Ben Hoffman is the founder and leader of The Canada Expedition. As a leading Canadian figure in conflict resolution and the founder of The Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation, Ben is a specialist in negotiation, mediation and peacebuilding. Ben has been involved in numerous peacebuilding projects internationally, working to prevent political violence and promote reconciliation.

Ben received a PhD from York University, UK, an M.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition, Ben specialized in International Peacemaking at the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation. Ben has founded several conflict resolution training programs and frequently lectures internationally on topics related to conflict. 

Ben first envisioned The Canada Expedition in 2008 in response to mounting economic and environmental crises. As the project visionary and director, Ben is superbly qualified to guide us on our expedition to a new sustainable humanity. 

Ken Hantman was president of a small business for 28 years, sold 5 years ago. Prior he had an academic background but declined two offers of honorary degrees in philosophy and psychology feeling that academia would be an insular path. An “uncanny simultaneity” of ideas in the subject of human consciousness and genius with those of Dr. Jonas Salk (famed for the killed-virus immunization of polio) led to Ken & Salk together determining the necessity of a practical application of their theories to provide guidance in a time of global transformation and rapidly evolving consciousness. In abeyance for a couple decades, he now pursues this, having input from some leading world thinkers. Ken and his wife Chris reside outside Philadelphia and in Canmore, Alberta. 

John Davis

Elinor Powell is a retired physician of endocrinology and internal medicine. In the early 1980s she joined the peace movement, founded the Victoria Chapter of the Physicians for Social Responsibility, and became affiliated with the national organization, and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). In 1988 she obtained a Certificate in Conflict Management from the Justice Institute, BC, and has since practiced as a mediator and trainer of conflict management at the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Management in Victoria. She has given many different workshops on conflict management across Canada.

Carol Linnitt is the Expedition Navigator, tasked with seeking out solutions for a sustainable humanity. Carol has an M.A. in English from York University where she focused on issues of Social, Political and Critical Theory as well as an undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of British Columbia. Her projects focus on human rights, the pursuit of justice and legal theory. Carol has experience working in the human rights field with Canadian NGOs and has worked internationally on food and education projects. She has presented on topics relating to justice, human rights and the environment at universities in both Canada and the U.S.

Backed by the Expedition Guides and Council, Carol will embark on a expedition-like search for solutions for a sustainable humanity. Speaking with notable authorities on issues ranging from social equity to environmental stewardship, Carol will compile the expedition findings, deliver them to the Expedition Guides who will turn the words of our experts into real, tangible and practical policy recommendations. Carol will also post her interviews on The Canada Expedition BLOG.

Renée Gendron is an Associate of CIIAN. Renée is a doctoral candidate at the University of Utrecht and her thesis involves the creation of a new conflict and grievance analysis model that is being applied to the conflicts in Chechnya and the North Caucasus. Renée earned a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from the Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) in August 2009 as well as a Basic Leadership certificate in 2008.

Renée is a systems-level thinker. She is interested in understanding the totality of the processes in a society and how they influence social justice, the development of an eco-economy, violent conflict and globalisation. She is extensively published in conflict resolution, state building, the Caucasus, deviant organisational behaviour and deviant processes.

Gordon Breedyk’s career includes a diverse background in the public, private and NGO sectors in Canada and internationally.   His professional work has included strategic planning, management of large and small projects (nationally and internationally), facilitation, conflict resolution, business re-engineering, systems analysis and development, business and project planning, procurement, teaching, contract administration.  He brings particular commitment to quality performance and completion of projects on time and within budget.  Gord has managed consulting companies as a Partner and owned and managed a travel agency.  His international consulting experience includes assignments in Ghana, Thailand, Mongolia, Kosovo, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.  Gord is currently volunteering with Civilian Peace Service Canada and working with others to develop and pilot a methodology to professionalize peace work.

Evan Hoffman holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). Evan also completed a Master's Degree in Post-war Recovery Studies at the University of York, UK in 2001 and an undergraduate degree in psychology at Carleton University, Ottawa in 1999. In 2001 he earned a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from the Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN).

Presently, he is the Executive Director of CIIAN. Evan is also an Associate Faculty member of the MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding program at Royal Roads University, Victoria where he teaches a course on the prevention of deadly conflict, and an Adjunct Professor with the Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution at Antioch University McGregor where he is the Chair of the Concentration in International Mediation.

Emma Pullman is currently finishing her M.A. in Political Science at the University of Victoria. Her research interests focus on issues of European integration and and Turkish accession to the EU, in addition to the social dimensions of citizenship, culture and cultural policy, identity and exclusion. Emma has worked and traveled extensively to conduct research and attend and present at academic conferences, and with a children’s peace organisation. Her work experience has included academic research, private sector, and public sector work at the provincial and federal level. When not a student, Emma works for the federal government as a Policy Analyst in Ottawa. She is pleased to be working with The Canada Expedition as an Expedition Guide in Preventing and Resolving Political Violence.  

Dustin Zielke is currently pursuing an Interdisciplinary M.A. in Cultural, Social, and Political Thought at the University of Victoria.  He holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of British Columbia.  His work has largely focused on the intersection between belief/ideological systems and social identities such as race, gender and class.  This has increasingly led him to consider the role that ‘common sense’ plays in the public perception of social issues such as the environment and socio-economic change.  The relationship between thought and practice has been a guiding theme in his studies, as it informs his emphasis on social transformation. 

Dustin is working with The Canada Expedition as an expedition guide. He hopes that he can help The Canada Expedition articulate a social ethic that is dedicated to thoughtful and sensitive activity in regards to our contemporary situation.

Evelyn Voight was born a German prisoner of war in what is now Zimbabwe. As a child in Africa, she alternated between running free on an isolated tea and coffee farm and submitting to Dickensian, British-style boarding schools. From these extremes emerged a fascination with unity in diversity -- most often explored through spoken soundscapes, fed by music -- and reflected in her choice of profession (a career in international development) and citizenship (Canadian). Penning for peace is her passion. Africa is her muse. She has performed in Canada and abroad.

Beth Boyle combines her passion for the art of presentation with her zeal for the media, and translates them into the world of Public Relations. Beth began her career at one of Canada's leading 50 Best Managed Companies where she implemented and led a strategic in-house PR department.  It was here that Beth led the PR team in media relations securing hundreds of news stories in major North American outlets. Beth quickly discovered her desire for building strong relationships with North America’s national media outlets to actively build brand awareness for her clients.  She has secured relationships with key contacts at: The Today Show, New York Times, HGTV Design Shows, CityLine, CBC, O at Home, Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Top National US Consumer Publications including Hearst and Meredith, Associated Press and top 50 North American Newspapers. Beth has since designed and implemented PR departments for numerous companies in differing industries. Beth displays her love for Public Speaking and presentation and knowledge for PR with aspiring students by instructing at the Art Institute of Vancouver. Additionally Beth is educated in Spanish, French and Italian and has won numerous National Toastmaster awards for public speaking.

Randy McCrae is a native of the Ottawa Valley, and although he has worked and lived in a variety of diverse locations in Ontario and in the United States, he is glad to be back in the Valley.

His career path has been as varied as the places he’s lived: Minister, Pastor, teacher, communications technician, salesman, contractor, waste manager, and public speaker.

Mr. McCrae’s interests are just as eclectic: he is an enthusiastic sailor, musician, singer, pilot, hunter, fisherman, wilderness camper, cabinet maker. He has three grown children. He lives with his wife, Sue, and their Great Dane, Hugo, on an island near Pembroke, Ontario.

Mr. McCrae has an overwhelming conviction that we cannot continue to go on with “business as usual”; that our present course as a nation, as a global community even, must be corrected if we are to maintain not just our way of life, but the ability of the planet to sustain humanity.

www.ciian.org

Elizabeth Sinclair has a combination of 25 years of experience working with First Nation and non-First Nation governments at the local, provincial and national level. Elizabeth has received formal training in the social sciences from the University of Ottawa, receiving a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology. In addition she has training in multicultural theory and practice from the University of Manitoba, French from the University of Laval and public service training in counselling, HR, communication and management.

Elizabeth’s career has included working as a senior policy advisory and special assistant to a former federal Cabinet Minister, as well as a human resource generalist specialising in Native and Employment Equity. She also has experience working in public relations and fundraising for First Nations and served the city of Regina as an Aboriginal Policy Advisor. She currently works as a consultant to both government and non-governmental organisations.

Anami J. Naths’ career in education can best be described as varied. She has worked in private and public schools, elementary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Canada. An ex-pat for many years, she led educational projects in the United Arab Emirates, did teacher training in India and assisted in directing private sector primary education in South Korea.

Anami currently teaches in North Vancouver and at UBC.

Julia Menard, B.A., Cert. Con. Res., P.C.C., is an Executive Coach, Mediator and Trainer - specializing in helping leaders transform conflict into opportunity. Julia has a B.A. in English Literature, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics and Professional Certificates in Conflict Resolution, Professional Coaching, Human Resource Management and Immigrant Settlement Work.  She is also a Professional Certified Coach. Julia first started in conflict resolution in 1993, through Edmonton Community Mediation, co-mediating neighbour and civil claim disputes. She then co-led the Edmonton Victim-Offender Mediation Project – the first Adult Criminal Court Diversion Program in Alberta. Since 1998, Julia has also been on the teaching team at The Centre for Conflict Resolution at The Justice Institute, coaching hundreds of participants in interest-based negotiation and mediation.

Julia specializes in coaching, mediating and training in large organizations, including Vancouver Island Health Authority, the University of Victoria and the Provincial Government. Julia is also a published writer and distributes a free monthly e-newsletter, available at:  www.juliamenard.com.

photocredits | yago 1 | flickrcreativecommons

Paul Sonnichson Paul is a Criminologist with extensive experience working in the Canadian Criminal Justice System. He obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Ottawa focusing on research and development towards innovation, improvement of the  justice system during  his career.  The last 17 years was a focused  improvement of the access to, and experience with the criminal justice system for Aboriginal people in Canada. Additionally he has worked on the development of services to victims of crime developing innovative victim-offender mediation services having developed the first court-based victim-offender  mediation system in Canada.

Paul’s knowledge and concern for environmental issues stems from growing up in Canada’s once pristine North.  Extensive Northern travel, his residence in the North has provided first hand effects of climate change. Paul lives in Ottawa and works as a consultant in his second career in housing design and construction.

Kristy McLean

Karen Lee’s life has been about the adventurous pursuit of knowledge and teaching.  Karen is a retired Chartered Psychologist who has lived in Canada, England and Hawaii, and worked mainly as a management consultant dealing with change in large organisations.  Her work has taken her to the U.S., most of the western European countries, eastern Europe, the Middle East, Nigeria, Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.  She has taught every level from kindergarten to senior executives, junior high to PhD students.  Her book, Management Consulting in a New Key, highlighted many new trends in management consulting and allowed her to hone her skills as a writer, editor and guide to writers.  She also has written several articles on psychology in organisations.  After living abroad for 14 years, she returned to Canada to be near her sons and grandchildren.  She remains busy with writing and a jewellery business that she shares with her husband.

Mary Ambeault is a senior professional with a great deal of expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution (both mediation, investigation, and facilitation).  She is on the external faculty of the Lester B. Pearson Canadian International Peacekeeping Centre in Nova Scotia and a senior consultant with Work Group Designs, and works with the Attorney General as a referee for Pre- Trial Settlement Conferences. She has designed and delivered numerous courses on negotiation and facilitation training to foreign and domestic military personnel and the private sector.  Mary has worked with Human Rights groups, Young Offenders, First Nations,and a variety of others to help facilitate an understanding of vibrant and peaceful communication.Mary has also worked with The Carter Centre as a Long Term Election Observer. Mary lives in Sault Ste. Marie with her husband Raymond Schryer and son Phillip.

Richard McCrae is a computer systems analyst working in Quality Assurance in the IT industry.  He travels extensively across Canada and the United States consulting, training and mentoring with governments, educational institutions and Fortune 500 companies.  The primary focus of these efforts is the improvement of the quality of software through the application of tools and techniques.  Professional memberships include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Association for Computing Machinery and American Society for Quality. 

Richard’s educational background includes an MBA from Syracuse University and BSCH (biology, chemistry) and MSC (computer science) from Queen’s University at Kingston.  Ongoing education has been a recurrent theme in Richard’s life. 

Hobbies include photography and reading.  Areas of interest include evolutionary biology, climate change, computer science, and mathematics. 

If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor for The Canada Expedition, please connect with our founder, Ben Hoffman, through his website www.benhoffman.ca.