Name: What We Carry
Start: 2026-10-20T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-10-20T21:00:00-04:00
Location: Black Swan Tavern

About the Evening

Everyone brings something with them. Not all of it was theirs to carry.

What We Carry is the second edition of The Intercultural Exchange, a live storytelling series in Toronto. Five speakers each take ten minutes to tell one true story from their own life — about family, work, identity, and the distance between where they started and where they are now.

These aren't keynotes and they aren't panels. Nobody is selling anything from the stage. They're stories, told once, in a room small enough that you can see the speaker's face.

Near the end of the night the stage turns around. Story Crossing is our audience segment: scan a QR code when you arrive, and a few names are drawn to come up and tell a two-minute story of their own. Some of the best moments of the first event came from people who had no idea they'd be speaking when they walked in.

A storyteller on stage at the Black Swan Tavern during Love Beyond Borders, the first Intercultural Exchange event — Love Beyond Borders, our first edition, April 2026 at the Black Swan Tavern.

Speakers

The storytellers taking the stage

Vivian Meraki

Award-winning Human Connection Speaker · Founder of The Aliveness Journey · Best-selling Author

Her Story

The Inheritance We Don’t Keep

Vivian's work has circled one question for twenty-five years: which of the stories we inherit do we agree to keep? On October 20 she brings one of her own.

Vivian Meraki is an award-winning Human Connection Speaker, founder of The Aliveness Journey, and bestselling author whose work explores the intersection of neuroscience, human behaviour, and the stories we inherit across generations. With a background in Biological Sciences and a Master's in Intercultural and International Communication, she has spent more than 25 years working in healthcare, with the United Nations, Fortune 500 organizations, and high-growth health-tech companies, helping people navigate change, connection, and wellbeing.

Today, Vivian brings together science, lived experience, and powerful storytelling to help people bridge the gap between knowing what needs to change and actually living it. Her work has reached hundreds of thousands through national television, speaking stages, coaching, and her bestselling book, Parenting Through Divorce. Whether she's speaking about families, leadership, or generational patterns, Vivian invites audiences to rethink the stories they've inherited and choose the legacy they want to leave behind.

Doyin Abitoye

Certified Life & Career Coach · HR Professional · Author · Immigrant Storyteller

Her Story

What I Carried Across the Ocean

“The problem was never our voices. The problem was the beliefs that taught us to hide them.” Doyin has spent years helping other people unlearn that. This is where it started for her.

Doyin Abitoye is a Certified Life and Career Coach, Human Resources professional, and author of Shush! Simple, Relatable Ways to Silence Limiting Beliefs Through Stories, Affirmations, and Reflective Journaling.

As a first-generation immigrant who moved to Canada, Doyin understands the complexities of rebuilding, rediscovering, and redefining oneself in a new environment. She combines her lived experience, HR expertise, and passion for personal development to empower individuals, particularly immigrant professional women, to overcome self-doubt, embrace their strengths, and confidently step into their purpose.

Through her coaching, writing, and speaking, Doyin creates spaces where people can reflect, grow, and recognize the power of their own stories. Her work is rooted in the belief that we do not have to lose who we are in order to become who we are meant to be.

Outside of coaching and speaking, Doyin enjoys spending time with her supportive family, including her husband and two sons, and expressing her creativity through baking and cake decorating.

Doyin’s mission is to inspire others to silence the limiting beliefs that hold them back, embrace their voice, and create meaningful impact in their communities.

JungSook “Jay S” Lim

Experience Design Leader · Life and Career Coach · Storyteller

Her Story

Why I Waited Until 54 to Use My Voice

For years, JungSook believed staying quiet was the right thing to do. In this deeply personal story, she explores what we carry across cultures and generations, and what finally gives us permission to use our own voice.

Jung Sook “Jay S” Lim is a Korean Canadian Experience Design Leader, Life and Career Coach, and storyteller. Having spent nearly half her life in Korea and half in Canada, she has experienced firsthand how culture, language, and expectations shape our identity and our sense of belonging. Although she has spent decades leading teams and presenting in boardrooms, this is her first time stepping onto a public storytelling stage to share a deeply personal story about finding her voice—and what we carry across cultures and generations.

Shehzad Qureshi

ADHD Coach · Speaker · Founder of Shehzad Qureshi Coaching & Consulting

His Story

What I Choose to Carry Forward

Some of what we carry is inherited. Some of it we picked up along the way without noticing. And some of it, once we can finally see it clearly, we get to choose. Shehzad's story is about telling the difference.

Shehzad Qureshi is an ADHD Coach, speaker, and founder of Shehzad Qureshi Coaching & Consulting. A lifelong learner, engineer, business leader, and advocate for neurodiversity, Shehzad brings together over 25+ years of experience in engineering, consulting, technology, and leadership with his personal journey of discovering his own ADHD later in life.

Shehzad is also a freelance Workplace Support Coach with Specialisterne Canada, where he supports neurodivergent professionals in achieving their goals and thriving in the workplace. Through coaching, speaking, and community work, Shehzad helps individuals better understand themselves, build effective systems, navigate emotions, and embrace the strengths that come from thinking differently.

Karen Craggs-Milne

Award-winning global leadership and inclusion strategist

Recognized as a 2026 Leader to Watch and an Obama White House Changemaker, Karen Craggs-Milne is an award-winning global leadership and inclusion strategist with more than 25 years of experience spanning 75 countries and 150 organizations. She helps leaders build BEST IN CLASS™ organizations by harnessing the voices and perspectives others overlook.

Kenyan-born and shaped by Indian, British, East African, and Canadian cultures, Karen moved to Canada at 19 to attend university and went on to build a life and global career across cultures. She brings warmth, humour, and hard-won wisdom to the question at the heart of this evening: What do we carry, and what are we ready to put down?

Flow of the Evening

How the night runs

6:30 PM

Doors open

Come up, get a drink, find a seat. The bar at the Black Swan is open throughout. Scan the Story Crossing QR code on your way in if you'd like a chance to tell a story of your own.

7:00 PM

Five storytellers, ten minutes each

Host John Edward McGraw opens the night, and the speakers take the stage in turn, with a short break partway through.

Before We Close

Story Crossing

A few names are drawn from everyone who scanned in, and those people get two minutes on the same stage. No preparation, no slides, no pressure to be polished.

Around 9:00 PM

Stay and talk

The formal programme ends near nine and the room stays open. This is where the conversations happen. No rush to leave.

Read This First

Two things you should know before you decide

Filming

This event is filmed. We record What We Carry on video and in photographs, and the cameras cover the audience as well as the stage. If you're in the room you may appear in the footage, and by coming you're agreeing to that. The full notice is below.

Getting in

IMPORTANT: Please review the venue access information before purchasing your ticket.

We recognize that this venue has significant accessibility limitations and that, as a result, some people may not be able to attend. We regret this exclusion. We want to be transparent about these barriers before tickets are purchased and offer as much information and support as we can within the limitations of the space.

The event room is on the second floor and can be reached only by stairs. There is no elevator, lift or step-free route. The nearest washrooms are on the third floor, approximately 12 to 14 additional steps above the event room. There is no washroom on the event floor or at street level.

If you have questions about the venue or would like to discuss an accessibility need before purchasing, please contact John at info@johnedwardmcgraw.com. The full notice is below.

Early Access

Buy a full day before everyone else

Tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday September 9. If you're on this list, you get a link on the morning of Tuesday September 8 and can buy at the early bird price while the best seats are still there. The room holds 95 people. Early bird is $45 for the first twenty seats, and it ends on September 22 even if seats are left. Regular admission is $60. Both prices are all in, with no booking fees added at checkout.

Get early access

Two fields, and one email on the morning of September 8. The newsletter is optional.

Also send me The Intercultural Exchange newsletter. Occasional notes on the series, future events and how to take part. Separate from this event, and you can leave at any time.

IMPORTANT: Please review the venue access information before purchasing your ticket. Read the full venue access information This event is filmed. Cameras cover the audience as well as the stage. Read the full filming notice.

You're on the list. Watch for an email on the morning of September 8 with your early access link.

We'll email you about What We Carry, and nothing else unless you tick the box above. Unsubscribe any time.

Early Access Is Open

Today only, before public sales open tomorrow

You're one day ahead of everyone else. Early bird is $45 for the first twenty seats and ends September 22, regular admission is $60, and the room holds 95.

Tickets

Ninety-five seats, one night

Early bird is $45 and runs until the first twenty seats are gone, or until September 22, whichever comes first. Regular admission is $60.

Early Bird

$45

First twenty seats
Ends September 22

Regular

$60

After the first twenty

Both prices are all in. No booking fees are added at checkout.

IMPORTANT: Please review the venue access information before purchasing your ticket. We recognize that this venue has significant accessibility limitations and that, as a result, some people may not be able to attend. We regret this exclusion. We want to be transparent about these barriers before tickets are purchased and offer as much information and support as we can within the limitations of the space.

The event room is on the second floor and can be reached only by stairs. There is no elevator, lift or step-free route. The nearest washrooms are on the third floor, approximately 12 to 14 additional steps above the event room. There is no washroom on the event floor or at street level.

If you have questions about the venue or would like to discuss an accessibility need before purchasing, please contact John at info@johnedwardmcgraw.com. Read the full venue access information.

This event is filmed. Cameras cover the audience as well as the stage. Read the full filming notice.

Get Your Ticket on Eventbrite

Sales close Monday October 19. At the door is $60, cash only, and only if we're not sold out. Bringing a group or need a seat held? Email info@johnedwardmcgraw.com.

Venue

Black Swan Tavern

154 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N1 · Second floor

In Toronto's east end, a short walk from Broadview station on the TTC. The upstairs room is small on purpose: close enough that you can see the speaker's face, relaxed enough that people actually talk to each other afterwards.

The bar is open throughout the evening and drinks are available for purchase.

The event room is on the second floor and can be reached only by stairs. Read the venue access information below before you book.

The First Edition

Love Beyond Borders sold out. This is what it looked like.

In April 2026 four speakers told stories about love across cultures at the Black Swan. If you want to know what kind of night this is before you commit to one, start here.

See the full Love Beyond Borders page

Your Host

John Edward McGraw

Multicultural Workplace Expert · 2x TEDx Speaker · Founder, The Intercultural Exchange

John created The Intercultural Exchange because he's lived these stories himself. Canadian, married to an Argentine woman of Japanese heritage, with parents who met while teaching in Nigeria, he has spent his career helping leaders and teams turn cultural differences into strengths.

JohnEdwardMcGraw.com

Filming

Filming and photography at this event

This event is being filmed and photographed. Please read this before you buy a ticket.

What We Carry is being recorded on video and in still photographs on the night. Two camera teams will be working: a videographer and photographer engaged by John Edward McGraw, and a crew from a broadcast and streaming partner producing a series based on The Intercultural Exchange.

Cameras cover the stage and they cover the room. That includes wide shots of the audience, close-ups of audience reactions, and people arriving, talking and moving through the venue. If you're in the room, you may appear in the footage and the photographs, and you may be recognisable.

By buying a ticket and by entering the venue, you agree that John Edward McGraw and our broadcast partner may each film, record and photograph you, and may edit, copy, publish, broadcast, stream and distribute that material, in whole or in part, in any medium, anywhere in the world, with no time limit. Each owns what their own cameras record, and John Edward McGraw may also license his material to media partners on the same terms.

The material may be used to:

broadcast and stream the evening as part of a series
promote this event and future events in The Intercultural Exchange
appear on John Edward McGraw's website, social media channels, newsletters and speaking materials
support press and media coverage of the series
form part of the permanent archive of the series

You won't be paid for appearing in them, and you won't be asked to approve the finished material before it's used.

If you'd rather not appear on camera

Tell us in advance and we'll seat you away from where the cameras are focused. The room is small and there's a wide shot, so we can't promise you won't appear at all. Email John at info@johnedwardmcgraw.com before the event.

If you're bringing someone under the age of majority, you're giving this consent on their behalf as their parent or guardian.

Story Crossing works differently. During that segment, audience members sign up on the night to share on stage, and the permission they give is separate and narrower than this one. This notice covers you as a member of the audience. It doesn't put you on stage and it doesn't ask you to share anything.

If you have questions about the filming, email info@johnedwardmcgraw.com before the event, or speak to a member of the team at the door on the night.

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Venue Access

Accessing the event

We recognize that this venue has significant accessibility limitations and that, as a result, some people may not be able to attend. We regret this exclusion. We want to be transparent about these barriers before tickets are purchased and offer as much information and support as we can within the limitations of the space.

What We Carry will take place on the second floor of the Black Swan Tavern at 154 Danforth Avenue.

The event room can be reached only by stairs. There is no elevator, lift or step-free route to the room.

There is no washroom on the event floor or at street level. The nearest washrooms are on the third floor, approximately 12 to 14 steps above the event room. Additional washrooms are located in the basement.

We are providing this information before tickets are purchased so that you can determine whether the venue will meet your access needs.

Accessibility information and assistance

If you have questions about the stairs, seating, lighting, sound, timing, washrooms or room layout—or would like to discuss another accessibility need—please contact John at info@johnedwardmcgraw.com.

We will discuss your individual requirements with you and explore what arrangements may be possible within the limitations of the venue. You do not need to disclose a diagnosis or personal medical information. We may ask what arrangement or support would help you participate.

A team member familiar with the venue will be available at the entrance during guest arrival. Team members can provide directions and information about the venue but are not trained to provide physical mobility assistance on the stairs.

Seating

If you require a particular seating location, please contact us in advance. We will work with you to identify suitable seating, such as an aisle seat or a location near the front, back or stairs, subject to the room layout and safety requirements. There is no additional charge for an accessibility-related seating arrangement.

The event is filmed and photographed throughout. If you'd rather not appear on camera, tell us in advance and we'll seat you away from where the cameras are focused. The room is small and there's a wide shot, so we can't promise you won't appear at all.

Support persons and interpreters

Disability-related support persons, interpreters and intervenors are welcome and will not be charged for admission. Please contact us in advance so that we can reserve appropriate seating.

Live captioning, ASL interpretation and other interpretation services are not currently scheduled for this event. If you require communication support, please contact us as early as possible so that we can discuss your requirements and explore available options.

Online access

This event will not be livestreamed, and there is no online participation option for this edition.

Refunds

If you purchase a ticket and later determine that the venue or available arrangements will not meet your accessibility needs, contact us at any time before the program begins on the event day. We will provide a full refund without requiring you to disclose a diagnosis or personal medical information.

Emergency information

Because there is no step-free route from the event room, attendees who may require assistance during an emergency are encouraged to contact us before purchasing a ticket. We will provide the available venue emergency information and discuss your individual needs. Event staff cannot lift, carry or physically transfer attendees.

Future events

Step-free access to the event space and washrooms will be prioritized when selecting venues for future editions.

For accessibility questions, accommodation requests or information in another format, please contact:

John McGraw
info@johnedwardmcgraw.com

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