Annahid has over 25 years experience designing systemic change initiatives and coordinating programs at local, national and international levels, in government, education, non-profit and healthcare sectors. In her career, she has moved from organizing national political campaigns targeting broad scale change to studying the psychology of individual behaviour. Her systems approach draws on both ends of this change spectrum to best leverage personal learning for collective growth. A dynamic speaker, published writer and intuitive facilitator, Annahid is able to serve the highest potential of any client she has the privilege of working with. Her memoir Breaking the Ocean: Race, Rebellion and Reconciliation launched August 2019 to early rave reviews. A few of her favourite things include: swimming in summer lakes, reading anything she can get her hands on, crafting cocktails and as many hugs as she can wrangle from her two little ones.
Qualification Highlights:
- Masters Degree, Adult Education, University of Toronto
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and English), University of Alberta
- Somatic Experiencing Trauma CertificationTM, The Foundation for Human Enrichment
- Psychology of Group Conflict CertificationTM, Process Work Institute
- Coaching for Power Intelligence CertificationTM, Diamond Leadership
- Art of Change Yearlong, Rockwood Leadership
- Non-Violent CommunicationTM
- Appreciative Inquiry: Approach to Organizational Change
- Spiritual Lifestyle Program Certification, Kripalu Centre for Yoga and Health
Breaking the Ocean: Race, Rebellion and Reconciliation can be ordered anywhere books are sold. To order through the publisher, House of Anansi, go here.
“This is a beautifully written, sensitive memoir fraught with painful memories but also touched by hope, an illuminating meditation on finding your own voice and identity in a new land.” – Booklist Review
In this time of rising nationalism and xenophobia sweeping western democracies, people are polarizing along racial and identity lines. Where can we turn for hopeful yet realistic narratives of the healing that is possible in relationship? In Breaking the Ocean, author and change-maker Annahid Dashtgard addresses with great honesty and vulnerability the long-term impacts of immigration, racism, and the chance we all have to create our own happily-ever-after. Breaking the Ocean calls us to acknowledge our differences, offering new possibilities for understanding through the revolutionary power of resilience. Order now.
In her own words:
Testimonials:
“I feel blessed to have met you and worked with you this week… I was 
inspired by how tuned-in you are to everyone, emotionally and intellectually, and at the same time grounded, calm. Thank you for sharing your amazing self with us.”
~ Irene Jansen, CUPE Equality Officer
“Annahid’s Leadership program was very different from what I’d come to expect from developmental-type course. In short, I felt that my experience was really driven from my own being rather than being a cookie cutter course that sought to tell me how to be and do things differently.”
~ Micheline Davies, Director, Major Program Delivery, Canadian Tire Corporation
“Annahid Dashtgard is unapologetically compassionate and courageously vulnerable when sharing her wisdom with an audience. We still hear of the ripple effects that her message and presence during our Summit has inspired, in particular amongst people of color in positions of leadership at our city.”
~ Geraldine Vasquez, Equity Director, YWCA Madison
Media
- Annahid Dashtgard interviewed on CTV Saskatoon, November 28th, 2019.
- Annahid Dashtgard spoke at The Walrus Talks – Living Better, November 19th, 2019.
- Chelene Knight Reviews Annahid Dashtgard’s Breaking the Ocean, November 2019.
- Annahid Dashtgard interviewed on The Morning Show – Bookmarked, October 23rd, 2019.
- Annahid Dashtgard interviewed by Adrian Harewood on CBC Ottawa News, October 8th, 2019. She is in the clip between 44-50 minutes.
- Annahid Dashtgard interviewed by Audra Williams for the Centre for Social Innovation, September 3, 2019.
- Quill & Quire starred review of Breaking the Ocean, September 2019.
- Annahid Dashtgard interviewed by BookRiot, “For Real”, August 20th, 2019.
- 49th Shelf book review of Breaking the Ocean, August 2019.
