Al Steele, DTM and Louisa Steele, DTM

We are so excited about the upcoming Pathways to Excellence Spring Conference and hope the video inspires you to volunteer to add YOUR vision of the theme by joining our conference committee and adding to your leadership portfolio. Just contact us to volunteer, or, submit your workshop proposal so you can share YOUR Path with others. We invite you all, to join us and explore, whether you walk, run, bicycle, paddle, dance, climb or glide your Pathways to Excellence!

Wali Shah wins 2018 Toastmasters District 86 Communication and Leadership Award

Wali Shah, renowned spoken word poet and public speaker from Mississauga, Ontario will be honoured by District 86 Toastmasters for his achievements in the field of communication and leadership. The Communication and Leadership Award is awarded by the District to a non-Toastmaster in the community who is an outstanding communicator or leader - and who best exemplifies Toastmasters values.

Toastmasters District 86 recognizes Shah’s numerous contributions in improving the lives of people in poetry and social change in Ontario and across Canada. He has delivered many poetry workshops to schools across North America and has performed at poetry events for many corporations including Microsoft Canada and the Canadian Football League.

Wali Shah is a South Asian spoken word poet and public speaker and an alumni of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20. His experiences range from being a TEDx speaker to performing poetry for 15,000 Microsoft Partners at the Air Canada Centre. Wali focuses on youth engagement and has conducted poetry workshops and keynote assemblies at hundreds of schools across Canada. His work has been featured in media outlets such The Toronto Star and MTV.

He is currently studying at the University of Toronto Mississauga and advocates for social change through his work.

Please visit www.lifeaswali.com to know more about Wali and his amazing profile.

District 86 2018 Members Making A Difference Award (MMAD)

This award is awarded to a District 86 Toastmaster member who volunteer their Toastmasters communication and leadership skills to better the lives of those in their community in a significant and notable way. Here are this year's recipients:

Shishir Lakhani DTM

Shishir Lakhani, a Distinguished Toastmaster and a serious heart patient, volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Lakhani uses his Toastmaster skills to raise awareness, improve education and wellness as well as fund-raise for a cause that is dear to his heart. He received the Heart and Soul Award, in 2009 and the Heart of Gold Award in 2014. He is also a recipient of government awards for this contributions in his community, including the Ontario Volunteer Services Award in 2013 and the Canada Governor General Sovereign Award in 2018. He is a long standing member of Destiny Toastmasters Club, Markham.

Lena Shaw DTM

Lena Shaw, a Distinguished Toastmaster, member of Brampton Toastmasters and Raising Champions Advanced Toastmasters in Brampton, is recognized for her contributions in helping youths develop their communication and leadership skills over the past 6 years in the Youth Leadership Program. Shaw spent 13 years in the non profit organization Knights Table helping the less fortunate within the Brampton Community. Shaw uses her Toastmasters skills to meet, great and recruit volunteers, she manages over 200 volunteers a month.  Shaw helps clients with their resumes, cover letters and help them to find a home. She uses her event planning skills to outreach and help raise awareness and funds to further support the homeless in Peel Region.

Hulda Mullings DTM

Hulda Mullings, a Distinguished Toastmasters, a Business Executive and a  Registered Chaplain of Canada, has been using her Toastmasters skills helping Inmates and Residents in the Ontario Correctional Institute improve their communication skills. In 2017, Mullings was presented the Community Award for volunteering 17 years at the OCI Toastmasters (Ontario Correctional Institute) in Brampton. Her volunteer work also includes providing Free Income Tax services in Mississauga and Brampton for 7 years under the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program and the delivery of Health related presentations with the Heart and Stroke Foundation for 6 years. She is a member of Hershaw Toastmasters and Raising Champions Advanced Toastmasters in Brampton, Ontario.

Candice Kirkbride

Candice Kirkbride a member of Greater Sudbury Speakers Toastmasters Club since 2006 was a victim of an impaired driving accident in March 2001 that left her with a catastrophic brain injury. She currently shares her experience to teenagers across North Ontario and the importance of forgiveness. Kirkbride actively delivers presentations and delivered speeches on the risk of drunk driving and surviving from brain injury and stroke at many organizations across Ontario including the Ontario Provincial Police, The Red Ribbon Campaign, The PARTY program (Prevent Alcohol Risk Related Trauma in Youth and the Timmins Brain Injury and Stroke Clinic survivors. She is the recipient of the Rolly Rousseau Award at ACTION Sudbury and authored a book entitled "Changed by the Rain, Life after a Brain Injury".

Spring Conference 2018 - Keynote Speaker
Jim Kokocki

Jim Kokocki, DTM, is an entrepreneur and business consultant residing in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. As a volunteer he serves as President and Board Chair of L’Arche Saint John, which is part of a worldwide organization which creates homes, work, and day programs together with people who have intellectual disabilities.

Jim has served with other volunteer organizations including as co-chair for the Saint John Board of Trade’s Business Education Committee. He has delivered presentations for groups on leadership, protecting self-esteem, managing conflict, business modelling, and public relations and marketing approaches.

A Toastmaster since 1987, Jim's home club is Saint John Toastmasters in Saint John. He served as International President for the year 2015-2016. He continues in Toastmasters for many reasons including his enjoyment of continued learning and development, the opportunity to see others develop, and his strong belief that communication and leadership skills require learning, but more importantly practice, and more practice.

Kokocki previously worked for 30 years at telecommunications provider Bell Aliant and its related companies. He has earned Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of New Brunswick, Saint John. In his spare time Jim enjoys reading, travelling, cycling and skiing.

District86 Keynote Speaker Alexandre Matte, DTM
Reaching Excellence – three steps at a time

What can you do to reach excellence?
We are bombarded by ways to improve ourselves and the world around us. Self-help books, inspirational quotes on social media, and Toastmasters Conferences. Alexandre Matte, DTM, has his own collection of tips, trick and hints for progress.
It can sometimes be overwhelming. Let’s keep it simple.
Drawing from more than 10 years of Toastmasters training (and over 15 years of experience in the kitchen!) Alexandre is ready to share three lessons with you, through entertaining stories and a participative keynote. Are you ready to take your next three steps on your path to excellence?

Bio

Having received much appreciated positive feedback since joining Voix du Nord Toastmasters in 2007, Alexandre Matte, DTM, gives back to the organisation and to its members by offering participative training sessions to various clubs and areas. Two-time District 86 champion at the International Speech Contest (2009, 2012), Alexandre also offers coaching to speakers, particularly for speech contests, but also to politicians and other professionals. He is also in demand for emceeing events and training to local organisations. Occasional actor on stage and television, and Director of Finance of the oldest cultural centre in French Ontario, Alexandre is the proud father of two highly intelligent girls, Magali and Katia.