Co-Founder

Zahra has over 20 years of experience as a Registered Massage Therapist. Her vast professional accomplishments include her current role with the Toronto Raptors medical staff that aided the team in their historic 2019 Championship run. She is a strong believer that facing challenges facilitates growth. This belief has empowered her to become a passionate advocate for positive change, particularly in the area of racism and social justice.

Zahra is committed to learning, growing, and supporting our community, society, and world in becoming a more equitable place where the dignity and uniqueness of every individual is honoured.

Co-Founder

Elise is a Registered Massage Therapist who has been practicing with amateur and professional athletes, as well as the corporate population for over 10 years. Restorative therapy and wellness healthcare is for everybody, and Elise is dedicated to creating a learning platform for social change.

As a new mum, Elise hopes to make the world a better place for her beautiful daughter and all children.

Co-Founder

Joanne is a Registered Physiotherapist and a Certified Pelvic Health Therapist. One of her goals in life is to create a positive, direct, and generational impact by empowering women to take control of their reproductive health. She is honored and privileged to provide high-quality accessible healthcare to the BIPOC community.

As a Nigerian-born, first-generation Canadian, Joanne has had the unique experience of navigating through different worlds as it relates to values and cultures. Joanne hopes to create change and galvanize others to support dignity and equity for all individuals.

Social Media & Community Engagement Lead

Paige Kilian is a certified Recreation Therapist in London, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2022 with a double degree in honours Therapeutic Recreation and Clinical Psychology. Paige is pursuing her Masters in Arts of Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Paige holds several years of professional and volunteer experience spanning numerous facets within the healthcare sector. She is passionate about improving the lives of people in communities through education and therapy and believes in the power of local individuals to enact positive change. Paige advocates for a therapeutic approach characterized by compassion, collaboration, and flexibility, tailoring the process to align with her client's aspirations, objectives, and dreams.

Focusing on drawing from research and practice, Paige endeavours to create content that facilitates understanding and provides purposeful solutions. She strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and contribute to a more equitable society through therapy and activism. In her spare time, Paige enjoys spending time with loved ones, sipping iced coffee, and getting lost in a good novel.

Research, Development & Collaboration Lead

Meet Aleesha Uthup, a Registered Physiotherapist from Toronto, Ontario. Aleesha completed her Bachelor’s Degree from McMaster University in Kinesiology in 2020, then went on to obtain her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto. After graduating in 2022 Aleesha continues to work in outpatient settings, assessing and treating orthopaedic injuries. She is extremely passionate about sports medicine and enjoys helping athletes get back to the sports they love. Now entering her second year of practice, Aleesha continues to ensure that with cultural humility she creates a safe space for all her patients where they can communicate, grow, heal and ultimately become the drivers of their own health journey.

Advocating for equitable access to healthcare among BIPOC is extremely important to her, and ultimately brought her to Open Dialogue Canada. In her spare time you can find her biking by the water, trying out new restaurants in the city and dancing the night away with her family and friends!