The 2024 Press Start CoLab Program
Participants will get access to industry and impact experts who will mentor them through the ideation process. The goal of the program is to create truly meaningful change in our communities.
Applications for the 2024 CoLab Program will be open from May 6 to June 3, 2024.
Amazing Opportunity
Participants will take part in three Challenge Sessions — focused on inspired learning from keynote speakers - and three Co-Creation Sessions
— focused on collaboration and mentorship from industry experts. At the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to apply for grant funding from a pool of $70,000+ to put their idea into action.
$70,000+
$500
Mentorship
This Year’s Challenge:
The Mental Health Crisis
2024 CoLab Program Mentors
Jessie Brar
Jessie Brar is a storyteller, creator, educator and dreamer. With a passionate dedication to mental health advocacy, Jessie has graced stages across the globe, using her voice to spread awareness and support for those navigating the complexities of mental wellness. Beyond her impactful work in mental health activism, Jessie is an equity, inclusion and anti-oppression educator for many organizations across Canada and the UK. Through the lens of decolonization, she tirelessly strives to dismantle systemic barriers and foster environments of true belonging and empowerment. Driven by her belief in the power of storytelling and education to effect positive change, Jessie continues to inspire and uplift communities, challenging norms and championing social justice wherever she goes.
Cheesan Chew
Cheesan Chew is a seasoned leader with 20+ years of experience - building businesses, leading innovation, and advising senior executives - from start-ups to corporates. She currently works with high growth start-ups and corporate executives providing active counsel, extending leverage for leadership teams and coaching to drive high performance in their teams. Areas of expertise include strategic innovation, business, program and product leadership, transformational strategy, systems design, organizational management, customer and employee experience and culture.
Cheesan started her entrepreneurship journey co-founding Idea Couture, a global strategic innovation and design firm, where she led multi-disciplinary teams advising Fortune 500 companies as Chief CX Officer. During her tenure, she was instrumental in fostering client partnerships with global brands, achieving growth through market opportunity, exceptional client experiences and operational efficiency. Cheesan is currently on the boards of League of Innovators, a national Canadian charity that empowers young people towards entrepreneurship, and The Canadian Club of Toronto, Canada’s preeminent public affairs destination, connecting Canadians with world-class leaders and newsmakers. She is also an active mentor with the Black Wealth Club.
Jonathan Friedman
Jonathan Friedman is the Marketing Manager at EHN Canada, with a background as a Child and Youth Counselor, Entrepreneur, Web Designer, Musician and Coffee Aging Expert. After 8 years as a Child and Youth Counselor, he has seen firsthand how important it is for young adults to have access to meaningful support. Jonathan is very excited to be returning to the CoLab Program as a mentor again this year, and work with the amazing and innovative program participants!
Matthew Gaiser
Matt Gaiser, a Computer Engineering graduate from Queen’s University, is passionate about puzzles of all sizes. He’s a fervent advocate of open innovation and has triumphed in hundreds of challenges, spanning from razor designs to safety sensors for astronaut spaceflight.
His journey into mental health advocacy began with a challenge from a professional services firm on workplace wellness. Matthew’s strategy, emphasizing extreme confidentiality to address career concerns hindering help-seeking, won the challenge.
A winner of the 2023 CoLab Program, Matt, alongside partner Nick Lor, created CogniLink, a platform connecting research participants with researchers to streamline research studies and reduce costs. Currently, they’re focused on expanding the platform across Canada.
By day, Matt works as a software developer, offering technical support to CoLab participants with their projects.
Patrick Glinski
Patrick has built his career bringing unexpected people together. Drawing on skills from business, design, product development, and innovation management, Patrick is an expert at finding opportunities that exist between social and business impact and building organizations to deliver on them. Patrick has spent over 20 years as a global innovation, design, and digital leader.
Today, Patrick serves as President of Normative, where he runs the People & Operations function and oversees cross-functional teams focused on using human-centered design to solve business problems. He advises multiple SAAS and health startups.
Patrick earned his Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and is slowly working his way through a Masters Degree in Inclusive Design with OCAD. He lives in Ottawa with his family and spends his free time training for Ironman races and dreaming of startups.
Chey Kidd
Chey (any/all) is an animator from “LEGO Ninjago: Dragons Rising” and “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight”, founder of sensory-focused clothing startup “Frog Pockets”, and local leader for a variety of neighborhood projects. They’re proudly queer, autistic, and a young parent. Focusing on creativity and resourcefulness, their experience and connections can open doors for anyone determined enough to take on the challenge. Chey is also a successful 2023 CoLab Program participant and grant recipient for their project, Frog Pockets.
Jonny Morris
Jonny Morris is the CEO at the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division and has more than 20 years of experience in community-based mental health services, policy, and advocacy. He has research and practice experience in suicide prevention, is a trained counsellor, and has taught child and youth care courses at the University of Victoria and Douglas College.
Jonny is committed to a vision of mental health for all, working at the Canadian Mental Health Association to lead system change efforts in preventing mental health problems, responding to crisis, and improving care when people need to go to hospital. As an advocate for reducing stigma, he regularly speaks with workplaces, colleges and universities, and communities about the opportunity to ensure mental health is a priority.
Previously, Jonny led the policy and legislation branch for BC’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, helping build the newly formed ministry from the ground up. Jonny comes to his work with lived experience personally and as a family member.
Keosha Love
Keosha is an award-winning artist, activist and educator who builds spaces for creative and collective liberation. As a poet and writer, Keosha is notable for centering self-actualization, womanism and social constructs throughout her work. Her work is also rooted in systemic change and reimagination, Keosha explores Black joy and radical self-care, as a way of rebellion. In 2016, Keosha founded Our Women's Voices, a Toronto-based non-for-profit focused on empowering the voices of women + girls, and making social change through arts, education and community. Our Women’s Voices has led over 70+ impactful programs, events and initiatives that have prioritized the well-being and leadership of Canadian women and girls. With her BA in Psychology and roots in creative arts, Keosha has graced many stages and rooms as an educator, facilitator and public speaker — exploring themes of mental health, wellness, race and gender advocacy. Most recently, Keosha was the recipient of the Community Hero Award presented by TFC for her contributions towards her community. Ultimately, Keosha Love is a storyteller and pivotal voice that inspires others to use theirs.
Faduma Mohamed
Faduma Mohamed is a Somali-Canadian poet, playwright, arts educator, and autism advocate. Writing from a bio-mythological perspective, she has produced two one-woman plays, OUGHTISM and Golden Mind, which offer reflections on her experience as a sibling of autism while challenging the pursuit to find a “cure.” Her commitment to autism awareness extends beyond the stage; her fundraising initiative called #OughtTheBox has raised $12,000 and benefited autistic individuals in Toronto, Edmonton, Atlanta, and London, England. Apart from her advocacy work, she enjoys combining her passion for the arts and education. She works as an Occasional Teacher and recently directed her Grade 3 summer school students to write and perform a horror-comedy play titled The Mystery at Brader Junior High. Currently, she is working on her first collection of poetry, delving into the realm of love and heartbreak. Above all, she believes in the power of dreams.
Lydia Sequeira
Lydia Sequeira is the Director of Service Programs and Innovation Implementation at Kids Help Phone, and passionate about sharing her digital health expertise to advance mental health access and support for young people across Canada. She received her PhD from the University of Toronto and is an experienced academic holding an AMS Healthcare Compassion and Artificial Intelligence fellowship, and a scientific association at the Digital Mental Health Research Lab at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Lydia is deeply committed to building and fostering community within the digital health field, and co-chairs the International Medical Informatics Association Student and Emerging Professionals Special Interest Group.
2024 CoLab Program Speakers
J.R. LaRose
July 18, 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET
JR LaRose is a former professional football player in the Canadian Football League, a proud member of One Arrow, and an ambassador for Aboriginal Peoples. Growing up in low-income housing in Edmonton’s inner city without a father, JR faced many challenges with self-worth and anger management and watched his mother struggle with drug addiction due to her experiences in the Residential School system. However, he soon found himself on the football field, winning the Canadian Bowl with his Edmonton Eskimos team, and later winning the 2011 Grey Cup with the BC Lions. As a leader, JR La Rose inspires audiences with his story of redemption and determination to not to let a dark past rob him of a bright future. He is a gifted speaker whose story breaks down racial and generational walls, bringing forth a sense of hope and humanity.
Anthony Lue
July 18, 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET
Anthony Lue, a motivational speaker and accessibility consultant, has lived a life filled with challenges and triumphs. Born and raised in Pickering, Ontario, he found his passion for sports and speed at a young age and showed great promise as a top-performing hurdler and baseball player. However, life took a drastic turn when he was involved in a traumatic accident at the age of 19, after a crane crashed on him at his automotive apprenticeship. As a paraplegic, Anthony chose to make a new plan for his life, inspiring others as an accomplished accessibility advocate and ambassador. Anthony’s unwavering spirit and determination to make the world a more accessible place has earned him recognition and respect from those around him. He shares his message of perseverance and success with audiences, encouraging them to overcome obstacles and reach their goals.
Michel Chikwanine
August 1, 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET
Michel Chikwanine is a former child soldier, motivational speaker, and humanitarian. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and grew up amid the Great War of Africa, witnessing the torture of his father and the abuse of his mother. Despite the hardships he has faced, Michel is a passionate believer in the possibility of change, and he inspires people to believe in their ability to make a difference. He is a United Nations Fellow for People of African Descent, an accomplished motivational speaker, and the author, addressing topics such as resiliency, diversity, leadership, and social responsibility.
Autumn Peltier
August 1, 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET
Autumn Peltier is a 19-year-old International Indigenous Rights & Water activist and The Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation. Peltier captivated the world’s attention at the age of 12 when she admonished Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at an Assembly of First Nations event, and is an ongoing contributor to the United Nations General Assembly. Amongst many accolades, Autumn has received the Sovereign Medal of Exceptional Volunteerism from the Governor-General of Canada, has been shortlisted for the Internation Children’s Peace Prize 3 times, and was recently inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2023. Autumn continues to travel the international stage addressing Indigenous rights to water, inclusion and collaboration all while inspiring the next generation of voice.
Dr. Susan Biali Haas
August 15, 4:00 – 6:00 pm EST
Joelle Tomlinson
August 15, 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET
Joelle Tomlinson is a seasoned journalist and a dedicated advocate for representation, diversity, and equity in the media industry, holding the distinction of being the sole female Black morning news anchor across Western Canada. Beyond the anchor desk, Joelle consistently uses her platform to shed light on stories and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed, championing diversity and inclusivity in media. She is also a fervent advocate for mental health awareness and combating the stigma associated with addiction, following the devastating loss of her own brother to the fentanyl crisis. Joelle’s experience fuels her determination to create a more empathetic and understanding society across Canada. Through her advocacy and heartfelt storytelling, Joelle strives to initiate a compassionate movement that addresses these critical issues and inspires positive change.
Kwame Osei
MC
Kwame Osei is a dynamic professional host & keynote speaker for seminars, corporate & school events, youth & charitable events & non-profit organizations. Kwame Osei was awarded a Queen's Platinum Jubilee pin for his significant contribution as a teacher and mentor to inmates of maximum security in his community by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Kwame Osei's presentations focus on inspiring change, action and growth, pushing people to broaden their perspective and take control of their personal growth. After being exposed to the street culture of Rexdale, Toronto, Kwame used the power of sport and the sports mindset to overcome all obstacles to become a CFL player, teacher, football coach, entrepreneur and community leader. Kwame Osei is a dynamic keynote speaker who teaches fundamental tools he learned throughout his life to empower others through a diverse lens.
2024 CoLab Program Details
When is it?
• Event duration: Approximately 10 weeks
• Start date: July 4, 2024
• End date: August 21, 2024
• Awards date: September 12, 2024
Who can join?
• Registration is open to youth 18-29 years old
• Background: Interest in the Mental Health Crisis in Canada; Volunteer experience or participated in related NGOs (not mandatory)
• Registration fee: No
• Groups: Participants can sign up individually or with peers
2023 CoLab Program Highlights
The CoLab Program is an innovation accelerator that supports the next generation of changemakers by offering them access to entreprenurial tools, resources, industry leading mentors, and grant funding to build an idea and create change in their community. The 2023 CoLab Program was a huge success! Watch the video above to learn more.