About the village
Welcome
The village: a place of healing, peace & unity
history
The village: a place of healing, peace & unity
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, we looked for a solution with a lasting impact. We are building communities – gathering spaces – where people of African Descent experience a strong sense of belonging. Regardless of skin colour, economic and social status, culture and religion, civil and political orientation, every member of The Village will experience true peace – a true, lasting, and sustainable progression towards justice, compassion, and full participation of all members of the community in every aspect of society.
The Village of Peace is an independent, not-for-profit that promotes the mental health and well-being of people of African descent with services that create gathering spaces, design trauma-informed, anti-racism curricula; certify community healers, health coaches, and psychotherapists as Trauma Recovery Specialists; and support the success of Black entrepreneurs.
God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
- Genesis 15:13
Our Mission
What makes us different
The Village of Peace is an independent, not-for-profit founded to create a culturally safe healing environment for people of African descent, where generational harm can be shared and healed with our Truth, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation process, as we engage members of the community in defining the changes needed to end racism and oppression in all its forms.
To empower people of African Descent to unify and transform our environments to be inclusive and culturally safe.
To unite, educate and mobilize people of African Descent across generations to heal and become the collective transforming voice ending historical racial oppression and garner sustainable change for current and future generations.
We serve students, community members, Black entrepreneurs and individuals in healing professions such as; nursing, psychotherapy, social work, and teaching in Canada.
We're Creating An Army of Peacemakers
An 18-month certificate program to certify community healers, health coaches, and psychotherapists as Trauma Recovery Specialists.
We're Doing Forgiveness
We believe forgiveness is very much an action that we must engage in before we can experience true healing and breakthrough.
We're Building Black Businesses
Our goal is to help position black business owners as servant leaders in the African diaspora to ensure prosperity in our community.
We're Creating An Army of Peacemakers
An 18-month certificate program to certify community healers, health coaches, and psychotherapists as Trauma Recovery Specialists.
We're Doing Forgiveness
We believe forgiveness is very much an action that we must engage in before we can experience true healing and breakthrough.
We're Building Black Businesses
Our goal is to help position black business owners as servant leaders in the African diaspora to ensure prosperity in our community.
New Program!
Smashing The Mirror
We're passionate about helping a generation overcome their traumas and fearlessly pursue a happy, healthy, purpose-filled life!
Smashing The Mirror is a 22-week trauma-informed, anti-racism, secondary school curriculum that contributes to the elimination of racism and racial discrimination in Canadian public schools. The program aims to address systemic racial barriers, conduct research to support the integration of health in education, and foster cultural and intercultural community building.
Message from our Founder
The Village of Peace was founded with a great sense of hope at one of the most dramatic moments in the 21st century. The murder of George Floyd sent every person of African descent a devastating message. “Until you choose to empower and protect yourself, you will not be safe.”
We are purposefully creating a gathering space and calling people of African Descent to come in. We’re responding to our Nation’s need for safety and protection, a strong sense of belonging, and esteem in our community.
We’re healing the traumatic wounds connected to the enslavement experience and ending the traumatic responses that hinder our full participation in all aspects of Canadian life. We are providing mental health care delivered by people who look like us and who value our spiritual ways of being. We’re creating economic independence as we support black entrepreneurs by bringing to life their creative business ideas!
I’m excited about what the next 30 years will bring for our Nation. We are building a village that will allow us to return to ourselves and from the center of that village, we will erect a monument and send a message to the world “We forgive you, but this will never happen again!”
Welcome to the village of peace!
Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis
Founder, CEO
Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis
Founder, CEO
Dr. Joan is a leading trauma therapist in Canada with over 15 years experience treating depression, anxiety, PTSD and other trauma-related issues. She is the founder of Becoming Canada Inc. and The Village of Peace. Both organizations work in different capacities to promote the mental health and well-being of individuals, couples, and families.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from Western University and expertise in Mental Health Promotion. She holds a master’s in Community Health Nursing with a specialization in public health and community development. She is a trained trauma recovery therapist with a keen focus on repairing the effects of domestic and interpersonal violence.
She is the author of 490: Forgive and Live fearlessly, Forgive: Master The Art of Letting Go, and Becoming the Journey to Love. She is using her extensive background in trauma recovery and expertise in truth, forgiveness and reconciliation processes to tackle the effects of current and historical traumas on the mental health of the African Diaspora and other oppressed people across the globe.
Dr. Joan is passionate about providing her clients (individuals, families, organizations, communities) with both advice and a safe space to overcome challenges, reclaim their lives and become their own advocate for change.
Meet Our Board
Cynthia Dorrington
Cynthia Dorrington
Cynthia Dorrington is the President of Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc. Established in 2004, Vale & Associates is a boutique consulting firm specializing in providing strategy and advisory services as well as customized training and development for organizations. As President, Cynthia consults with small to medium-sized organizations across various industry sectors from start-ups, to businesses undergoing growth, to mergers/acquisitions with an emphasis on the strategic positioning of its human resources and managing change. She possesses expertise in organizational strategy, people strategy, equity, diversity and inclusion, supplier diversity, change management, governance, performance management, as well as HR advisory services has allowed Vale & Associates the opportunity to provide consulting services to a number of clients locally, nationally and internationally.
Aside from her Canadian business endeavours, Cynthia is a principal partner in an Australian business venture and balances her time strategically between her global work commitments and her various board commitments. Cynthia currently is the Chair of the Black Business Enterprise and Chairs of HR, Governance & Nominations Committees for Africville Heritage Trust, Halifax Hospice and Canadian Urban Institute. She is a member of the Governance and Finance and Audit Committees for VON Canada. Cynthia is a Commissioner on the board of the Nova Scotia Human Rights. Having recently completed her term as the Past Chair of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Cynthia has become a Life-Time Member of the Board of Governors for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.
Harriet Obodo
Harriet Obodo
Harriet Obodo has over 20 years of experience working in Labour Relations and Human Resources. These experiences span across the non-profit and private sectors. The early part of Harriet’s career was spent in the financial services sector, in the banking and insurance industry. She worked as frontline staff in Toronto shelters, groups, and long-term care homes before moving on to the settlement sector gaining invaluable knowledge of the issues that impact this sector.
Harriet is a certified human resources leader(CHRL) with the Human Resources Professional Association(HRPA) who has spent the last 12 years serving as a Strategic HR and Change Management Advisor to senior management and the board of directors. She describes herself as a people-centric change agent who inspires collaboration to effect the positive adoption of change to enhance performance and efficiency. Harriet Obodo has a degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Lagos, and certificates in Labour Relations, Business Analysis and Health and Safety and I’m a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Continuing Education program in Human Resources Management.
In the words of Harriet, “I take a hands-on approach to leadership drawing on my experience and skills to drive collaboration and consensus. I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places and cultures. I am also an avid reader with a love for biographies of inspirational leaders, oh and I must add I love to laugh a lot.”
Peter Akarakiri
Peter Akarakiri
As a service to the African community in Kamloops, B.C., Peter is the President of the African-Canadian Heritage Association of Kamloops (ACHAK). The mission of ACHAK is to connect African-based people in Kamloops, execute programs that better integrate African/ black groups and advocate for impact-driven contributions into our community.
In his day job, Peter is the Founder/CEO of Arabellsoft Inc., a remote software development company with a specialty in developing web-based software. He is also a family man, Software Engineer with 15+ years experience. He has designed, developed and launched projects in industries including Aerospace, Public Transportation, Market Research, Robotics and Public Safety, among others. He is grateful to have lived and worked across multiple continents including Africa, Europe and North America.
Peter Akarakiri, MSc. in Artificial Intelligence (with Distinction)
Founder/CEO, Arabellsoft Inc. | (778) 765-3633 | peter@arabellsoft.com | arabellsoft.com
Kimone Gustav
Kimone Gustav
From a very young age, Kimone Gustave has taken notice of individuals who are treated differently and tried to bridge the gap. She has worked in the social services field for over 13 years serving children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities in the school setting, day programs, as well as residential settings. Kimone completed her studies in Developmental Services and Addictions and Community Service at Algonquin college. She is passionate about helping individuals see and reach their highest potential. She has over 20 years of volunteer experience in many organizations that are dedicated to providing for the essential needs of lower-income and homeless individuals.
Soniel Gordon
Soniel Gordon
Soniel Gordon is the founder of Sunny Boy Farm, a company that aims to provide accessible and healthy food options to the community at reduced prices. Gordon has a strong sense of community and a desire to help others, as demonstrated by his upbringing in Jamaica where “it takes a village to raise a child” and his dedication to supporting his family at a young age.
He has also demonstrated determination and resilience, working multiple jobs while excelling in school despite facing challenges and overcoming depression. Gordon’s personal
experiences and passion for farming have shaped his business and make him a unique and qualified leader for Sunny Boy Farm.
In addition to his personal experiences and passion for farming, Soniel Gordon has also developed a range of skills and qualifications that make him well-suited to lead Sunny Boy
Farm. These may include his knowledge of organic farming methods, his ability to cultivate and harvest a variety of crops, and his experience managing a farm business. He may also
have strong communication and leadership skills, as well as a deep understanding of the
local farming community and the needs of his customers. Gordon’s dedication to the health and well-being of the community and his commitment to providing high-quality products make him a valuable asset to Sunny Boy Farm.
Gathering Spaces
Building Capacity To Serve Black Canadians
Uniting people across healing professions to bring truth, forgiveness, and reconciliation to a generation.
