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When people want to be happier, they ask Dr. Gillian Mandich. Her practical, evidence-based approach, innovative research and infectious enthusiasm have made her a leading global authority on happiness. Dr. Gillian is an award-winning, internationally recognized happiness researcher, speaker, educator and author. She is a scientist on a mission to help people live their happiest life.

As a happiness researcher, Dr. Gillian knows that there is no secret to happiness, but there is a science to it. In recent years, scientists have reached the overwhelming conclusion that it is possible to change our happiness levels, and Dr. Gillian’s work seeks to discover how to do that in a meaningful way.
Dr. Gillian is a Research Associate at The World Database of Happiness, based out of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and co-lead investigator of The Canadian Happiness At Work Study, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Internationally recognized as a happiness expert, Dr. Gillian has received numerous awards for both scholarship and teaching, and she was recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.

Dr. Gillian is an in-demand expert for national and international media. She has been featured on The Social, Marilyn Denis, Breakfast Television, The Morning Show, Global, ABC News Philadelphia, WWL New Orleans, CBS Pittsburgh, Fast Company and more.

As a speaker, Dr. Gillian has keynoted hundreds of major conferences and events in person, online, and in hybrid environments. Her clients have included BMO, Canada Life, CI Global Asset Management, CIBC, Mount Sinai Hospital, Novartis, RBC, Roche, Sotheby’s, TD Canada Trust, the YMCA, Unity Health Toronto, The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and more. She has also consulted with companies including Adidas, the Almond Board of California, Co-operators, Interac, L’Oréal, Pantene (Procter and Gamble), Rogers Media and Staples.
Dr. Gillian previously taught in the Faculty of Health Science at Western University and worked as part of The Meant2Prevent team at SickKids. She currently works at the company she founded, The International Happiness Institute, a research, education and consulting firm that is devoted to bettering mental health through research, learning, workshops and other resources that build happiness in individuals, businesses and organizations. When she’s not working, you can often find Dr. Gillian walking her French Bulldog, Jocko, around downtown Toronto, where she resides or doing a jigsaw puzzle. She also sits on the board of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada; the Advisory Board atExamine.com, an independent organization that investigates the science behind nutrition and supplementation; and is an invited member of The Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of experts and thought leaders who provide Staples with insights and practical solutions for the new world of work.

Dr. Gillian holds a Masters of Science and PhD in Health Science from Western University.

Denise Pelley has performed with many great artists, including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, the Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook. She has also opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise has performed with symphony orchestras at festivals such as the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival, London Bluesfest, Waterloo Jazz Festival and London Sunfest, among others.

She has also enjoyed acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire. Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel, premiered in September 2004 at The Grand Theatre to sold-out audiences. In October 2005, Jazzabel was performed at the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and, in February 2006, to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre. She was featured in the February 2006 issue of Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine. Denise’s recording credits include seven CDs.

She is honoured with being the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals. In 2003, she was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category. Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012. In April 2006, the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour. In 2008 and 2014, she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards. In February 2009, the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community. In April 2015, she was inducted into the Jack Richardson London Music Hall of Fame. In November 2015, Denise received an honourary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada.

Denise has volunteered with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan, having made 12 trips to the village of Gordhim, where she helped deliver a music and art camp to over 400 children. She is also a board member at large with Educate the Children to help raise funds for a school in Nigeria.

Denise has also been a keynote speaker at conferences, presenting on The Power of Music.

A speaker, writer, mother, comedian and actress, Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and diffuse stress. Theatrically trained in England, Kate returned to Canada to a successful run on the Canadian stage.

From the theatrical stage to the many stages of motherhood, Kate found her newest passion at an open mic one night at a local comedy club. Now a 12-time nominee at the Canadian Comedy Awards and the star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network, Kate has appeared on Breakfast Television, Star TV, Toronto 1, Prime, WTN, TVO and CBC Radio One the Debaters.

Kate tours globally with her comedy and speaking and has opened for President Bill Clinton and Barbara Walters.

Saveria is a Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and guitar instructor well known in Canada for her hit single “Down to the Roots” which reached #3 on iTunes Canada on its first day of release and received nationwide radio play. Accordingly, her voice reflects a smooth Soul quality, with the infectious sonic vision of alternative Pop. Saveria has over a decade of professional experience in the music industry. By the age of 10, Saveria was touring nationally, recording professional full-length albums distributed nationally and recording commercials with Mini Pop Kids, a Canadian Kids cover group.

Saveria completed a diploma in Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe College in 2017, working with Juno award-winning and Grammy-nominated producer and mixer Dan Brodbeck. This marked the beginning of Saveria taking a more active role in the direction and sonic expression of her music and vision.

Throughout her career, Saveria has performed all over North America, making several notable radio and television appearances on iHeart Radio, Etalk Canada, CBC Music and more. She has shared stages with acts such as Tegan and Sarah, Marshmello, Carrie Underwood and Scott Helman. Most recently, Universal Records’ emerging artist, Emanuel, flew Saveria to the Cayman Islands, where she penned and performed “PTH,” which is available now on all streaming platforms.

In 2019, Saveria won CTV’s “The Launch,” a Canadian reality music competition that launched her song, “Down to the Roots,” and was celebrated by Spotify with a full-size billboard in Toronto’s Dundas Square. Saveria gained global attention from her American Idol audition with over five million views across social media and the support of judge Katy Perry. The hashtag “#JusticeForSaveria” went viral, garnering support from Carrie Underwood.
Saveria has been dedicating her time as a guitar instructor for four years to Investing In Children – a non-profit organization focused on literacy, music and leadership in London. Teaching has always been a strong passion for Saveria, and inspiring youth is her main goal.

With a combination of powerful vocals and creative instinct, and an unmatched amount of passion and drive, Saveria holds the blueprint for success as she prepares to release her first solo LP, Mosaic.

DJ Everfresh is a third-generation DJ hailing from London, Ontario, now living in Toronto. He has many accolades to his name, including a Forest City London Music Award and a prestigious Jack Richardson Music Award.

DJ Everfresh has competed and judged in many DJ competitions, including the Red Bull 3Style and the DMCs. He has also opened for countless DJs, comedians and musical acts, such as Russell Peters, Dr. Dre and DJ Qbert.

His eclectic style encompasses many genres too many to mention Everfresh is presently the resident DJ for Taste of the 6ix – a platform for emerging artists in Toronto. He is also thriving on the online platform Twitch, showing off his unique style to the world.

Featuring Rick Kish, Nevin Campbell, Larry Ernewein and Sandy MacKay, these exceptional musicians perform jazz standards for their audience.

As the leader of the band, Rick has worked as an artistic director, producer, director, actor, singer, voice teacher/coach, acting teacher/coach and workshop leader. He also obtained a Master of Music from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor, both with a focus on Musical Theatre.