Join us for Level's *in-person & livestream* Facing Resistance Speaker Series on November 24, 2022 from 6-8pm EST at 192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto! CPD credits available in Ontario. Save 20% - early bird tickets available until October 28, 2022. Students are free to join! Register here.
Topic
In this Facing Resistance Speaker Series, we'll discuss Reproductive and Gender Rights in Canada.
Introductory Speaker
Kim Wheatley is an Anishinaabe, Ancestral Knowledge Keeper and Traditional Grandmother and member of Shawanaga First Nation Reserve. She has 3 decades of experience as a multi award winning speaker, event organizer, author, and ceremonialist who has presented locally, nationally and internationally on television, radio, magazines, newspaper articles and in many books. Kim is committed to walking the road of reconciliation efforts embraced by Canadians who really want to change lives.
Keynote Speaker
Deepa Mattoo is the Executive Director at the Barbra Schlifer Clinic. She has more than 24 years of experience providing direct human rights-related services, as well as public education, social justice and advocacy, including 3 years as the Clinic’s Legal Director. Deepa brings a deeply intersectional approach to women’s rights and leads the Clinic's position on public policies, programs and public interest interventions. Deepa is an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School for her role as Co-Director of the Feminist Advocacy Program. She is a recipient of the Law Foundation of Ontario’s Community Leadership in Justice Fellow at Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. In 2015, Deepa was awarded the Spirit of Schlifer Award. In 2022, Deepa was the recipient of the Law Society medal and was also awarded the Women of Distinction award for her contributions toward access to justice and advocacy work.
Panelists
Kat Owens is the project director for the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund's (LEAF) Reproductive Justice Project. Her work focuses on using law reform to advance reproductive justice in Canada, particularly through LEAF's branches. Prior to joining LEAF, Kat worked as a staff lawyer at the Long-Term Care Homes Public Inquiry, and as an Assistant Crown Attorney at College Park. She holds law degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University. Outside of work, you will find Kat passionately cheering on Liverpool F.C., playing Ultimate Frisbee, or listening to whatever her current podcast obsession happens to be.
Cheryllee Bourgeois is an Exemption Métis Midwife and follows Métis teachings in line with her ancestry from the Red River District in southern Manitoba. She helped to develop and set up Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto (SGMT) as a student where she has worked as a midwife since 2007. She was one of the Midwife co-Leads in the establishment of the Indigenous and Midwife-led Toronto Birth Centre (TBC) and served for 6 years as Board President. Cheryllee's current work include coordinating Call Auntie Clinic and Phoneline, a program at SGMT to increase access to culturally safe primary sexual and reproductive health care through navigation, facilitation and advocacy. She is a committed community researcher having participated and led multiple Indigneous-led health research including Our Health Counts and is dedicated to Indigenous midwifery education and creating Indigenous public health responses. Cheryllee is grateful to live and work on Dish with One Spoon Territory with her partner and 3 children.
Peggy Cooke is a feminist and abortion rights activist with over a decade of advocacy and administrative experience in reproductive rights. She is currently the Social Media Coordinator for Women Help Women's US-specific project SASS (Self-managed Abortion, Safe and Supported), and has previously served on the board of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada and Choice in Health Clinic in Toronto. Peggy has been involved in the abortion rights movement for fifteen years, since working at the Fredericton Morgentaler Clinic, whose protesters inspired her to write her award-winning blog Anti-Choice is Anti-Awesome. She has been published in two Canadian abortion anthologies, as well as speaking at countless pro-choice events and actions, and featured in Karen Cho's documentary film Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada. She is actively involved in the abortion movement in Canada and the US, specifically grassroots organizing around sharing information about self-managed abortion.
Event Schedule
6:00pm - Doors Open
6:20-6:30pm - Introduction by Level and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Kim Wheatley
6:30-7:00pm - Panel Discussion with Kat Owens, Cheryllee Bourgeois, and Peggy Cooke
7:00-7:10pm - Audience Questions with Panelists
7:10-7:25pm - Keynote Address by Deepa Mattoo
7:25-7:35pm - Audience Questions with Keynote Speaker
7:35-8:00pm - Closing and Networking