all day long!




Featuring Artists & Community Art Activities

Wanda Bender

Yafa Goawily

Yafa Goawily

Yafa Goawily

Yafa Goawily

Yafa Goawily

Copyright © 2024 Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects - All Rights Reserved.

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