Riley Yesno is an Indigenous woman from Thunder Bay, Ontario / Eabametoong First Nation currently attending The University of Toronto studying political science and Indigenous studies. Since 2017, Riley has worked as a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council along with 25 amazing young voices to provide advice to the Prime Minister and federal government and draft Canada's first National Youth Policy.
She has spent the past two summers working with Nishnawbe Aski Nation under their executive council, and has been a student representative on her local board of education. She also works closely with grassroots organizations such as Neechee Studios in Thunder Bay, offering free art programming to Indigenous youth. She is currently a student and public speaker, hoping to make the country a better place to be, day by day.
Our services connect cultures to build welcoming communities. We assist newcomers looking for employment, help families navigate the school system, and provide youth with the skills necessary for bright and successful futures. We support refugees and bring together new and established Canadians.
Update on the Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement
Jan. 31, 2019 7:30 a.m.
The Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement needs to move. Come and hear from Pia herself about the challenges they are facing and how you might help.
Businesses as a force for Good - How businesses are changing the World.
Feb. 07, 2019
Baka – Speaker for Feb. 7th meeting, 6:30 pm. Rafik Riad "Buy Good Feel Good", Centre for Social Innovation. “Businesses as a force for Good - How businesses are changing the World.”
The talk will explore the rising trend of social enterprises and how they contribute to global development and poverty reduction. Using his own experience, Rafik will highlight the main criticism to mainstream development models and provide the audience with Canadian examples of social enterprises that are doing good at home and abroad.
Rafik has studied and worked in Canada, Egypt, Germany, England, and Tanzania on issues related to poverty, environment, climate change, and tourism. Rafik co-founded SALT, a fair trade social enterprise working with several communities in Africa and Latin America. Realizing that there was little done to promote fair trade and social enterprises in North America, Rafik shifted his focus to help create an enabling environment for social enterprises to thrive and founded the "Buy Good. Feel Good." Expo in 2014 and BGFG Events in 2018.
This summer I was privileged to join a Rotarian-sponsored summit dedicated to "ending ultra-poverty by 2030." This Rotarian commitment to a population that is both very neglected, and very hard to reach is profoundly commendable.
Today I'm asking you to consider taking a specific action connected to that commitment.