Tim Huff
Tim J Huff has spent his adult life combining his love of visual arts, writing and music with social justice and humanitarian endeavours. Tim has been in full-time charitable work for over 35 years —serving, learning and teaching across North America. Tim is an acclaimed speaker, a best-selling author and award-winning author-illustrator of children’s books. Tim’s extensive history of service and leadership includes his time as staff director at The Ontario Camp of the Deaf, and as founding director of both Toronto’s Frontlines Youth Centre and Youth Unlimited’s Light Patrol street outreach. Tim also initiated and currently leads Youth Unlimited’s Compassion Series program — a unique hub of creative and interactive compassion-focused resources for children, youth, families and classrooms. Tim is the author of nine book titles of which all have either been nominated for a national book publishing award with 7 winning their category. Titles include: Bent Hope: a Street Journal, Dancing with Dynamite: Celebrating Against the Odds (which won Best Canadian Book of the Year award in 2011), The Yuletide Factor: Cause for Perpetual Comfort and Joy, and his 5 previous illustrated children’s books, The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge: Helping Children Understand Homelessness, It’s Hard Not to Stare: Helping Children Understand Disabilities, The Honour Drum: Sharing the Beauty of Canada’s Indigenous People with Children, Families and Classrooms, Am I Safe: Exploring Fear and Anxiety with Children, Make Way for the Christmas Hush , all published by Castle Quay Books. http://compassionseries.com/about/tim-huff

Margie Timpson
Margie Timpson was born and raised in Toronto. She has been serving children, youth and families for over 30 years. In her work with agencies including Youth Unlimited, Bridgeway Family Homes and Muskoka Woods, she has supported and walked alongside many facing difficult journeys. Margie has served marginalized youth including girls involved in the sex trade and teen mothers. She has also been involved in youth leadership development and in caring for foster families. In each role, Margie is motivated by a passion to create safe spaces for children, youth and families. As a certified coach and volunteer trainer, she also loves to inspire and equip others to serve. Margie is currently working with RMHC Toronto Charities as the Family Room Coordinator at SickKids Hospital where she serves families whose children are facing serious health challenges. http://rmhctoronto.ca

Mike Janzen
A JUNO-nominated artist gifted in jazz, classical, and folk, Mike Janzen is a unique Canadian talent. Possessing “a rare and infectious gift” (Steve Bell), Janzen’s artistry is displayed in his original work and his collaborations with others (Daniel Lanois, Hugh Marsh, Larnell Lewis). Janzen’s most recent release is The Psalms Project Volume I & II (2021), a double album of original songs reflecting on the Psalms. Described as “salve for the soul” (John Bailey, JUNO-winner for mixing), this album comprises 19 songs written and composed while recovering from a debilitating concussion just a few years prior. Janzen’s responses to God lifting and carrying him through his difficult circumstances slowly formed the lyrics to songs in The Psalms Project. The first volume, The Carried Words, has a folk-pop sound and includes some of Canada’s finest musicians, including Steve Bell, Erin Propp, Davide DiRenzo, and Joey Landreth. The Lifted Songs, the second volume, is more meditative in nature. Guest performances include JUNO-winner Laila Biali, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, and the beautiful sounds of a 14-piece string orchestra. The entire project has been described as “a soulful marvel of songwriting” (Steve Bell), and “an oasis for the spirit” (Laila Biali). In summer of 2021, “Abounding in Love” from Volume I hit the Top Ten in Christian radio in Canada, showing how Mike Janzen’s gorgeous melodies and Scripture-inspired lyrics now help to shine the light of the Psalms for others walking in dark valleys. In 2015, Janzen released the JUNO-nominated album Nudging Forever, containing original compositions blending lush orchestral sounds with the spontaneity of jazz. His more recent work is more sacred in its focus. Lent (2019) is a collection of arrangements of hymns and spiritual songs. Mike Janzen is also one of this country's top orchestral arrangers, deemed “brilliant” by Holly Harris (Winnipeg Free Press). Janzen’s orchestra show, Reimagining Broadway, debuted in 2014 with Sarah Slean and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. He also heads up the Mike Janzen Trio, which features world-class musicians George Koller and Davide DiRenzo and delivers an energetic sound that melds folk, jazz, and gospel. He currently is working on Psalms Vol. 3 as well as The Manna Sessions, a project featuring diverse original songs revolving around themes of redemption, provision, and times of waiting http://mikejanzentrio.com