2007 Speakers below:
Main Speakers
Erica Ehm
Kati Durst
Melissa Schenk
Other Presenters
Cathy Anstett
Jennifer Crake
Carolyn Drummond
Chad Eastham
Abbey Sparks
Joan Maloney
Dana Robinson
Erica Ehm, founder of www.yummymummyclub.ca , is one of Canada's most recognized personalities. Chosen to be the first female MuchMusic host, she became the voice of her generation. Since then Ehm has remained in the spotlight as her multi-faceted media career has blossomed in television, radio, film, theater, journalism, songwriting, and music publishing.
Erica is most well known for her work on television.
She was the co-creator and host of Yummy Mummy, a parenting show for the music video generation, which aired on Life Network. Other television productions Erica hosted; Nestle Baby and You on Rogers Television, Popstars - The One- Global, Real Life with Erica Ehm-Life Network, Power Play-Discovery Channel, and The Company -TVO.
Erica's stage debut was in the Crows Theatre production of Unidentified Human Remains. She played the lead role in the indie feature Jigsaw and had a cameo in Atom Egoyan's feature film Ararat.
Since becoming a mother in 2000, Erica has directed some of her energies into her children's world. She was contributing editor for What's Up Kids magazine delving into the world of parenting and literacy. Erica has also written three stage musicals for the family market. After her first play Caillou's Big Party sold out in soft seaters across North America, she was commissioned to write two other shows, The Big Comfy Couch and Caillou's Big Book Club.
She is the author of the best-selling book, She Should Talk: Conversations with Exceptional Women about Life, Dreams and Success published by HarperCollins. Encouraging women and young people to follow their dreams is the central re-occurring theme for many of the projects to which Erica Ehm has committed.
In keeping with this theme, Erica accepted a position on the Advisory Board of the Heritage Educational Foundation. As a member of this board, she is involved with the program conceived by Heritage which recognizes Early Childhood Education teachers with the National Excellence (NEAT)Awards for Teachers in Early Childhood Development.
Ehm's talents extend to her songwriting as well. Van Morrison, Tim Thorney, Cassandra Vasik, Lynne Taylor Donovan and Tom Jackson are a few of the artists who have recorded her songs. She has won two Junos, three Country Music Awards and three SOCAN Awards. She also co-wrote the theme song for the animated film and series Pippi Longstocking. Her song Love Me Even More was chosen as the theme for the feature Some Things That Stay.
Erica hosted a weekly call-in show on CFRB1010, Canada's news/talk radio station, featuring a combination of current event and lifestyle related topics.
Due to her extensive experience in the world of entertainment, as well as succeeding in achieving many of her dreams, Erica is in demand on the speaking/hosting circuit.
Erica's son Joshua is seven years old (already!), and little sister Jessie is four.
Summer 2006, Canada got it's first glimpse of Kati Durst. Finishing tenth on the fourth season of Canadian Idol, the small town country girl showed Canada just how big her voice, and her heart, can be. After spending most of her life on a stage, performing as a dancer, actor, and most notably, as a singer, she's finally got some attention nationally, but this is just the beginning.
Kati Durst - 27 years old - cascading blond hair - got lost in a song years ago and never found her way out - doesn’t want to.
Eleven years training as a highland dancer - started at age four.
At age seven she first recorded as a singer with her mother and sister - mom had won a spot on a cassette with an original song. Seems it runs in the family!
Began stage acting at age twelve. Has played lead roles in Romeo & Juliette, Peter Pan, Macbeth, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2003 she showed up on film, Canada-wide, playing the part of Kelly in a National Public Service Announcement aimed at educating the parents of young men on sexual assault. The ad ran on stations across the country in the summer, fall and winter of 2003.
Next Kati found herself tangled up with friend and songwriter, Jeff White, garnering appreciation and respect performing Jeff’s original works as the duo Young and Foolish.
In 2006, sparked by a desire to see an old friend who works for the show, Kati auditioned for Canadian Idol. After impressing both judges and producer’s, she then went on to impress Canada, making her way to the Top Ten. With momentum on her side, Kati arrived home after Idol and immediately began finding players and forming new projects, writing songs and studying improv with The Second City in Toronto.
While pursuing acting - she will be co-starring in an independent feature film being shot near her home - the music is finding its way out through one project in particular. It's a collaboration of musicians from Huron County who have been regular fixtures at The Ranch - the old farmhouse north of town which has been their musical home for years. In fact, the three of them lived together there through some very long and snowy winter days. In tribute to the joys and trials of the very long lane at The Ranch (winter requires snowshoes and 4-wheel drive), and to draw attention to their rural characteristics, Dave Sutherland (Bass), and Craig Harrison (Guitar), join Kati Durst (Vocals) in forming Quarter Mile Lane - keep your ears open, they’re already getting attention. From bouncy originals to smooth heartfelt ballads and twangy covers of June Carter and Johnny Cash, Quarter Mile Lane has a unique sound which they bring from the Lake Huron air swept through windmills and the gravel roads of Huron County, that will leave your spirit moved and your toe tapping.
Understanding the dedication, hard work, and intense satisfaction that it takes to make dreams come true, Kati is thrilled to share her experiences and advice, words of comfort and some kicks in the butt to others who dream. In fact, it is a great source of inspiration to her. Encouraging youth to cultivate community and see the possibilities around them is also very important to her. Kati has spent time volunteering with numerous youth organizations, and is very dedicated to ensuring we give our youth support in becoming their best selves and realizing their dreams. There is nothing we can't do, no vision we can't see realized, and the power to believe is the most important tool we can possess.
With plans to record her first album, due for release in spring 2008, acting opportunities panning out with the release of her feature film debut due for release next year as well, Kati is poised at the beginning of what promises to be a strong and successful performing career.
Originally from Stratford, Melissa's broadcasting career began in radio at 1240 CJCS, as the Mid-Day Announcer / Promotions Director. Growing up Melissa always had a bug for performingŠ A graduate of Fanshawe College's Television Broadcasting Program, Melissa interned with CNN in Uganda. A passion for public speaking and a love of travel lead her abroad working as a Port Lecturer on cruise ships. In 2003, she returned to Southwestern Ontario and began working as a Weather Announcer for CTV, as well as launching her own Production Company - MS2 Productions. Currently, Melissa is a Weather Anchor on A Channel in London. As part of her production company, Melissa has recently launched a new program called Spread the Sunshine, which takes people on a journey to answer the question - How do you want to be Remembered?
Melissa says her disabled sister Amy, has made her the compassionate person she is today!
Melissa has traveled to parts of East Africa, Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, USA - including Alaska and Hawaii, but has still not been to Atlantic Canada!
Owner of Catherine Wright Designs in Stratford, has over 27 years of retail sales, customer service and business management experience.
In 1979, Cathy joined Anstett Jewelers, a family owned business, to become part of the sales and management team, traveled to England, Switzerland and New York on buying trips and studied at the Gemological Institute in California.
Cathy started her floral business in 1991. Now, 16 years later, and in a larger space, Cathy employs a team of dedicated professionals that are committed in designing ‘works of art’ to meet a wide variety of customer needs and occasions. Whether it’s expressing love, celebrating an event, providing comfort in a loss, or simply beautifying a space. One customer recently told Cathy her flowers ‘gets him out of the doghouse every time.’
Cathy is a member of St Joseph’ Catholic Church and The Stratford Rotary Club. Cathy is also on the Board for the Foundation for Enriching Education . She has completed her Certificate in The Professional Leadership program through Continuing Education at Western, and developed and conducted a number of presentations on “Working a Room” and “Selling and Managerial Skills for the Retail Florist”
After attending an Oprah Winfrey seminar entitled “Live Your Best Life” in Texas, Cathy founded the first “Girl Power Success” workshop in November of 2005. The Oprah seminar inspired her to do something in Stratford that would enrich the lives of local teenage girls.
Publishing Coordinator
Jennifer spent her early years swimming in the waters of Wasaga Beach and skiing the hills in nearby Collingwood. When her family moved to Bradford in the 1980s she attended Bradford District High School before completing her secondary education at a Canadian school in France. Jennifer went on to do her undergraduate degree the University of Western Ontario and her Master's at Queen's University in Kingston. During and between degrees, Jennifer satisfied her travel bug by participating in a Student Work Abroad Program in Australian & New Zealand and tested her fundraising skills with Greenpeace Canada. After spending a few years living and working in the England, Jennifer moved to Toronto where she spends her time working in book publishing, teaching spinning, training on her road bike and hanging out with her family and friends.
Management & Wellness Consultant
Carolyn Drummond was born and raised in Stratford Ontario. Carolyn
attended Bedford Public School and Central High School. She has a
diploma from Cornell University in hospitality management and is
currently enrolled part time at University of Waterloo completing her BA
in Business. She has been married for 12 years and a mother of 4 boys
Jack, Mackenzie, Charlie and Noah. She has achieved many of the goals
she has set for herself including starting her own business. Carolyn and
her sister have a management company that does consulting in many
various business and hospitality areas. Until 2006 when her family sold
the Inn, she was the General Manager of the Victorian Inn here in
Stratford a 115 room full service hotel. She is very active in the
community with many credits to her name. She is a Rotarian and achieved
their highest honor a "Paul Harris Fellowship", the Chamber of Commerce
awarded her their personal excellence award and the Victorian Inn also
won that award in the year prior. She has served on the Gallery
Stratford Board, Founding member of the Stratford Book Festival,
Children's Book Festival, Sunday school teacher and volunteers at her
children's school on the parent councilor and reading mentor. She has
coached soccer and cross-country and is a runner herself, completing 6
full marathons including Boston twice in each of the past two years and
plans to launch a Stratford Marathon in 2010. As well as literacy,
fitness and nutrition are her passions and she has been trained as
wellness consultant with a new health franchise "Juice Plus" that will
focus solely on increasing the health and welfare of children and adults
alike.
Chad Eastham is a member of the Revolve Tour www.revolvetour.com, which is a weekend event for teen girls - a fun, fast-paced, action-packed time when thousands of teens pile into an arena to hear about how much God loves them. This tour is travelling to a number of cities across the USA. When he's not at Revolve, Chad speaks about at-risk youth behaviours as the assistant director of Healthy Visions, an education-based not-for-profit organization. He knows what he's talking about, having experienced a lot of at-risk behaviours drinking, drug abuse, fighting with police, and so on- himself. Chad served as a leader for Campus Crusade for Christ, a chemical dependency counsellor, an Alaskan Adventure Guide, and an advocate for youth issues state-wide and nationally. He's the co-author of a national award-winning curriculum on sexual education for youth. Chad's book, The Truth About Guys, gives girls honest answers to burning questions about guys.
Abbey Sparks is a 16 year old grade 11 student from St. Michaels Secondary School in Stratford. Abbey plays competitive volleyball for the Stratford Stingers, plays tennis & runs track for St. Mikes, plays the guitar, and loves photography. She went on a teen mission trip this summer to Kenya, Africa where she helped build a school for children in rural Kenya. Abbey is a camp counsellor at Olympia Sports Camp, is a certified coach with the Ontario Volleyball Association, and has started a water project with Free the Children as a result of her trip to Africa this summer.
Joan MaloneyPersonal Trainer/Fitness Consultant
Joan Maloney is a Canfitpro Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor who owns and operates Body Moves Fitness Studio here in Stratford. Being a life long fitness enthusiast, it is a dream come true to be working at something she loves to do, by helping people attain, maintain and surpass their fitness goals.
Personal Trainer/
Fitness Consultant
Dana is currently a health and fitness consultant with Excel Fitness and Lifestyle Consultants. She also volunteers at the Stratford-Perth Family YMCA teaching various group fitness classes.
She has been involved in health and fitness since she was a young teenager. She began going to aerobics classes with her mom when she was only 13 years old. This led to a passion for fitness - training with weights and participating in various aerobics classes. The results gained from this positive change in lifestyle inspired Dana to become a certified aerobics instructor. She wished to motivate others to better their lives in a friendly group atmosphere. Dana later became a certified personal trainer so she could help people on a more personal level. Dana attended Westervelt College and earned a diploma in Police Foundations. In addition to a career in Personal Training, she hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement.