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Cynthia Sottie, MSW, PhD, RSW
Cynthia is as associate professor of Social Work at Booth University College and a registered social worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Ghana, an MSW from West Virginia University, USA, and a PhD from the Queen’s University in Northern Ireland, UK. She has been teaching in higher education since 2000. Prior to taking up appointment at BoothUC, she was a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana and was the director of the social work program which run undergraduate, graduate programs. Previously registered with the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board, she worked within the community mental health care system in Columbus, Ohio (USA) in the 1990s serving adults with severe mental health conditions and assisting in transitioning individuals hospitalized for decades from psychiatric institutions into their communities. She also worked briefly with adults with neurodiversity in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2010. Cynthia has taught and mentored several students since 2000, many of whom are currently professors in universities in Ghana, Europe, and North America, including Canada (at McGill University and the University of Windsor etc.). She is a board member of the Centre for Democracy and Socio-economic Development (CDS Africa), an organization that focuses on promoting democracy, civic education and dialogue, policy research, and advocacy to advance democracy and socioeconomic development in Africa. She is also a member of the advisory council of the newly formed Canada Immigrant Professional Alliance (CIPA) and part of the team that is developing culturally appropriate community-based support systems for immigrant professionals and families to enhance social integration and belonging. Cynthia’s main area of research is international social work, immigrant and newcomer issues, and stigmatized illnesses. Her current research is on the challenges and opportunities African families are presented with as they navigate parenting in Canada. Cynthia’s research is grounded in qualitative inquiry because her main interest is in the lived experiences of the populations she studies.
Shanique Victoria Edwards, BSc, MDiv, RP (Qualifying)
Shanique Victoria Edwards is a psychotherapist and nationally recognized speaker with extensive experience in clinical care, mental health system leadership, and culturally responsive service design. She holds a BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology and a Master of Divinity in Clinical Counselling from Tyndale University. Shanique currently serves as a Black Mental Health Clinician with the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA), Director of Mental Health, Outreach, and Strategy with the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA), and Mental Health Consultant with Black Mental Health Canada (BMHC). She is also the founder of the Eden Legacy Foundation, supporting youth resilience and equity in education and wellness. Known for her dynamic and compassionate facilitation style, Shanique has spoken across healthcare, academic, legal, and government sectors on topics including racial trauma, psychological safety, Africentric frameworks, and inclusive leadership. She is co-author of The Canadian Mental Health and Well-being Handbook and Racial Trauma & Black Canadian Youth, and a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Facilitator. As a Knowledge Translation Specialist, Shanique transforms complex research into impactful, culturally grounded strategies that promote healing, representation, and belonging. Whether in therapy rooms or national conferences, her work champions mental wellness as both a personal and collective liberation journey.