I am the youngest of 6 children - 4 sisters and my late brother who was tragically murdered. I have the craziest mother - she inspires me. Her strength makes hurricanes seem like a breeze. My late father was a gentle giant - the depths of which I only appreciate now that I have lived twice as long as I ever thought I would. Growing up in Catholic during the AIDS epidemic & being told that this diseases is sent to kill gay people messes with your head for a while. Until you have a preoccupation of your brothers murder among 1 of several tragic deaths I have witnessed. When I chose not to be kept down by the churches lies - when I listened for the actual message of Christ - I decided to go about my life - live like no one is watching. Looking back at my first 49 years - I am incredibly proud of my accomplishments. I started my high school years at Cathedral Boys' High School - being honoured with several Catholic Youth Leadership Awards. I was aiming for a business & law career when a religion teacher, Nat Felice said: "Wayne I know we have lost you (talking about as a Catholic) but business is not who you are." I am grateful for that moment. Fate brought me to York University which was the greatest gift ever. I started in business & switched to Political Science with a specialization in Canadian & global comparative politics. I took art, photography, economics & business courses to round out my experience. I capped it all off being elected or appointed 9 times in 5 years. My coming out journey showed me that when someone puts a door in your way - knock it down. I was elected President of the YFS - the third largest student union in Canada, one of the first openly gay candidates to be elected in 1995. I followed that with a term as the Ontario Chair for the Canadian Federation of Students where I am proud to say, we took on the Harris government's Common Sense Revolution. We mounted days of action in cities throughout Ontario in 1998 & fight for tuition free education in Canada. In 1998, I missed hearing Nelson Mandela at the Skydome because my friends gave away my ticket so I would go to the interview at the Student Association of George Brown College. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Janet Morrison (now President of Sheridan College - she is in my humble opinion one of Canada's incredible leaders). She hired me as Operations Manager - understanding that I had made a special connection with the students of George Brown College. I later became Executive Director & then moved to the college to co-lead the Student Life Cycle Initiative. This transformative project was aimed at improving the student experience. I continued my career becoming Director Student Service & Campus Life. During that period, I completed my Masters of Arts in Education through Central Michigan University. I completed the first ever collaborative Masters capstone project on First Generation Students with 2 dear colleagues. During my Masters - Professor Roy Giroux, Vice-President Emeritus for Humber College told me I had to do my PhD at OISE (Ontarion Institute for Studies in Education), University of Toronto. In 2010, I started the program & was hired as Vice-President Student Services at Mohawk College in my hometown - Hamilton, ON. My doctoral dissertation focused on Deliberate Orientation Practices as part of a Broader Student Success Strategy. I earned my doctorate of Higher Education in 2015. The day I graduated, the Truth & Reconciliation Commission announced the 94 Calls to Action. Dean Julia Sullivan addressed the graduating class, he final day as Dean, she said:
"The academic robe that you wear to day is black, representing the dark past. The white & red on your academic hood represents the Canadian flag. Together, they represent Canada & OISE, University of Toronto. The white can also be viewed as the snow & the red - the blood of missing & murdered children from residential schools. That policy enacted by government was designed at OISE. Reconciliation is up to you. It is up to each of us. Graduates, I therefore charge you: you can wear this robe knowing that it was a part of the darkest moment in Canadian history. Or you can take this information & do something meaningful to reconcile with the Indigenous people of Canada." This along with my birth of my first Great Niece Isla Rose (+2 great nephews + 8 nieces & nephews) motivated me to use my time during the pandemic to make a big impact with the incredible gifts that I have been given. With great privilege comes great responsibility. I reflected on my network, my life, my family & my friends. I realized I am the richest man alive. I could stay on a friend or colleagues couch every night for 10 years & never stay more than 1 night. That is what wealth is about. Therefore, I decided to give it all, took in 12 people during a pandemic that were struggling. It wasn't easy. It was brutal at times. But, I learned so much. I am blessed & grateful to them for showing me sides if the world that I was blind to. I decided to build a new Brand + Social Enterprise Platform. It is bold, dynamic, creative, grounded in praxis research & built on the foundations of every project that I have led, being honoured for & lessons that giants shared with me. My BHAG (big hairy audacious goal):
End poverty. Replace with a wealth creation cycle using a truth & reconciliation framework ground in the 17 sustainability goals. I built a company Peartree + a brand & Associates + a Social Enterprise Platform. Driven by my philosophy Titanium Sunshine - we are all colourful, unique, resilient & strong - step out of the shadows & shine brilliantly. To ensure maximum success, I designed The Personal Success Brand for everyday heroes connecting them with a coach using the Peartree Method + change makers & Angel Investors. Then I surround them with a Circle of Care + standard, optional & safety features + the Catalyst Amplifier Engine to enhance success outcomes. The amplifier ensures that every dollar invested through a purchase or investment is multiplied. On my birthday, May Day 2022 I launch publicly. This is my gift to enact transformative change in the world. Vision: People 1st + Planet #1 Priority
Values: Freedom - growth - connectivity - prosperity
I have zero doubt that this work. I am honoured that I am gifted & guided to give back using my creativity & complex mind to change this world. I did my part as a Catalyst Architect. It is now up to you to trust, top take a leap & to "be the change you want to see in the world". We only have 1 planet. We owe it to the children & to ourselves to leave mother earth better than we found it. When adults, particularly men make a mess - it is our responsibility to clean up our mess. Men can decide. Do you want to be remembered as the fatherless generation. Men that were cowards & did not face the truth. Men that let down humanity like mice. Or our we going to be men. Admit with courage that we failed, then step up & clean up the mess. Once we clean up, invite everyone to the table - share a meal, break bread - the indigenous teaching says: "dish with one spoon" - there is only one dish. It must feed everyone. Everyone is welcome at the table. Aunties & uncles, brothers & sisters, Elders & seedlings. It must be sustainable. Every needs to get a fair share. Some will get more, some are light eaters. There is enough for everyone if we simply share as a soul family. One giant connected family. We live on mother earths back & creator or father is above us with our ancestors. It is time for us to heal from our collective colonial past. Unlock the chains. The greedy 1% hoarding & the top 10 families hoarding $1.4 trillion is unacceptable. Climate catastrophe is unacceptable. I designed a platform that with a few clicks of your mouse, the mice will scatter, leaving only honourable men & women standing as they are able. The model is simple. Be yourself & shine brilliantly. Put 1 hand to your heart & 1 to the heavens. Take the digital Skye train - freedom awaits. Together, with unity + action we can & will reverse the current course. We have 5 years after which the damage that we caused is irreversible. We are better than this. Our collective survival depends on it. Join me in delivering the Peartree Perennial Harvest & build a better sustainable future using our one-stop-shop change maker & community builder. 1 hand up + 1 hand out of poverty, 1 project, 1 small business at a time. My biggest role is as Great Uncle. Help me deliver on my promise to a beautiful child. Your servant leader
DrWayPo, the Restless Researcher
Dr. Wayne Joseph Poirier
