2012 Conference Speakers – Toronto

The DivaGirl Conference will be a full day experience full of flirty fitness, fun & inspiration! We are so excited to be offering the most fabulous experience possible confirming incredible speakers and amazing content!

We invite you to browse through our current speakers and session descriptions. Please stay tuned for more information as additional fabulous presenters and classes are added to our schedule. Final details coming Fall 2011!

• Carla Catherwood
  Vivacious, courageous, and a fun loving workaholic would be the best way to explain Carla Catherwood. Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada she has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for 10 years. She is most known for her producing, directing and her Nuvo-Burlesque style choreography and is currently represented by Toronto’s very own Do-Dat Entertainment. On top of that Carla is a well diverse and strong dancer as well. Just recently Carla was cast to dance beside Vanessa Hudgens in the new feature film “Sucker Punch” and also has been cast in a principal dancer/actor role on the hit tv show Smallville. She has also been blessed to work beside such celebrities and amazing professionals like Michael Buble, Shania Twain, Kelly Osbourne, Russell Peters, Hugh Hefner, Jessica Alba, and Halle Berry.

• Chemagne Martin
  Chemagne Martin is a multi-faceted artist. A professional Belly Dance performer, and instructor. Chemagne’s style combines years of experience as a dancer and yoga practitioner with a love for dance and movement. From a young age Chemagne learned jazz, baton twirling, and Afro-Caribbean dance. Since discovering Belly Dance many years ago, Chemagne’s passion for dance began to change. Today she is a sought-after Belly Dance performer and instructor, who has taught at many studios in Toronto and has performed at various venues and special events across North America. With a unique movement background in various dance forms, Chemagne has taken a fresh and modern approach to the art of Belly Dance training and instruction. She is certified level II in the Suhaila Salimpour format, and level I certified in pilates mat course from East to West Yoga studio. Her recent achievements include being featured in the spring issue for the Canadian Health and Lifestyle magazine, and opening of Chemagne Dance Studio, giving her the opportunity to teach, and share her experience with others the beautiful art of Belly Dance.
• Jacqueline Giurleo
  Jacqueline Giurleo is a Passionate International Speaker, Entrepreneur, Coach, Certified Hypnotherapist, NLP Practicioner and Event Coordinating Extraordinaire. With an unquenchable thirst for personal and business development as well as a passion for contribution Jacqueline has dedicated her life to educating, empowering, and positively impacting the lives of others. She completes this mission through her company Jackie G Events (www.JackieGEvents.com) which is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences designed to not only provide individuals with the content, tools, and strategies to take their lives to the next level but to also take a moment to reconnect to who it is that they truly are and what is most important to them. All designed in a fun and supportive environment full of surprise adventures, contribution days, and hundreds of magic moments. Jackie G Events designs day and evening workshops, conferences, and specializes in weekend or destination retreats. She has coordinated and hosted successful events including KaddyShack for Kids Charity Ball, Pink Partnership Retreats, A New Beginning Workshop with AnandaGiri, DivaGirl Conferences and more. Jackie is active in volunteering in her community as well as speaks at private, community and corporate functions.
• Kay-Ann Ward
  A Choreographer, Fitness Instructor and artistic director, Kay-Ann has been featured in countless music videos, performed at the much music award show, and performed in the hit South African musical Umoja, just to name a few. She has choreographed and directed countless dance and entertainment productions. She has created her own unique style of dance that fuses sexy sultry moves, with technique, acrobatic, theatre, creativity and raw unhibited expression. Her love for fitness and health drives her to encourage others to get fit, and develop healthy lifestyle habits. She created Sweat B4 U Sweat Dance and Workout .Toronto’s number one source for Dancehall Reggae, Soca and Caribbean Dance workout classes as a way to fuse her love for Sexy Caribbean dance and fitness, to help others get and stay in shape.

• Laura Furtado
  Laura Furtado, a successful international Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer and Presenter, is the Founder and Owner of DivaGirl (www.divagirl-inc.com). DivaGirl Inc consists of 4 divisions: DivaGirl Fitness (dance/fitness company that currently consists of 32 Licensees across Canada, Brazil & Israel), DivaGirl Entertainment (professional dance company), DivaGirl Beauty (spa/beauty division) and DivaGirl-Preneur (providing entrepreneurial seminars and networking events for women specifically in the Arts). With over 24 years of experience in the dance and fitness realms, she has made a presence across North America and Europe, including Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine and Portugal. Laura has been titled Canada’s Top Young Entrepreneur of 2010, one of Canada’s Top 25 Young Entrepreneurs of 2009, Nominee for the Arts Entrepreneur of the Year, Nominee for the Emerging Performing Artist of the Year, Lululemon Ambassador and Diva-Preneur. She is also the Co-Founder Women in Dance (www.womenindance.com), a creative showcase featuring the top female Dancers and Choreographer in Toronto; she produced the show for three years. She has recently been featured in the first edition of the Toronto CRAVE book, featuring the top 125 sassiest women entrepreneurs in the city. She sits on the committee for the National Ballet of Canada’s Young Professional Group, Turnout, and is on the Board of Directors for the Dance For Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that believes that dance can be used to bring global communities together to support and assist individuals in need. She is also an active mentor in Toronto for young entrepreneurs.
• Lisa McLatchie
  When women are looking to achieve a personal style that fills them with excitement and confidence, they turn to the Practical Fashionista, Lisa McLatchie. Personally trained by Stacy London from TLC”s ‘What Not to Wear’, Lisa is a Personal Wardrobe Stylist and Image Consultant who not only works one-on-one with women, but also offers regular fashion & style tips on her blog -  inspiring women to change the way they dress and shop forever.

• Loren Slocum
  Loren Slocum is the Founder, CEO, and President of Lobella International, an incredible organization inspired to help women “stay true to who they are,” Loren is committed to empowering women to realize their natural gifts.  She believes, “There is absolutely no reason that women can’t have it all – it’s just a matter of staying true to who you are and consciously and creatively using the gifts and resources that are around you.”  Loren has had the honor of being featured in over 30 business magazines and various national media outlets including Woman’s World, Working Mother, Martha Stewart Baby, Parenting and more. She is also the author of No Greater Love: Being An Extraordinary Mom (October 1999: St. Martin’s Press).  For 16 years Loren served as the Staff Director for the recognized authority on the Pyschology of Leadership and Peak Performance Anthony Robbins. During this time period Loren lead and supervised a staff of up to 250 cities around the world for events ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 participants.  She is a distinguished international Personal Development Seminar Leader, Speaker, Coach, and Author. She has also had the remarkable experience of traveling the world helping people to discover who they are in their core for the past 20 years.   Most recently, Loren has facilitated over 80 six-day, comprehensive programs for Anthony Robbins in Fiji, Puerto Rico, and Europe, which emphasize the power of living in balance. In this program featuring such influencers as Wayne Dyer, Caroline Myss, and Deepak Chopra, Loren has guided people to completely balance themselves – in everything from finances to health, spirituality, and relationships.  Loren excudes the essence of enjoying being alive and truly getting all there is out of life. A thriving, successful and dedicated mother and entrepreneur, Loren stands as a model of possibility for women everywhere.  She is an example of what it means to have it all, do it all, and love it all by living her truth.
• Reshmi Chetram
  Reshmi Chetram, a Toronto based Indian Classical dancer,Fitness Instructor&Director of the Dance For Life Foundation. Reshmi has been featured many times in Toronto Festivals. & has been seen on Breakfast Television, WOW TV, DayTIME & Zoomer TV. In 2010 she was invited to Moses Znaimers Idea City- bringing together creators of innovative ideas onto one platform. She spoke amongst others such as Margaret Atwood, Randi Zuckerburg ( Director of Marketplace, Facebook) & NASA Specialists. Reshmi was one of 19 dancers chosen worldwide, to participate in Dance Intense- Calcutta. An Intensive dance course created to broaden the creative horizon of the upcoming generation. She is a Kathak & Bollywood teacher at the Tarana Dance Centre & Reshmi has started two of her own companies. As a certified Can Fit Pro Instructor Reshmi founded ” BollyFit ,a Bollywood dance based workout class & her non profit organization called the ” Dance For Life Foundation.”
• Yvonne Oswald
  Yvonne Oswald is a National U.S. award winning pioneer in the field of personal growth. Voted a 2010 Woman of Influence and Inspiration by the Ministry of Government Services, Ontario, and Chair of the Board of Toronto Youth Day, she is a renowned and respected Communications Trainer and Keynote Speaker, a Certified Trainer of Hypnosis and a Master Practitioner of NLP. Nominated for the COVR Visionary award for her unique CD “Mind Magic”; her way to release negative emotions and limiting beliefs in less than a minute, she has an outstanding reputation for her exciting, innovative and interactive seminars. A British born, qualified teacher with 20+ years’ experience, Yvonne helps every audience (live, radio/television) clear issues and quantum leap their personal growth and life choices. Her best selling book, “Every Word has Power” was published by Atria/Beyond Words, who brought you The Secret.
• Lyzabeth Lopez
  Lyzabeth Lopez is an award winning certified personal trainer and a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with over 15 years in the field. She has trained over 3000 athletes in gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, fitness & bodybuilding. She also trains a number of celebrities, models, and actors. Lyzabeth is also a PRO Fitness Competitor, judge and athlete trainer who was named the #1 Fitness Model in Canada by Canada’s #1 Fitness Magazine, Inside Fitness. She has established herself as one of the top trainers in Fitness Competition Stage Preparation. Lyzabeth is also a recognized television host with her US syndicated TV show BodyFuel. Lyzabeth specializes in shaping women’s bodies and has created her own workout based on shaping and creating lean sexy curves for women of every shape and size called The Hourglass Workout™, www.HourglassWorkout.com. This workout has helped thousands of women to reshape their bodies. Lyzabeth is quickly becoming her own Fitness Brand in the ever-growing market of Fitness & Health with a list of workout videos and books on the way. Check out more about Lyzabeth at www.LyzabethLopez.com
• Nikki Bergen
  “After completing her business degree, Nikki, a passionate life-long dancer, swore off cubicles to perform professionally through Mexico and Europe. Back in Toronto, Nikki founded Grace Corps Studio (www.gracecorpsstudio.com), a Ballroom Dance and Pilates training company with locations in physical therapy clinics and boutique gyms across the GTA. Today she is a sought after Stott Pilates Instructor, Can Fit Pro instructor trainer, graduate of the Pink Ribbon Program and creator of The Pink Method – a Dance and Pilates based exercise program for breast cancer recovery. Nikki treats a wide range of clients – from elite athletes, to those coping with scoliosis, sciatica and pregnancy related pain. Nikki also works with the non profit Dancing With Parkinsons, teaching weekly group classes for students coping with the disease. (www.dancingwithparkinsons.com). Nikki’s motto is passionate and simple: move, dance, live! “
• Marina Cortese
  “Marina is an holistic nutritionist, lover of food and the founder of nour-ish, a company set on dispelling the myth that being healthy is bland and boring. She works with clients to improve their relationship with food and replaces harmful foods with only the most nourishing and delicious ones. She inspires people to take notice of what they’re putting in their bodies and educates clients on which foods will nurture the body and correct imbalances. Marina is passionate about living as green aspossible, staying in tune with the earth, local, organic and sustainable foods, “happy” meats, and meals cooked with love.”

• Leanne Grechulk
  “Leanne Grechulk is the founder of HealthyGirlTM and the author of 30 Days to Wealth. Leanne has her B.Sc. in Biomedical Toxicology and her MBA. While pursuing a career in Sales and Marketing with several fortune 500 companies (including Johnson & Johnson, Nike, DuPont and L’Oréal), she was driven to create her own vision to promote entrepreneurship, wellness and financial independence to women across North America. She is also the creator of WellspotTM (a wellness symposium for women) featuring some of today’s leading entrepreneurs. Her seminars and speaking engagements have been featured on television, radio and magazines across North America. Leanne is also a certified pilates and yoga instructor, 8 time marathon runner and certified health coach. She is also the author of ‘Thirty Days to Wealth’ and speaks regularly at events across North America on wellpreneurship and creating financial independence while maintaining health. Leanne is also a graduate of the nutritional certification ‘The Rose Program’ founded by Natalia Rose. In 2010, Leanne also enthusiastically partnered with fitflopTM as their Canadian Ambassador and launched The WellspotTM Podcast. Most recently, Leanne’s book, 30 Days to Wealth reached ‘best-seller’ status on amazon.com. “

• Libby Norris
  Libby Norris is an international fitness presenter, motivational speaker and ex-boxer! From team building to Tabatas, empowerment to ergonomics, Libby is known for her energy and enthusiasm both on and off stage. A national award-winning pioneer in fitness, Libby wrote Canada’s first fitness boxing certification and has been dedicated to and instrumental in establishing standards for instruction and professional development. She was voted Can Fit Pro’s Specialty Trainer of the Year in 1997 as well as 2011 Canadian Presenter of the Year. Most recently, Libby was named one of Wlifrid Laurier’s Centennial Celebration Top 100 Alumni.Libby combined her degrees and passions in Communication and Physical Education to found Inspired Energy, Canada’s most innovative consulting firm in healthy workplace design. Libby serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Science Department at Laurier and also teaches at Sheridan College in the Exercise Physiology and Healthy Promotion Program. For the past 8 years, Libby has been the Fitness Correspondent for Canada AM, CTV’s national morning show. A sought-after fitness expert for articles, media features and charity events, Libby is compiling her tips and tools in a new series of DVD’s and e-books called “Exercise on the Go”.

• Sandra O’Brien
  Sandra O’Brien is a Law of Attraction life coach, personal trainer, and Reiki healer. She the creator of Bootcamp Goddess, a female fitness program she created to blow torch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside and out!  Sandra has overcome issues with herself image and weight through years of exploration.  She devoured the works of Edgar Cayce at an early age, and more recently the works of Neale Donald Walsh and Abraham-Hicks.  She loves to relax by swinging at the park, dancing, reading, and hiking. Sandra loves champagne, dark chocolate, the ocean and the occasional fire walk.

• Felicia Taub
  Felicia Taub is a mom of 3 boys, wife, fitness professional and life coach motivator and the co creator of He Said She Said. Her love and passion for health and fitness (which is more like an explosion of excitement) is now reaching out to many people across the globe. As a presenter for Powder Blue Productions she is teaching others to become successful group fitness instructors and motivators. Felicia will be sharing some milestone experiences that have changed her life and will help you create the same outstanding health and fitness opportunities with Powder Blue Productions.

• Daphne Williamson
  

  Daphne Williamson is a socially responsible business owner and travel enthusiast based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. A few years ago, while practicing law, Daphne had to travel to the US often for one of her clients. It was there that she found out about the great deals available through the program and became the first Canadian member.  In 2010, when she chose to leave practice to start her charity, the Hope Shelter and Wellness Foundation, Daphne negotiated the Canadian rights to the company in order to make the same deals available to Canadian travelers. Exclusive Excursions Vacation Club launched in the Toronto area in May 2011 and has been helping people get amazing deals on travel ever since!   A portion of all profit is designated for the support of the Foundation, and therefore benefits the most disadvantaged and disenfranchised members of our communities. You can learn more about Exclusive Excursions on Facebook or at www.exclusiveexcursons.ca. The Hope Shelter and Wellness Foundation also has a Facebook page and the website will be live shortly thanks to EEVC and the generosity of other supporters.

• Jennifer Ettinger
  

  Since 2006 when Jennifer Ettinger founded Fit Your Style®, she has been dedicated to helping women reclaim and harmonize their lives in the areas of body, beauty, mind and spirit. Jennifer reclaimed her own life after being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, relying on healthy eating, exercise and meditation, and she wants to share her experience with others for their best health, wellness and happiness. Fit Your Style® is far from a fad. Built on Jennifer’s stellar credentials in fashion, cosmetics, fitness and health, Fit Your Style® offers true substance on top of what’s trendy. Jennifer holds three degrees from the prestigious New York City Fashion Institute of Technology, including a Master’s Degree. She is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Turbo Kick™ and PiYo™ Instructor, and creator of the GIT FIT! Goddess In Training Program. Inspired by her degree in Museum studies, Jennifer shares her knowledge of women as goddesses throughout art and history, providing a real and lasting image of beauty in contrast to the distortions we’re so used to seeing in the media. Jennifer and her team work with women across the United States and Canada, providing them with the tools they need to re-invent their own lives and get body confidence beautiful. It’s true transformation and not just a quick fix. Fit Your Style® is a women’s lifestyle company with experience in helping women of all ages find the Goddess in them through Image, Fitness, Beauty and Empowerment services. Jennifer hosts a bi-monthly segment on daytime TV in Ontario’s York Region called “Life and Style with Fit Your Style” and is a part of women’s advocate, nutritionist, weight-loss expert and TV host of “X-Weighted” Crystal Andrus’ DREAM team.