9:00 am: Opening Remarks by Dr. R. Y. Abdulrehman
Land Acknowledgement
9:15 am: Keynote by Terry MacLeod
The Belonging Effect: Celebrating Every Culture in a Plural Community
Terry MacLeod—award-winning, Emmy-nominated journalist and longtime CBC host in Winnipeg—has spent decades listening to the stories that knit communities together. In this energizing keynote, Terry invites leaders to see #CelebrateEverything not as a campaign, but as a commitment: valuing each culture and community so every person feels seen, heard, and lifted. Drawing on conversations from his years at CBC and his storytelling work beyond the studio, he shares practical ways organizations can turn celebration into everyday practice—strengthening trust, sparking creativity, and deepening ties with teams and clients. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of possibility and a simple set of actions to champion belonging in your workplace and city—because when we celebrate everyone, everyone rises.
10:00 am: Dr. Rehman. Y. Abdulrehman
The Psychology of True Multiculturalism: From Bias to Belonging
Clinical and consulting psychologist Dr. R. Y. Abdulrehman unpacks how minds—and cultures—change. Using core psychological principles, he shows how to design social and physical environments that expand who we see as part of “us.” Drawing on his work on unconscious bias and the #CelebrateEverything model piloted in Winnipeg schools and organizations, he translates evidence into clear moves that turn statements into lived experiences: make inclusion visible and predictable, co-create with community, align daily operations with customer experience, and measure what truly resonates. Expect an engaged, two-part session (framework + applied workshop) that leaves you with concrete steps to build a more connected workplace and community.
10:30 am: Break
10:45 am: Dr. Rehman. Y. Abdulrehman
The Psychology of True Multiculturalism: From Bias to Belonging Part 2
11:15 pm: Elizabeth Linton – First principal to administer #CelebrateEverything at her school.
The impact of inclusion on community and wellbeing
When Elizabeth Linton asked, “What if we celebrate everything?,” her school turned inclusion from posters into practice—mapping a year-round calendar of community celebrations, building classroom lessons around them, and inviting families to co-create visible moments of pride (from Diwali and Chinese New Year to an Ethiopian coffee service in the school foyer). The result was a shared sense of belonging students could feel, parents could see, and staff could sustain—an early #CelebrateEverything model that moved beyond tokenism. In this practical session for business and community leaders, Elizabeth unpacks the how: small budgets and partnerships, scheduling and staffing, governance/communications, and measuring what actually resonates. You’ll leave with a step-by-step playbook to start small, avoid tokenism, and scale inclusion in your organization—because belonging isn’t a campaign; it’s a calendar you live.
11:45 pm: Lunch – vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options provided.
75 minutes
1:00 pm: Belinda Bigold – Cookie Culture: How Inclusion Sweetened Community—and the Bottom Line
Belinda Bigold, owner of High Tea Bakery, shows how weaving cultural inclusion into everyday decisions—menus, merchandising, staff training, and community partnerships—strengthened both her community and her business. A proud day-one supporter of #CelebrateEverything, Belinda shares heartwarming stories of customers seeing their traditions in the display case, newcomers feeling at home, and corporate clients choosing inclusive gifting—alongside the practical steps behind them: listening to community voices, building an inclusive celebrations calendar, co-creating products, training teams, and tracking what resonates. The result? Deeper loyalty, new markets, powerful word-of-mouth—and the reminder that doing the right thing is also good business. Leaders will leave with a simple, repeatable playbook to start small, avoid tokenism, and scale inclusion with authenticity and impact.
1:30 pm: #CelebrateEverything Implementation Showcase — 11 Playbooks for Multicultural Success – Part 1
An insider, cross-industry look at multicultural inclusion in practice. Eleven organizations will share how they implemented #CelebrateEverything—what worked, what didn’t, and the choices behind it (budgets, partnerships, staffing). Expect sector-specific tactics and transferable plays: building inclusive celebration calendars, co-creating with communities, aligning operations with customer experience, and measuring impact on teams and clients—beyond optics. Each presenter ends with one concrete commitment for the year ahead, giving you practical ideas and clear next steps to build stronger teams and a more inclusive community. Designed for already committed/licensed #CelebrateEverything partners and new adopters ready to put true multiculturalism into practice.
2:30 pm: High Tea – Refreshment Break
2:45 pm: 11 Playbooks for Multicultural Success – Part 2
3:30 pm: Announcing LWD Press – Book Announcement
- Introduction of this project and it’s role in Culture Change – from Dr. R. Y. Abdulrehman
- Funding Meaningful Projects – Scott Angus – Manager, Personal Benefits – Part of the Community Giving Team at Johnston Group