Day 1 – October 15, 2026
Morning| 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m.
9:30a.m. Reclaiming Identity and Finding Belonging
Ali Abukar, CEO of Saskatoon Open Door Society
9:40a.m. A Message from the Mayor
Cynthia Block, Mayor of Saskatoon
9:50a.m. From Newcomer to Mayor: A Journey of Belonging and Leadership
Amarjeet Sohi, Ahmad Majid
Recognize how resilience, community support, and active participation can help overcome barriers, create belonging, and open opportunities for ourselves and others.
10:15a.m. Kisēwātsi: Kindness
Elizabeth Merasty, Nayyer Ghadirian
Kindness, language, and cultural traditions become powerful ways to reconnect with identity, honour family memory, and keep Indigenous knowledge alive for future generations.
Threads Studio: Childhood | Joy Saha
10:30a.m. Fighting for a Chance to Play
Reza Marvasti, Nayyer Ghadirian
Through play, children can reclaim joy, heal from trauma, and find connection and belonging, even in communities shaped by conflict.
Threads Studio: Dark Woman with Many Languages | Jaswant Guzder
10:55a.m. Mending What History Hid: The Sixties Scoop, Truth, and Healing
Dr. Jackie Maurice
Find out how reclaiming identity and sharing lived experiences can turn personal and collective trauma into healing, resilience, and advocacy.
Threads Studio: Leaning | Cynthia van Frank
11:20a.m. When Community Takes the Stage
Lautaro Reyes, Seid Selah Yosuf
Discover how community theatre transforms immigrant stories into shared experiences, creating space to explore identity, belonging, and the meaning of home across cultures.
11:40a.m. Out of Frame: Finding My Place in New Country
Ednali Fertuck-Zehavi
Explore how immigration can reshape identity and belonging, and how community, curiosity, and confidence can help us embrace new possibilities.
Threads Studio: Lately I’m not me | Lyubov Kay
12:05 p.m. In Our Own Words: Reclaiming the Immigrant Narrative
Gerard Keledjian, Ahmad Majid
Understand how newcomers can reclaim their narratives through media, challenge stereotypes, and shape how their communities are seen and understood.
12:20p.m. Reclaiming History for Muslim Children
Flordeliza Dayrit
Learn how inclusive storytelling can reclaim overlooked histories, strengthen cultural pride, and help children see themselves as part of our shared human history.
Threads Studio: Echoes | Ashia Atiq
Day 2 – October 16, 2026
Morning| 9:30a.m. – 12:30p.m.
9:30a.m. Coming Home to Who We Are
Elder Sid Fiddler
Reflect on how confronting difficult truths of Indigenous history can deepen understanding of the present and illuminate the ongoing work of reclaiming culture, identity, and ways of knowing.
9:55a.m. Art, Community & Connections
Lorenzo Dupuis, Nayyer Ghadirian
Consider how art can help us look beyond differences, understand ourselves more deeply, and find connections with others.
10:15a.m. Changing the World, One Drop at a Time
Ryan Hreljac
Learn how one small act of caring can grow into lasting change and how persistence, community, and believing you can make a difference can turn an idea into action.
10:35a.m. Unlearning the Classroom
Don McBean, Kayann Sinclair-Haughton
Reflect on how classrooms can become places where every child feels seen, valued, and included by learning from different cultures and adapting how we teach.
Threads Studio: Costplay and Sewing | Sjafril
10:55a.m. What I learned from Saskatoon
Kim Coates
Explore how a willingness to step beyond what is familiar can open the door to growth, connection, and unexpected possibilities.
11:00a.m. Art That Changes Us
Alicia Haymer, Nayyer Ghadirian
Consider how art can challenge what we think we know, keep important histories alive, and inspire us to meet the world with greater courage, openness, and care.
11:25a.m. Reclaiming Our Place, Embrace Our Differences
Abdur Rehman Ahmad, Ahmad Majid
Embracing who we are, and staying curious about others, can help us challenge bias, value diverse experiences, and build communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong and contribute.
Threads Studio: Home on Water | Bukumi Oyewole
11:45a.m. More Than a Résumé
Ivan Haso, Paola Herrera
Starting over can mean rethinking the path ahead, building new connections, and turning unexpected opportunities into confidence, growth, and a renewed sense of possibility.
12p.m. READI: Inclusion in Action
Yordanos Tesfamariam
See how meaningful inclusion moves beyond awareness to action, creating workplaces where people feel safe to be themselves, speak up, and contribute.
Threads Studio: Bottled Up | Aigerim Kassymova
12:10p.m. The Worldviews We Inhabit
Dr. W.Y. Alice Chan, Dr. Erin Reid, Mehdi Ebrahimpour
Learn how religious literacy can give us tools to replace assumptions with curiosity, engage differences with respect, and build understanding across religious, spiritual, and secular perspectives.