Hi there!
My names Kate, one of your two cohosts for our new podcast, Luma & Bloom!
A little bit about me…
Growing up I loved playing sports. If I wasn’t on the court, you could find me with my nose in a book, or busy studying for the next big test. As I got older, my love for basketball and volleyball grew larger than the rest, and I started to pursue playing more competitively. After playing in University, I decided it was time to call it quits after I had suffered multiple concussions over the years, and the impacts they were having on my everyday life were becoming more apparent.
I’ve always had a love for people, and I knew I wanted to find a career where I could help others. I didn’t quite know where that would take me, but psychology had fascinated me, so I decided to get my degree in Psychology and Criminology.
Throughout my life, I was lucky enough to have strong, supportive role models to look up to, including my mom, and grandma. When the opportunity to work for them at The Joy Smith Foundation came up, I know all the pieces were falling into place. The Joy Smith Foundation is an organization my grandma founded, and has become Canada’s leading authority on human trafficking intervention and prevention.
Working for the Foundation has truly been one of the greatest gifts in my life. Every single day I wake up knowing that I am surrounded by some of the most courageous and intelligent individuals. Not only that, but it’s what brought Nicole, your other cohost, and myself together!
Never in my life did I think I’d be hosting a podcast, but I couldn’t be more excited for this new journey!
Hi There My name is Nic!
I have had the privilege of working with the Joy Smith Foundation for 4 years. In that time I have been involved in programming and also have the honour of working with some very incredible individuals.
I met the esteemed Joy Smith at a presentation she was delivering on Human Trafficking where I had my own “Luma Moment” in realizing I, myself, was in fact trafficked. At that point in my life, I had thought I had been the victim of an extremely narcissistically abusive relationship. The freedom I experienced in understanding my situation at that time was not my fault completely liberated me.
I now work tirelessly in the fight against Human Trafficking alongside these Warriors and Champions I now call colleagues, but they have also become my family.
Aside from my passion and advocacy for the Foundation, my love of fashion and beauty has evolved over the years. I frequently have the opportunity to be part of weddings as a makeup artist for the better part of 10 years and its been a wild and beautiful experience. Working at a local fashion boutique has also helped develop my style creativity and allowed me to continue to play “dress-up” well into my adult years. Styling outfits for women or doing their makeup is always a beautiful opportunity to encourage them and help them feel beautiful and empowered, and it has given me an immense amount of joy.
Recently My Husband Warren and I, celebrated a 10 year wedding anniversary with our 4 beautiful children. Strangely enough, growing up in the country with a deeply agricultural upbringing, I vowed I would never marry a farmer, but here we are 10 years later with no regrets. Our home life is often a little crazy being full of farming, hockey, band, piano lessons, and our love of all things outdoors but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Even though I feel as if I have accomplished many great and admirable things throughout my life, one of my greatest achievements is being a wife and a mother.
The Joy Smith Foundation works to provide access to information so that every Canadian man, woman and child is educated and empowered to stay safe from manipulation, force, or abuse of power designed to lure and exploit them in the sex trade or forced labour.
