Save the Date - Regional Student/Member Mixer Featuring Keynote Catherine Wreford

 
CPA Manitoba is excited to announce a Regional Student/Member Mixer in Brandon on November 7. Join us for networking and a keynote presentation from Catherine Wreford, an international actor, dancer, motivational speaker and winner of Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada.

November 7, 2024 
Brandon, MB (location to be confirmed)

Keynote Speaker
Catherine Wreford is a professional dancer and actress born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2013, a little over a month after giving birth to her second child, Catherine was diagnosed with incurable aplastic astrocytoma (a malignant brain tumor). She was given 2-6 years to live and her treatment consisted of a craniotomy, radiation and four kinds of chemo. Almost 10 years later, she has outlived her initial prognosis and she wants to live longer!

Catherine and her best friend Craig were past winners of the Amazing Race Canada. Their goal was to show Catherine’s children how strong, determined, and courageous their mother was during her cancer battle.

Her passion for performing was recognized at the age of 3 when she learned how to roll out of a handstand with professional flair! Catherine trained from then on at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She performed at the Stratford Festival at 18, then on Broadway in numerous shows for many years, danced at the Tony Awards twice and filmed movies in Los Angeles. Catherine is a woman of many talents, having also run a mortgage company in Los Angeles and trained as a nurse.

Keynote: Overcoming Adversity
Catherine has faced many levels of adversity – always with a positive attitude that has almost always led to success!  In this presentation, she’ll tell stories from her life to explain that tough times can show you that you’re made of strong stuff as you learn and grow as a person. Catherine will show how she uses her keen sense of humour as a coping mechanism to get through with her spirit still intact! She has learned to let go of her expectations and accept what she has been given. And make life even better.

Case in point – Catherine’s plans as a wife and mother, plus her career as a nurse, were shattered by a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. That was more than ten years ago. In those years, she has learned that what others label as adversity can actually be positive surprises loaded with love. She acknowledges that accepting change is hard, but not accepting it makes life harder. Catherine knows self-pity won’t get you anywhere, but hope can make miracles happen.

This keynote will brighten your sense of humour and help you surround yourself with people who share your newly positive mindset. Catherine promises you’ll never be afraid to shoot for the stars again!

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details including registration. We hope to see you there!