Are Conferences the Cure for Canada?
Canada is a country that has witnessed the detrimental effects of progressive globalist policies and tyrannical measures placed upon us by those who are far removed from the realities of the average Canadian. We are poorer, less productive, struggling to maintain a roof over our heads, disgruntled by the unrelenting grip the current government has on us, and exhausted beyond belief. Add to this the collective trauma we have experienced in the last four years with the irresponsible, shortsighted, and many believe, greed driven decisions of our government during Covid, and it’s a recipe for disaster. We see this also on an international scale through the political ideology that has emerged throughout the last ten years and doubled down in the last four years, affecting how we view legacy media, our communities, technology, and the future of humanity. It might seem like the end times, a dystopian nightmare, but is it the beginning of a great awakening? Are we on to something?
As technology continues to transform our lives, we have become increasingly isolated from the physical communities that have sustained our connection to what is real and authentic for millennia. Social media and the Internet have blessed us with the opportunity to connect with people halfway across the globe, but it has also opened up a new complaints division chalk full of know-it-alls, charlatans, doomsdayers, and arm-chair cynics leading to a cesspool of division, conflict, and fundamentally unproductive mouthpieces. I will quote my husband when I say, “There are a whole lot of people moving around hot air and nothing’s getting done!” But is he right in stating this or are we just failing to hear the meaningful whispers behind all the noise?
Growth is painful. We experience this when our bones grow as children, pushing through all our muscles and tissue, resisting expansion. The same experience exists in our mental, emotional and spiritual growth. It’s a painful process of expanding our awareness, letting go of antiquated ideas and habitual behaviours that no longer serve our greater purpose. No matter who we are or what we believe, we all go through this process of rebirth before we reach our enlightenment.
Canada might be a testing ground for WEF policies and international agendas, but it is also an opportunity for growth in our resilience, accountability, and responsibility as citizens and as a national community. The only thing left in a world where we are bombarded by propaganda and social echo chambers is to come together as physical communities where what is happening in front of our eyes cannot be misconstrued.
Are conferences the cure for Canada? I’ve noticed that Americans like their conferences. They occur daily in every single American city. Conferences are unique to American culture. They promote business opportunities and connect like-minded individuals to a source of community. Conferences contribute to growth, investment, and community involvement. They provide a sounding board for grievances and help those in need transform challenges into solution-based practices through a creative collective of individuals sharing knowledge and ideas. You can see how it has transformed the political and social landscape of American society in a way that is rarely repeated in other countries. It lays waste to rigid, insular, and culturally homogenized thinking that countries such as Canada and the UK find themselves perpetuating, at times, with a false sense of virtue.
Isolating ourselves from our communities paralyzes us socially. It creates a vortex of sameness that is futile to our growth as individuals and as a community. We fear stepping outside of the box and speaking out loud. This only feeds our inability to progress and fuel the fires of progress and true productivity. It allows outside forces and bold tyrants to devour us. We are people without a unified army prepared to defend our homeland. Conferences provide us with an opportunity to develop supportive structures and seek solutions that can lead to healthier and more resilient societal systems.
Have you heard of the Reclaiming Canada Conference? It’s the brainchild of a young Canadian undertaking that task of unifying the citizens of Canada. In its infancy, it has the kinks and quirks that proceed any new endeavor as we learn to navigate new frontiers of growth, but it has the conviction to gain traction and evolve into one of the most significant conferences in Canada and the world. It has the potential to inspire community involvement and transform local and national governance. But we must support these endeavors. It begins with a choice, and that is to show up and listen.
This years’ conference was hosted by Zuby, British rapper and podcaster. I was skeptical at first as I am with all social media type influencers who tend to gain popularity by making bold statements while already being known by the public in some capacity or another. Perhaps this isn’t Zuby’s doing but the media creating the false impression that he is a guy from nowhere who just suddenly gained public attention through a single statement, when he was already known as a rapper who was once mistaken by police in an incident that boosted his social credibility online. I have to say, I was impressed by his ability to hold a crowd’s attention and do it seamlessly. Although he is not Canadian, he was a wise choice for the Reclaiming Canada Conference.
We live in a world where we worship the cult of personality, and unfortunately, this is what draws a crowd. One day, I hope, we can get to a point where regular citizens with important and intelligent things to say are also given a platform to speak.
The Saturday opening session of the conference was dedicated to Reclaiming Health and Science. This was led by American cardiologist Dr. Peter McCollough and American addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinksy, along with Standford University medical professor Jay Bhattacharya. The Reclaiming Health and Science presentation was informative, with Dr. McCollough being a personal favourite, yet I think that they could have focused more on the overall picture of health sciences as it stands today. Most of the attendees were well-informed in the controversy of Covid vaccinations and the politics involved with their rollout. This subject matter took up a great deal of the morning discussion and due to the American delegates, was without a Canadian representative that could discuss the state of health, medicine, and the wellness field in Canada. It would have been fruitful to see a local presenter with some knowledge of Canadian health and science. I imagine the energy that was created by the enthusiasm of Dr. McCollough and Dr. Pinksy was the reason the day seemed to be consumed by the topic of Covid and its affect on us throughout the last four years.
Although a good start to the beginnings of what could be a groundbreaking conference, the lack of Canadian presenters and differing opinions created an echo chamber that should be avoided in the next conference.
Reclaiming Health and Science ended with a panel discussion which included Ted Kuntz, a Canadian psychotherapist and founder of Vaccine Choice Canada and David Charalambous, a British behavioural scientist and founder of Reaching People, which promotes highly effective ways to communicate. They were a valuable addition to the mix of presenters and shared heartfelt stories about their experiences with the healthcare system, social divides, and cancel culture.
Overall, the opening session was an informative discussion about the physical, psychological, and emotional effects of the Covid lockdowns and government-imposed mandates with some added solutions on how we might move forward in an informed and compassionate manner. Forgiveness, love, and acting with integrity were central themes in this presentation.
The Saturday afternoon session was Reclaiming Tech and Media. Canadians, Clyde Do Something and Marty Up North opened with a discussion about the realities of podcasting in an increasingly censored media landscape. Drea Humphrey from Rebel News discussed her experiences working as a journalist for independent media in Canada and how legacy media subverts reality to feed a narrative, something most of us are aware of by now.
Umar Sheikh was a surprising addition to the afternoon line-up. He is a Victoria, British Columbia based lawyer who advocates for the rights of people who faced job loses and hardships during the 2020 lockdowns and is currently representing individuals coming forward with vaccine injuries. Community members such as Umar help us navigate the legal system so that we can maintain our freedoms amidst the increasing tyrannical measures of the government.
American entrepreneur Steve Kirsch was yet another American presenter who continued with a 100-page PowerPoint slide on vaccines. I was a bit confused in this part of the conference as the subject was Reclaiming Tech and Media. Other than Drea Humphrey and Clyde Do Something, the tech and media portion of this conference was anything but. I would have liked to have seen more Canadian individuals involved with tech, specifically AI, and independent media. Canadian social media personality and mental health coach Kaylor Betts did not show up for Saturday’s session and instead Canadian activist and Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich sat in on the final panel and claimed she hasn’t used technology since the Napster days. I had a laugh and was happy to have her sit in as she is just a great human being altogether. Another missing presenter was Canadian epidemiologist Dr. Paul Alexander.
Additional guests on the Reclaiming Tech and Media panel were Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker Lauren Southern and a relatively unknown freedom advocate Bryce Wade who had some wise things to say. Conferences have time constraints, but Lauren Southern might have been a worthy addition to the list of main presenters.
Due to other commitments, I was only able to attend the Saturday sessions. On Friday night the Reclaiming Canada Conference held a delegate dinner and a meet and greet for VIP guests. Sounds like it was well-attended and worth the ticket. I attended the Saturday meal but was disappointed in the cheap pizza and water that was offered to guests for a meal ticket price of $100 CAD. All other meals throughout the weekend were a $100 each and featured multiple courses and beverages. The Saturday meal was also supposed to include a meet and greet with presenters, but the only presenters that showed up were Clyde Do Something and Marty Up North. The conference fell short on this ticket option, but I like to be optimistic and view this as a donation to an important event.
The Sunday sessions were Reclaiming Democracy and Law and Reclaiming the Future. The lineup included Canadian pastor Autur Pawlowski, retired Canadian premier and the last surviving signatory of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Brian Peckford, business owner Chris Scott, trucking company operator and Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber, John Carpay, Canadian lawyer and president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and Eva Chipiuk, founder of Empowered Canadians, a legal process consultancy and advocacy organization. Some of the presenters from Saturday also made repeat appearances on Sunday which began with a speaker VIP breakfast.
I would have like to have attended the Sunday sessions, particularly Reclaiming Democracy and Law led by former Premier of Newfoundland, Brian Peckford. I imagine it was informative and worth attending. It’s unfortunate that the Reclaiming Canada Conference did not start with this subject matter on Saturday morning as I believe it is a more pressing issue currently now with the recent unsettling details of the Canadian Online Harms Act.
Like any event that challenges and questions the powers that be, the Reclaiming Canada Conference was pressured by local left-wing activist groups to be shut down. There were a small group of protestors outside of the venue, and when questioned by Drea Humphrey and Lauren Southern seemed to be confused about the nature of the conference and were simply parroting what the legacy media has told them. All it would take is for one person from that group of protestors to open their hearts and come inside to understand that what this conference was about was standing up for our freedom to choose as individuals and as a community and speaking from our hearts with integrity.
Without community and without a platform such as the Reclaiming Canada Conference, our voices are silenced. Protests call attention to important issues, but they do not provide a space to be heard and understood. Shouting and anger only perpetuates the division. So I ask, are conferences the cure for Canada?
S. Angell is a published poet, writer, philosopher, and video blogger. She explores various topics, including love, life, death, history, and society from a philosophical perspective. You can find her on Instagram @rainydaypoetess.