Keynote Speakers
Michelle Nieviadomy
Michelle Nieviadomy is nehiyaw iskwew-a Cree woman. She is a member of Kawacatoose First Nation. While her roots are in Saskatchewan, she has called Edmonton her home for over 22 years. She currently is the Assistant Director at the Edmonton Healing Centre where she has worked for 17 years! She is a goal getter, public speaker, innovator, facilitator, community builder and a wellness advocate. Her business is called Iskwew Health and has been in the wellness industry for 14 years focusing on Indigenous women’s health. She loves all things fitness, rose quartz and hopes to have her own pet dog one day!
Becca Whitla
Becca Whitla is the professor of practical ministry and the Dr. Lydia E. Gruchy Chair in Pastoral Theology at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she teaches worship and liturgy, preaching, religious education, and practical theology. Her book Liberation, (De)Coloniality, and Liturgical Practices: Flipping the Song Bird was released in December, 2020 (Palgrave McMillan). From her White Euro-Canadian settler perspective, she examines ways to decolonize liturgical practices, especially community singing. She worked in Toronto for many years as a music director in both Anglican and United Churches (Church of the Holy Trinity, and Trinity St Paul’s United Church). She also co-directed Echo, a 70 voice women’s choir, and worked in the trade union movement developing leadership through choral singing.
Rev. Chung Yan Lam
林頌恩 is passionate about creating worship where all experience an intentional welcome. She is an ordained pastor of ELCIC, serving at All Saints’ Anglican Church Westboro in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. Her studies and training has brought her to experience worship in the ecumenical setting with a deep appreciation for all Christian liturgical practices. Her experience with liturgy includes serving with the Christian Council of the Capital Area in creating Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, learning the heart songs of diverse worshipping communities and in their respective languages, and to challenge herself in reclaiming her identity as a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong while holding well the traditions of Lutherans and Anglicans — all at the same time. Her studies include Master of Theology at Emmanuel College, Master of Advanced Ecumenical Studies at The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, and Master of Divinity at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (now Martin Luther University College).
