Experts & Facilitators

Amie Archibald-Varley (RN, MN-CP)

Amie Archibald-Varley, RN, MN-CP Women’s Health, is a thought leader in advancing health equity and political health
activism in healthcare. She inspires others to speak their truths and brings communities together to engage in
“courageous conversations”. She is a dynamic speaker, scholar and medical media contributor. She currently works at
Niagara Health as a Quality and Patient Safety Specialist for Emergency Services and Accreditation Canada Quality
Lead.

Amie is the co-host of the successful “Gritty Nurse Podcast” which discusses hot topics in healthcare. Amie is also the
Director of Multimedia at CanadiEM, which is “a community of practice for Canadian Emergency Medicine practitioners
by producing and distributing high quality, freely available educational resources”.

Amie has been featured on numerous TV, Radio and News media outlets nationally and internationally. During the 2020
Coronavirus pandemic she has been a frequent medical contributor on CBC, CTV, Global News, CityNews, The Agenda,
CTV W5, and TODAY . She has written for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine & Toronto Star.

Amie is also a Keynote speaker, an expert at engagement, a healthcare/podcast consultant and has volunteered in her community speaking extensively about vaccine hesitancy, mental health and health advocacy.

Join Amie at the Let’s Chat: Anxiety & Depression event this month.

Susan Wenzel

Susan Wenzel is a certified sex therapist, relationship expert and psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience working with individuals and couples as well as leading seminars and workshops in the United States and Canada.

She an author of ”A Happy Life in An Open Relationship: A Guide to Healthy and Fulfilling Nonmonogamous Love Life.”

Susan’s work has been featured in New York Times Magazine, The New York Post, O’Magazine – (Oprah Winfrey Magazine), Men’s Health, Business Insider and others. Susan is a regular guest speaker on various talk shows in Canada.

Susan was born and raised in Kenya and currently lives with her family in Manitoba, Canada. You can reach her at www.susanwenzel.ca

Join Susan at the Locating the (A)ccess for African descent people in addressing their MENTAL HEALTH concerns panel discussion

Tamar Joseph

Tamar Joseph is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Pennsylvania. She earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Rutgers University-Newark. She also has an
M.A. in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Since graduating she has worked as a therapist for 15 years and areas of specialty include:
Depression, Anxiety, Life Transitions, and Racial Issues. The primary modalities utilized are Cognitive Behavioral and Person Centered. Tamar has worked in various settings such as: Schools, Prisons/Jails, and in the community. She is currently working in private practice.

Tamar is also a yoga teacher and teaches virtual classes to her clients.

Join Tamar at the Panel Discussion: Locating the (A)ccess for African descent people in addressing their MENTAL HEALTH concerns.Panel Discussion

Meghan Stewart

Meghan is a certified Lead Coach through Unified Mindfulness, located in Ottawa, Canada on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabe territory.  Identifying as she/her, Meghan is a multi-racial, Black Woman with a Jamaican heritage.   

Her philanthropy experiences include advising for Uniting for Children and Youth, an active member in the OCDSB Advisory Committee on Equity,  a temporary role in 2020 as Chair of Parents for Diversity  and now actively a volunteer within their education committee.

In March of 2021, Meghan launched the Mindful Educator Program as a part of the New Teacher Induction Program for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Currently, she supports children and youth in schools within the GTA, Ottawa and Gatineau related to anti-discrimination and wellness initiatives.

Featured in CBC as a one of 10 women in the Ottawa area building community by supporting and promoting wellness.  Mindfulness is accessible to harness in our emancipation of mental slavery; it empowers self-awareness, self-mastery and equanimity.

Join Meghan at the Locating the (A)ccess for African descent people in addressing their MENTAL HEALTH concerns panel discussion and the Self Care: Supporting Your Own Mental Health event.

NEREAH FELIX

Nereah is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and a co-owner of a mental health private practice called Catharsis Counselling and Psychotherapy. She is also currently in her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. She supports adolescents, adults, and couples on their journey towards mental and relational wellbeing.

She primarily works with presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and trauma. She is passionate about the field of mental health especially as it pertains to the BIPOC community and is looking forward to contributing in any way she can.

Benslyne Avril

Benslyne is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She graduated with a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about helping individuals improve their psychological well-being by maintaining positive relationships with themselves and others. She also works with Kids Help Phone providing counseling to young people in distress.

In her practice, Benslyne mostly integrates techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), client-centered therapy, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT). Her areas of focus include relationship issues, parent-teen relationships, family dynamics, anxiety, and depression. She strives to work in collaboration with her clients, helping them discover their psychological strengths and how to use them to maintain well-being.

Craig C. Brown

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Craig began his career in the financial sector where he spent 11 years working
in a variety of positions related to customer service and human resources. Although he previously
completed degrees in psychology (B.Sc.) and business administration (M.B.A), in 2017, Craig moved with
his wife (Kay-Dene) to Winnipeg to pursue an M.A. in Kinesiology and Recreation Management with a
focus in Sport Psychology, which he completed in 2020.

Craig’s professional endeavours since moving to Winnipeg include various research projects related to
the experiences of newcomers in sport in Manitoba, queer-youth resilience, anti-racism in sport in
Winnipeg, and an organizational equity, diversity, and inclusion review. Craig has also worked with the
University of Manitoba’s Women’s Soccer team as a Student Sport Psychology Consultant. Craig’s
mantra is to be the change that he wishes to see in others, one interaction at a time.

Saran James-Vaughan

Saran James-Vaughan is the Founder of Wellness By Saran, a full-service Holistic Wellness Education platform dedicated to Menstrual Health and a decolonized approach to well-being. By combining the latest evidence-based research on diet & nutrition, ancient alchemy tools and herbal medicine, Saran supports the journey of identifying the root cause of chronic illness, helping the body, mind and soul return to balance.

Saran is also a Cultural Curator, Educator and Advocate, creating safe learning spaces for Afro-diasporic Youth at the intersection of wellness, art and culture.

Join Saran James-Vaughan, along with Meghan Stewart on January 31st for the Self Care: Supporting Your Own Mental Health event.

How to connect with Saran

Tee-Tee Appah

Tee-Tee Appah is in her fourth year of a Genetics degree at the University of Manitoba. Currently, she dedicates her time volunteering in the University of Manitoba Black Students’ Union where she holds the position of Vice-President of Advocacy. Tee-tee also volunteers with the Healthy U organization on campus, where she helps to provide mental health support to students on campus. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano and reading.


Tee-Tee Appah est couramment dans sa quatrième année à l’Université du Manitoba où elle étudie la Génétique. Dans son temps libre, elle aime faire du bénévolat avec l’Union des Étudiants Noirs où elle fait partie en qualité de Vice-President de Défense de Droits. Tee-Tee fait aussi du bénévolat avec l’organisation Healthy U. Cette organisation aide a offrir des ressources et du soutien pour la santé mentale des élèves à l’Université du Manitoba. Les loisirs de Tee-Tee inclus jouer du piano et faire de la lecture.

Reem Elmahi

Reem is the current president of the Black Student’s Union at the University of Manitoba.

She is in her third year of her Psychology degree at the University of Manitoba and plans to attend law school after graduation.

Reem also works with WISE-Kidnetic Energy, where she teaches children about science in a fun and interactive way.

In her free time, she likes to bake and watch movies.

JOIN US FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENTS

Let’s Chat: Anxiety & Depression

Changing the Narrative: How do Black people cope with the new “Normal?”

Panel Discussion: Locating the (A)ccess for African descent people in addressing their MENTAL HEALTH concerns

Self Care: Supporting Your Own Mental Health


More to come!

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