The VOW

Amy Reding is an author, artist, and cancer survivor. At the age of 25 she was diagnosed for the first time with stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Since 2019, Amy has fought cancer on three different occasions and experienced multiple treatments of chemotherapy, fertility treatments, biopsies, immunotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Amy shares openly about her journey with cancer as a young adult, side effects, relationships, and choosing joy and adventure in the midst of compounding bad news. Today I have to pleasure of sitting down with her to listen to her journey.

Dr. Parul Dua Makkar completed her Bachelor of Science from University of Central Oklahoma in 1999, Magna Cum Laude and then obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 2003. She practiced in Alberta, before moving to New York. Currently she is the owner of PDM Family Dental in Long Island, a place she resides in with her husband and 2 boys. Dr. Makkar's life took a different trajectory when she lost her only and younger sibling, Dr. Manu Dua, to Oral Cancer last year. He was a well-known and practicing dentist as well. Since his death, she has devoted her time educating doctors and patients alike about risk factors, prevention and advocating for early diagnosis of Oral cancer. She has co-authored several Dental journals, has been presenting lectures to Dentists and has been a guest at several podcasts, besides her own.  She believes oral care is the gateway to overall well being and aims to have open conversations with her patients. I am honored to be sitting here today to bring awareness on head and neck cancer in the dental community. 

Sarah is a multimedia journalist and youth advocate, and she is currently working in radio with CBC Calgary. She has helped research and create segments for the Eyeopener and the homestretch. It’s been an interesting journey for her as she started working at the beginning of the pandemic. It was definitely interesting and a challenge learning to do everything from home but she is slowly finding her way. She is happy to be working with such a great team of talented journalists. The pandemic has shown me what I am capable of and how easily I can figure out how to adapt. Living life with a disability teaches you a different way of looking at things and working around everyday challenges. There are hard days, but it is essential to believe anything is possible.

Megan fell in love with learning about the brain from a young age, as she was diagnosed with epilepsy. The onset of epilepsy changed her demeanor, her life, and her identity. Let’s just say that life got messy! She started to study more about the mind and brain, in 2015 and went on to pursue a Masters in Counselling Psychology shortly thereafter. In 2017, Megan chose to learn more about somatic (body) work, and began to explore yoga more rigorously. She genuinely believes that working with counselling modalities that integrate the exploration of the body and the mind are life-changing. She works with populations who have complex trauma, relationship difficulties, people in periods of transition, epilepsy, and of course, individuals who experience anxiety. She is currently working in Vancouver, BC running a full-time practice that offers 1-1 counselling and online courses.

Fania Wedro was born Fania Hellman in Koretz, Poland on August 25, 1927. When she was fourteen years old, the Nazis took away her father and the other men living in the village. Fania then spent six months in a work ghetto in Koretz, where she escaped two mass killings by the Nazis. After escaping the second mass killing, she lived in hiding in the forest for eighteen months.  After being liberated by the Russians in 1944, Wedro was smuggled across various borders and eventually reached a displaced persons camp in Linz, Austria. She became a teacher in the camp and met and married her husband Leo (Leib) Wedro. In 1948, the couple immigrated to Canada and became successful business owners. 

Mandy Balak is the Found and Creator of ACE. She brings entrepreneurial experience to the table having built three purpose-based businesses in the media, events, personal growth and community-building space. It was in pounding the entrepreneurial pavement that Mandy found her truth - her greatest desire is to see others win and her purpose is to make sure they withness themselves along the journey. Mandy offers over 10+ years of wisdom in business building, mindset and personal growth.

Eva McKenzie was born and raised on Vancouver Island where she would meet her future husband Corey at the age of 17. They would marry on August 3, 1996 and give birth to their daughter, Sydni in March of 1999. In 2002 the family moved to Calgary for Corey to continue working in his construction trade. Eva always had an ambition to be a make-up artist and in 2003 she would pursue that dream and attend Blanche MacDonald in Vancouver, BC. She began working in T.V. and film on her return to Calgary after completing her make-up diploma. In 2006 her father would fall ill to cancer. She would fly back and forth from Calgary to Vancouver Island a couple times a year to care for her. She would temporarily leave Calgary and her family at the end of June 2009 to care for her palliative father at his home. Her dad’s nurses would ask her “have you ever thought about being a nurse”? But it is when her father’s words prior to his death would really impact her. He said to her “Evey you really need to become a nurse”. This is when she realized that her nurturing spirit, empathetic heart and compassion could help others. She went back to school at the age of 35 to pursue nursing. She would obtain her first and only nursing job in 2012 where she still works. Eva’s mother would shortly be diagnosed with early onset Dementia, so once again Eva was flying back and forth from Calgary to Vancouver Island to oversee her mother’s care at the facility her mom was living at. Tragedy hit multiple times in 2020 for Eva, in May her husband’s brother passed away, in August her husband completed suicide at the age of 49 and in September her mother would pass from Dementia. Eva still resides in Calgary as well as her daughter and they both are continuing down their journey of healing and learning to laugh and smile again.

Nicole Jensen is a 23 year-old, Calgary based woman who has embraced her passion for writing, authentically showing up for herself and sharing her ongoing journey with body positivity in a time when social media is so prevalent. As a recent Mount Royal University Public Relations graduate, Nicole is using her passion of writing and connection to foster meaningful relationships with others through the power of the written word. By sharing her personal story of overcoming an eating disorder, Nicole hopes to encourage and inspire women of all ages and backgrounds to embrace every part of who they are and live a life that is authentic to them. Nicole recently started a blog called “Fill Your Cup,” that primarily focuses on inspiring readers to find the things, people, experiences and places that bring them complete happiness, peace and enjoyment. To fill your cup is to invest, love and care for yourself. Filling your cup is not about anyone else, it is about you. In this podcast Nicole reminds listeners to continue showing up for themselves and working towards the goal of personal happiness.

Maddison has worked with some of the music industry’s best producers and songwriters including Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks) and Tony Martin (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban). Her single “Real Real Thing: hit Top 40 on the Radio Disney Country Chart; and her independently released EP “Bulls-Eye” reached top 6 on the iTunes Country charts. She has performed at major venues and stages across North America including: The Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, Big Valley Jamboree, Folk Alliance International, The Calgary Stampede, amongst many more. And in 2015 she was one of six across Canada nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association’s Discovery Program. As a woman of heart, she often finds herself involved in her community volunteering for organizations including Big Brother Big Sisters Calgary as a part of the All-Star Campaign. She’s performed for the residents of The Calgary DI Centre in downtown Calgary, as well as donated her time to the Okotoks Country Hospice, singing in the hallways to patients and their families. One of Maddison’s most memorable and impactful experiences was her contribution to the Make A Wish Foundation when she was able to help a Make A Wish Child fulfil their dream of writing and recording their own song. Maddison co-wrote the song, and the two went to a Nashville recording studio to record it. They performed their song alongside one another for an audience of family and supports at the live-music venue Analog in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Goska Nowak has been practicing dentistry in Calgary for over 23 years, helping thousands of patients enhance their smiles and greatly improve their oral and systemic health. As a general and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Nowak recently opened the doors of her new practice, Sanitas Dental Health and Facial Aesthetics, located in northwest Calgary in the heart of Kensington. She is deeply committed to staying on the leading edge of dental sciences, constantly upgrading her clinical skills and training her team on a daily basis. Dr. Nowak prides herself on her keen attention to detail and customized approach with patients. She strives to build trusting, long term relationships to help patients achieve their health needs and goals. Dr. Nowak completed her Dental Medicine Degree at the University of Saskatchewan, and moved to Calgary shortly after completing her studies.

Linda McLean currently serves as the Executive Director of The Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.  She brings to the role more than twenty-five years of experience in the non-profit sector, where she has worked in leadership positions within a broad range of organizations including United Way of Calgary, The Calgary Homeless Foundation, Inn from the Cold and the City of Vancouver. Prior to entering the non-profit sector, Linda lived and worked in remote northern Indigenous communities with a focus on participatory action research and community development. She has extensive experience in working with mental health, addictions and community-based health and housing programs. Linda holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Anthropology and Education and has worked with widely diverse populations, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized. She is a firm believer that all challenges can be met through creativity, commitment, and dedication to an ethic of care. When not at work or volunteering Linda spends time with her five children, husband Tim, and a menagerie of pets.

In the early 2000s, Carol White was married and with two sons. At that time, commercial and residential development was booming. She discovered a major gap in the market that needed to be filled quickly. Calgary had a shortage of concrete pumps causing delays for concrete delivery companies and contractors. She researched and wrote a business plan, leased the pump and equipment and began cold calling all contracting companies in the city. Her husband would do all of the physical labour. They were booked solid from the first week of business. It went on like that for the entire year. By that time, her marriage had deteriorated and she left it and the business and moved on. Carol has always dreamed of being a full-time artist.  She created Carol White Fine Art & Stationery and developed a few lines of product. After some time, it became clear that the company didn’t have potential for growth without a large infusion of capital. Since there wasn’t enough evidence that it would grow as she would like, she chose to focus all of her efforts on the restaurant that she and her partner opened in Kensington after selling Coyote T-Shirts. The restaurant is called PB and J YYC and, just as the name suggests, it’s a peanut butter and jam sandwich restaurant with a focus on freshly ground nut butters. It was a concept that Carol and her partner mulled over and researched during their time at Coyote T-Shirts. It’s growing beautifully and they have worked tirelessly toward improving it. It’s not likely this will be her last business, so keep your eyes peeled for her future adventures.

Humaira Falak has been living in Calgary since 2013. She has a Master in English Literature, a diploma in Human Services and is a community development practitioner working in ward 5 and 10. She is also the co-chair for Ethno-cultural Diverse working group of Calgary Domestic Violence Collective and sits on advisory committee of various organizations. Humaira has led domestic violence and mental health initiatives and currently leading research on topics impacting the well being of racialized communities in collaboration with other agencies and universities.  Humaira has volunteered with agencies like United Way, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Women Centre, Calgary Seniors’s Resource Society, Calgary Court House and many Ethno-ulCtural organizations. She was one of the finalist for the Community Service Award (Immigrant Services) and was also declared CTV's Inspired Albertan.  Humaira is a mother of two beautiful girls, and her cat, Bella. She is currently working towards a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Community Development from Athabasca University. 

Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens is an internationally-recognized adolescent dating violence researcher. She began working in the area of domestic violence research during her undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary, and since then has conducted numerous research projects in the areas of domestic, sexual and dating violence, holding over $2.3 million in research funding to date. Today, she works alongside school, community and youth partners across the country to co-create innovative research on promoting healthy youth relationships and preventing dating violence. Her work has been recognized by a Canada Research Chair appointment, an Early Career Award from the Society for Prevention Research, a Leadership in Family Violence Prevention Innovation Award from the Government of Alberta, and a Top 40 Under 40 Award from Avenue Magazine Calgary.Deinera holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University and a Master of Public Health from Boston University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. She is also the director of the HOPELab (www.hopelab.ca), and Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet (https://youthdatingviolence.prevnet.ca).

As the CEO of 4Seasons Transportation, Brooke leads the organization’s vision to affect change in the lives of students with disabilities by being the leading accessible school bus company. She oversees all operations of the company and creates connections with schools, parents and communities, making sure every child receives an equal opportunity to a nurturing educational experience. Brooke is a thought leader in the transportation industry and regularly speaks at national and international forums. In 2018, she accepted the Accessible Transportation Award and Commerce Award from the City of Calgary on behalf of 4Seasons.

Yegana Badghisy was born in the western city of Afghanistan called Herat. An Oasis city, an ancient civilization on the Silk Road between the Middle East, Central and South Asia serving as a regional hub in the country's west. After the conquest of Tamerlane, the city became an important center of academic, artistic and poetic life in the Islamic world. The love for art, design and poetry (Rumi) has always played a major role in Yegana's daily life, perhaps, it has always been running through her veins, and her soul from the very start. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and this brought Yegana and her family to New Delhi India for a short term before returning home, which never happened as the war continued. Family decided it was time to move to Canada, in 1990 Yegana and her family landed in lovely Winnipeg, and now living in Calgary where it's been home since 1995, the longest place she has ever lived in. The current crisis in Afghanistan is so incredibly devastating for her and all Afghans around the world, especially for the Afghan women living under these barbaric men who call themselves the Taliban..Yegana is continuously helping Afghan women become liberated, whether it's within the Calgary Afghan community, a conversation with friends, encouraging a stranger back home that “she can do it" or simply raising awareness of the oppression of women period. Uplifting, encouraging and motivating women daily is super important for all of women around the world and so much more for the Afghan women. Family plays the greatest role in her life. Wife to an outstanding German/Austrian man, a mother to two amazing boys, which is her favorite role to play, a role which is the most important in Yegana's life. During these crazy times, Yegana's key for the betterment of her boys is, teaching them the way of God, of course along with being kind, being affectionate and always showing compassion, and kicking butt in their daily activities doing their very best. Traveling is what feeds her soul, adores jewelry and gemstones (Emeralds, Diamonds, Rubies and Sapphires) and of course retail therapy. Yegana is a top producing real estate agent, with Yegana Real Estate in Calgary, she has been in this role for the past 11 years. Enthusiastic about connecting entrepreneurs to new business locations around the city thrilled to help with home design along with homeowners, whether preparing to sell, construct or renovate.

Angie Ostojic, is a devoted mother, loving wife, visionary leader, entrepreneur, passionate speaker, and friend. She was born and raised in the Philippines, Immigrated to Canada in 1996. Angie is passionate about giving back, she founded Brighter Future for the Next Generation, a foundation that aims to help feed, support children’s education by providing school necessities and daily needs in Canada and abroad, wherever is needed. She also started AO Magazine where ordinary people share extraordinary Life and Business Success Stories, which inspires many. Angie thrives to create a community of like-minded people working towards the same mission and goal and helped numerous men and women achieved financial and time freedom. Humbled to be nominated for Immigration of Distinctive Award Finalist 2020 Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She wishes God's guidance to continue to be a supporter of different communities, a frontrunner in supporting new immigrants find their space as entrepreneurs and provide motivations to be productive citizens of this country.

When your life is simplified and decluttered, you can enjoy the small moments. Megan Golightly loves what she does and has been doing it for 14 years. She has a passion for problem solving, organizing projects big and small, and working with families to see their homes and lives transformed.  Her goal is to help you feel at ease in your home and eliminate the negative feelings you may have about your clutter. It's often hard work but worth it!   Megan holds a degree in Psychology and on-going study in Neuroscience peaked her curiosity on how the brain works in relation to the spaces in our homes.  It’s unhealthy to have nagging critical thoughts about the state of our homes.  Whether or not we believe these words, our subconscious mind does.  Deciding how and where to start can be paralyzing. Megan can help motivate, inspire and uncover the psychology of organizing. 

Lauren Bilon is the founder and creative visionary behind Plume, an eco-lux cosmetic brand that specializes in lash and brow growth. After the birth of her daughter, Lauren suffered from postpartum hormonal changes that caused her eyelashes to fall out. Once she realized that any of the products she could use to grow her lashes back would do so at the cost of her eye health, she set out to develop a better, safer approach. After a lengthy journey into the unknown, and with the help of her husband Brett (now CEO of Plume) and chemist Irene (formally of Rocky Mountain Soap Co.) she brought Plume into the world and has been the driving force behind better lashes and brows the world over.

Sheenah Rogers-Pfeiffer is a two-time founder and CEO. At the age of 26, she founded Anstice, a strategic marketing and research firm she has built over the past 13 years, where she worked with the likes of Starbucks, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Los Cabos Tourism, Remy Martin, Ocean's Tuna and Dream Real Estate. She also held positions with Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, the Vancouver Canucks and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Bid. Sheenah entered the technology start-up space after launching ari Technologies in 2020, an app that connects retailers, brands and customers to facilitate commerce. She is also a mom to three and a wife to one and sits on the Board of Directors for Capture Photo Festival, and is on the Dr. Peter's Centre Life Commitment Committee. Sheenah is also a known fitness and shopping enthusiast in her spare time.