Canada Ireland Talk Event

St. Brigid’s Day and Imbolc Celebration of Women

A celebration of Imbolc and St. Brigid's Day

Thu. January 29, 2026 | The Chelsea Hotel

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Event Overview

In honour of St. Brigid’s Day and Imbolc Celebration, the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Toronto and the Canada Ireland Foundation invites you to an inspiring evening. Rooted in the spirit of St. Brigid and Imbolc - a symbol of creativity, enterprise, and renewal - this event celebrates women who are leading change, driving progress, and building meaningful impact across sectors. The evening's panelists are: Weyni Mengesha, acclaimed director and former Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre; Eithne Heffernan, a lifelong leader in Irish-Canadian community life and former Honorary Consul of Ireland; and Claire Fitzgibbon, Consul General of Ireland in Toronto. The discussion will be moderated by Natalie Davey - writer, producer and co-founder of Ceres Productions. See details below. The evening will also include networking opportunities, offering space to connect with professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders from across the Ireland–Canada community.  This is an all-inclusive event, and we welcome both members and non‑members, as well as all genders, however you identify. Join us for an evening of conversation, connection, and inspiration. The Canada Ireland Foundation community has access to Member ticket prices using the code CIF2026 at checkout.
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Weyni Mengesha headshot

Weyni Mengesha

Panelist

A celebrated stage and screen director, Weyni is known for her groundbreaking artistic work and deep commitment to community. She previously served as Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre and has directed acclaimed productions including Da Kink in My Hair, Kim’s Convenience, and Treemonisha, with work staged across Toronto, London, NYC, and LA. Her artistry has earned nominations from the NAACP, the Dora Awards, the Drama League, and the LA Drama Critics Circle. A dedicated educator and mentor, she has supported youth arts initiatives and platforms for emerging Ethiopian and Eritrean artists. Born in Vancouver and raised in Scarborough, Weyni continues to shape Canada’s cultural landscape with purpose. For the theme of this event, Weyni represents the arts.
Eithne Heffernan photo

Eithne Heffernan

Panelist

Born in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, Eithne has spent her life championing Irish‑Canadian community leadership. A former teacher and touring harpist, she later served as Director of Programmes at the Ontario Science Centre and managed two Toronto animal hospitals. A founding member of the ICCCTO and the Canadian Folk Harp Association, she has held leadership roles across numerous Irish organizations, including the Ireland Funds and the Irish Immigration and Benevolent Societies. Eithne also served as Honorary Consul of Ireland to Toronto and has been recognized as St. Patrick’s Parade Grand Marshal, Irish Person of the Year, and with honours from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s College. For the theme of this event, Eithne represents Civic Life.
Claire Fitzgibbon headshot

Claire Fitzgibbon

Panelist

Claire Fitzgibbon is the second Consul General of Ireland in Toronto. Prior to her arrival in Canada in September 2025, she spent over a decade in Washington DC, where she worked at the Embassy of Ireland and later at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. She previously served at Ireland’s Embassies in Cairo (accredited to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Sudan), and Luxembourg. At the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, she served in the Middle East Unit, EU Division and Protocol Division, and was also seconded to the Secretariat of the International Fund for Ireland. She has also worked at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations in New York, as well as Ireland’s missions to the UN in New York and Geneva. Claire holds a Master’s Degree in European Studies from the University of Exeter & Institutes d’Etudes Politiques de Rennes. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and French from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. A native of County Kildare, Claire has spent many St. Brigid’s days weaving St. Brigid’s crosses and selling them to raise money for charity.
Natalie Davey photo

Natalie Davey

Moderator

Natalie is a writer, producer, and co‑founder of Ceres Productions, where she creates deeply human, research‑driven stories for screen and audio. A professor and longtime educator, she brings a fresh interdisciplinary lens to storytelling that has helped forge new creative partnerships with Dublin City University and the University of Galway. Her work spans children’s media, educational research, and narrative development. She has written for Chatelaine and Today’s Parent, authored the WizKids series — now moving into live‑action production — and published Finding Joy, a book exploring relational approaches to education. Ceres Productions’ short film adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s “WritOr” is currently in post‑production, and Natalie also co‑hosts the company’s podcast Reframeables, now nearing its 100th episode.

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