Keynote Speaker
Hon. Marion Dewar, C.M., LL.D., R.N., B.Sc.N., D.U. 
: Received into the Order of Canada in 2002, Hon. Dewar was the Mayor of Ottawa, Canada, from 1978 to 1985, and a member of the Parliament of Canada from 1986 to 1988. She was City Alderman from 1972 to1974, the Deputy Mayor of Ottawa from 1974 to 1978. Among the policy areas she emphasized were improved public access to municipal decision-making, low-cost housing and child care. She co-hosted the Women's Constitutional Conference calling for gender equality provisions in the Canadian Charter of Rights. Under her mayoralty, Ottawa was declared a nuclear-free zone and provided homes to some 4000 Southeast Asian refugees. Hon. Dewar was the Executive Director of the Canadian Council on Children and Youth from 1989 to 1992 and in 1995 the National Chair of Oxfam Canada, an organization created in 1963 and based on Oxfam International that seeks to reduce international poverty and create self-sustaining communities. She became the president of the New Democratic Party in 1985. She also was the Chair of the Regional Police Services Board in 1990. She was awarded with a degree in Health Sciences by University of Ottawa and LL.D. in Public Administration in 2000 by Carleton University for her outstanding contributions in those fields. In 2004, Canadian women historians established Marion Dewar Prize in Canadian Women's History in her honour.
Special Recognition
Meagan McGrath: Mountaineer and Aerospace Engineer 
:Meagan is an aspiring Aerospace Engineer, Captain McGrath is the first Canadian Forces member, and the youngest Canadian woman, to successfully climb the “Seven Summits”--the highest peaks on each continent--Everest, Kosciuszko, Vinson, Elbrus, McKinley, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro. In May 2007, she came to the world’s attention when she was recognized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association for helping to save the life of a climber on Mount Everest. Since 2005, she has been posted with the Canadian Forces Air Force Experimentation Centre. In December 2007, she will head to Indonesia in an attempt to climb Carstenz Pyramid, the 8th Seven Summit. She is also currently training for the Marathon des Sables, a six-day endurance race across the Sahara Desert.
Other Stage Actors
Donna Lea, M.Sc.: Sister School Project 
: Born in the small town of Salamanca, New York, Donna obtained Bachelor of Education degree from Geneseo State College, New York and Master of Education from University of Illinois. Having specialized in elementary education, Ms. Lea embarked a long career in teaching and served school districts in Maine, Florida, New York, and Illinois. She taught for thirty five years in Fisher, Illinois and retired in 1999. Having spent her youth in the pastoral surroundings of Western New York, she carried affinity for rural living and managed to live as such. She has been doing considerable travel in later years of her teaching career and born out of this mindset was a sister-school project between her school and a school in Baglung, Nepal. When developing this project, she was attracted by the remoteness, rural setting of Sarkuwa for it presented the type of challenge she was looking for. Married to Tom, who was serving in the military at the time and who later chose a teaching career of his own, she is a frequent traveler to Nepal and continues to be a part of the Sarkuwa Sister School Project even after her retirement. Tom and Donna have one daughter, Sherie and two granddaughters, Jessica and Meaghan. Along with their son in law, Mark, the entire family has become involved with various projects in Nepal.
Thomas Lea Jr., M.Sc.: Sister-School Project 
: A 20 years veteran of US Airforce, Tom retired in 1980 as a Master Sergeant and with two AAS degrees, one in Automotive Technology and the other in Aircraft Powerplant Maintenance. He then went on to complete B.S. Honors in Arts Education and M.S. Education both from University of Illinois. He them began a new career as a teacher in Computers, Computer Programming, Data Processing, and, not-surprisingly, Automotive Technology and Technology Education. He also worked as a Cooperating Teacher at Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Illinois. During his stay as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Department of Vocational Education Research at the University of Illinois, he worked on software and hardware evaluation, acquisition, installation, and set-up for various projects and for the department. He also set up the state-wide bulletin board for the State Department of Fisheries, and wrote the instruction manual for its use. Frequent traveler of Nepal, he was instrumental in providing support for Fisher-Sarkuwa Sister School Project embarked by his wife, Donna Lea.
Susan Maskey: Nepalese Singer 
: Susan Maskey is an accomplished Nepali singer who, in the early 1980s, was a lead singer in a band that was promoting democracy and raising voices against autocracy through its music. She took the audience with great emotions by her brilliant performances then and carries the same talents but only in a more refined and sophisticated level. She feels great in realizing that her daughter, Astha Tamang Maskey, a young and aspiring singer, has also emerged as a well-known figure in the music scene of Toronto.
Susan along with her friend Anju Chettri, established a bi-monthly magazine for women, Asmita, in 1988 while she was completing their Masters in History at Tribhuvan University when they struck upon the idea of publishing a magazine. The duo took up the responsibility of addressing an issue that's usually been locked behind the rigid walls of our patriarchal society. At a time and era when women all over the world can proudly walk shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, women in Nepal continue to be deprived of basic human rights, face gender discrimination and such were the issues Asmita wanted to unveil. When Asmita hit the stands its readership grew quickly and the staff size grew from two founders to a team of 20 employees. Later it expanded to provide literacy resource material for the International sector about Nepali women and in organising workshops and in providing informal education ot women. Asmita has played a vital role in making women's human rights issues more public and has been the single great source for providing information regarding women and gender issues.
Asmita has moved beyond the power of print and provided information and reading material in simple language and sketches, thus uplifting thousands of women in the grass root level. They've also published another magazine Sahachari, that has grown to be very popular in literacy classes conducted in rural areas by different organizations. Their advent into electronic media, with a weekly program called Asmita Radio Magazine Shakti (broadcast on Radio Sagarmatha FM) and providing consultancy and training programs, Asmita can now be considered a well rounded organization genuinely committed towards empowering women in every aspect.
Brian Sanderson: Project Radio Free Nepal 
: Brian is a songsmith, teacher and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Rupert, Quebec. He has been involved with music on stage, in theatre and dance and on film at home and abroad for more than 15 years and has been instrumental in the creation of one of Canada's most prolific community recording labels (Backlash Recordings - Peterborough, Ontario) and is Co-Director of Radio Free Networks, an Internet radio service. As an instrumentalist, Brian has worked with a diverse range of artists including Grier Coppins, Pat Temple, David Torkanowsky, Rob Wannamaker and Catfish Willie. He was a member of the wellknown Peterborough band, The Silver Hearts and has released four solo recordings. Most recently he created a soundtrack for the film, "Business as Usual" by Joe Hiscott which has been screened at more than 30 film festivals internationally in the past year. His score for "Vanishing Currents", a play by the Caravan Stage Company recently completed its second season on European stages. Mr. Sanderson has two daughters.
Steve McNabb: Project Radio Free Nepal 
: Co-Director of Radio Free Network, and a long time technology and music enthusiast, Steve is an Engineering Director and 11-year veteran of the Canadian IT Industry - a dramatic shift from his Honours Degree in History from Trent University. Steve runs, as its Co-Director, the Radio Free Network in pursuit of empowering grassroots community development organizations so they could take control of their own voices using Free Software and Internet Radio technologies using low-capital community owned-controlled-and-driven broadcast initiatives. He has recently embarked on a project (http://radiofreenepal.com) in partnership with the CFFN and Dr Pramod Dhakal, with a hope to produce a new breed of youth who use their creative energy to produce programs for community empowerment. Steve's technology interests include designing and building software, database-driven development, Internet media broadcasting and rich-media environments. Steve is also President/CEO of Mentorplex Inc. & Communityplex.com, which supports and sponsors community radio projects through its online community platform and by providing free of charge support, hosting and bandwidth.
Astha Tamang Maskey (Astha): Performing Artist - Singer 
: An young and aspiring artist, Astha Tamang Maskey (Astha), is ascertained to live a life of a professional artist. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, in a family with musical talents with her mother Susan being a lead singer in a popular musical group in the 1980s, Astha moved to Toronto, Canada, in 2001 at the age of 12. Although leaving her familiar surroundings and plunging into a new culture at that age was not an easy sail, she discovered new opportunities and discovered her own inner potentials amidst this change. She quickly discovered her musical talents and blossomed in the art-friendly ambiance of Toronto. Her inner characters were formed and she soon came to like her true self - the happiest self - as a singer, a songwriter, and a performer.
She was 13 years old when I first picked up the guitar, 14 when she wrote her first song, and 15 when she performed one of her very own compositions on stage. Now with over 20 songs credited to her, she is well known in the music scene of Toronto. A young woman with a vibrant personality and amazing talent for singing, Astha has worked with more two dozen musicians, performed at as many venues, and is destined to make a mark in Canada.
Astha is a person with admirable level of social consciousness. She feels strongly for the children and the youth around the world who are presented with an environment where they cannot realize their true potential, and constantly asks from within “what can I do to alter this?” However, her journey continues in search of her answers. She defines her life and her aspirations through her music and draws strength and hope through it. Each and every one of her songs hold a special meaning to her, and music has given her the means for sharing emotions, thoughts, and messages of hope with the rest of the world through her music. You could learn more about her musical talents through her website: http://myspace.com/asthatm.
Robin Subba: Music and Technical Solutions : Robin is a long time music enthusiast and one of the most contributing members 
of the Nepalese community when it comes to cultural shows. A person with multiple talents, he is instrumental in coaching youth in music and dances and he carries talent for singing, and playing a variety of musical instruments. He also possesses strong knowledge of music systems and stage arrangements.
Rajendra Rana: Performing Artist - Nepalese Instruments : An agricultural scientist and researcher 
by profession with a PhD degree in agriculture, Rajendra is an amazingly talented coach and performer when it comes to cultural talents. He is the backbone of musical scene of the Nepalese community and a tireless volunteer.
Rupsi Kaushik: Performing Artist : Rupsi is only 10 years old now in 2007 but she amazed people with her talents even when she was 6 or 7. Her natural talent to pick up dance moves even when she was 3-4 years old has established herself as a future star through her admirable talents. And, she is lucky to have supportive parents who let her talents blossom in an unhindered environment.
Grishma Thapa: Performing Artist :Well how much an average high school student 
could write in the list of their accomplishments? Not much. But Grishma is a jewel of the Nepalese community who can inscribe the image of Nepal to any audience through her dances. The power of art is so pervasive that its description in words does no justice to it. Many young people try to be great on something but give up long before they reach a level of mastery. Grishma is one such person who goes great length to perfect her every moves and always win the tribute from the audience when she performs. On top she is an active volunteer of Canada Foundation for Nepal and Nepalese Canadian Association of Ottawa. She has strong desire to be part of endeavors that help people in need and help charitable causes.
Geeta Thapa: Performing Artist 
: A member of the Executive Board of the Canada Foundation for Nepal, Geeta had shown special talent for dance and music from early on in her life and continues to refine this art every passing day. An accomplished student, Geeta finds music to be therapeutic and enriching. She is pursuing Bachelor of Commerce degree at Carleton University of Canada and is also studying international business and economics to further strengthen her interests.
She volunteers in community organizations and donates her time and talent for fundraising activities. Consequently, she has performed in various stages and is a regular contributor to Nepalese Canadian Association of Ottawa. A prolific reader, she is beautiful, charming, articulate, and passionate about the causes of building a connected and equitable world, and says that art is an instrument for balancing the vitality of life.
Rasna Sherchan: Performing Artist : Pursuing Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, 
Rasna, has honour cards and merit certificates in dozens to demonstrate her achievements. A dynamic member of the Nepalese community in Ottawa, she is a prolific performer for various school activities. Having trained and obtained a certificate in Modern Dance in 1997, most of her talents in dancing were developed through constant devotion and practice. She uses dance as a source for generating positive energy for the body, mind and spirit. Consequently, she organizes her time to always find time for volunteering through dancing for charitable and social causes for organizations like Artscape Drama Club, Carleton University, Child Haven International, and Nepalese Canadian Association of Ottawa. Vibrant and beautiful, Rasna, believes in great finishing in everything she does.
Pramod Dhakal: Welcome Speaker :Pramod is a Manager of Product Development
at EION Inc. and a Consultant at Nortel Networks, both companies specializing in telecommunications. He is also the Executive Director of Canada Foundation for Nepal. He completed his B.Eng. degree from Indian Institute of Technology, India in 1988, a M.Sc. degree in 1994, and a Ph. D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in 1999. His research interests are process automation, distributed computing, and application of telecommunication technology for the economic transformation of developing countries. He carries varied experience from the industry and academia through his successfully executed roles as teacher, developer, analyst, architect, consultant, and manager mostly in software, telecommunication systems, and engineering research. In these roles, he has successfully carried out exclusive research and development endeavors for organizations known to lead the world in the field of research and innovation. There are two industrial patents, more than two dozen internal publications, more than a dozen engineering publications, and more than a dozen well received writings on socio-economic issues to his credit. Besides his strong academic performances, Dr Dhakal carries significant people skills, involves in various social endeavors, and writes on social issues on newspapers and magazines as a conscious citizen of the world. He was also a faculty member and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Alys Muckart: Master of Ceremony : Alys was the Executive Secretary of the Canada 
Forum for Nepal and a tireless humanitarian. A retired nurse, she had a long and distinguished career in the Canadian hearth care system. In the journey of her spiritual quest she found refuge in Buddhism and became drawn to many causes of Tibet and also rose to become the president of the Canada Tibet Committee. Her hard work, good ethics, and respect for all things around her were quickly evident to people who come in contact with her. She was an instrumental figure in CFFN and was the Master of Ceremony of the Himalayan Heartbeat 2007. Sadly and shortly after the program she was diagnosed with brain tumor and passed away on December 18, 2007.
Hari Siwakoti: Video Journalist : An artist with big heart Hari Siwakoti is a familiar personality in Nepalese art scene. He is a Director and Producer of a number of movies, 
documentaries, and music video. He volunteered to produce the video journal of the Himalayan Heartbeat program. He came to USA in 1996 after writing and directing more than two dozen movies and plays for television and the big screen in Nepal. While in the USA is wrote and directed "Ista-Mitra", the first Nepali feature film to be produced in the USA. He then migrated to Canada and founded a media company, CaNeVision.net. He lives in Mississauga, Canada with his wife Sudha and son Yashu.
Yashu Siwakoti: Technical Cast : A young artist with tremendous talent, Yashu is the technical mind behind the production of the video journal of the Himalayan 
Heartbeat and Unfolding Future. He is one of those rare youth raised in Canada who keeps tremendous literary skills in Nepali. He is artistically and technically bright, and contributes to communities, Nepal, and the art world through many ventures he does with Hari Siwakoti and with CaneVision.net, where he is the principal developer and maintainer of the website.
All The Rest : There are always many people working behind the scene to make program like this successful. However, to keep the list to a modest size, we included only those people that 
were on the stage in the above list. However, the contributions of all volunteers and members are equally honorable. We salute all of you who contributed towards the success for this program!! Your continued support will make a difference in CFFN and in turn in Nepal.
