Join us at 8:15am on Friday, January 26th at Launch Co-Working to hear from our speaker, Natalie Suppes, on the global CreativeMornings theme of RISE.

**ASL interpretation is available at each CM WPG event!**

Talk Title: “Rise Above: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within”

In a world that often associates success with constant hustle and physical wellness, it’s time to redefine what it means to be truly successful. Join us on January 26 for an empowering talk by Natalie Suppes, the founder of S&S Creative Inc. - a digital marketing agency driven by individuals with chronic illnesses, caregivers, and stay-at-home mothers.

In this thought-provoking and uplifting presentation, Natalie will share her personal journey of living with a chronic illness while building a thriving business. Drawing upon her own experiences, she will inspire and challenge the audience to rise above their circumstances, embrace audacious goals, and unleash their creative potential.

Using the theme of “Rise,” Natalie will explore how her creative practice has allowed her to overcome challenges and find success in unexpected ways. She will dive into the power of mindset, resilience, and determination, demonstrating how these qualities can transform setbacks into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Prepare to be inspired as Natalie shares her insights and shows that it is indeed possible to be Sick and Successful. Don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your creative spirit, rise above limitations, and chart a path toward achieving your wildest dreams.

Meet our Speaker: Natalie Suppes

Natalie, a trusted expert in the digital marketing industry with over 15 years of sales and marketing experience, and a loyal following of 29,000 on IG. She is the founder and CEO of S & S Creative Inc., a digital marketing and virtual assistance agency that helps entrepreneurs achieve measurable success through effective strategies. 

S & S Creative Inc. is not just any agency - it embodies a profound ethos. The acronym “S & S” represents “Sick and Successful,” reflecting Natalie’s personal journey as a chronic illness warrior. Inspired by her own experiences, Natalie established a company that employees and provides unwavering support to individuals coping with chronic illness, caregivers, and stay-at-home moms alike.

Join us to explore January 2024’s Global CreativeMornings Theme: RISE

Join us at 8:15am on Friday, December 15th at CreativeMornings Winnipeg to explore the global theme of Pain with our guest speaker Hannah Pratt. We are gathering at the beautiful Roundhouse Auditorium at RRC Polytech’s newest building Manitou a bi Bii Dazigae in the Exchange District.

** ASL Interpretation is available at all of our events!**

REGISTER HERE

The Paradox of Pain: Transforming Struggles into Creative Potential

The most heartbreaking moments of our lives are when we experience grief, loss, and pain. 

In these struggles, it can feel impossible to imagine a world beyond them- never mind accepting that through them, we could find meaning, develop creativity, or transform into a more profound version of ourselves.

The journey through grief and pain is complex, with ‘Finding Meaning’ recognized as its crucial, final stage. In this sixth stage of healing, we can begin to evolve, transforming our pain into something unexpectedly powerful: creativity.

In this month’s talk, Hannah Pratt leads us through a discussion on the Paradox of Pain: Transforming Struggles into Creative Potential by sharing her experiences with grief and loss to find meaning and creative potential while healing.

From personal tragedy to mental health struggles to an award-winning career as a communicator, Hannah will share how pain has led to some of her life’s most profound and beautiful experiences. 

Together, we’ll work through this counterintuitive concept of pain as a conduit: what it teaches us, how we can heal through creative expression, and connect in a conversation about the heartbreakingly beautiful experience of being human.

Meet our Speaker: Hannah Pratt

Hannah Pratt is an award-winning communicator and strategy consultant, educator, speaker, community leader, host of the Yes You Can podcast, and Founder of the WPG Dress Collective. From leadership roles with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the University of Manitoba, Hannah has been a transformative force in launching campaigns that impact the world. As the owner of Hannah Rose PR, Hannah works with non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to generate more money, create ground-breaking partnerships, and share their impact through PR and visibility strategies. Hannah holds a Master’s in Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University, a diploma in Creative Communications from Red River College Polytech, and a Bachelor of Arts from Canadian Mennonite University. She recently joined her alma mater (RRC Polytech) as a part-time instructor in the CreComm and Communication Management programs. Hannah is the recipient of the 2018 Manitoba Communicator of the Year Award and the 2019 Future Leaders of Manitoba in her age category. 

December CreativeMornings theme: PAIN

Our global theme for December is PAIN. It was chosen by our Lviv chapter and illustrated by Marta Koshulinska.  

Ouch! That hurts. Pain is a warning. And a lesson. It teaches us what we should avoid. And just how much we can bear. 

Muscles grow stronger after exercise tears the tiny fibers of muscle cells and the body repairs those damaged fibers. We know that physical wounds can heal with time and proper care. But we often ignore the fact that emotional pain can too. 

If you need a little relief from whatever pain you’re carrying, talk to someone, make something, or help someone else in need.  

Join us on Friday, November 24th at 8:15am at Launch Co-Working (500-167 Lombard) to explore the CreativeMornings global theme of RHYTHM with our speaker, Charmaine Jennings!

ASL Interpretation is available at every CreativeMornings Winnipeg event!

Talk: Rhythm as Consistency in Creativity
Consistency is key’ is likely a term you’ve heard before. It’s that not-so-secret sauce that turns your actions into habits, those habits into progress, and that progress into sweet, sweet creative success. 

But what’s the connection to growing your creative practice that doesn’t feel like a cookie cutter template all the kids are using? During this talk, entrepreneur Charmaine Jennings will break down the idea of rhythm as consistency in the creative mindset for both personal and professional growth. As an agency owner and community leader, Charmaine will share her experiences with growing two separate brands while keeping her creative juices flowing with extracurriculars like teaching digital marketing at The University of Winnipeg, public speaking on international stages, and more! 

She’ll also discuss how this steady rhythm isn’t just about repetitive actions to get you started, but how moving with passion and purpose while remaining creative in seemingly oversaturated spaces, is what helps carry you to long-term growth and success. Remember, consistency at all stages of your personal and professional growth is what helps to grow your community, build trust, and nurture relationships. If you’re interested in learning about the role rhythm as consistency in the creative mindset can play in your journey, this talk is for you!

Meet our Speaker: Charmaine Jennings

Founder and CEO of Strategic Charm, Charmaine is a digital marketing executive who helps businesses connect with dream clients and customers online. Since 2016, Strategic Charm has been helping clients find their voice and define their message so they can confidently and strategically communicate their passion for their industry, the work they do and the value of their offers. Charmaine is also the founder of Hustle + Charm – a community of women who come together for support in life, entrepreneurship and career growth. She is a graduate of RRC Polytech and teaches digital marketing at The University of Winnipeg, helping students develop their marketing skills.

Exploring the global CreativeMornings theme: RHYTHM

Our global theme for November is RHYTHM. It was chosen by our Basel chapter and illustrated by Patrizia Stalder.  

What rhythms set your pace? A celestial rhythm is pulsing all around us. The earth spins. The sun rises and sets. The moon pulls and releases the tides twice every day. The seasons loop each year. Natural, constant patterns of back-and-forth. But we also live amidst the unnatural rhythms of flickering fluorescent lights, pinging notifications, and vehicles idling at traffic signals. Rhythm can light you up or burn you out. 

So, how do you keep your own beat? Listen to your breath. Listen to your heart. 

Join us at 8:15am on Friday, October 27, 2023 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (Garden of Contemplation on the 3rd floor) for our inspirational speaker, LIZ CHOI, on the CreativeMornings monthly theme of ENDURANCE. Please enter the Museum via the GROUP entrance, not the Main Entrance, for this event.

** All CreativeMornings Winnipeg events offer ASL Interpretation.

Talk Information

The Unbreakable Spirit of Liz Choi: Building Endurance as an Executive Leader and First Generation Wealth Creator

Talk Description
Liz is no stranger to adversity. From the day she was born, she carried the heavy burden of her parents’ disappointment - all because they wanted a son.

As a young teen, Liz was uprooted from South Korea and sent to live on her own in Canada - forced to learn a new language and culture without any social safety nets to fall back on. As someone inextricably linked to her newcomer identity, she stood strong against relentless discrimination, microaggressions, misogyny and imposter syndrome that often overshadowed her path in Canada.

Yet, against all odds, Liz endured and secured her place as a successful executive leader who is now focused on breaking ground instead of ceilings. Today, she is on a mission to help others along their personal journeys to become first-generation wealth creators.

Join us for an intimate conversation with Liz, where she will share her extraordinary voyage of emotional endurance and mental resilience as a racialized woman in business. Learn from her remarkable journey of establishing a legacy from ground zero while drawing inspiration to craft your own unforgettable story of success.

Meet our Speaker: Liz Choi

Liz Choi is an award-winning and highly sought-after senior executive with over 15 years of leadership experience, currently serving as the CEO of Education Canada Group. 

As a proud Korean-Canadian who moved to Canada on her own in her late teens, she firmly believes in the power of storytelling when it comes to disrupting systems of racism, bias, misogyny and patriarchy.  There’s a good reason she is often referred to as “Liz Ferocious”!

Known as a transformation agent, she breaks new ground and influences innovative change in companies and people alike. When faced with an opportunity, she deploys her “future think” skillset by zeroing in on a strategic vision and winning solution, resulting in unimaginable top and bottom growth. With a remarkable track record for success, Liz manifests the benefits of fearless actions, interconnected strategies and thoughtful execution.

Liz embodies the duality of bold innovation and nurturing genuine connections, believing that people-first systems and fearless leadership can coexist to create healthy and happy workplaces. She proudly wears her given “ferocious” moniker as a badge to ignite conversations, change hearts and minds, and live with transparency. As a change and community champion, she firmly believes that success is grounded in teamwork, truth and trust. 

Liz is a passionate volunteer involved with a number of local organizations advancing real and meaningful societal change, most recently serving as Past Chair of the Winnipeg Chamber and Board Member with CentreVenture Development Corporation and YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg.

Liz holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Manitoba and is dedicated to life-long learning. She enjoys a bold cup of coffee, exploring green spaces and spending quality time with her two dogs.

CreativeMornings Monthly Theme: ENDURANCE

Endurance is the unwavering flame that burns within us, illuminating a path through darkness and uncertainty. It is the quiet strength that emerges when challenges test our limits, urging us to push beyond what we thought possible. Endurance is not a mere moment but a relentless spirit that whispers, “keep going” when the world feels heavy.In a world that values instant gratification, endurance is a reminder that the most rewarding victories are born from patience and perseverance. It is the ability to rise, even when we fall, and to embrace the transformative power of persistence. So, let us celebrate the tenacity that resides within us, for in the face of adversity, it is endurance that leads us towards the summit of our potential.

Our Timisoara chapter chose this month’s exploration of Endurance and Ana Kun illustrated the theme.   

Explore the simple ways your creativity can bloom!

Join us on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 8:15am at Launch Co-Working Space (167 Lombard) to explore this month’s CreativeMornings theme of SIMPLICITY.

We are excited to welcome our speaker Catherine Metrycki, the Founder and CEO of Callia, the new best experience sending flowers and gifts across Canada.

Catherine started Callia in 2017; today, venture capital-backed Callia delivers in more than 55 cities. Their commitment to a seamless, delightful experience has won a loyal following of customers based on a simple recipe: high-touch online ordering, limited high-quality seasonal options, perfect delivery, and a signature blue box. Callia was featured on CBC Dragons’ Den in both 2019 and 2021, and was named the 44th fastest growing company in Canada through the Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies in 2021 and 2022. Most recently, it was also recognized by the Great Place to Work certification program as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada.

Catherine sits on the board of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator and is a mentor through the Start-Up Visa program, bringing entrepreneurs from around the world to Manitoba. She is passionate about coaching and development, both within the business community and in the pool, as a water polo coach. She has taught Sales and Marketing at the University of Manitoba and Red River College. Catherine is proudly born-and-raised in the Prairies and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from the University of British Columbia. She is also the proud mom of a one-year-old, her “second” child after Callia!

September’s Theme is Simplicity.

In the design traditions of Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism, the paring down of possessions creates a greater sense of tranquility and ease. Simplicity invites us to imagine how rich we might feel when we make do with less. 

But put another way, what if we imagined simplicity not in terms of absence but essence? In a world of confounding variables, layers of additional nuance and context, and the mind-boggling complexity of systems upon interdependent systems, simplicity drives us to get to the deep core of the matter. The etymological roots of simplicity refers to a single, indivisible nature. The heart unifies the whole. 

Where can you exercise restraint and streamline excess? How will you find clarity amidst chaos? 

Our Gothenburg chapter chose this month’s exploration of Simplicity and Jessica Jämting illustrated the theme.  

We’re BACK!! Join us on August 25th at 8:15am outdoors at the CUBE stage in the Exchange District to kick off the fall series of CreativeMornings. We are excited to see you after your summer adventures and explore the theme of PRIDE together!

EVENT INFORMATION

** Unfortunately, ASL Interpretation will not be offered at the August 2023 CreativeMornings Winnipeg event.**

BRING A CHAIR: Since this is an outdoor event, please bring your own chair and dress for the weather (our rainy day location is RRC Polytech Patterson Global Foods Institute beside the CUBE).

WEAR YOUR PRIDE: Since the global CreativeMornings theme for August is PRIDE, we also invite you to WEAR YOUR PRIDE to this event. Think about what lights you up and what you proud of – creatively, culturally, personally, professionally. Wear something that celebrates it!

MEET OUR PERFORMING ARTIST: C.L.A.M

Clutch your pearls and dive into the deep end, it’s time to meet C.L.A.M! Since making their drag debut in September, C.L.A.M. has made waves in the community with their unique, upbeat take on drag. Pushing boundaries and breaking binaries are driving forces propelling this performer forward in the vast seas of the drag community.

Coming from a background in theatre, C.L.A.M. is no stranger to the stage and will leave your jaw dropped with their acrobatic abilities. You’ll never know what to expect when they take the stage, but C.L.A.M. will surely twirl their way into your hearts. So grab your scuba gear, C.L.A.M. is here to take your breath away!

We’re BACK!! Join us on August 25th at 8:15am outdoors at the CUBE stage in the Exchange District to kick off the fall series of CreativeMornings. We are excited to see you after your summer adventures and explore the theme of PRIDE together!

EVENT INFORMATION

** Unfortunately, ASL Interpretation will not be offered at the August 2023 CreativeMornings Winnipeg event.**

BRING A CHAIR: Since this is an outdoor event, please bring your own chair and dress for the weather (our rainy day location is RRC Polytech Patterson Global Foods Institute beside the CUBE).

WEAR YOUR PRIDE: Since the global CreativeMornings theme for August is PRIDE, we also invite you to WEAR YOUR PRIDE to this event. Think about what lights you up and what you proud of – creatively, culturally, personally, professionally. Wear something that celebrates it! Proud of being part of a sports team? Wear a jersey! Proud of learning to sew? Wear your first quilt!
Proud of your cooking? Wear a chef’s hat or apron! Proud of your heritage? Wear your culture! Proud of your woodworking? Wear your tool belt! Be creative and let’s gather to celebrate each others’ gifts, talents and moments of pride together as a community.

MEET OUR SPEAKER: BARRY KARLENZIG

Talk Description: Barry Karlenzig, President of Pride Winnipeg, will join us to explore the theme of PRIDE! What kinds of creativity have you witnessed during your career? Barry Karlenzig will celebrate all the different types of creativity he has witnessed that has inspired him in his work with Pride Winnipeg, which extends over a decade. He will touch on how he has personally used creativity in his leadership work in his current role as President of Pride Winnipeg. Barry will also share his personal journey in the why behind his work. Since 1987, Pride Winnipeg has served the 2SLGBTTQIA* communities by celebrating their fights, victories, and reasons to be proud.

BIOGRAPHY: Barry Karlenzig (He/Him) has worked tirelessly for the Winnipeg 2SLGBTTQIA* community as a Board Member with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, President of the Snowy Owl Monarchist Society, Co Chair of the Conference Structure & Integrity Committee with InterPride and for more than a decade in many capacities with Pride Winnipeg. Barry is currently the President for Pride Winnipeg.

CREATIVEMORNINGS AUGUST 2023 THEME: PRIDE

Pride is a powerful affirmation of authenticity. It gives us the grace to show up as ourselves and live in alignment with our values. It embraces every shade of our longings, our regrets, and our hopes — these beautiful and powerful things that make us who we are. Pride is when you stand tall and say, “This is who I am.” Pride is when you reclaim the parts of your identity that others might have scorned. Pride is when you raise your voice in defense of someone who is powerless, saying “Enough.” Because that someone might just be yourself. How will you unfurl yourself fully? How will you extend safety and solidarity so that we all may be unapologetically ourselves?

Our Palm Beach chapter chose the theme this month and our theme illustrator is Kayla Griffin.

FEELING ALL THE SUMMER VIBES!

Hello CreativeMornings Winnipeg fans! We are busy planning for a fantastic set of CM events this fall starting on August 25, 2023 so SIGN UP for our newsletter at https://creativemornings.com/cities/WPG and stay tuned for our upcoming announcements! In the meantime, we hope you are finding your own quiet (or loud) summer moments to explore your creativity!

Seeking a SOCIAL MEDIA MAESTRO!

And speaking of creativity, CreativeMornings Winnipeg is seeking a Social Media Maestro, a creative powerhouse with a passion for engaging communities. Your mission: to bring our CreativeMornings brand to life through our social media channels. Please contact CreativeMornings Winnipeg at  winnipeg@creativemornings.com to get started!

See you all in August!!

Join us on at 8:15am on June 23, 2023 at the Riverside Inn (531 St. Mary’s Road) to explore the monthly CreativeMornings theme of REVERIE!

Talk Title: Creativity, dreams and coffee – a personal journey of reverie

Meet Our Speaker: Al Dawson (Harrison’s Coffee Co.)

It is easy to talk about what makes an individual great when one lists professional credentials and experience built over years of lessons learned and challenges overcome, but what differentiates Al is who he is at heart. It sounds cheesy, perhaps, when talking about business, but his caring is his keystone characteristic: without it, none of the credentials and experience build up to anything lasting.

Al’s success lies in his ability to show his team, stakeholders, business partners, and colleagues that he truly cares—about getting the job done right and achieving results, of course, but most importantly about not sacrificing the importance of people in the process. Those important relationships create the environment of corporate success day in and day out. Al always has your back and your bottom line! 

Al has a knack for injecting pleasure into the business equation. He has fun, and it is important to him that the people he works with and for have fun, too. He is a true optimist in business and in life.

Most recently, Al has put his money where his mouth is and demonstrate his beliefs publicly by starting Harrisons Coffee Co.  a Winnipeg based coffee roasting company that is guided by kindness and led with radical optimism.

Professionally, Al is an accomplished and empathetic executive with over 28 years of success in leading business operations, organizational change, and team and strategy development. His consulting experience ranges from complex, multi-stakeholder environments in such renowned corporations as Tim Hortons (Restaurant Brands International), Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Pizza Hut, and Panago Pizza to entrepreneurial small and medium-sized businesses.

Al’s business legacy has been results driven and solution focused, with a strong history of partnership development, people leadership, and business growth in a style all his own.  It is easy to talk about what makes an individual great when one lists professional credentials and experience built over years of lessons learned and challenges overcome, but what differentiates Al is who he is at heart.

It sounds cheesy, perhaps, when talking about business, but his caring is his keystone characteristic: without it, none of the credentials and experience build up to anything lasting. Al’s success lies in his ability to show his team, stakeholders, business partners, and colleagues that he truly cares—about getting the job done right and achieving results, of course, but most importantly about not sacrificing the importance of people in the process.

Those important relationships create the environment of corporate success day in and day out. Al always has your back and your bottom line!  Al has a knack for injecting pleasure into the business equation. He has fun, and it is important to him that the people he works with and for have fun, too. He is a true optimist in business and in life.

And the cherry on the top is Al is the world’s greatest dad (or so he’s been told) and a perfectly imperfect husband (the best kind).

Al is happy to be changing the landscape of coffee and we are thrilled to be welcoming him as our June speaker at CreativeMornings Winnipeg!

Exploring the June CreativeMornings theme of REVERIE

When your gaze softens around the edges, where does your mind travel? What thoughts arise unbidden? Reverie beckons us to dream while awake, spinning loose associations that seem to emerge from somewhere not entirely inside or outside of you. Our woolgathering summons past memories and nascent fantasies. We turn them over and over, like smooth stones in our hand, making meaning. 

Our Omaha chapter chose this month’s exploration of Reverie and Eduardo Gardea illustrated the theme. 

Photo credit: Gabrielle Touchette Photography

JOIN US at 8:15am on May 26, 2023 at Launch Co-Working (167 Lombard) to explore the CreativeMornings theme of ACCEPTANCE!

Note *ASL Interpretation is available at all of our CM WPG events.

Fredrick Spence (Thunderbear): Art as Acceptance: Carving and Creativity

In his talk, Fredrick will go into detail about his life, his internal struggles and how he came to terms with accepting himself as an artist. Since 2015, Fredrick has worked through his trauma and found himself through art. He found acceptance through art and the eventual acceptance of himself as an artist turned into sharing the joy and love of creating in the hopes of helping others. 

Meet our speaker: Fredrick Spence (Thunderbear)

Fredrick Spence (Thunderbear) is an Ojibwe soapstone carver from Peguis First Nation (Treaty One Territory). After a tragic and traumatic experience, he struggled with mental health and addictions. Passionate about nature and traditional teachings, he stumbled on soapstone carving and found it to be the medicine he was missing. His talent and experience inspired him to share his art form with others. Fredrick offers workshops to groups throughout the country in hopes that it can change one person’s life.

Exploring our CreativeMornings May 2023 theme: ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance is the act of surrendering to our reality, without judgment or fear. There are many things in our lives that cause us discomfort or pain. We attempt to change or resist them, to no effect. So we wave a big stick, keeping them at bay like a wounded animal. 

Acceptance is weaving into your story what once caused you pain — and still might, to this day. You welcome that creature into your home, tend to its wounds, and feed it out of your hand. Acceptance is knowing that this feral animal lives side by side with your tender house cat of a heart, always.

Embracing what cannot change can help you gather the energy to change what must. Accept these truths: you cannot make another person love or see you. You did not finish everything before the sun set on another day — and you didn’t need to. Every moment will pass, the blissful and the excruciating. It’s the hardest lesson, but one we need the most: the grace to let go. 

Our Lexington chapter chose this month’s exploration of Acceptance and Robert Beatty illustrated the theme.