TICKETS GO ON SALE THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER
Tickets to the 2026 Rural Women's Conference go on sale Monday, October 5, 2026 at 8 am and close on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 4 pm.
CONFERENCE INFO
From FREE bussing to and from the conference, to all the speaker info, you'll find it below!
CONFERENCE
Doors open at 8:00 am with the conference finishing at 4:00!
See below for full conference program!
>>> BUSSING INFO TBD - check back!>>>
Get to know our Speakers
Colleen Norris
From Cycles to Cessation: The Ovaries are the Architect of Women's Health
Colleen's presentation explains how the ovaries and the hormone estrogen have shaped women’s health across their entire lives—not just during childbearing years. Estrogen plays an important role in protecting the heart, brain, bones, blood vessels, mood, and overall well being. As estrogen levels change with age and menopause, symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep problems, fatigue, memory changes, and shifts in heart and bone health are not simply “normal aging,” but signs of real biological change that deserve attention. The presentation encourages women to better understand their bodies, to recognize that many symptoms have medical meaning, and to feel empowered to seek informed, individualized care that supports healthy aging and quality of life.
MJ Siebold
When Your Body Speaks: Learning to Listen
MJ has been an animal lover all her life. She graduated from the Animal Health Technician program at NAIT in 1983 & began working at the Lynnwood Veterinary Hospital in Edmonton. In 1990 she, her husband & 2 boys moved back to her hometown of Lac La Biche where they have a small farm, having had pigs, cows, horses, Boer goats & even a llama! In addition to their small farming operation, they also consider 3 dogs and a cat as members of the family. She was involved in 4-H both as parent & Veterinary Science Project leader for well over a decade. From the time she was a small girl, she rescued anything that needed help, from birds, to caterpillars to our four-legged companion animals. When expecting her first son, her sister said to her “I just can’t picture you with a baby… a litter of puppies for sure though!”
She has always been a big believer in “being the change you want to see in the world” & is here today to speak about an experience that profoundly changed her in the hope that her story might help other women be more mindful of their hearts.
Julie Matthews
Former journalist and peace officer
Julie Matthews has dedicated her career to stopping scam artists and protecting Canadians.
She spent 19 years as an investigative TV reporter—10 of which were spent as Global TV Edmonton’s “Troubleshooter.” Her passion for helping others led her to trade her microphone for a badge, becoming a peace officer and senior investigator with the Government of Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit for a decade.
Recognizing the need for fraud prevention education she turned her focus to empowering others with the knowledge to stay safe.
Julie now travels across Western Canada delivering engaging presentations about the latest scams to seniors, students, businesses, and community groups.
Julie is a certified fraud examiner, a proud board member of the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association and each week shares tips through her “Scam Alert” segment on CFCW radio. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her efforts.
She is the national spokesperson for the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition’s - Stand Against Scams campaign. She coordinates Unbreaking Project Canada, which provides free hug kits that law enforcement can give to romance scam victims. She is a strong victims' advocate and volunteers her time speaking to victims and their families across North America about how to reach loved ones trapped in one of these heartbreaking scams.
Danielle Patenaude
Stronger Together: Women, Business & Community with Joanne Wicker
Danielle Patenaude is a Métis entrepreneur, community advocate, cultural facilitator and the owner of Métis Matriarch Ltd., an Indigenous-owned and operated storefront in Lac La Biche, Alberta. Through her business, Danielle creates space for Indigenous artists, makers and Knowledge Holders while offering culturally meaningful workshops, authentic Indigenous goods and opportunities for community connection.
A Métis Traditional Dance instructor, Danielle is passionate about sharing culture, creating opportunities for youth and strengthening Indigenous visibility in rural communities. Her work is rooted in community, family, cultural pride and meaningful reconciliation.
As an Indigenous and rural woman and small business owner, Danielle understands both the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship in a smaller community and believes strongly in the power of women supporting women, building relationships and creating opportunities close to home.
Joanne Wicker
Stronger Together: Women, Business & Community with Danielle Patenaude
Joanne Wicker of Christy Creek Honey and Hive Tours and Danielle Patenaude of Métis Matriarch Ltd. come together to explore what happens when women build businesses rooted in community. Drawing from their experiences as rural women entrepreneurs, they’ll share how supporting local artisans, uplifting other women and creating opportunities for others strengthens the entire community.
Using the idea of a traditional quilting bee, their interactive presentation will invite participants to reflect on the gifts they bring to their own communities and how we can create spaces where others can rise alongside us. Danielle will also weave in an Indigenous perspective of reciprocity, collective responsibility and the understanding that success is strengthened when it is shared.
Carla White
Founder of Soulfire Solutions and the creator of the Ignite Movement
Her work is devoted to igniting what’s already inside you—your spark, the truth, unapologetic boldness.
For over three decades, Carla’s path has been anything but conventional. After years helping
people navigate crisis and chaos — first as a nurse, then as a firefighter — she made a shift
into human potential and transformational training. For the past 15 years, she has blended
that frontline grit with neuroscience, nervous system capacity, Human Design insight, and
unapologetic FUN to help women break free from overwhelm, urgency, and chronic
overdrive so they are well-rested, relaxed, and wildly in love with their lives again.
Carla is a 4x international best-selling author of Reignite Your Spark! and contributing author
to Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Canada. As a Master Certified Success Principles
Trainer she was a member of the Jack Canfield Assisting Team. Carla is also a
women-centered coaching specialist, and neurosomatic practitioner.
Carla created the SPARK Power MAP™ framework; the signature foundation behind her
transformational live events and the seasonal FUNatic Experience, where bold-hearted
women known as FUNatics gather to celebrate, activate, and rise together.
Her work blends science, soul, and story — cutting through noise and performance culture
to awaken reckless joy, deep fulfillment, and a life that feels extraordinary.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
8 am - Registration
8:45 am - Opening RemarksWelcome
9 am - Welcome
9:15 am - Colleen Norris
10:10 am - MJ Siebold
10:30 am - Break & Game
11:15 am - Julie Matthews
12 pm - LUNCH • catered by The Good Table
1:30 pm - Danielle Patenaude & Joanne Wicker
2 pm - Movement Break
2:15 pm - Break
2:30 pm - Carla White
3:45 pm - Closing Remarks
GET IN TOUCH
