Speakers
We are very pleased to offer the following line-up of keynote speakers, workshop presenters, and special guests.
Grant Hume
Stephanie Ash
Mike Greaves
Ontario Arts Council
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
Gord Hume is recognized as one of Canada's leading voices on municipal government, Cultural Planning and Creative Cities, and is an articulate and thoughtful commentator on civic government and community issues. He is a very popular public speaker, an advisor to municipal governments and a respected and often provocative author.
Gord is a popular, highly respected and sought-after public speaker who is known for his passionate and inspiring presentations. He has addressed major audiences and local governments across Canada and the United States. In the fall of 2010 Gord was the keynote speaker at the UNESCO Congress on Creative Cities in South Korea.
As an author, entrepreneur, successful businessman and community leader, Gord has a remarkable record of success. He was in the media industry for many years, winning two "Broadcaster of the Year" awards plus many other national and international awards. He was President of London Broadcasters Limited. He was the founding Publisher of what became Canada’s largest independent community newspaper. Gord created Symphonia Canada, produced three record albums, wrote and produced many radio and TV shows, and served terms as President of the Central Canada Broadcasters Association, Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and board member of the International Broadcast Marketing Executives.
Stephanie Ash founded Firedog Communications in 2003 following her immigration to Canada from the UK.
Leveraging her international management experience in public relations and marketing management, Stephanie has successfully grown Firedog Communications into an award-winning, full-service communications agency.
Stephanie has a proven track record of delivering complex communication strategies in a high profile environment. Prior to launching Firedog Communications, she worked in PR and marketing in Marseille, France, London, England and Sydney, Australia.
Over the course of her career, Stephanie has gained powerful experience across the communications mix, working with a diverse portfolio of clients, varying from Fortune 500 companies to new business start-ups.
Following the launch of Firedog Communications, Stephanie was hailed as an "innovative and influential trailblazer" by Canadian Marketing Magazine in 2005 and was named as one of Canada's Top Ten in the publication's One's To Watch Awards. In 2004 she was named 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' by the Influential Women of Northwestern Ontario Awards and in 2006, won the Northern Ontario Business 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.'
Mike Greaves is the manager of the Northwest Business Centre. In this role, Mike teaches, advises and trains entrepreneurs.
Mike's formal education stems from a Business Administration degree from Lakehead University; however, it's true entrepreneurship that allows Mike to be an enthusiast of today's entrepreneurs. Mike grew up in a family tourism business and for the past 4 years has owned and operated a business of his own, Blitz Advertising.
Mike is passionate about the business planning process and understands it not as a necessary evil but as a vital element to every successful business.
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province's primary funding body for arts activity. We offer funding programs based on artistic discipline. This includes craft, dance, literature, music, theatre, media arts, and visual arts. Plus we have programs based on sectors which include Franco-Ontarian arts, Aboriginal arts as well as Northern arts - which is open only to artists or organizations living in Northern Ontario. We also fund programs with a specific activity focus such as arts education, community and multidisciplinary arts, touring and the presentation/exhibition of artistic work.
The OAC provides funding opportunities for artists at various stages in their career and for a wide range of activities. You can visit our web-site at www.arts.on.ca for specific information on any of our grant programs.
Marilyn McIntosh is the Northwestern Consultant for the OAC and her role is to provide support to artists and organizations in the region who are interested in learning about and discussing potential project ideas. She also assists artists & organizations in completing applications. Marilyn can be reached in Thunder Bay at 1-866-391-2221 or via email at mmcintosh@arts.on.ca,
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
We're ready and waiting for you - for over 20 years, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation has been building great ideas into great futures for Northern Ontario. Today, we continue to help new ideas take root in the North with six unique funding programs designed to foster job creation and strengthen our northern communities.
If you're an artist with the drive to develop your own business, our Northern Entrepreneur Program may be right for you. With funding of up to $125,000 to kick start a business in the North, this could be your opportunity to craft your own future.
We're ready when you are! For more information visit our website at www.nohfc.com. Or come talk with Liz Norman, our Northern Development Advisor in Dryden, and tell us about your great idea. Liz can be contacted at Elizabeth.norman@ontario.ca or 1-807-223-8501.
