Important Update: Minds in Bloom 2.0

Minds in Bloom 2.0: Human-Centered Innovation, AI & Mental Health has been rescheduled.

The event will now take place on September 9, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

We’ve taken this additional time to ensure the experience is as meaningful, impactful, and aligned with our vision as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support—we look forward to gathering with you.

Check out our recent live segment on CTV Winnipeg Your Morning Live on March 23, 2026!

Minds in Bloom 2.0: Human-Centered Innovation, AI & Mental Health is the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba’s flagship fundraising event for 2026, presented in partnership with North Forge.

Taking place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Fort Garry Hotel, this refreshed daytime event brings together leaders from business, innovation, education, government, and the community for a timely conversation on the human impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

As innovation accelerates, emotional and psychological adaptation often lags behind. Minds in Bloom 2.0 asks an essential question:

As innovation blooms, how do we ensure mental health blooms too?

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg
Format: Daytime fundraising luncheon featuring a moderated fireside-style conversation
Presented by: Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba (MDAM) in partnership with North Forge

ABOUT THE EVENT

Minds in Bloom 2.0 builds on the success of MDAM’s inaugural Minds in Bloom event, continuing as a thoughtfully designed daytime experience that fosters meaningful connection, dialogue, and impact.

The event centers on the intersection of:

Innovation and emerging technologies
Workplace mental health and burnout
Psychological safety and sustainable leadership
Human-centered approaches to change

The event will feature a moderated fireside-style conversation that is intimate, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience. Rather than a traditional panel, this format encourages thoughtful dialogue and meaningful reflection across sectors.

Featured Fireside Conversation

Minds in Bloom 2.0: Human-Centered Innovation, AI & Mental Health will feature a moderated fireside-style conversation exploring how rapid technological change is shaping our workplaces, communities, and mental well-being.

Bringing together voices from research, innovation, and applied artificial intelligence, this cross-sector discussion will examine how emerging technologies can both challenge and support human flourishing. As AI and digital tools continue to transform the way we work, communicate, and care for one another, the conversation will explore a critical question: how do we ensure innovation advances human well-being rather than leaving it behind?

Moderated by MDAM Executive Director Rita Chahal, the discussion will bring together leaders from Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem and research community to explore how technology, ethics, and mental health intersect in the real world.

Moderator Rita Chahal
Executive Director
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
View Rita’s LinkedIn Profile

Rita Chahal is the Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba (MDAM) and a respected leader with more than 35 years of experience across the nonprofit, business, and community sectors. A dynamic speaker and skilled facilitator, Rita is known for her engaging presence and her ability to spark thoughtful, meaningful dialogue.

She previously made history as the first woman of colour to serve as General Manager of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, where she championed initiatives supporting labour-market inclusion, newcomer integration, and community development. Rita also served as Executive Director of Women in Media, a national organization dedicated to advancing the voices and leadership of women in the media industry.

At MDAM, she is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and peer support for Manitobans living with mood disorders. Known for her warmth, insight, and natural ease with audiences and media alike, she brings energy, empathy, and curiosity to conversations that explore complex ideas and inspire change.

Speaker: Dr. Leslie Roos, PhD, CPsych (she/her)
Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology
University of Manitoba
View Dr. Roos’s LinkedIn Profile

Dr. Leslie E. Roos is a clinician-scientist, Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, and licensed clinical psychologist. She co-leads the PRIME Initiative at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and holds a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Implementation Science, advancing scalable eHealth and culturally grounded mental health interventions co-designed with communities. Her research addresses gaps in access to family mental health care, particularly for families affected by parental mental illness and the early-childhood origins of youth disorders. Dr. Roos has authored 100+ publications, led 16 clinical trials, and developed evidence-based digital programs including the BEAM app for dual-generation mental health. BEAM is certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and Dr. Roos serves on a national advisory group advancing responsible AI and best practices in digital mental health.

Speaker: Joelle Foster (she/her)
President, CEO, and Co-Founder of North Forge
View Joelle Foster’s LinkedIn Profile

Joelle Foster is an international leader at the intersection of research, innovation, and higher education. She is the President, CEO, and co-founder of North Forge, an award-winning Manitoba-based tech incubator that operates one of North America’s largest fabrication labs and supports startups from ideation to scale.

She is also a co-founder and Managing Partner of Women’s Equity Lab, an investment fund working to increase the number and influence of women angel investors in Manitoba.

Previously, Joelle served as the inaugural Executive Director of the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, where she helped build one of Canada’s leading university innovation hubs. She also served as a Director with Futurpreneur Canada, overseeing operations across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories. In Manitoba alone, she helped more than 350 businesses launch.

Joelle serves as a national Board Director with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which has invested more than $9 billion in research infrastructure across Canada. She also sits on the international board of the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and the board of the University of Manitoba’s IDEA Start, and is a 2026 mentor with the International Women’s Forum.

Speaker: Lesley Klassen (he/him)
Senior Manager, AI Initiatives and Services at New Media Manitoba
View Lesley Klassen’s LinkedIn Profile

Lesley brings a wealth of experience from the intersection of AI, XR, and motion capture. Before joining New Media Manitoba, Lesley was the Product Lead and Head of Strategy at Masterpiece X, a Canadian agentic AI company focused on optimizing 3D workflows.

Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of Flipside XR, a venture-backed virtual reality startup. There, he also served as Chief Innovation Officer and directed motion capture and real-time animations, securing publishing contracts with Meta, leading R&D projects for Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment (the studio behind Bob’s Burgers), and developing partnerships with industry giants like Google, HTC and Bytedance.

A recognized voice in the field, Lesley has shared his insights at major global conferences, including Meta Connect, the NAB Show, and the Augmented World Expo. When he’s not immersed in the future of AI, he explores his passion for synthesizers, photography, and the spectrum of creative tech, from LiDAR to code.

OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT

We are proud to recognize the growing community of partners supporting Minds in Bloom 2.0: Human-Centered Innovation, AI & Mental Health.

We are honoured to present this event in partnership with North Forge, and to welcome The Diamond Gallery as our newest Creative Bloom Sponsor. They join the University of Winnipeg Foundation and Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Foundation in this sponsorship category.

We are deeply grateful for their support in helping bring this important conversation to life.

We are also pleased to partner with Golden West Broadcasting as our official Media Partner, helping extend the reach of Minds in Bloom 2.0 and share these conversations with a broader Manitoba audience.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping make this event possible.

Presenting Partner

Creative Bloom Partners

WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS

Artificial intelligence and rapid technological change are reshaping how we work, lead, learn, and connect. While innovation offers immense opportunity, it also brings new pressures, ethical considerations, and mental health challenges.

Minds in Bloom 2.0 positions MDAM as a grounded, community-anchored voice advocating for balance, psychological safety, and human connection in a high-change era. The event creates space to explore how innovation can move forward without leaving mental health behind.

FUNDRAISING IMPACT

Proceeds from Minds in Bloom 2.0 directly support MDAM’s work across Manitoba, including:

• Peer support programs for individuals living with mood disorders
• Educational workshops and resources
• Community outreach and advocacy initiatives

By attending or sponsoring this event, you are investing in mental health supports that help people build resilience, reduce stigma, and access care.

COMMUNITY ACCESS & INCLUSION

In alignment with MDAM’s mission, Minds in Bloom 2.0 includes a Community Access Ticket Program.

Through this program:

• Ticket purchasers may choose to donate a ticket at checkout
• Donated tickets are shared with community members, youth advocates, and individuals with lived experience
• Donors will receive acknowledgment of impact unless they request to remain anonymous

If you are interested in attending this event through this program, please contact us by email to express your interest and we will do our best to match you with available donated tickets.

TICKETS

• General Admission: $99
• Table of Ten: $990

All tickets include access to the full Minds in Bloom 2.0 daytime event experience. If you’ve already purchased tickets, thank you for your early support—we’ll be reaching out directly with additional details. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.

If you prefer to purchase by e-transfer, please use finance@moodmb.ca. Include your name and any other relevant information you think we might need in the note field.

REGISTER HERE

Once you have purchased your tickets, you will be prompted to return here to register for the event. This will communicate to us any dietary restrictions or requirements you might have as well as any special seating requirements or directives.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The following corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for Minds in Bloom 2.0: Human-Centered Innovation, AI & Mental Health. Benefits escalate by level and are designed to provide meaningful recognition without compromising MDAM’s values or the integrity of the program.

BLOOM VISIONARY – $5,000
Leadership in human-centered innovation and mental well-being
Recognition & Benefits:

• Premier recognition as a Bloom Visionary sponsor
• Prominent logo placement on event materials, website, and signage
• Verbal recognition during the event program
• Recognition in select MDAM social media posts
• Inclusion in post-event thank-you communications
• A complimentary table of ten (10) at the event
• Acknowledgment in any post-event media coverage where sponsors are listed (when applicable)

INNOVATION CATALYST – $3,000
Supporting momentum, creativity, and adaptation during change
Recognition & Benefits:

• Recognition as an Innovation Catalyst sponsor
• Logo placement on event materials and website
• Verbal recognition during the event
• Recognition in MDAM social media posts
• Inclusion in post-event thank-you communications
• Four (4) complimentary tickets to the event

MINDS IN BLOOM SUPPORTER – $2,500
Helping programs, people, and ideas grow
Recognition & Benefits:

• Recognition as a Minds in Bloom Supporter
• Logo or name placement on event materials and website
• Recognition during the event program
• Inclusion in post-event thank-you communications
• 2 complimentary tickets to the event

CREATIVE BLOOM PARTNER – $1,000
Encouraging accessibility, design thinking, and emerging voices
Recognition & Benefits:

• Recognition as a Creative Bloom Partner
• Name recognition on event materials and website
• Inclusion in post-event thank-you communications

GROWTH ALLY – $500
Entry-level support nurturing MDAM’s foundation
Recognition & Benefits:

• Name recognition as a Growth Ally
• Inclusion in post-event thank-you communications

If you are interested in being a corporate sponsor at Minds in Bloom 2.0, please contact us to discuss further by emailing us at the link below.

SILENT AUCTION

This event will feature a silent auction fundraiser. Please stay tuned for more details!

If you are a business interested in donating a product, experience or package to our silent auction fundraiser, please contact us at the link below to discuss further. Charitable tax receipts can be issued for your donation.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Minds in Bloom 2.0 is designed for:

• Corporate and workplace leaders
• Innovation, technology, and STEM sectors
• Educators and youth-serving organizations
• Government and civic stakeholders
• Donors, supporters, and members of the MDAM community

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about tickets, sponsorship, or accessibility, please contact:

amasst@moodmb.ca OR phone 431-668-3672