Conference Speaker Biographies
PLENARY SPEAKERS
Rev. Dr. Joseph Boot (M.A., Ph.D.) is a Christian thinker, cultural apologist/philosopher, founder of the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and founding pastor of Westminster Chapel, Toronto. Proud to call Canada home, Joseph is originally from Great Britain and has worked in the fields of Christian apologetics, worldview education and church leadership for over twenty years on both sides of the Atlantic. He has spoken and guest lectured globally at numerous university student events, seminaries, churches, colleges, and conferences. He regularly addresses pastors and Christian leaders as well as academic, medical, legal, and political professionals and has publicly debated leading atheistic thinkers and philosophers in Canada and the United States.
Pastor Jamal Kimbanga is a Christian Educator and Evangelist who is a catalyst for positive change through his dedication to teaching the scriptures. Pastor Jamal was born and raised in Dar-es-Salaam, in the country of Tanzania. He migrated to Canada in December 1997 and serves as an Intercultural Ministry Coordinator at The All Nations Centre in Edmonton. Jamal holds ministerial Master of Divinity degree in Intercultural Ministries, a Master’s degree of Philosophy, and a Doctorate degree in pastoral care. He is married to Noella Kimbanga since August 2008 and they are blessed with for children, Adil, Jaleel, Tanissa and Akil. His philosophy is that one should find his or her purpose in life and understand that this purpose should fit into God’s purpose and destiny of one’s life.
Fr. Denis Raymond Lemieux has been a member of Madonna House since 1991, and was ordained a priest in 2004. He has a licentiate in sacred theology and has written two books on Marian spirituality and theology. He currently resides in Combermere, where he divides his time between teaching, writing, and spiritual direction.
Larry Worthen is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School (1981) who had a career in management in the not for profit sector and Nova Scotia Department of Justice. His interest in human rights legislation led him to participate in the drafting of the province’s Respectful Workplace Policy and to develop the mandatory training program for all provincial government employees. He is a trained facilitator, adult educator and mediator. Larry is married to Dr. Linda Gagnon and resides in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He is an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church. In May of 2013 he graduated from the Atlantic School of Theology with his MA in Theology and Religious Studies. His thesis outlines the role of proclamation in the New Evangelization. Larry and Linda have two children, six grandsons and two granddaughters.
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Dr. Margaret Cottle is a Palliative Care physician in greater Vancouver, BC, working in Home Hospice Programs, and is a clinical assistant professor at the University of BC Faculty of Medicine. She speaks internationally about end of life issues and palliative care, and addressed members of the Canadian Parliament in 2006 and 2017. Dr. Cottle and her husband, Dr. Robin Cottle, an ophthalmologist, have Cara, a black Labrador retriever, who often accompanies both the doctors in their clinical work. The Cottles have 2 grown children and 4 (wonderful!) grandchildren.
As the Executive Director of Alberta’s provincial pro-life organization, and fastest growing pro-life movement in Canada, Stephanie Fennelly is a woman with a clear vision and specific plan to pass the first pro-life law in Canada. In 2016 she became tired of motivational, vague speeches that wish for a better world, so she and her team of Millennials set out to learn from the success of pro-life states in the USA and start implementing those strategies in Alberta. The resulting success has caught the attention of numerous news sources such as MacLeans Magazine, The National Post, Globe and Mail, CTV, CBC, and the Toronto City News.
Dr. Theodore K Fenske is a Clinical Professor with the Division of Cardiology at the University of Alberta, Staff Cardiologist at the C.K. Hui Heart Centre, and Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation for the Northern Alberta Program. Dr. Fenske is an executive member of the CMDA Edmonton Chapter is the proud father of three sons, Oliver, Cameron, and Joel. He and his wife Tanya are content to call Edmonton “home” where they are actively involved in the Christian community and young adult ministry.
Dr. Leonie Herx is a palliative care consultant in Kingston, Ontario, Associate Professor and Division Head of Palliative Medicine at Queen’s University, and the Medical Director for Palliative Care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care Hospital. Over the past 12 years, Leonie has been actively involved in growing and building the discipline of palliative care at a national level. She co-founded the new Royal College Subspecialty in Palliative Medicine and is now the Chair of the Royal College Specialty Committee for Palliative Medicine and has been actively involved in the national specialty society for palliative medicine, serving on the board of the Canadian Society for Palliative Care Physicians (CSPCP) for the past 8 years and is the Past-President of CSPCP. Leonie is passionate about advocating for the integrity of holistic palliative care. She has written multiple academic articles & chapters, editorials and general media pieces about palliative care, has been an invited speaker at many national forums including parliamentary committees, and has been an invited international including Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Catherine Le, born and raised in BC moved to Alberta with her husband, Dr. Chris Le in the fall of 2018. She has a degree in Finance and works as a Financial Advisor with Freedom 55 Financial. She is part of a local Vietnamese Alliance Church of Edmonton where she sits on the board of the English Ministry as the Treasurer.
Dr. Chris Le is a family physician who did community and rural medicine locum work in British Columbia before moving home to Edmonton. He is an advocate for robust primary care through his involvement with the Alberta College of Family Physicians, the Edmonton North Primary Care Network, and the University of Alberta Department of Family Medicine. Outside of clinic, he’s often reading books or listening to podcasts.
John Patrick retired from the University of Ottawa in 2002. He now lectures throughout the world on moral issues in medicine and culture, and the integration of faith and science. John is the president of Augustine College in Ottawa. He is married to Sally, and resides part time in Ottawa, and part time on the farm.
Dr. Dan Reilly is an accomplished and distinguished physician, educator, and leader. Through the practice of obstetrics and gynecology and formal and informal teaching, speaking, and advising, Dr. Reilly serves hundreds of patients, students, colleagues, and members of the public each year. He has taught on a wide variety of topics related to medicine, administration, ethics, and teaching. Across Canada, Dr. Reilly has engaged individuals and groups varying from high school classes through grand rounds at hospitals to general interest talks in the community. These interactions have varied from small groups to large audiences as well as podcasts, radio and television appearances.
Dr. John Scott is an Associate Professor of Palliative Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Assisting Balfour Mount in the early development of palliative care in 1975, he went on to found Canada’s first academic division of Palliative care in Ottawa. While he continues to work clinically at The Ottawa Hospital, his time is increasingly focused on family, volunteering and cycling.
Dr. Peter Yoo graduated from the University of Alberta and has been practicing dentistry in Alberta since 2003. Currently, with 3 dental offices and 4 rowdy boys, there is a lot to handle and manage in his life. He has the support of his loving wife and a great office team to weather the challenges of building practices that provide patient-centered care. Through the many years, he has also developed methods manage his finances with a Christ-honoring approach.
