The Power Within for Women

Toronto, June 6, 2006
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
9AM to 5PM

The Ultimate Gathering Of The World's Most Influential Women

Sponsored in part by Additional Sponsors

Motivation

Gloria Estefan

Singer-Songwriter

Gloria Estefan, an international superstar, is one of the most recognized artists in the world. With five GRAMMY Awards and more than seventy million albums sold world-wide, Estefan is the single most successful crossover performer in the history of Latin music. Estefan began her career as lead vocalist for the Miami Sound Machine, a then exclusively Spanish language group that was among the first pioneering Latino groups to break into the mainstream pop market. In 1987 they won the American Music Award for Best Pop Band. In 1989 she went solo with the worldwide success of Cut Both Ways. While touring for this album, a tractor trailer crashed into Estefan's tour bus, critically injuring her and breaking her back. After enduring almost a year of grueling physical therapy, Estefan made an astonishing full recovery from injuries that should have left her paralyzed and returned to the top of the charts with the release of the multi-platinum album Into the Light and a nine country world tour. Now, over a decade later, she continues to thrive and secure her status as one of pop music’s true and enduring originals. She has won the Hispanic Heritage Award, an MTV Music Award, two cable television ACE awards and the 1993 National Music Foundation's Humanitarian of the Year award. She has been honored twice by the Songwriters Hall of Fame: in 1996 she won the Hitmaker Award; and along with her husband, Emilio, won the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. In 2003, she was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She was also the recipient of the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement and has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. She now writes about the value of individuality and the power of self-respect.

Self Empowerment

Suzanne Somers

Maximize Professional & Personal Goals

Suzanne Somers entered the American and Canadian conciousness in 1977 on "Three's Company" playing one of the most memorable characters ever seen on tv, Chrissy Snow. Now almost 30 years later, Suzanne is still operating at full speed and has created one of the most interesting business empires in America; cosmetics, food, jewelry, fashion, audio/video publishing, fitness products, kitchen appliances. She has authored 16 books, most New York Times bestsellers. "Ageless" published in October has struck a major cord with men and women's health and longevity and is published in 14 languages around the world. This year, Suzanne Somers introduced the american public to three new unique business enterprises. www.suzanneskitchen.com, www.suzanne.com, www.menopauseinstitute.com

Human Rights

Cherie Booth

Noted British Attorney/Human Rights Advocate

Cherie Booth is a trailblazer in her professional life and a dedicated wife and mother in her private life. The New York Times wrote: “Cherie Booth is viewed as something of a wonder woman for her ability to balance her high-powered professional life, high-visibility public life and intensely consuming private life." Her husband, Prime Minister Tony Blair, has given his wife credit for being "…an enormous source of strength and an extraordinary person in her own right. I never know how she manages with all the different things she does - the work, the family." She married Tony Blair in 1980 and in 1995 she became a Queen’s Counsel, which is a title held by only 10 percent of English lawyers. Currently, she specializes in Public, Employment and European Community Law at Matrix Chambers law group in London. Ms. Booth is the Chancellor and Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University (JMU), Governor and Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics and the Open University, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, a Doctor of Laws (Westminster University) and a Fellow of the International Society of Lawyers for Public Service. She is a Bencher of Lincolns Inn London as well as honorary Bencher of Kings Inn Dublin.

Stress Management

Loretta LaRoche

Lighten Up with Loretta LaRoche!

This Author, Humorist, Acclaimed Stress Expert and Emmy nominated television star has been enlightening and entertaining the world with her unique vision of the absurdities of our evolved lifestyle. She has helped millions of people find ways to Lighten Up and overcome stress in their lives. She shows that for most of us life has become such a pressure cooker of unrealistic expectations, information overload, relentless marketing and workaholism that we spend our days stressed out over being stressed out. Loretta shares her secrets for reducing stress as she leads you down the path of learning to lighten up, move with joy, and live a more balanced life. Loretta’s techniques are a brilliant blend of common sense and the most contemporary research in brain chemistry, psychology and mind-body studies. With her contemporary wit and a hearty dose of old-world wisdom Loretta brings a breath of fresh air for everyone who’s suffocating in our techno crazed, germ-phobic, “ go-go-go” world.She has had six one-woman television specials air on 80 PBS stations across the country. Her 7th special, Juicy Living Juicy Aging is being aired on PBS August of 2009. She has been nominated for local and prime time Emmy Awards, has appeared on CNN, ABC and NBC affiliates. She has authored 7 books, The Joy Journal, Happy Talk, Relax: You May Only Have a Few Minutes Left, Life is Not a Stress Rehearsal and, Life Is Short- Wear Your Party Pants, Squeeze the Day and her latest book Kick Up Heels Before You're Too Short to Wear. Her newest book, Lighten Up is due out in summer 2009.

Life Balance

Dr. Marla Shapiro

Medical Contributor, Columnist & Host

In 2003, Dr. Marla Shapiro started hosting Balance...television for living well, a 30 minute health and lifestyle program seen daily on CTV in Canada. In today's hectic environment, Dr. Shapiro brings you the latest health news along with practical tips you can use to keep you and your family healthy. She also is the Medical Contributor for Canada AM, hosts Canadian Health and Family and writes a health column for the Globe and Mail. She completed medical school at McGill University, has been published extensively and lectures frequently. She is a Certificate of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and a Specialist in Community Medicine. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine and continues a private practice in medicine.

Raising the Bar

Irshad Manji

Challenging Conventional Thinking

Irshad Manji is the best selling author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith. In this open letter, published in fourteen languages, Irshad unearths the troubling cornerstones of mainstream Islam today and ultimately presents a positive message. She offers a practical vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities, and fosters a competition of ideas. Above all, Irshad’s goal is to work with young Muslims around the globe to launch a leadership center that will promote the liberal Islamic reformation. To achieve this goal she writes columns that are distributed worldwide by The New York Times Syndicate and is in the process of producing a PBS documentary about what there is to love about Islam.

Host

Jessica Holmes

Comedian/Actress

Jessica Holmes, star of Royal Canadian Air Farce, has received Gemini and Canadian Comedy Award nominations for her performances at Just For Laughs and the Second City. She won the Platinum Award at Houston's International Comedy Festival for her comedy special Holmes Alone. She brought to life hilarious characters and edgy impressions on her sketch series The Holmes Show, and was thrilled to join the cast of CBC's Royal Canadian Air Farce two years ago. She has appeared in such films as Welcome to Mooseport and the upcoming Citizen Duane. She recently opened for her longtime comedy heroes; Jerry Seinfeld and Leslie Nielsen.