EMILY OLSEN–Founder, Director, Host, Speaker.
Emily Olsen is the founder of the Connection Project, an annual event exploring mental health through storytelling. Emily facilitates the Magic Series Workshops, a series exploring magic in the every-day through various themes such as worthiness, gratitude, and kindness. Her passion is bringing people together to explore personal growth through creativity. She writes a poetry blog and is currently developing her TEDx talk inspired by the healing of her mental health struggle through connection. Emily lives in WSANEC Territory in Brentwood Bay, BC. with her husband Adam and two children Silas and Ella. Emily is grateful for the support of family, friends, and the ever-growing Connection Project community and wishes to thank all those involved since it’s inception.
LISA BOSMAN–Performance Coach, Musician.
Lisa Bosman is no stranger to the stage. Her background is full of theatrical musings from LA to New York, David Mamet to Shakespeare. While her background is musical theatre her first love has always been to perform on stage. Lisa started playing the piano by ear at a young age and took up the guitar around 11. She plays local venues and care homes and has recently begun teaching a workshop series called ‘Singing From The Soul.” Lisa is developing a project combining theatre and original music in a solo performance two-act play. Lisa is excited to work with and support this year’s Connection Project speakers as the Performance Coach.
JESSICA WILLIAMSON–MC, Promotional Team Lead Organizer, and Youth Representative.
Excited to be the Master of Ceremonies for The Connection Project 2019 and working as the Promotional Team Lead Organizer and Youth Representative, Jessica is dedicated to bringing this project to life. Believing strongly that mental health stigma in all communities should be reduced and everyone should be accepted, Jessica is proud to be contributing to this cause. She has many years of performing, public speaking and on-camera experience and is looking forward to returning to the stage to present the wonderful speakers. Jessica also partakes in photography, videography, digital art, and works in the media industry. She also enjoys spending time with her family, sports, and going to the dog park with her pooch, Roxy. Jessica volunteers and has done photography for many years with community programs and sporting events creating inclusive environments for people with disabilities. Involved with Nexus Newspaper, Shaw TV and Black Press Media, Jessica is contributing her media experience to help The Connection Project 2019 to impact as many people as possible and help the speakers share their stories and connect with others, all in the name of mental wellness and reducing stigma.
LINDA HUNTER–Event Coordinator, Sponsorship Lead.
Linda Hunter is an independent, professional writer and event planner who is dedicated to service, open to possibility, and who aspires to walk a path of grace. She is passionate about communal living, nurturing relationships, and doing death better. Linda is the co visionary behind Deathly Matters – A Community in Conversation; you can find out more about her work at https://dyingwithgrace.ca/ Linda loves a number of people living with mental illness and is dedicated to serving The Connection Project as a member of this year’s event production team.
“we’re all just walking each other home” – Ram Dass.
The Connection Project 