CATALYST Summit 2022 Returns to Highlight Psychedelic Medicine’s Growing Role in the Medical Industry, Business Innovation and Society

Annual conference guides Canada’s psychedelic journey through a hybrid format at Queen’s University
May 05, 2022 06:30 ET

Kingston, Ontario, May 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CATALYST Presents Foundation (“CATALYST”), the producer of Canada’s premiere series of psychedelic medicine conferences, hosts its third annual CATALYST Summit 2022, as a hybrid event that can be attended online or in-person at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario from May 20-22, 2022. Drawing hundreds of key stakeholders such as domestic and international policymakers, business leaders, academic researchers, scientists, mental health practitioners, and consumers of psychedelic medicine, the conference will showcase Canada’s psychedelic journey into medicine, society, and commerce through keynote presentations, intimate panel discussions, and networking events.

Partnering with key Canadian organizations and companies accelerating the psychedelic space such as Queen’s University, the Psychedelic Association of Canada, Kingston Economic Development, Optimi Health, ATMA Journey Centers, and WayFound Mental Health Group, CATALYST is building a space of community with support and collaboration from leading players. “CATALYST has already made a mark in helping to lessen the stigma, increase awareness, and bring an understanding of the potential of psychedelic medicines. We believe this connection with Queen’s University, Health Canada, and the broad international community will only continue to increase as we expand as a cohesive group of like-minded companies and individuals seeking to bring new approaches to mental health and personal growth,” said CATALYST’s Co-Chief Executive Officer, David Harder.

CATALYST Summit 2022 will feature over 80 internationally recognized speakers such as Dr. Anthony Bossis, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, Paul Stamets, world-renowned Mycologist and Author, representatives from Health Canada, Jane Philpott, a former Member of Parliament and the Health Minister and Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, Crispin Blunt, Member of Parliament from the United Kingdom, Senator Larry Campbell, Dr. Rosalind Watts, Founder of Acer Integration and Clinical Track Lead of Synthesis Institute, and many more. “The lineup for 2022 is unprecedented in terms of the broad spectrum of knowledge and decades of experience in the intentional use of psychedelic medicines,” adds Harder.

With trailblazing research and ideas backed by data from international clinical trials and studies, CATALYST Summit 2022 topics include:

    • Standards, Ethics and Best Practices
    • Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
    • The Business of Psychedelics
    • Safe, Legal Medicine Sourcing for Therapeutic Use
    • Pre-Screening and After-Medicine Integration
    • Therapeutic Models and Protocols

The conference includes additional events such as the Psychedelic Industry Business Lunch focusing on Canadian psychedelic therapy, hosted on May 20, 2022, a showing of the recently released movie Psychedelia, and the Sacred Sound & Movement Medicine, a somatic integration movement ritual, hosted on May 21, 2022.

Tickets, sponsorship packages, volunteer opportunities, and more information about CATALYST Summit 2022 are available on the official event website at http://www.catalystpresents.ca/.

About CATALYST Presents Foundation

CATALYST Presents Foundation is a not-for-profit event management company based in Calgary, Alberta, that organizes premium, curated events designed to move the psychedelic medicine conversation forward in Canada. Proceeds from the company’s events go to assist in paying for and subsidizing the cost of legal psychedelic-assisted therapy for palliative patients and military veterans in Canada. For more information, visit http://www.catalystpresents.ca/.

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Rosalind is a journalist, copywriter, and the publicist for the Psychedelic Press.
 
She studied English Literature at Oxford University (BA) and King’s College, London (MA) and is fascinated by the potential for transformation in the relationship between attitudes to psychoactive substances and their portrayal in the mainstream media.
 
Previously communications officer at the Beckley Foundation, she has contributed to the growth of the student harm reduction collective drugsand.me, and has words on psychedelic research and altered states of consciousness in The Guardian, Kaltblut Magazine, Talking Drugs, VolteFace, Psymposia and the Third Wave.
Jay is a non-profit executive with 20+ years of experience working as a leader, volunteer board member and consultant in the not for profit sector. Jay has been the Executive Director of a symphony orchestra, a community centre, a seniors’ residence and the C.O.O. of a community foundation. He has worked as an executive coach to executives in the finance, social housing, performing arts, law, visual arts, architecture and design, health services, insurance, and social service organizations, with a specialization in first-time CEOs and C-suite executives. The Boards on which Jay has volunteered include the Mark Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto, Arts Consultants of Canada, the LGBT Giving Network and the Art Gallery of Windsor, where he also enjoyed sitting on the Acquisitions Committee. Jay is delighted by the way in which his career trajectory and his lifelong personal growth path have brought him to the Psychedelic Association, where the context and language of his personal journey are now also those of his professional life. Jay has signed the North Star Ethics Pledge.
Crispin was elected MP for Reigate in 1997 having formerly served as an army officer. In Parliament, Crispin has served in the Shadow Cabinet with briefs including trade and energy and security and counter-terrorism. He has served as both Minister for Prisons and as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is currently the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global LGBT Rights, co-chair of the APPG for Humanism and co-Chair of the APPG on Drug Policy Reform. He is the Conservative Middle East Council’s Vice-Chair. In January 2019 Crispin set up and launched the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group whose objective is to promote evidence-based drug policy reform on the centre right. He is currently the Group’s unremunerated Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
Paul Lewin has been a lawyer in Toronto and across Canada for 28 years. He practices with Cannabis & Psychedelics Law Group LLP and Lewin & Sagara LLP: His focus concerns litigation and consultation on matters related to cannabis and psychedelics. Paul has advised patients, businesses, legal professionals, and medical professionals across Canada and in other countries on the psychedelic industry in Canada. Paul has advised on the constitutionality of the psychedelic prohibitions currently in place and the means by which the laws can be changed. Paul has spoken at cannabis and psychedelic events and has been interviewed dozens of times in the media on cannabis and psychedelic policy. Paul was lead counsel on Dr. Bruce Tobin’s s. 56 application and the Canadian Psychedelic Association’s Memorandum of Regulatory Analysis. Paul has litigated the constitutionality of the cannabis regulations in various courts and provinces. Paul was on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada (NORML Canada) www.norml.ca advocating for cannabis reform from 2011 to 2020. He spearheaded advocacy campaigns across the country and lobbied politicians at all levels of government. Paul has advised doctors, lawyers, politicians, educators, and the police on cannabis law and policy.
Dr. Sherry Boodram is the CEO and Co-Founder of CannDelta Inc., which includes PsyDelta, the company’s dedicated psychedelics service. Dr. Boodram is responsible for providing guidance and developing strategies for clients to ensure regulatory compliance within Canada’s existing cannabis and psychedelics frameworks as well as in international jurisdictions. She is a leader in the cannabis and psychedelics industry, having spent several years in the Canadian federal government, most notably at Health Canada’s Medical Cannabis and Controlled Substances Programs as a Senior Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Officer. Dr. Boodram has extensive knowledge and experience in regulatory and licensing submissions, international policy and regulation development, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence inspections and audits, internal quality management systems and processes, facility design and operational optimization, and education. She serves as an Independent Board Advisor for Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE:OILS, OTCQB:OILFF), a Canadian cannabis extraction technology company, and also serves as an elected Board Member for the Canadian Association of Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (CAPRA). Dr. Boodram holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from York University, a Hon. B.Sc. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Cannabis Law and Regulation from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, and a Graduate Certificate with Honours in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs and Quality Operations from Seneca College.
Dr. Anne Wagner, C.Psych., is a clinical psychologist and treatment development researcher based in Toronto, Canada. Anne is the founder of Remedy, a mental health innovation community, and Remedy Institute, Remedy’s home for research. She is the lead investigator of the pilot trial of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD + MDMA and the upcoming randomized trial of Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT) + MDMA, a couples therapy for PTSD her team has previously tested in a pilot trial. Anne is deeply committed to bridging the worlds of psychotherapy and non-ordinary states of consciousness, and has a passion for its use for relational healing. She is committed to uplifting the voices of women in the psychedelic world. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology and an Associate Member of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at X University (formerly Ryerson University), is the Past-Chair of the Traumatic Stress Section of the Canadian Psychological Association, is a Global Ambassador for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, and sits on the board of Casey House, Toronto’s HIV/AIDS Hospital.
Timmy Davis is the Psilocybin Rescheduling Project manager at the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group and a trainee at the SITE for Contemporary Psychoanalysis. He is a contributing member of Drug Science’s Medical Psychedelics Working Group and a guide on the psilocybin for treatment resistant depression trials at Kings College London, as well as a welfare and harm reduction manager at music festivals in the UK and abroad. He graduated from Birkbeck College, University of London with an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies and with a BA Hons in Philosophy and Religion from the university of Kent, where he was president of the UKC Psychedelic Society for three years. He co-authored a chapter entitled The Feminine Enshadowed: the Role of Psychedelics in Deconstructing the Gender Binary with Cameron Adams PhD in the book Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine (2019) and The Medical Use of Psilocybin – Reducing Restrictions on Research and Treatment (2020) as well as authoring New, Strange, Odd and Weird Perceptions – A Lacanian Approach to Psychedelic Experience (2020), THOU ART NOT THAT – Towards a Psychoanalytic Understanding of the Bad Trip (forthcoming), The Psychosis of Saint Schreber (forthcoming) and Hypnotism, Shamanism and Psychiatry – Psychedelics in the history of trance (forthcoming). Timmy organises and chairs the Psychoanalysis and Psychedelics event series for the Maudsley Psychedelic Society, as well as regularly speaking on the topic.
An entrepreneur and a visionary, Ronan is Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Field Trip Psychedelics Inc. Concurrent with his work at Field Trip, he is a partner at Grassfed Ventures, a venture capital and advisory firm focused on the cannabis and biotech industries and a Member of the Board of Directors for Trait Biosciences Inc., a leading biotech company in the hemp and cannabis industries. Prior to his current roles, Ronan co-founded Canadian Cannabis Clinics and CanvasRx Inc., the latter of which was acquired by Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) in 2016, after which he served as Senior Vice President, Business and Corporate Affairs for Aurora. Ronan started his career as a lawyer practicing corporate and securities law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, but he’s feeling much better now. He holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, both from the University of Toronto.
Philippe Lucas PhD is a cannabis and psychedelic researcher and President of Sabi Mind, a clinic group focused on increasing access to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of mental health, pain and problematic substance use. Philippe was founder and Executive Director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, one of Canada’s first medical cannabis dispensaries, and a founding Board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada. More recently he worked as VP, Global Patient Research & Access at Tilray, where he oversaw a comprehensive international clinical and observational cannabis research program, and he is also acting-CEO of Compassionate Analytics, which produces on-site analytical tools for the cannabis industry. He has been invited to present his research before the Canadian House of Commons and Senate on numerous occasions, and has worked with governments around the globe to develop evidence-based drug policies informed by harm reduction, cognitive liberty and compassion. Philippe has received a number of accolades for his work and research, including the Americans for Safe Access Researcher of the Year Award 2021, the Cannabis Council of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Ian Mitchell is an Emergency Physician working in Kamloops, BC and an Associate Clinical Professor at the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine. He has worked at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is interested in harm reduction and was the physician lead for the first emergency department distribution of Take Home Naloxone kits in Canada. He is a cannabis clinician and researcher, and was the qualified investigator in an RCT of cannabis for PTSD. He has been using ketamine as part of his emergency practice for 25 years and is on the board of directors for the Ketamine Assisted Therapy Association of Canada (katacanada.org).
Over 25 years of Global experience across a wide array of industries in multifunctional organizations ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small and medium-sized businesses. Bill graduated from UBC with a Bachelor Degree in Economics and has spent his career working in various cities across North America. Prior experience includes leading a specialty advisory practice for the Business Development Bank of Canada, running his own successful consulting firm and helping a high tech company go public and grow from $200 M to $800 M in under 4 years. Bill additionally spent 17 years at Procter & Gamble and has a love and proven track record for growing products and brands.
As former Clinical Lead of the Psilocybin for Depression trial at Imperial College London, Rosalind Watts, PhD, led a clinical team which facilitated over a hundred psilocybin treatment sessions. She developed the ACE model for psychedelic-assisted therapy ‘Accept, Connect, Embody’, which has been used in clinical trials of psilocybin and dmt. Having recognised that safe and effective use of psychedelics requires substantial integration support, Rosalind co-founded the UK’s first psychedelic integration group, and is now launching a global online integration community, ‘Accept, Connect, Embody, Restore’ (ACER) where members will follow a 12 month process together. She has developed a psychometric tool for measuring outcomes of psychedelic therapy (the Watts Connectedness Scale) is clinical track lead on the Synthesis Institute’s Psychedelic Practitioner Training, and sits on the clinical advisory board of the Usona Institute, a not-for-profit psilocybin manufacturer and research organization. Her website is drrosalindwatts.com
Natalie is the has a deep passion for creating spaces for people to feel safe and open for personal transformation. Her experiences as an on-air radio personality, years as an on-air television journalist producing and directing a weekly show as well as contributing to a daily live program for a national television station, allowed her to witness literally hundreds of peoples individual stories. In addition to these public roles, she managed multiple television station locations, designed and oversaw studio expansions, managed a program for artists and musicians with an international humanitarian organization, after which she started and ran her own successful company focussed on personal health and wellness for 6 years. She is thrilled to bring her skill set and experience to ATMA as this fits into the very centre of her passion.
David has worked full-time for the past 5 years in researching, advocating and moving the work of non-ordinary state therapy and psychedelic medicine forward in Canada. He co-founded and led Catalyst Presents, a Psychedelic Research Conference, and ATMA Journey Centers, a Canadian non-profit dedicated to bringing psychedelic-assisted therapy to Canadians which was successful in achieving one of Canada’s first modern legal exemptions to undertake psychedelic-assisted work. With a Master’s degree in religious studies and having been both a college professor and international humanitarian relief worker, David has always dedicated himself to the service of others. He brings a deep experience and reverence for psychedelic medicine and believes that it will play a key role in bringing healing to humanity.
Dr. Bains earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology prior to studying medicine at the University of Manitoba, his home province. He completed a psychiatric residency at Dalhousie University where he went on to complete a fellowship in ISTDP (Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy). Subsequent to graduating in 2006, he has practiced as an inpatient psychiatrist, as well as a psychotherapist. Dr. Bains has gone on to do both inpatient and outpatient work, as well as practice as a psychotherapist. Currently he is also Chief Medical Officer of Wayfound mental health.
Dr. Megan McElheran is the CEO and Chief Clinical Psychologist of Wayfound Mental Health Group. Dr. McElheran completed graduate training at the PAU-Stanford University Clinical Psychology Consortium, during which she obtained specialized training in the treatment of PTSD through the National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park, CA. Dr. McElheran has been in practice in Calgary since 2008. She continues to focus on work with first responders, and her clinical practice involves work with active-duty members of the Canadian Forces, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, members of the Calgary Firefighter Department, medical personnel, and others who are directly or vicariously impacted by traumatic events. She routinely engages in teaching and supervisory activity to ensure the sound dissemination of empirically-grounded interventions for trauma. Dr. McElheran is regularly engaged in speaking events, both locally and internationally. She completed a TEDx speech in 2011 related to Trauma, Change, and Resilience and most recently completed a discussion for the Healing Project on trauma and PTSD.
David Clements (he/him) was appointed Executive Director of the Dimensions Health Research Collaborative at Queen’s University in June 2021, where he works closely with scientists and stakeholders to advance psychedelics research. He serves concurrently as senior advisor, innovation strategy and policy, for Queen’s Health Sciences. Mr. Clements has more than two decades experience working in health policy, planning, strategy, communications, and stakeholder engagement. Her has held senior management roles in organizations including Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. In 2014 and 2015, he served as executive director of the federal advisory panel on healthcare innovation, and he has also served as a senior advisor and communications director for Canada’s minister of health. Mr. Clements holds a BA at the University of Victoria, as well as an MPA from the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s, with a concentration in health policy. He also pursued doctoral studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Marcus and Amber Capone have a 20+ year history of never giving up on one another. After meeting at Southern Illinois University in 1997 and marrying three years later, the young couple moved to Coronado, CA where Marcus began training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL, graduating with BUD/S class 236 just one month after the attacks of 9/11. Like many military families, the Capones adapted to the high operational tempo of combat deployments and wartime training cycles, sometimes keeping Marcus away from home for up to 300 days per year. After 13 years and 7 tours, it was the transition away from the SEAL teams that would prove to be the greatest challenge yet. After years of escalating hardships, misdiagnoses, and failed avenues of healing, Amber was able to arrange for Marcus to leave the U.S. in 2017 to undergo a plant medicine experience; an intervention the couple attributes to saving his life as well as their family. Marcus immediately felt a deep conviction to pay this healing forward to his former teammates, which subsequently launched a successful grassroots effort that culminated in the official formation of VETS in 2019. As a 501(c)(3) organization, VETS provides resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. veterans seeking healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy alternatives. To date, VETS has raised funding for over 400 Special Operations veterans to receive this critical lifeline. Marcus and Amber are committed to fighting for veterans and their families just as hard as they’ve fought for their own, with an ultimate goal of making these therapies available within the borders of the United States for all who need them.
Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Campbell became a steelworker in Hamilton in the 1960s. In his first career move, he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was transferred to Vancouver in 1969, later joining the RCMP drug squad in 1973. With more than twelve years experience with the RCMP, Campbell transitioned into death investigation, establishing Vancouver’s first District Coroner’s Office in 1981 and becoming the Chief Coroner for British Columbia in 1996. In this capacity, he became the inspiration behind the popular CBC drama Da Vinci’s Inquest, as well as its spin-off, Da Vinci’s City Hall. Larry Campbell was intimately involved with the television programs, writing and collaborating on scripts for the series. A huge proponent of the Four Pillars approach to ending drug abuse, Campbell ran for Mayor when he felt this strategy was being neglected. In 2002 he was elected by the citizens of Vancouver under the banner of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) in what was a landslide election. Carrying on the legacy of his predecessor Philip Owen, Mayor Campbell spearheaded the approval and establishment of North America’s first legal safe injection site and continued to champion the Four Pillars Drug strategy. In addition to drug and crime prevention, he was also instrumental in the successful Vancouver bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. In August 2005, Campbell was summoned to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Paul Martin. As a Senator, Campbell has continued his work on drug policy, mental health, and aboriginal issues. In 2009, he co-authored the book “A Thousand Dreams Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future”. Senator Campbell is currently a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and Legal and Constitutional Affairs. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from City University in Vancouver.
Ron Shore spent 23 years in front line harm reduction and community health and is the founder Kingston’s Street Health Centre, a multi-service community health centre serving marginalized communities. Ron has taught drug and addiction studies at Queen’s for 15 years, and has taught Psychedelics, Politics and Harm Reduction at the University of Ottawa for the last two years. Ron has a Master’s in Policy Studies (Health Policy) from Queen’s University, a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, and defends his PhD dissertation on the clinical application of psilocybin in June of this year. Ron is currently a psychedelics Research Scientist with Queen’s Health Sciences within the Dimensions Health Research Collaborative.
Kelsey Ramsden has spent her life building and scaling businesses in novel and exciting ways. She was named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women, won Canada’s #1 female entrepreneur two years in a row, and proudly serves as a Richard Branson Centre Mentor. Kelsey also serves on the Entrepreneurship Council for the University of Western Ontario, where she is also a faculty member teaching Design Thinking. An accomplished keynote speaker and bestselling author, Kelsey holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Center for Psychedelic Medicine. Dr. Bossis was director of palliative care research and co-principal investigator on the 2016 psilocybin cancer anxiety clinical trial. He is study director and lead session guide on an FDA-approved clinical trial evaluating psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon religious leaders. Dr. Bossis is a training supervisor of psychotherapy at NYU-Bellevue Hospital Center and co-founder of the Bellevue Hospital Palliative Care Service. He is on the faculty for The Center for Psychedelic Therapies at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and a guest editor for the journal’s Special Series on Psychedelics. He has a long-standing interest in comparative religion and on the interface of psychology and spirituality. He maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice in NYC.
Jane Philpott is the Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University and the CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Association (SEAMO). She is a physician and former Member of Parliament. Prior to politics, Jane was a family doctor for 30 years and spent the first decade of her career in Niger, West Africa. She was Chief of Family Medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. From 2015 to 2019 she served as federal Minister of Health, Minister of Indigenous Services, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government. She is the Ministers’ Special Advisor for the Ontario Health Data Platform and was recently elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
  • Vice President of Business Development – Clearmind Medicine
  • Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health.
  • Advisor – Psygen
  • Was Executive Director of MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) for 10 years.
  • Has published on the issue of drug control policy and psychedelics in the following Journals:
    • Canadian Journal of Public Health,
    • International Journal of Drug Policy,
    • Encyclopaedia of Public Health
    • Harm Reduction Journal
    • Open Medicine
    • Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
    • Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
  • Obtained an MSW from UBC
  • Worked for the Addiction Services for 28 years in counselling and supervisory roles.
  • Has provided public education on drugs and drug policy for over 30 years.
  • Worked with the Health Officers Council of British Columbia on their position papers on the issue of a regulated market for all currently illegal drugs.
  • Has presented in conferences and training events in many countries
  • Awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for drug policy reform work in 2013.
Saundra Jain, MA, PsyD, LPC, is an Adjunct Clinical Affiliate, School of Nursing, at The University of Texas at Austin, and a psychotherapist in private practice. Dr. Jain is a co-creator of the WILD 5 Wellness Program and co-author of a well- received workbook written for those interested in improving their mental wellness – KickStart30: A Proven 30-Day Mental Wellness Program. She is co- creator of the Psychedelics and Wellness Survey (PAWS) exploring the intersect between psychedelics and wellness. She serves as a member of the Psych Congress Steering Committee providing direction regarding educational gaps/needs for mental health practitioners, and Sana Symposium providing psychedelics education for mental health and addiction professionals.
Erika Dyck is a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Canada Research Chair in the History of Medicine. She is the author of Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus (Johns Hopkins, 2008; University of Manitoba Press, 2011), Managing Madness: The Weyburn Mental Hospital and Transformations of Psychiatric Care in Canada (2017) and the co-editor of Culture’s Catalyst: Encounters with Peyote and the Native American Church in Canada (2016) and Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond (2018).
Dr. Pamela Kryskow is a medical doctor with a strong interest in psychedelic medicine, mental health and chronic pain. She is the medical lead for the Roots To Thrive Ketamine Assisted Therapy program that treats health care providers with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction and the My Community Thrives team that provides psilocybin therapy for patients with end of life anxiety who have section 56 exemptions from the Canadian Health Minister. Founding board members of the Canadian Psychedelic Association. She is part of an expert team working to give Canadians access to psilocybin at end of life. Dr. Kryskow is actively involved in research related to psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, mental wellness, chronic pain and neurogenesis. Co-investigator on the largest microdosing study Microdose.me which is ongoing with 14 500+ enrolled participants. A Clinical Instructor at University of British Columbia and Adjunct Professor at Vancouver Island University. She is the co-chair of the Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Medicine at Vancouver Island University. In real life she loves foraging in the forest, ocean kayaking, growing kale and daydreaming in the hammock.
Trevor Millar is a social-entrepreneur who has played a key role in advancing the psychedelic movement for nearly a decade. He has the unique perspective of having operated a business where he legally administered psychedelics to over 200 people within Canada, mostly for substance use disorder. Since May 2018 he has been on the board of directors for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, where he acted as Chair of the Board for over two years. MAPS is a non-profit organization and a leader in supporting scientific research into psychedelics. He is also currently a board member and co-founder of the Canadian Psychedelic Association. From 2012 to 2017, Trevor was active as the founder and President of Liberty Root Therapy Inc., a business dedicated to healing and transformation by legally providing the plant medicine ibogaine to people mostly with opiate use disorder. Trevor was featured in the award-winning documentary about using magic mushrooms and Iboga to treat addiction, anxiety and depression called DOSED, which was released in 2019. He is currently the Chief Psychedelic Officer of NeonMind Biosciences Inc., a corporation dedicated to developing and commercializing products that contain legal medicinal mushrooms and those that may contain psychedelic compounds. Trevor is also on the Advisory Board of Nature Spirit Labs Inc.
Dr. Emma Hapke, MD, FRCPC, is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychedelic researcher at the University Health Network in Toronto. She is the co-founder and associate director of the Nikean Psychedelic Psychotherapy Research Centre at UHN. She is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hapke trained at McMaster Univeristy and the University of Toronto and started her career as an attending psychiatrist at CAMH in Toronto. Her specialty is women’s mental health and the treatment of developmental trauma, sexual trauma and complex PTSD. She has extensive training in multiple modalities of psychotherapy and has worked clinically with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. She also has a growing interest in psychosocial oncology. Dr. Hapke works with MAPS as the principal investigator for the Montreal site of the phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and is MAPS-trained to deliver MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Bruce Sanguin has been a Clinical Fellow with the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for 25 years. He currently lives in Victoria, BC where he practices as a psychotherapist. He is the author of seven books, the latest of which, Dismantled: How Love and Psychedelics Broke a Clergyman Apart and Put Him Back Together, describes his own healing journey using psychedelics in the context of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. As well as practicing psychotherapy, Bruce is a keynote speaker at psychedelic conferences, with an active interest in the integration of spirituality and psychology.
Shannon serves as a Health Professional Investigator with a focus on resilience development and medicine-assisted therapies. As a byproduct of her doctoral work that focused on the core factors that promote human flourishing, she is now spearheading the ongoing development of Roots to Thrive (RTT), a resilience focused community of practice and the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies (RTT-KaT).
Patrick Moher is an industrious entrepreneur working in Psychedelics and Cannabis, currently the CEO at Microdose Psychedelic Insights. As a passionate and unapologetic environmentalist, his relentless work ethic has directly translated to previous success in his photography career, as well as founding Ethical Image, having co-founded Alan Aldous Communications, Goodwood Accessories, UCannAcademy & and becoming a partner at ADCANN. Patrick is focused on helping combine creativity, CSR, and sustainable profitability for companies. He has a dynamic ability to unite individuals across social and corporate spectrums to create unique business solutions. His dedication to community service has seen him actively collaborate with many volunteer organizations, photograph 100’s of events/portraits/weddings, & sponsor the planting of over 20,000 trees (and counting).
Rich Tyo is a registered psychotherapist, mental health advocate, musician, arts educator, psychedelic practitioner, and founder of the Kingston Psychedelic Society. For the last 10 years, Rich has supported individuals in their preparation and integration of transpersonal/ psychedelic experiences with a transpersonal, somatic, and harm reduction lens. He also leads psychedelic cannabis ceremonies for groups and individuals and has spoken internationally on topics such as psychedelic harm reduction, micro-dose research, spirituality, and shadow work. Rich is passionate about community building and holistic mental health education in order to support people in finding their skills to navigate the deep healing within our collective and individuals psyches that is essential during these uncertain times.
Cory is a human-impact community builder and plant medicine advocate who has spent the better part of the last 5 years building communities in the mental health and wellness space, including his work as the former Executive Director of the Canadian Psychedelic Association. Today, Cory works as Chief Storyteller for the Nikean foundation and is the founder of Dose Day, a group-matching peer support community for intentional microdosers designed to match like-minded interests with real-world mental health outcomes. Cory has committed his career to a vision of the future where mental health and disease are viewed as holistic, collective experiences and the stigmatization of mental illness is replaced with compassion, transformation and community connection; a world where we all have the opportunity to reunite with our innate abilities to heal, overcome and actualize our full potential.
Michael is the Founder and Principal of Kydder Management Group Inc., a public affairs firm committed to innovation and bunker-busting ideas in emergent sectors across the world. Relentless and highly strategic in his approach, Michael has brought his exceptional experience in all aspects of communications and regulatory affairs to professional sports, gaming, politics, government, digital health technology, cannabis and the psychedelics sector. He is a dedicated mental health advocate, a cancer survivor, has spoken at international conferences on reputation management and economics, provided weekly political communications commentary on major media outlets across Canada, worked with high profile clients in the U.S and Canada, instructed at the university level, and counseled multiple stakeholder groups and businesses on building strategies to inform government and shape public opinion. He holds degrees in Psychology and Public Relations, and a Professional Crisis Management certificate through the Institute for Crisis Management.
Salimeh Tabrizi, M.Ed is a clinical counsellor, success coach, intuitive energy worker and plant medicine advocate who supports individuals in and out of ceremonies. As a founding member of the Canadian Psychedelic Association and the founder of the Cannabis Hemp Conference and Expo, the largest and most comprehensive Cannabis conference in Canada, she is inspired by the co-evolutionary process between humans and Entheogenic plants such as Cannabis, Ayahuasca, Psilocybin and San Pedro. She feels grateful to be part of the collective as humanity faces a pivotal point of ascension and has a chance and choice to step into complete self-healing, empowerment and responsibility for Earth stewardship and protection.
Michael Tan (he/him) Numinus Chief Operating Officer. Former/first Executive Director, BCLDB Cannabis Division. Successfully launched recreational cannabis operations in BC. Twenty years’ operations management, strategic planning, and execution with national and multinational corporations including Hudson’s Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue, and UPS. Seasoned, high-impact operations, product development, and marketing executive with a track record of driving performance excellence and profitable revenue growth. www.numinus.com
Raad Seraj is a Bangladeshi-Canadian entrepreneur and angel investor building at the convergence of consciousness, climate, capital, and culture. Raad has spent a decade in impact technologies ranging from biotech, cleantech, and corporate social responsibility until realising the big gap in the impact thesis – we need to connect our inner world with the outer world, and democratize ownership in the future. He’s the founder of Mission Club, an education and investment platform connecting community investors and the founders building solutions for mental health and climate change. Raad is also the host for Minority Trip Report, a podcast for underrepresented scientists, artists, and founders to speak about mental health and psychedelics. By day Raad works with Affinity, a San Francisco startup building A.I. tools for Venture Capitalists. By night you’ll find Raad producing secret art parties in unconventional spaces all over the city.
Steve Rio is Co-Founder of Enfold Institute, along with his wife Austin. Enfold offers elevated, safe, and sacred retreats in BC, Canada. His life’s work is focused on raising consciousness, improving sensemaking, and helping individuals and society realize our full potential. Beyond his work with Enfold, Steve sits on the board of Grateful Living and TheraPsil, is an advisor to Numinus, Holos Global, and Nikean Foundation, and mentors dozens of young entrepreneurs through multiple organizations.
Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. is a psychologist and ketamine specialist from Berkeley, California. She primarily works with people who are living with severe depression, bipolar disorder, and/or suicidal ideation. Dr. Bennett is fascinated by the antidepressant and anti-obsessional properties of ketamine, and has been studying them since 2002. She also has a long-standing interest in the psychedelic and mystical properties of ketamine, and the potential for this medicine to be used for spiritual exploration. Dr. Bennett is the founder of KRIYA Institute and KRIYA Conference, which are both devoted to the use of ketamine in psychiatry and psychotherapy. She has given hundreds of lectures and trained thousands of clinicians worldwide on the safe and legal use of ketamine in clinical practice. You can learn more about her work at: www.kriyainstitute.com
David Fascinato is the Executive Director of Heroic Hearts Project Canada. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, David has worked for the last decade in the veteran transition space to support and empower veterans in their respective journeys, founding Team Rubicon Canada in 2016, and today by establishing Heroic Hearts Project Canada.
Paul has been a cultural helper within indigenous communities for more than 20 years, as a fire keeper, singer, dancer, and leader. While apprenticing with Indigenous Healers from many diverse traditions, Paul studied Medical Anthropology through the University of Calgary. His research in the field of intertribal collaboration between Indigenous Nations from North, Central, and South America remains unpublished. Paul continues to support and learn from Elders and Medicine People throughout the year, sitting in ceremonies and circles, splitting wood, carrying water, keeping fires, and wildcrafting or cultivating the traditional medicines necessary for the ceremonies to continue. Paul is committed to the empowerment of all marginalized peoples, particularly through reciprocity and ongoing support of his teachers and their families. Humbled by, and grateful for, the generosity of Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers sharing their stories, teachings, and wisdom, Paul has been encouraged to offer support to others exploring the path to personal and community health. Currently, Paul works as an Integration Specialist at Intentional Directions, offering 1:1 coaching, mentorship, and group integration circles online and in person in the Calgary area.
Kate is a Registered Nurse specialized in mental health and substance use, a psychotherapist, a somatic therapist specialized in trauma and attachment, an educator, and a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology. She is a former licensed and registered midwife, and is extensively trained in subtle energy and consciousness-based healing practices. Kate has worked in a variety of health care and educational settings for over 25 years as a clinician, clinical supervisor, consultant, educator, and lecturer, and is now an administrator and instructor in Continuing Studies with Langara College’s Holistic Health division.
 
Kate was a founding board member of the CPA.
 
Kate has signed the North Star Ethics Pledge.
Dr. Alex Belser is a licensed psychologist and has been a leader in the psychedelic research community for the last twenty years. He is an editor of the forthcoming book, Queering Psychedelics: From Oppression to Liberation. His clinical research at NYU and Yale University has focused on investigating psilocybin and MDMA to treat depression, anxiety, substance use, OCD, PTSD, and end-of-life distress. He is the Chief Clinical Officer of Cybin, where he directs their clinical programs in psychedelic therapeutics. He previously served as Chief Clinical Officer at Adelia Therapeutics. He is the co-author of EMBARK, a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy model that was designed to be adapted to address a range of clinical indications and populations. He is a member of Chacruna Institute’s Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities Working Group, where he works on issues affecting LGBTQI+ people. His research has been featured on the front page of the New York Times, in the Atlantic, the New Yorker, The Guardian, and in Michael Pollan’s book, How to Change Your Mind. Dr. Belser studied at Georgetown University, the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, NYU, and Yale University. His writing is available at http://alexbelser.com. His private practice site is http://centerforbreakthroughs.com.
Daniel McQueen, MA, is a Psychedelic Specialist, Educator, and Author of the book, Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness. In 2012 he co-founded one of the first legal psychedelic plant medicine therapy clinics in the United States, the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness which is located in Boulder, Colorado and is currently celebrating its 10 year anniversary. The same year, Daniel also founded Psychedelic Sitters School, which continues to train students from around the world in Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy and Cannabis-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy.
Clinical Director, Dimensions Algonquin Highlands A registered psychotherapist with 19 years of experience, Donald leads Retreat programming at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands. He was a core team member of Helix Healthcare, a clinic specializing in addiction and mental health. Donald is a cannabis assisted psychedelic therapist and holds a Cannabis Assisted Psychedelic Guide TM certification from Center For Medicinal Mindfulness. His clinical work focuses on healing through somatic and trauma therapies that are evidence-based and supported by neuroscience research. He will open Dimensions Algonquin Highlands to private plant medicine group retreats this summer.
Dr. Crosbie Watler is the lead psychiatrist for the RTT-KAT team and an emerging thought leader, forging new pathways to alleviate suffering related to mental distress. He completed his MA in Psychology at Lakehead University, before going to Medical School at McMaster in 1988. Following medical school, Dr. Watler completed his residency in psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Upon completion he worked in Kenora, Ontario from 1995-2001, where he was Chief of Psychiatry at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital. In 2001 Dr. Walter relocated to Duncan BC with his wife and their three children, working within Island Health and served as Medical Director and the Department Head for Psychiatry. Dr. Watler has practised in multiple settings including, tertiary, inpatient, outpatient and ACT. Dr. Watler’s current interests focus on incorporating the best of modern medicine with holistic/integrative health.
Jazmin was raised on Lake of the Woods, Ontario. She focuses on Boreal Forest Ethnobotany, Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology. Jazmin shares plant medicine teachings, working throughout Northern Ontario and Canada. Jazmin has also shared knowledge in the United Kingdom to present at Breaking Convention 2019. Jazmin works as speaker and as a consultant integrating Western and Traditional knowledge. She is growing her Healing Centre, Boom Bay Integrative Healing.
Mohamed Ravalia, a respected physician and medical educator, was born and raised in the southern African country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He immigrated to Canada in 1984 and practiced Family Medicine in Twillingate, NL until his appointment to the Senate in June 2018.
Senator Ravalia has served on a number of committees of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Medical Council of Canada. He has also had a lengthy involvement with the Atlantic Provinces Medical Peer Review process and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. He was appointed to the council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NL and represented the Canadian Distributed Medical Education group at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
 
He has received a number of awards including the Order of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, Canadian Family Physician of the Year and several community teaching awards.
 
Senator Ravalia is the Senate Representative of the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, a non-partisan forum that engages all Parliamentarians in events organized by Research Canada.
 
Senator Ravalia is a founding member of the African Canadian Senate Group, a coalition devoted to fighting anti-Black racism and discrimination, and engaging with Canadians while advocating for their priorities. He is also a member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus.
 
Proudly representing the regional interests of his fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, Senator Ravalia has a focus on rurality, disenfranchised populations, resource management, eldercare and health needs. As an immigrant from a minority population group, his experience will further enhance his perspective as a Senator.
Craig is an advocate for change to medical psilocybin regulations and is the co-founder and CEO of both Eversio Wellness and Eversio Labs, two Health Canada licensed mushroom wellness companies in British Columbia. In Latin, Eversio means change, and it is the mission of both companies to change lives through fungi by continuing to develop the highest quality organic mushroom extract products available today – both functional and psychedelic. He has witnessed the power of fungi to change lives and wholeheartedly believes that access to safe, regulated psilocybin therapy is what’s missing from our world where mental health treatment has so few tools at its disposal. Craig works closely with his team of experts in biology, mycology, and naturopathic medicine to address supply chain demand for naturally-derived approved medicines for global medical and research communities.
Ross Crockford is a journalist based on Vancouver Island. He has researched and written about the history of psychedelics for more than 20 years, for such publications as Western Living, The Vancouver Sun, Reflex (CZ), and the MAPS Bulletin.

Curt graduated from Ryerson in 1983 with a B.A.A. in Radio and Television Arts.

In 1986 he joined the CBC and started working in what was known as Frobisher Bay and later Iqaluit, in the North West Territories. He lived here for nearly seven years.

His career with the CBC then took him to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he became a National Reporter. In Winnipeg Curt’s investigative journalism revealed a scheme hatched in the Premier’s office to create a dummy political party in order to alter the outcome of a provincial election. Curt’s work sparked a public inquiry which confirmed his findings about corruption and election officials who played a role in covering it up. His reporting won the Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism in 1999. 

In 2001 he joined the CBC’s parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. Four years later Curt took on the job of National reporter for BC. His investigative work has been recognized by The Jack Webster Foundation, The Radio and Television News Director’s Association, the Canadian Association of Journalists, and The New York Festivals.

Curt has been called on to report on countless critical incidents, catastrophes and humanitarian crises: from the devastating Manitoba flood in 1997, to the seminal Columbine school shooting in Littleton, Colorado, to more recent events including the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, the worst drought in Eastern Africa in a generation that same year, and Typhoon Haiyan’s swath of destruction in the Philippines in 2013. It was following his trip to the Philippines, after some particularly difficult conditions, that he was eventually diagnosed with PTSD. 

Ever the journalist, even when he was at his darkest point, Curt collaborated on a documentary which made him the focus of the story.

Since 2007, no story has occupied more of Curt’s time, interest and curiosity than that of the death of Robert Dziekanski and the investigation into what happened. Curt’s credo is to keep asking questions until the answers stand up to scrutiny.

In 2020 Curt began writing a series of pieces for The Tyee about psychedelic psychotherapy and how Canadian medical authorities and governments were responding to the growing demand for access. The stories culminated in an investigation into the death of Amanda Leech, a B.C. woman who’s doctors withdrew life-changing ketamine therapy without explanation or reason. 

Throughout his illness and treatment, Curt maintained an interest in the sprawling and complicated story that is the subject of Blamed and Broken. His treating physicians encouraged Curt to use writing as a therapy, even when he was unable to carry out the job which has been his life’s work for more than thirty years. It was good advice.

Curt currently lives in Port Moody, BC.

Mark is a largely retired community psychiatrist who practiced longer-term psychotherapy with those suffering the pains associated with big and small T trauma. He has a longstanding familiarity with non-ordinary states of consciousness by way of Holotropic Breathwork and his own personal explorations. Relevant trainings include EMDR and Imago Relationship Therapy.
 
Along with his life-and-work partner, Susan McBride, Mark’s career shifted in 2017 after they attended the MAPS Psychedelic Science conference. Since that time they have focussed on the use of ketamine assisted psychotherapy for mental health issues, working initially with individuals suffering from treatment resistant depression. It wasn’t long before Mark and Susan became acquainted with what they call the “relational dose” of ketamine … a dose at which ketamine becomes an empathogen, opening hearts and dropping defences. It was only natural to then bring this wonderful relational lubricant into their work with couples using the medium of Imago Relationship therapy..
 
Mark and Susan also teach a five day Ketamine Learning Experience to therapists and physicians as well as a Ketamine and Couples Learning Experience to couples therapists and their intimate partners.
Susan McBride is a Registered Social Worker and Registered Nurse who has been in private practice using Imago Relationship therapy with couples and individuals and also has been facilitating Holotropic Breathwork sessions for almost 20 years. An interest in the field of psychedelics led to attendance at MAPS Psychedelic Science conference in 2017. With her life and work partner, Mark Cornfield, she has attended various trainings utilizing Ketamine and started working with individual clients with treatment resistance depression. Mark and Susan discovered the empathic qualities of Ketamine on a personal journey and then brought this to their couple work and have been facilitating couples groups using ketamine since 2018. Mark and Susan teach a 5 day Ketamine Learning Experience to physicians and psychotherapists and have just recently begun to teach Ketamine and Couples Learning Experience to Couples therapists and their intimate partners.
Leading Regulatory Affairs and Psychedelic Research at KGK Science, Andrew Charrette brings extensive experience in clinical research and in-depth knowledge of the nutraceutical, food, cannabis and drug regulations in North America. Since joining KGK in 2013, Andrew has led over 100 submissions to regulatory authorities including clinical trial applications and product registration submissions. He has provided guidance helping many companies navigate the regulatory landscape for nutraceutical, cannabis and psychedelic products in North America. Andrew received his undergraduate degree in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Western Ontario and later obtained a Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Ottawa.
Born in New Zealand, and based in British Columbia, Canada, Richard brings 40 years of experience in hospitality, business and real estate. He is a co-founder of The Sentinel Retreat & Wellness Centre; a founding member of The Psychedelic Association of Canada, a Psychedelic Practitioner and Integration Coach. Richard is dedicating this 3rd chapter of his life to create avenues for people and communities to realize their full potential by using cutting edge practices and technologies to create a mindful world beyond conventions.
Dr. Valorie Masuda is a palliative care physician and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at UBC. She graduated from UBC in 1986 with BSc in honours pharmacology and in graduated in 1990 as a Medical Doctor. She worked in the Haida Gwaii and then in the Yukon for 8 years, followed by working in emergency medicine in Cowichan Valley for 14 years. She completed her residency in palliative care and certification as a general practitioner in oncology in 2014 and then worked in the Cowichan Valley in community palliative care for 6 years. Dr. Masuda is also a part-time farmer working towards sustainable, humane, local food production and enjoys spending time with her family as well as participating in two local orchestras both as a vocalist and playing the viola.
Zach Walsh, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, a Research Affiliate with the BC Centre on Substance Use, and an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, where he directs the Therapeutic, Recreational, and Problematic Substance Use lab. He has published and presented widely on topics related to psychedelics, cannabis, mental health and psychotherapy. He is the lead investigator for several ongoing studies of the therapeutic use of cannabis including a clinical trial of cannabis for PTSD, and has worked clinically on trials of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Zach’s clinical focus is on the application of “third wave” mindfulness-based behavior therapies to address trauma, relationship conflict, and problematic substance use.
Natalie Michael is a CEO coach and Master Certified CEO forum chair. She chairs 4 CEO peer groups with some of the leading CEOs in Canada, and she is the CEO and Team Coach for Numinus, one of the leading psychedelic companies in Canada. With 20 years experience, she has worked with Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurial start ups and she has provided award winning leadership consulting services with a focus on developing the leadership pipeline. She is the author of: Your CEO Succession Playbook: How to Pass the Torch so Everyone Wins and The Duck and The Butterfly: Coaching Questions for Leaders at Work.
Thomas Hartle is a 54 year old husband, father, and IT professional who has been dealing with stage 4 colon cancer since 2016. Faced with the typical outcome of stage 4 cancer, Thomas experienced a debilitating amount of anxiety over his future and that of his family. In August of 2020, Thomas became the first Canadian to legally receive psilocybin assisted psychotherapy. Since that time, he has experienced a substantial improvement in both his emotional wellbeing, and in his overall ability to once again enjoy the time he has with his family. He is currently a passionate advocate for psilocybin therapy and shares his story as part of his advocacy.
Cross-cultural interpretation | Applied decolonization & lateral liberation | Nature & land-based education and ceremony
Kim Haxton (Potowatomi) is from the Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario. She has worked across Turtle Island and abroad in various capacities but always with a focus on local leadership. Her primary tools are based in ceremony and plant medicine.
Her deep understanding of the need for genuine restoration has far-reaching implications as leaders seek vision and all people seek direction to address the mounting pressure of a system incongruous with the values of the natural world. Kim has developed and facilitated programs in more than 8 countries, and has been working in land-based education and leadership for the past 26 years, including as co-founder of Indigeneyez.
She takes her place among thought leaders in the area of decolonization, particularly as it applies to language, art, economics and gender. She encourages the “lateral liberation” of consciousness by drawing from the embodied knowledge of Indigenous peoples. In multi-day workshops, she moves people through a personal process of questioning what is the truth and what is simply constructed – effectively rupturing what we “know.” True expression of respect, harmony, inclusion, equity can come from this place.
 
Pat Murphy is a documentary filmmaker and professional film editor. His work includes programs for PBS, American Masters, and People magazine. His latest editing project is the critically acclaimed Showtime documentary, “The One and Only Dick Gregory,” about the legendary comedian and activist Dick Gregory. Pat started making “Psychedelia” in 2011, upon learning about the NYU Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study. He produced, financed, and distributed the film completely independently. Aside from filmmaking, he is an enthusiast for the outdoors, American history, and roots music.
Britta Love (they/she) is a writer, activist and healer currently completing a research-based memoir about healing and awakening through conscious sexual practice and psychedelic ritual, based on her Consciousness Studies thesis completed at Goddard College. They became an advocate for sex worker’s rights as an undergraduate at the London School of Economics in 2007 and have been a writer and activist pushing for the decriminalization of drugs and sex work ever since. Britta has been certified as a somatic sex educator at the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education, has trained with Betty Martin’s School of Consent and was certified as a circle keeper by the Planning Change Restorative Justice Certification Program under the tutelage of Kay Pranis.
 
Britta has spoken at the Psymposia Conference at Amherst College, Breaking Convention at the University of Greenwich, Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics and the AltSex conference in NYC – as well as presented or facilitated workshops at Pratt Institute, the New School, Caveat, Catland Books and the Alchemist’s Kitchen in New York City. Her writing has been featured on Medium, Alternet, The Raw Story, and Chacruna and she has been interviewed for WGDR as well as podcasts like Psychedelics Today.
I am an Associate Professor with the Department of Classics & Religious Studies , University of Ottawa. I am an Anthropologist of South Asian Religion (with a focus on the Jain tradition ). At the broadest level, I am interested in issues germane to the study of religion, and fundamental to the human condition, including suffering, death, healing, devotion, spirituality and end of life issues. In addition, I am interested in the ethical and spiritual interactions with animals/the nonhuman world .
 
I am one of the founding members of the University of Ottawa’s Academy for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies which stems from an interest in body-mind awareness disciplines, Philosophy of Mind, and in the use of mindfulness practices in teaching. I am involved in the creation of two new academic units at uOttawa: “Contemplative Studies” and in “Animal Studies” , both of which will be launched in 2019.
 
My current research interests focus on issues around death, loss and grief within the Jain tradition in India, as well as on the spirituality of dying in comparative framework. In the context of the latter, in December 2018 I organized an international workshop entitled “Transcendence: Psychedelics & Spiritual Healing at the End of Life” that included a public lecture by Dr Anthony Bossis (NYU Medical School) and a two day worksop with leading researchers of psychedelic therapies, exploring the significance of plant medicines for end of life care.
 
I am presently initiating a qualitative study to explore psychedelic / entheogenic facilitated mystical-type experiences and discern their similarities to (and differences from) naturally occurring mystical states.
My name is Steve Allgood I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in June of 2018. I was given 12-18 months to live but with research and alternative treatments I am still here today. Getting the diagnosis caused me to have severe anxiety and bouts of depression. It also brought up childhood trauma that has been buried away for quiet some time. While doing research I came across the possible benefits of psychedelic treatments to help with these issues. I have found great success in partaking in psilocybin treatment among others. Since using psilocybin’s, it has eased my fear and anxiety of death and has given me a greater outlook on life. It has also helped me heal from some childhood trauma.
Marc Blainey is a cultural anthropologist, psychotherapist, and multi-faith chaplain currently working at Homewood Health Centre, a psychiatric hospital in Guelph, Ontario. In addition, he is part of a team of therapists helping run a psilocybin-for-depression clinical trial in Toronto. His research background includes the recent release of a book about spiritual healing in the Ayahuasca church of Santo Daime, published with SUNY Press’ series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology: Christ Returns from the Jungle: Ayahuasca Religion as Mystical Healing. For the abstract, excerpt, and table of contents, see the SUNY Press website here:https://sunypress.edu/Books/C/Christ-Returns-from-the-Jungle
Based in British Columbia, Canada, Gillian brings her experience in harm reduction, drug policy reform, and coaching along with a wide and diverse network of colleagues and associates, who value her knowledge and wisdom. Gillian was a member of the Vancouver Police Board for three years. She co-founded the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC), served on the board of directors of MAPS Canada for over 10 years, and spoke at conferences nationally and internationally. In 2012, Gillian received Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, for community service in introducing harm reduction to Vancouver and successfully advocating for INSITE, North America’s first supervised injection site, that opened there in 2003. Currently Gillian is the co-founder and director of The Sentinel Retreat and Wellness Centre, a Psychedelic Practitioner and co-founder and member of the board of directors for the Psychedelic Association of Canada.
The Center for Psychedelic Therapy & Research is led by Professor Janis Phelps, PhD. Dr. Phelps received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut. She has been a professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies for the past 21 years. She is the former dean of the School of Consciousness and Transformation at CIIS. She is now the Director of the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research. As the Center’s founder, she developed the first academically accredited, professional certificate training program for legal psychedelic-assisted therapy and research. The Center also provides harm reduction workshops, webinars on psychedelic research and public educational programs. A licensed clinical psychologist and LMFT, she has held faculty positions in the East-West Psychology and Clinical Psychology doctoral programs. Her theoretical orientations include transpersonal and wellness therapy models; Buddhism and Eastern disciplines; and phenomenology/existential philosophies. Her research and scholarly writing has focused on psychedelic therapy, entheogens, and mind-body wellness. Dr. Phelps teaches graduate courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods, mindfulness, Buddhism and psychotherapy, spiritual counseling, and principles of healing. Janis serves on the board of the Holos Institute and maintains a private practice.
Dr. Allan S Kaplan is currently Senior Clinician/Scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Professor of Psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. He was most recently Vice Dean Graduate and Academic Affairs in the Faculty of Medicine, and prior to that Director of the Institute of Medical Science in the Faculty of Medicine. Previously, he served as Chief of Clinical Research and Director of Research Training at CAMH, His research over the past 40 years has focused on innovative treatment approaches for eating disorders and on the neurobiology and genetics of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. He has published over 200 peer reviewed journal articles, two books, 60 book chapters and over 250 abstracts. He was the Head of the Toronto General Eating Disorder Program from 1994-2006, and was the inaugural Chair-Holder of the Loretta Anne Rogers Chair in Eating Disorders at the University Health Network, the first endowed Chair in Eating Disorders in the world. He was President of the Academy for Eating Disorders from 2001-2002, and President of the International Eating Disorder Research Society from 2005-2006. He has received federal grant support from the National Institute of Mental Health in the USA and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Canada. He also served as a Consultant for the Waterstone Eating Disorder Clinic. He is currently VP for Clinical Development for Xpira Pharmaceuticals, and he also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Novamind Inc. Both companies are at the forefront of new approaches to psychedelic medicine.
Andrew is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto’s Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. He did his BA and MA at the University of British Columbia in Philosophy and Science and Technology Studies. His dissertation examines how psychedelic drugs made their way into American child psychiatry in the 1960s.
Lucas Richert is an Associate Professor at UW-Madison, where he holds the Urdang Chair in Pharmacy History. He is the author of three monographs and, more recently, he co-edited Cannabis: Global Histories. Richert also serves as the Historical Director at the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy.
Osiris Sinuhé González Romero earned his PhD at Leiden University, in the Faculty of Archaeology – Heritage of Indigenous Peoples. In 2015 he was awarded the Coimbra Group Scholarship for Young Professors and Researchers from Latin American Universities. González Romero taught undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Philosophy at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). He is a founding member of Via Synapsis, an academic society focused on the organization of the University Congress of Psychoactive Substances hosted also by the UNAM, Faculty of Philosophy. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral researcher on cognitive freedom and psychedelic humanities at the University of Saskatchewan. His research interests include philosophy of psychedelics, history of medicine, indigenous knowledge, heritage studies, decolonial theory, political philosophy, and aesthetics. He has been working on the book, New Essays on History and Philosophy of Psychedelics.
W. Murray Rodgers is a seasoned entrepreneur, company founder and leader, with a world-class track record in the energy sector. As a professional geologist, he has a deep understanding of the intersection between science and capital. Well-versed in the capital markets, both public and private, he played a pivotal role in raising over $1 Billion in capital for his own ventures. An accomplished musician, yoga teacher, and author, Murray’s passion for human development and self-discovery infuses all aspects of his life. Most recently he released a book entitled “The Psychedelic CEO”, based on his own profoundly transformative experiences with the sacred plant medicine Ayahuasca.
Arron Victory is the Chief Strategy Officer of APEX Labs, a social focused pharmaceutical company. Arron sits on the board of directors for Heroic Hearts Canada in addition to a position on the advisory board for the Chronic Pain Center of Excellence.
Dr. Devon Christie is a medical doctor and registered counsellor with a focused practice in chronic pain and trauma. She is trained to deliver both MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and she serves as Senior Lead of Psychedelic Programs with Numinus Wellness. Devon is also a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher, Functional Medicine practitioner, and clinical instructor with UBC Family Medicine. She is currently Co-Investigator and study therapist for a Canadian MAPS-sponsored trial investigating MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, and co-investigator on a pilot study investigating MDMA-assisted therapy for fibromyalgia. Devon is passionate about educating future psychedelic therapists on trauma-informed, relational somatic skills. She also teaches for the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Certificate Program in Psychedelic Therapy and Research, the Vital Psychedelic Training, the Integrative Psychiatry Institute Certificate Program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, and the ONCA Foundation Psychedelic Therapy program.
Paul Stamets is the author of seven books. He is an Invention Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and was inducted into The Explorer’s Club in 2020. He has received numerous awards, including the National Mycologist Award (2014) from the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), and the Gordon & Tina Wasson Award (2015) from the Mycological Society of America (MSA). His work has entered the mainstream of popular culture. In the new Star Trek: Discovery series on CBS, the Science Officer is portrayed by an Astromycologist…. a Lt. Paul Stamets. Paul’s work with mycelium became a central theme of this series.