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Women's Health Symposium
November 7, 2026
Brandon University

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Women's Health Symposium

Thank You to Our Partners

Thank you to Brandon University Women and Gender Studies, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, and Brandon Regional Health Foundation.

An Event Focusing on Women's Health

YWCA Westman is partnering with Brandon University and other community partners to host a one-day event focusing on women’s health. This will be an event for women from across southwestern Manitoba, featuring information focused on every season of life.

The day will begin with two keynote sessions – the first will talk about managing stress, preventing burnout and promoting resilience among women of all ages. The second keynote will be more focused on peri-menopause and menopause, because although we aim to have individuals of all ages participate in the Health Symposium, every woman will go through menopause so it’s best to know early what you can expect!

Featuring Breakout Sessions with Local Experts

We have also planned for participants to choose from several breakout sessions, featuring local experts, and in some cases women with lived experience in each stage of life. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting our Daughters Through Puberty
• Trans-Gender & Diverse Health
• Pregnancy & Postpartum
• New Mom Health
• Women’s Pelvic Health
• Menopause & Nutrition
• Menopause at Work
• Embracing the Shift

Committed to Supporting Women's Health Through Every Stage

In addition to the keynote and break-out topics, participants will be able to browse through a Wellness Market, featuring health care practitioners, wellness providers and other businesses and agencies who are committed to supporting women’s health through every stage and phase. The day will conclude with an “Experts Panel” who would be able to answer all those burning, lingering questions that come about after a day of learning. Registration fees are $75 for the day, encouraging a wide cross-section of women from around the region to participate in this empowering day filled with information and support. Tickets will be made available to those who are unable to meet the registration costs.

Planning is ongoing for this inaugural event, but anticipate a wide variety of partners, including educational institutions, health services, businesses, non-profits and health care practitioners.

Meet Our 2026 Keynote Speakers

Dr. Omolayo Famuyide

Menopause/Peri-Menopause

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Dr. Ashley Margeson

Burnout & Resilience

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Women's Health Symposium

Breakout Sessions

Supporting our Daughters through Puberty
Cori Pople from SERC

This session will invite participants to reflect on the messages theywish they had received as young people and include practical tips and tools for supporting their children through puberty changes. Learn about how to engage young people in conversation, answer difficult questions, and support children through the physical, emotional, and social changes of puberty.
Trans-Gender & Diverse Health
Nora Wilson from Brandon University

Misconceptions concerning gender affirming care for trans and non-binary people continue to endanger the health and well-being of this vulnerable population. In this session, we will imagine a world where care honours inner knowing and encourages an expansive understanding of gender.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Jenna Mennie Clark, Sophie Delaurier and Karisa Minary from PMH

Navigating the Bump and Beyond: Your pregnancy and postpartum questions, answered.

Are you curious about what to truly expect during pregnancy, birth and the first six weeks postpartum? Join us for an open, interactive Q&A breakout session hosted by a panel of three experienced midwives.
New Mom Health
Luanne Rae RPN BScPN, TPP from Lighthouse Wellness Centre

Who Takes Care of Mom? What Nobody Tells You About Taking Care of You. We will explore what health and wellness really looks like throughout motherhood, beyond the traditional six-week postpartum check. We'll challenge the pressure to "bounce back" and explore practical, realistic ways mothers can prioritize their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being while navigating the transition into motherhood.
Women’s Pelvic Health
Tryna DeGagne BMR PT BSc from Element Physiotherapy

More Than Kegels: Whole-Body Pelvic Health - Bladder, Bowel, Breath & Beyond. It turns out "Just do your Kegels" was never the full story. In this session we'll get into what actually drives pelvic health - bladder and bowel function, the breath-core-floor connection, and how your nervous system plays a bigger role than you'd think. We'll also briefly walk through what's normal (and what's not) decade by decade, from your 20s to our 60s and beyond.
Menopause & Nutrition
Chantal Morais RD, MPH from PMH

Learn how food choices can help ease menopause symptoms and support your changing health needs. This session explores practical, flexible nutrition strategies to enhance well-being during perimenopause and throughout the menopausal transition.
Menopause at Work
Geraldine De Braune CEC & Louise Neil B.Sc PCC from Menopause at Work

This session will focus on what menopause looks like for working women, how it manifests in leadership and professional identity, and what women need to know to navigate this transition with confidence and clarity.
Embracing the Shift
Dr. Alise Gaiser B.Sc (Hon.) MD CCFP, Aurelie Urbah (French Trained Mental Health Education & Support), & Candace Little BMRPT from The Wellness Clinic

Join us for an informative and compassionate session exploring women’s health and intimacy after menopause. Presenters will share insights into the realities many women experience post-menopause, including the physical, emotional, and relationship changes that can continue as we age.

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Women's Health Symposium

Don’t miss out on this empowering day of information and support for women’s health. 

Event Information

Get Involved

For more information, or to get involved:

Christine English, Director of Organizational Services, YWCA Westman

Email: christine@ywcawestman.ca
Office: 204-571-3680

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Become A Sponsor

From event sponsor, breakout sessions, from lunch to coffee breaks, there are a wide variety of ways that your business can support a day of learning for women from across southwestern Manitoba. Reach out to learn about the best way for you to get in front of hundreds of women ready to embrace their health and well-being, in all ages and stages!

Sponsorship Information

Women's Health Symposium

Our 2026 Sponsors

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Dr. Omolayo Famuyide

Dr. Omolayo Famuyide, MD, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP, is the Founder and Medical Director of the Layo Centre, a comprehensive women’s health clinic based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Recently distinguished as a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP)—an honour recognizing exceptional contributions to family medicine through clinical excellence, leadership, and advocacy—Dr. Famuyide brings a rare and multidisciplinary perspective to her practice as a former practicing pharmacist turned family physician and women’s health specialist.

Her dedication to advancing women’s health led her to complete a prestigious fellowship at the University of Toronto, a world-leading institution in the field. As a Certified Menopause Practitioner through The Menopause Society, she is widely recognized for her clinical expertise in reproductive health, advanced contraception, and menopause management.

A trusted voice in her field, Dr. Famuyide is regularly invited to speak at local and national conferences on sexual health and menopause. She is also a frequent media contributor, with featured appearances on Global News, CTV News, CityNews, and in the Winnipeg Free Press and Chatelaine Magazine.

Dr. Famuyide’s leadership extends well beyond her clinical practice. She currently serves as Member-at-Large on the Family Practice Executive Council of Doctors Manitoba, as a Board Member of the Canadian Menopause Society, and as a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Menopause Foundation of Canada. A committed educator and passionate advocate for women’s health, she was honoured in 2024 as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Famuyide is a devoted mother and self-proclaimed foodie who dedicates her free time to fitness and travel.

Dr. Ashley Margeson

Dr. Ashley is a nationally recognized expert who equips teams, leaders, and organizations with the science-backed strategies they need to manage stress, optimize performance, and sustain energy—because success shouldn’t come at the cost of burnout.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Ashley Margeson specializes in evidence-based strategies and delivers engaging, actionable talks that empower leaders and organizations to integrate sustainable self-care into their busy lives. She debunks the myths of work-life balance to improve productivity, and foster long-term well-being.

Host of the acclaimed podcast The Superwoman Code, Dr. Margeson shares cutting-edge insights on health, hormones, and high performance, with over 100,000 downloads in 2024 alone. Her expertise has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Business Insider, Forbes, Parents Magazine, and Shondaland, and she is a frequent guest on Global and
CTV Morning Live.

Dr. Ashley Margeson understands the challenges faced by today’s professionals and provides research-driven strategies to help them succeed without sacrificing well-being. Whether addressing corporate teams, industry leaders, or entrepreneurs, she equips audiences with the tools to build resilience, avoid burnout, and optimize performance for long-term success.

  • +1-206-156 2849
  • info@harity.com
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