Spider Jones

GUEST SPEAKER
On January 10, 2026, Heal & Unite is honoured to welcome Spider Jones as a guest speaker at our black-tie community fundraiser at Victoria Hall.
Spider Jones is not just a speaker…he is a legendary voice for justice, resilience, and truth.
Who is Spider Jones?
• Nationally respected anti-racism advocate
• Former Canadian boxer and Olympic coach
• Order of Ontario recipient
• Founder of Fight to End Discrimination
• Decades of work empowering youth, challenging racism, and demanding accountability
When Spider speaks, people listen because he speaks from lived experience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to change.
On January 10, Spider will speak openly about racism, its lasting impact on mental health, and why silence is no longer an option especially in 2026.It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Peggi Shepherd DeGroote

GUEST SPEAKER
Peggi Shepherd DeGroote is the Founder, President & CEO of Wellbeings® Medical Centre for Innovation and Excellence Inc., an Ontario-based clinic dedicated to advancing compassionate, whole-person care for mental health, addictions, and complex wellness needs. A respected leader and advocate, Peggi is known for her commitment to innovation, dignity, and patient-centered support. Through Wellbeings®, she has created a safe, inclusive environment that integrates clinical excellence with empathy, education, and community partnership helping individuals and families heal, recover, and thrive.
If you live with mental illness, love someone who does, or simply want to better understand how healing is possible, Peggi’s talk alone is worth being in the room for.In an extraordinary act of generosity, Wellbeings® is donating 40 breakthrough treatments to our live auction with a package valued at $10,000. These treatments (for adults 18+) have shown great success in supporting individuals with mental health issues.
Robert Maxwell

ENTERTAINMENT
Comedy Hypnotist Robert Maxwell – Live January 10
Get ready for an unforgettable night with Robert Maxwell, one of Canada’s most respected Comedy Hypnotists, known for his high-energy, laugh-out-loud performances that leave audiences amazed and smiling long after the show ends.
Robert blends intelligence, humor, and showmanship into a one-of-a-kind experience that proves just how powerful (and hilarious) the human mind can be. His performances are uplifting, inclusive, and the perfect balance of fun and fascination.

CHECK THIS OUT

We are incredibly blessed to have The Disability Channel (TDC) present at our January 10th Heal & Unite fundraiser at Victoria Hall. Their commitment to amplifying important conversations around mental health, inclusion, and community impact brings an added level of meaning and reach to this evening.

We are also honoured to welcome the one and only Jay Stoyan, whose presence adds both heart and energy to the night. Jay will be joining us as part of the festivities and lending his charisma to the live auction segment, helping drive bids in support of this powerful cause.

With TDC capturing the moments and Jay Stoyan helping lead the charge, this evening promises to be unforgettable filled with purpose, connection, and community coming together for real change.

NORTHUMBERLAND THIS MOVEMENT IS FOR YOU!

Crowd of people holding signs that say 'Heal & Unite' during a protest or rally in an urban setting at sunset.

We are building a community where no one has to fight alone.
Where youth can learn the truth about racism not just in history, but in real life.

Where parents and educators can access tools that support mental wellness.
Where conversations heal instead of divide.
Where we rise together, stronger than before.
Heal & Unite is more than an event.
It is a movement.
A safe place.
A promise that change is possible and that kindness, understanding, and unity still have power.
If you’ve ever felt the sting of discrimination…
If you’ve ever watched someone you love suffer in silence…
If you want to help build a healthier, more compassionate community…

You belong here.
This is your movement…

This is your hope…This is Heal & Unite.

Heal & Unite is more than an event…it’s a movement. Together, we’re taking a stand against bullying, racism, and the stigma around mental health by creating a safe space where every voice matters. Through music, sports, and powerful storytelling, we aim to empower and inspire real change. Join us as musical guests, athletes, and motivational speakers share their personal journeys of resilience and hope reminding us all that when we come together, we heal and unite.

Heal & Unite: Our Heart, Our Purpose, Our Promise

Every day in our communities, there are people quietly fighting battles that most of us never see.
Some are living with anxiety, depression, trauma, or loneliness holding themselves together for their children, their parents, or simply to make it through one more day. Others are carrying the weight of racism on their shoulders… the kind of pain that doesn’t bruise the skin, but bruises the soul.

Racism takes away more than opportunities it takes away confidence, safety, belonging and the chance to live a life without fear.

It means a student who works twice as hard still gets overlooked.
A parent turned away from a job “for reasons they don’t explain.”
A family holding their breath every time they step into a room, hoping today won’t be the day they’re judged by the colour of their skin.

And mental health struggles?
They don’t just affect the person suffering they affect their children, their parents, their relationships, their ability to keep a steady job, and even their belief that things can get better.

Too many people feel alone in their darkness.
Too many are afraid to ask for help.
Too many families break under the weight of silence.
Heal & Unite was created for all of them.
For every child who feels different.
For every adult who feels unseen.
For every family trying to heal.
For every person who has been hurt by words, systems, or circumstances beyond their control.