Delicia Raveenthrarajan is an 18 year old speaker, performer and author who has been decorated with the Governor General’s Sovereign Volunteer Medal of Canada, and the OSTA-AECO Dedication to the Arts Award for her passion in music education and youth empowerment through the arts. Working with WE for 10 years, and as an ambassador for several organizations, Delicia uses public speaking, singing, and writing as a catalyst to inspire. Her work has been published by the likes of Teen Vogue and The Mighty, and her music has been released on international platforms. 

Delicia’s public speaking journey started at an early age and her experience ranges from her work with organizations and the government, to educational institutes, various events, and conferences. Highlights include speaking at The University of Toronto, performing New Years Eve in Kenya, speaking on Mental Health for the Premier of Ontario, and working alongside the Canadian Government in preparation for the 2018 G7 Summit. Delicia has worked across North America and around the world in order to share her story and advocate for youth mental health and wellbeing.

In addition to advocacy and youth empowerment, as a recent graduate of the Performing Arts at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I., Delicia specialized in voice and cello, also contributing to the program as a violinist and student conductor. She recently performed in Ottawa at MusicFest Canada 2019 with the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir where she was named the recipient of the 2019 Ellison Vocal Scholarship. In addition, Delicia works as a Music Theatre Staff at the National Music Camp of Canada, and directs various ensembles at St.Paul’s L’ Amoreaux Anglican Church. 

As a combination of her passions for youth empowerment, social justice, and the arts, Delicia currently works as a Choral Conductor at Sistema Toronto while also in school for a double major in music and neuropsychology.

Fun Fact: Delicia’s full name is longer than the English alphabet!

Frankie grew up in London, United Kingdom, before settling in Toronto, Canada in 2018.  Frankie is a queer non-binary person, with 5+ years of experience working as an organizer, speaker, facilitator and youth worker. Travelling across the UK and North America, Frankie has worked with over 100,000 young people, supporting them in ideating and realizing social change in their communities.

Frankie studied International Politics at university, delving deeper into the reasons why so many local and global issues exist. They left university determined to work towards dismantling the oppressive structures and systems that characterise the modern day, knowing that it is young people that can have the most impact. They are looking towards creating a world where the barriers and boxes that are put around young folks growing up are eradicated, a world where you can be the person that you are without stigma and can live as your most authentic self.

Frankie is no stranger to giving back to their community through social action, whether it is volunteering at their local foodbank, youth group or community centre, and participating in campaigns linked to LGBTQ+ rights, migrant rights and gender equality.

Having spent most of their teen years coming to terms with their identity and their place in this world, Frankie is thrilled to be spending G Day with us this year. Meeting the next generation of leaders and working together to make this world as inclusive and connected as possible.

Talitha Tolles (27, she/her) is a Queer, Indigenous rights activist, a motivational speaker, a storyteller, an artist, and above all else a strong, resilient, Metis womxn.

Her ancestors were Drummond Island Voyageurs and settled in Penetanguishene. Talitha was raised in the concrete jungle but feels that her true home is on the shores of Georgian Bay where she grew up with her Grandparents. Growing up Talitha was unaware of her Indigenous roots and felt as though a piece of her spirit was missing. 

In 2013 Talitha set out on a new journey as a Facilitator and Motivational Speaker. After years on the frontline and managing a team of 20+ speakers she became the Associate Director of Indigenous Relations. In this role she created the Indigenous Relations segment and oversaw all programs and partnerships with over 100+ communities.  Through her work Talitha ensures a people first approach and operates through a framework that is committed to equity, always.

Talitha has worked with over 300,000 + people to engage in active citizenship by promoting awareness, agency and support for Indigenous populations. She has had the privilege of speaking at and hosting many events including WE Day alongside Gord Downie, and the Downie Wenjack Fund, Jack Summit where she spoke about advocacy and self-care in the context of youth mental health, The Youth Forum – Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society which featured guest speaker Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and most recently was a speaker at UNESCO, in Paris for the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.

Outside of her everyday work, Talitha takes pride in being a creative. She is a skilled Graphic facilitator and recorder where she takes complex concepts and ideas and breaks them down using visuals and typography. When Talitha puts down her pens and markers she trades them in for a needle and thread, as the owner of an Indigenous run beading company, Redwood Bead

Amanda Laird is a writer, Registered Holistic Nutritionist™ and host of the Heavy Flow Podcast – a feminist, body positive podcast about reproductive health and wellness. Amanda is the author of Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation, available wherever books are sold.

She lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.

Nadine Thornhill, Ed.D is one of Canada’s foremost experts on child and adolescent sexuality. For over a
decade, she has been helping youth make positive, informed choices about their bodies and
relationships.

Nadine has worked with local and national organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Action Canada
For Sexual Health and Rights, The Center For Sex Education, and the Toronto District School Board. She
also provides frequent media commentary on issues related to sex education; runs an active YouTube
channel, and is the writer/co-host of the webseries Sex Ed School.

In her spare time, Nadine enjoys escape rooms, weekend hikes with her family, and watching bad
television with her fur baby Albus Dumblecat

Caitlin Patterson is an Indigenous Doula, Earth keeper, and Inclusivity Advisor.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women’s studies with an emphasis on Indigenous women but finds her most powerful learning continues to take place in traditional Indigenous ceremony, storytelling, and in her medicine garden. Caitlin advises at a national level with businesses and non-profits that deliver programs that connect young people to Indigenous frameworks to create space for Indigenous people to be seen and heard.  

As a full spectrum Indigenous Doula, Caitlin helps women reclaim our roles as life givers in our communities, while expanding our understanding of what it means to be a Mother. She is an advocate for the importance of girls and women and the roles we all play in nurturing development in our communities. Caitlin recently launched Red Bird Medicines; A botanical approach to maintaining personal balance of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements by nurturing our relationship with the plants around us. 

 Altogether, Caitlin works to decolonize the way are raising the next generations to come.

Amanda (Ama) Scriver is a body image advocate, freelance journalist, social media strategist,  and speaker with over ten years of experience under her belt.

Best known for being fat, loud, and shouty on the Internet, she has lent her voice to Leafly, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, FLARE, The Walrus, The National Post and Allure on topics ranging from body politics to mental health awareness, plus size fashion and cannabis. Her advocacy work has also been featured in FASHION Magazine, NOW Magazine, CBC Radio, Local Love and The Toronto Star – to name a few.

The things that bring her joy are bold lipstick, reality television, and potato chips. She lives in Toronto, Canada. She is in the midst of writing her first book, a memoir, on the intersections between trauma and the body.

Gemma Sheehan is the Founder, Girls Who Fight, a former MMA champion who promotes girls empowerment through teaching self defense.

Sally Hakim (she/her) is a queer woman of colour, passionate leadership facilitator, motivational speaker
and social justice advocate. Growing up in in East York and going to school in the TDSB Sally fell in love
with building and fostering a sense of community in the city. At 18 Sally began travelling the world
connecting with communities and delivering leadership development programs. For her work she has
been honoured with the Status of Women Award by the OSSTF and was recognized as one of the Top 20
Under 20 in Canada.

Today, Sally is back in Toronto and back working alongside youth and educators in the TDSB as Manager
of the Youth To Youth program; a program that believes play is at the core of leadership and works to
equip youth with the leadership and team building skills to thrive.

Sally’s favourite past times include playing video games, eating skittles and hanging out with her dog
Gryffindor (yes, she is a big Harry Potter fan).

Lara is a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience providing direct support to children, youth, young adults and families in community-based agencies.

Lara currently provides therapy to young people ages 0-29 and their families at a Children’s Mental Health organization in Toronto, as well; she has a small private therapy practice.

When she is not helping others, she nourishes herself with a great love of the outdoors, cycling, theatre, dance and music. Lara is excited to share her knowledge about emotions and self-care with you all!

Lindsay Sealey, is the author of Growing Strong Girls: Practical Tools to Cultivate Connection in the Preteen Years (2017) and Rooted, Resilient, and Ready: Empowering Teens Girls as They Grow (February 2020). She holds a B.A. from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University.

Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Bold New Girls: a unique teaching and coaching company, merging academic and social and emotional support, and emphasizing empowerment and personal growth. Lindsay is a passionate keynote speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator for students, teachers, parents, and communities.

Lindsay has appeared on CTV’s The Social, Global’s The Morning Show, and Toronto’s The Agenda. As well, she has spoken on NewsTalk 1010 Radio (Toronto), CJAD 800 (Montreal), and CBC Radio (Canada). Lindsay is a contributor to the Globe and Mail, HuffPost Canada, and Spoke. She has been featured in the Toronto Star, Canadian Family, and Today’s Parent.

Yamikani started teaching in May 2017 in Ottawa after finding that most yoga spaces did not reflect the communities that she was apart of. They needed to find home and community, so started to teach Bodyfull Yoga for folks in larger bodies and collaborated with Kind Space to offer Yoga for Queer and Trans folks.  Since moving to Toronto they have offered trauma-informed yoga class for survivors of sexual violence called SEEDS.

Yamikani is a collective member of Brown Girls Yoga.

Mando (Amanda Wand) is a queer Toronto-based visual storyteller that believes in the power of process through creation. She is an intuitive abstract painter that uses art as a way to navigate the many complex emotions, experiences and identities of our world with the intention to invite others to process their own truths through her work.

She has a professional background in facilitation and has delivered motivational speeches and workshops on social justice, youth empowerment and art activism to over 50,000 people globally. Mando regularly contributes her art to local social justice causes and charity functions. She recently has supported WE Charity, Rainbow Railroad, and Dreaming for Kids Charity. She continually uses her artist platform to support causes she cares about as she believes in the power of art to bring together community and create real change.

Ola Mazzuca is a publicist and multimedia producer passionate about music, storytelling and community.

She is a partner of Syzygy Toronto through her platform, Sonic Fold.

Maya Shoucair started her career in government and nonprofit before moving into tech. A first-generation immigrant to Canada, she built up a network of mentors to help her get to the next level in her career. Now a Diversity and Belonging Specialist for Shopify, helping make commerce better for everyone.

Maya sits on the leadership team for afikra, a global Middle Eastern cultural talk series and previously worked for MediaSmarts, an organization focused on enhancing digital and media literacy education for youth. 

www.twitter.com/mayashoucair

The Teen Wellness Warrior!

I’m on a mission to improve teen wellness and build their foundation so that they own their health for the rest of their life. I believe that if teens are supported in their health early on, the stage for success can really be set. I’m here as a mentor to empower teens throughout the many ups and downs of adolescence. Teens have an immense unharnessed potential – I want to help ensure the potential shines.

Hormonal struggles, acne, painful periods, anxiety and depression, dieting and healthy weight management – all of these can be addressed with a
tailored plan to each teen.  When we build the proper foundations of health they have access to health for the rest of their life.

Kailah Bharath is the co-founder of Syzygy Toronto and a creative storyteller.

She facilitates offline, screen-free events and workshops designed to support women in connecting with themselves and each other.

Nasma Ahmed is a technologist based in the city we now know as Toronto. Nasma is currently the Director of the Digital Justice Lab, our mission is to build towards a more just and equitable digital future.

She has experience working alongside the public service and the non-profit sector, focusing on technology capacity building. In 2017 she was an Open Web Fellow with Mozilla and Ford Foundation, focusing on organizational digital security. She is passionate about community engagement, knowledge translation and speculating the possibilities of the future.