Our incredible panel of experts will guide you to feeling well through
fitness, dance, mahjong, art, nutrition and writing workshops, team spirit and camp fun all weekend long.
Marcy Beraznik- Greenspoon
Founder
Marcy is the visionary behind The Wellness Weekend. Over the past three years, she has immersed herself in community as the Program Manager for Strategic Partnerships & Projects at the Cummings Centre. Additionally, Marcy co-founded myMList.com (formerly Mummieslist), dedicating over a decade to uniting parents in the Montreal area.
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In collaboration with the Cummings Centre and Camp B'nai Brith of Montreal, Marcy has meticulously crafted this weekend retreat, bringing all her favorite elements: of nature, fitness, the nostalgic essence of a sleep-away camp, community bonds, and friendships.
Marcy is also a wife and mom to three girls who drive her passion for wellness. . To Marcy, wellness means doing what makes you feel good and keeps your spirit alive. Cheers to a weekend filled with fun, relaxation, enlightenment, and connection while experiencing pure bliss!
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To reach Marcy:
Josh pepin
Camp B'nai Brith of Montreal Executive Director
Josh Pepin has a wealth of experience in the Montreal Jewish community, having worked in many different capacities, and numerous organizations over many years. He has been a part of Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal for over 25 years, beginning as a staff member in various roles. For the last 15 summers, Josh has been overseeing CBB’s entire operations in his role as Executive Director. He has been an integral part of ensuring its growth and sustainability, as well as its importance in our community. Josh met his wife at CBB, and they now have three beautiful boys together, who all love camp and spending time there, no matter the season!
annette vezina
Fitness Instructor
Annette has been a Cummings Centre wellness staff and a fitness instructor for over 30 years. She is the designer and instructor of a unique group of programs such as Brain Training, Brain & Body and Balance & Mobility. Annette is thrilled to be joining us for the second year at The Wellness Weekend to showcase her fun and unique signature programs.
Victoria mcneil
Musician & Music Therapist
Victoria McNeill (MMus, MTA) has been working as an accredited music therapist since 2014. Victoria began her professional career providing music therapy services as part of the Cummings Centre's many memory care groups. Since that time, the services at the Cummings Centre have grown to include a broad range of programs in the social services department as well as a range of therapeutic and educational music programs. In addition to her music therapy work, Victoria is also an accomplished classical musician, with degrees in classical French horn performance from Memorial University and McGill University. During her time as a music therapist, Victoria has worked with individuals aged 2 to 102 and has served individuals with a wide array of abilities. Victoria is ecstatic to be joining us at The Wellness Weekend for the second year at our campfire bringing us back to our camp days with the best campfire singalongs.
Katy Harris Mcleod
Yoga Instructor
The thread of yoga has woven itself through more than half of Katy’s life, supporting her physically and mentally as a dancer, a mother, a teacher, and a human being. As a practitioner and teacher of yoga, Katy focuses on the joy of movement, the ability to breathe deeply and connect with self, and the dance between effort and release.
Katy trained as a yoga teacher at Luna Yoga in Montreal through their 250-hour teacher training program. Recently she completed a 40-hour restorative yoga certification with Andrea Peloso. Katy has been teaching at Luna Yoga since 2021 where she leads both flow and restorative classes. Katy also has the pleasure of working as an assistant once a year at the Radiant Soul Yoga Retreat.
Katy also trained as a contemporary dancer in Vancouver where she then worked as a dance artist, producer, and actor. Her years as a dancer have helped shape her approach to the asanas (yoga postures) and to teaching yoga.
In addition to teaching yoga, Katy creates and leads weekly movement therapy group sessions at a long-term care facility (through the Cummings Centre), and teaches English to children at a primary school (CSSDM) and to adults at a career counseling centre (Groupe Conseil Saint Denis).
Katy is very excited to be returning to the Wellness Weekend and looks forward to guiding campers through movement, stretches, and breath work.
jonathan patterson
Performing Arts Educator
Based in Montréal, Jonathan is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans from theatre to opera to musicals.
Some recent credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Segal Centre/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); The World Goes ‘Round, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Opera McGill, director/choreographer); 9 to 5: The Musical (Capitol Theatre, Dwayne/Mr. Tinsworthy); Million Dollar Quartet (Sudbury Theatre Centre/Thousand Islands Playhouse, Sam Phillips/music dir.); The Producers (Segal Centre/CSLDS, Roger de Bris/chor.); Bluenose (Black Theatre Workshop, chor.); Schwartz’s the musical (Centaur Theatre, dir.), The Last Wife (Centaur Theatre, coach to M. Gabrielli); First Date (St George’s, dir.).
A performing-arts educator, Jonathan has been on the faculty of Opera McGill at the Schulich School of Music since 2010, serving as Acting Director of Opera Studies in 2015 and 2017. Jonathan is also the Head of Music at the National Theatre School of Canada, provides choreography for the award-winning Lyric Theatre Singers, and has a very busy private voice studio.
Shafrit baum
Mahjong Instructor & Enthusiast
Mahjong Instructor & Enthusiast
Shafrit is most fulfilled when teaching Mahjong as she gets to share her passion with others and spread the benefits of playing this wonderful game all while helping to build a beautiful community. Her love for this game is contagious, and her teaching style makes it very easy to learn. With that bubbly personality of hers, be prepared to get sucked into the fun!
To reach Shafrit: littlemissmahjong.com or Shafrit@littlemissmahjong.com
Suzanne Reisler Litwin B.Ed, M.A.
Writing Instructor
Suzanne Reisler Litwin B.Ed, M.A.
Suzanne Reisler Litwin is an author/writer/ columnist/educator. She is the author of the children's picture book, "The Black Velvet Jacket". Suzanne is a creative writing instructor at Concordia University in the Centre For Continuing Education. Her bi-monthly column "Living in the Now" can be found in The Suburban Newspaper at www.thesuburban.com.
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To reach Suzanne:
Suzanne Reisler Litwin / Author / Writer / Columnist / Educator
nancy chernoff
Empowerment Educator
Nancy Chernoff's journey took a remarkable turn in 2002 when she bid farewell to a successful 20-year career as an Executive VP in the corporate world. Her life underwent a profound transformation, and with it, her life's purpose.
In 2005, Nancy embarked on an unexpected path, drawing inspiration from her mentor Tony Robbins and obtaining certification from the Sundoor School of Transpersonal Education. It was in this pivotal year that Nancy introduced Canada's pioneering fire-walking transformation program, “FearlessFlame Empowerment Workshops”.
While walking across hot coals to unlock one's true potential is a huge part of her work, Nancy's main goal has always been to lead individuals "Beyond Barriers” through experience based learning, both in their personal and professional lives.
While Nancy’s not walking on hot coals…her transformative journey includes the role as Mental Health co-director of Resolutions Therapy & Wellness Center in Laval, where she collaborates with a dedicated team of psychotherapists who provide valuable support to help individuals aged 14 and beyond to overcome life challenges.
Nancy's commitment to empowering individuals extends beyond her own journey, making a lasting impact within the community she serves. Her unwavering purpose is to empower people to embrace, accept, and release the burdens of the past, and have unshakable faith that the brilliance awaiting them on the other side of life's obstacles is nothing short of spectacular!!!!
To reach Nancy: Fearless Flame or nancy@fearlessflame.com
Jennifer Abdulezer Mashaal
Professional Dietitian
Jennifer graduated from McGill University with a degree in Dietetics and Nutrition. She has helped individuals with a variety of nutrition related issues, from simple healthy living, to managing chronic illness. She strongly believes in empowering people of any age by teaching them the effects of nutrition as it relates to their physical and mental health, as well as how to make the right nutritional choices to fit their particular lifestyle. She stands by her belief that the way we eat is the key to achieving overall health and wellness. Food is meant to be enjoyed and shared between family and friends, it should never be a constant pre-occupation, nor bring on negative feelings such as guilt.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Wellness Weekend, not only to share my nutrition expertise, but also to take part in the amazing activities setup for the weekend. As a mother of 4, I understand how hard it is to take the time for yourself, and think only about your own well being. I look forward to meeting everyone who decided to take this time for themselves and truly hope everyone embraces their ME time.”
To Reach jennifer:
Julie Pomerleau
Art Specialist
As an art teacher and fellow artist, my philosophy is based on process and not the end result. Art is an experience. I believe everyone is an artist. I've been an artist all my life and a teacher to students of all ages and all experience levels since 2020. I am in school to obtain a BA in Art Education with my Masters in Art Therapy. To view my work you can find me on Instagram. I am so excited to be taking part in The Wellness Weekend and creating beautiful art along side all of you.
To reach Julie: info@jpomerleauart.com
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