About the Event
Trent University is marking the final week of Black History Month 2026 in partnership with the City of Oshawa and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham. This community-centered gathering focuses on healing through sharing, reflection, and connection.
The event will feature a panel discussion on Black mental health with the following panelists:
Dr. Connie Ojiegbe, Psychiatrist, Lakeridge Health and CMHA Durham
Sheryl Wedderburn, CEO, CMHA Durham
Joshua Thompson, Peer Support Specialist, CMHA Durham
Following the panel, attendees are invited to take part in an interactive celebratory drumming session, along with light refreshments and time for community connection.
Date: February 23, 2026
Panel Discussion: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Drumming and Community Gathering: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Building B Atrium
Register here!
Panelists
Chinyere Constance Ojiegbe
Dr. Chinyere Constance (Connie) Ojiegbe Psychiatrist, Lakeridge Health and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham
Dr. Chinyere Constance (Connie) Ojiegbe is a psychiatrist whose career reflects excellence, resilience, and service across three continents. She earned her medical degree from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and completed her psychiatry residency in the United Kingdom, where she obtained Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) and worked as a consultant psychiatrist.
Since immigrating to Canada, Dr. Ojiegbe has practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Her professional experience includes serving as the sole psychiatrist at Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital, a faculty member with Dalhousie University’s Department of Psychiatry, a forensic psychiatrist at the East Coast Forensic Hospital, and later at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.
In 2005, she joined Lakeridge Health Oshawa as a staff psychiatrist, where she has provided compassionate care for more than 20 years. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor with Queen’s University and is a psychiatry consultant with CMHA Durham’s Assertive Community Treatment Team.
A proud Black physician, Dr. Ojiegbe is a strong advocate for equity, representation, and excellence in mental health care. Outside of her professional life, she is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who finds joy in music, the arts, and her faith.
Sheryl Wedderburn
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham
Sheryl Wedderburn is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham. She has guided the organization through significant transformation, including the modernization of housing programs, maintaining accreditation with exemplary standing, and strengthening CMHA Durham’s leadership within the mental health and addictions sector through integrated care partnerships.
With extensive experience as a former CEO and Principal Consultant at Bernard Consultancy, Sheryl has worked closely with Boards and executive teams to advance strategic planning, quality improvement, and leadership development. She is a seasoned Governor, having served on numerous hospital and community Boards since 1986, and currently serves on the Alzheimer Society Durham Region Dementia Care Campus Steering Committee and Durham College’s Community Mental Health Program Advisory Committee.
Sheryl is the recipient of the 2025 Founders’ Award from the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region and is the Founding President of JCAN, a not-for-profit organization serving the Afro-Caribbean community. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Health Sciences, and a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Joshua Thompson
Peer Support Specialist, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham
Joshua Thompson is a Peer Support Specialist with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham, currently working on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team supporting individuals with complex mental health needs. His journey with CMHA began as a client navigating his own mental health challenges, before transitioning into a student role, then a peer support worker, and now a professional within the mental health system.
Drawing from both lived and professional experience, Joshua is passionate about mental health advocacy, with a particular focus on Black men’s mental health, access to culturally responsive supports, and reducing stigma through honest, community-based dialogue. He was recently accepted into the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and continues to advocate for mental wellness through peer-led and recovery-oriented approaches.
Drumming Facilitator
Negus Medhin
Master African-Caribbean Drummer and Holistic Wellness Practitioner
Negus Medhin is a professional Master African-Caribbean drummer, singer, and performer who leads workshops, classes, and tutorials. He is the owner of Holistic Vibrancy, a holistic health and wellness company with over two decades of community-based practice.
Negus will deliver a presentation followed by an interactive drumming workshop, inviting participants into a shared experience of rhythm, connection, and cultural celebration.