© 2022 All rights reserved
Menu
The 2024 Schedule is still being finalized. The sessions and times below might adjust as we finalize this years roster.
6:00pm
This year we are hosting a virtual meetup. You can hang out on the zoom meeting, network with other like minded individuals and community allies.
6:15pm
Welcome and evening overview
6:30pm
Wayne Lee
20 Minute
In 3 steps learn how to overcome the one thing that is stopping you from living a magical life that is filled with more joy, freedom and love.
For over 25 years, Wayne Lee has been one of North America’s premier corporate presenters, entertainers, and peak performance experts. During his career, he has helped people from over 6000 organizations and various walks of life develop the subconscious mindset that allows them to perform at a high level no matter what challenges they face.
It’s a mindset that empowered him to become a 5-time national wrestling champion and achieve excellence his whole career, but it trance-formed him even more during the pandemic when business came to a screeching halt. Faced with such an intense season of adversity, Wayne had to double down on his own mindset to pivot and grow in new and unexpected ways.
7:00pm
Seth McVeity
20 minute
This is a men’s suicide prevention campaign: a call to action for men, by men, to drive authentic conversation amongst men and their buddies. This is suicide prevention. Participate in the campaign year-round, completing activities that promote connection and wellbeing.
Seth McVeity is the Client Relations Coordinator at Centre for Suicide Prevention. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Mount Royal University, with a major in marketing and a minor in social innovation. Seth supports the Centre’s mission to reduce stigma and increase awareness and uptake of suicide prevention education. The Buddy Up Campaign is one of his main projects, which aims to promote authentic conversations among men and their buddies, while also contributing to the external elements of research and community development projects.
7:30pm
Bryan Saint-Louis
20 Minute
Many times as men we choose to “suck it up” when dealing with issues in our lives. And a lot of times we’ve been told to do this since we were young. These are concepts that we’ve adopted in our lives and now as we’ve done this, it hasn’t served us while looking to heal from issues that have caused us pain in our lives. How do we learn to show up for ourselves and deal with the hurt that has come into our lives, open up properly and heal? Instead of bottling life’s issues away, let’s live beyond the mask.
For over 10 years, Bryan has led the charge as youth advocate and specialist all over North America. As a vibrant and exciting speaker, Bryan energizes youth to build resilience, be better leaders and be the best version of themselves. Bryan has positively influenced youth as a speaker and educator, administrator, at-risk youth specialist, pastor, and leadership Coach.
After the loss of his daughter, Bryan was devastated and battled depression. Despite the overwhelming pain he was experiencing, Bryan has learned to be the husband, father, and educator he can after pain. Through community, self-care, and a deep commitment to his healing, Bryan discovered tools that enabled him to take control of his mental well-being.
Today, Bryan is a beacon of hope for people who are struggling with mental health. He shares his story and strategies with anyone who will listen, offering a message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. And although he will never forget the pain of his loss, he knows that his daughter would be proud of the person he has become. Bryan aims to equip young generations with the necessary tools to thrive in today’s world through speaking, leadership training, and workshops.
8:00 pm
Dr. Jeff St. John
45 Minute + Q & A
“Man Up”, “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Just Push Through”, “Men don’t ask for help”. Our society is filled with many stereotypes of men and a mythology of invulnerability. Systems and supports are not set up to engage men in meaningful ways.
Weaving story, metaphor and research, this presentation highlights ideas of how we can think differently about engaging men, deconstruct our notions of masculinity and vulnerability and listen to the lived experiences of men for clues on how to make change. Provocative and paradigm shifting tools are highlighted and explored through the real life journey of bringing the Men & Project to life.
Dr. Jeff St. John is an impact focused researcher, social entrepreneur and developmental coach focused on designing evidence-based tools for learning, inner development and relational culture building. As Founder of Bluerock Social Impact Partners and the Men & Project Jeff brings a blend of curiosity, creativity, and rigour to build tools, strategies and conversations that catalyze personal, organizational and community change for a more open, just, and relational world.
9:00pm
Evening Close and Take aways
6:00pm
This year we are hosting a virtual expo. You can hang out on the expo floor, network with other like minded individuals and visit booths hosted by our community allies.
6:15pm
Welcome and evening overview
6:30pm
Salvi and Line
20 Minute
Line will provide her experience of sharing a life and living with her bipolar partner, Salvi. They will both discuss the highs and lows, the trials and tribulations and the yin and yang of bipolarity in their relationship.
Line exemplifies her values of kindness, empathy, and generosity. These values were certainly put to the test while dealing with some of Salvi’s manic behaviours. They included driving erratically, sleepless nights, 4 AM bathtub talks, music blaring, windows open in the cold of winter, starting a wave at a formal military graduation ceremony, buying and building LEGO sets in the hotel room while on vacation, and many others. Her patience and compassion prevailed.
7:00pm
Julien Quickstad
20 minute
Often, abuse perpetrated against men is concealed by the victims desire to meet a socially constructed image of a masculine man. In his talk, Julien will reveal his experiences with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by an intimate partner and how coping led to addiction and an internally damaged sense of self. Through his journey of healing, he is reclaiming his story and hopes to support others along their paths.
7:30pm
Greg Kettner
20 Minute
Conversations can save lives. The trouble is, most of us don’t know how to talk about mental health, or what to say. I didn’t either, until five years ago when my stepdaughter lost her father to suicide. When we understand mental health, and when we learn how to reach out and talk about it, everyone is better off. I’ll share three simple ideas on how to start conversations at work or home around mental health. The more we talk, the better our world is.
Greg Kettner is a keynote speaker, trainer, and coach who partners with organizations to increase their revenue, reduce employee stress and create a culture of mental health mindfulness.
He empowers and inspires audiences worldwide to be the very best they can be. His passionate stories will engage you, make you laugh, and touch a tender part of your heart too.
His mission is to help 1,000,000 people WorkHappy so they can live the lives they deserve.
Greg is a world-class connector who’s had beers with Wayne Gretzky, shared the stage with Robin Williams, and almost knocked over Queen Elizabeth II.
Organizations such as Coca-Cola, Ford, SAP, RE/MAX, SYSPRO, and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have worked with Greg to help create their own WorkHappy culture.
8:00pm
Kelli Pafly
45 Min + Q & Aute
Male sexual abuse occurs far more commonly than previously suspected, yet too few victims ever seek support. Countless remain silent, coping through isolation, substance abuse, promiscuity or hypermasculinity.
MEN TOO: UNSPOKEN TRUTHS ABOUT MALE SEXUAL ABUSE is for male survivors and their supporters. It is an educational, heart-wrenching look at 13 male sexual abuse victims experience, written from the perspective of a retired police officer and registered psychologist.
9:00pm
Evening Close and Take aways
6:00pm
Welcome and evening overview
6:15pm
This year some of the men from the Professional Chamber Choir of Canada will perform for us. Vulnerability is at the core of what we talk about when it comes to men and mental health. What can be more vulnerable than a group of men singing together?
6:30pm
15 minutes
In a world where strength is often misinterpreted as the absence of vulnerability, men find themselves wrestling with an invisible adversary: shame. “Unveiling Shadows: Embracing and Healing Male Shame” is a concise yet profound exploration into the depths of shame that men experience, often in silence. This session, led by Harald Bettger, delves into the nature of shame, highlighting its universality and the unique ways it manifests in men’s lives. Through an insightful journey, participants will understand how shame influences personal wellbeing, relationships, and overall health. Bettger will guide attendees through the process of recognizing their own encounters with shame, offering strategies for managing and healing from these experiences. The presentation aims to illuminate the path towards vulnerability and connection, encouraging men to step out of the shadows of shame and into a more authentic, fulfilled life.
Dr. Harald Bettger, BSc MD FRCP, is a seasoned Anesthesiologist with over two decades of practice in Lethbridge, Alberta. Having served as department head for seven years, his medical journey spans from his roots in Waterloo, Ontario, to international experience in Lund, Sweden. Harald’s commitment to understanding and healing shame has led him to become a certified practitioner with the Centre for Healing Shame in Berkeley, California. His mission extends into the medical field, aiming to address the pervasive issue of shame among professionals and patients alike. Collaborating with esteemed organizations like The Shame in Medicine Project and The Shame Conversation, Harald has become a sought-after speaker, sharing his expertise with various medical and mental health professionals.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Harald is an active participant in the Well Doc Alberta Physician Peer Support Program and has received training from the Menhealing Group, supporting men who have endured sexual trauma. When not engaged in his work, he finds solace and rejuvenation in the mountains, enjoying skiing, biking, hiking, and camping with his partner, a licensed psychologist. Harald’s passion for discussing and addressing the challenging topic of male shame is driven by a deep-seated belief in the importance of confronting and healing this often overlooked aspect of men’s mental health.
7:00pm
15 minutes
Men’s Shed’s are an international movement to get men together to create friendships, support networks and positive energy. A Shed can be started in your community if you create a space that is welcoming, team up with a similar minded person, and bring cookies! If you have seen a men’s shed, you have seen one men’s shed. Each shed is unique, but they all have similar values and qualities: grass roots driven, welcoming and community focused. Learn about the key turning points in getting a shed going, and some of the challenges to create a sustainable group moving forward.
Richard Nasedkin is a semi-retired teacher and currently a construction contractor in Grande Prairie. He is passionate about men’s mental health; and has facilitated peer-to-peer support groups, mental health awareness seminars in industry and Suicide Intervention work.
His goal is to encourage the community to go past awareness and removing stigma and into concrete outcomes based spaces for men to actually work on their mental health. While there is a place for therapy and other interventions, many men can benefit by simply having brave spaces that will allow them to be authentic, and vulnerable with other men. It’s when this authenticity is accepted that men can encourage each other to become better.
In the two and half years from starting Men’s Shed GP there have been over 60 different men approach the shed, and up to 15 guys will meet on any day. Some have even started woodworking projects.
7:30 pm
Fran Valenzuela
15 Minute
This converation will feature two Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) workers who will share their lived experiences of the FIFO lifestyle. They will provide insight into the unique challenges of being a FIFO worker and how it affects their lives. They will share the physical and mental health strain that comes with spending long periods away from home, the loneliness and isolation, and the difficulty in maintaining relationships with family, friends, and partners. They will also provide information on the financial and career benefits of working a FIFO job, as well as the ways that they cope with the difficulties of the lifestyle to try and find balance.
Post-traumatic growth is more than recovering, it is about reconfiguration and becoming a better person than you were before the injury occurred. My journey from battling my demons to purging my nightmares in artwork is shared through images based on calls I have attended as a paramedic and firefighter. I will share how my job nearly destroyed my life and, although this is my story, you may connect with them through your own experiences and realize you are not alone in how you are feeling. More importantly, I will share what I did, and continue to do, to build resiliency and recover from my mental stresses. If I can do it, so can you.
8:45pm
Evening Close and Take aways
© 2022 All rights reserved
