East & West Dialogue with Ron Kilius and Robin Mednick: Giving Gifts to the World

At East & West Dialogue, volunteer guest speakers from different cultural backgrounds come to East and West Learning Connections to share their living experiences, expertise, thoughts, and have a dialogue with our audience.

This month, we are very much honoured to be joined by two humble, but highly achieving Canadians who have big hearts for the world. Come to see how they have developed their overseas charitable work from Canada over many years, in a secular and apolitical way, and discuss how such acts of kindness, whether big or small, can easily be achieved!

Time: Saturday September 28, 2024 at 7:30-9 P.M. (Eastern Time)

Please RSVP to info@eawlc.org if you wish to participate in person, or register the online Zoom session.

Free English Hybrid Event, transcript of translations of other languages available on Zoom.

In-person participants will have a chance to win a surprise prize! More items are available for purchase to support Pencils for Kids.


Portrait of Robin Mednick

Robin Mednick is a founding member and President of Pencils for Kids, a Canadian charity that works in Niger, West Africa, since 2006, giving children and women the opportunity for education and income generation. In addition to having an Honour BA from U of T, an M.A. from Oxford University in Politics and Economics and a degree in Law from Osgoode Hall.

Robin’s accomplishments include creating and co-editing the bestseller, Heroes in Our Midst, Top Canadian Athletes Share Personal Stories From Their Lives in Sport, establishing the Urban Leadership Awards Program for the Canadian Urban Institute, serving as Manager of Canada House in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Manager of Special Events at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and acting as Coordinator of 170 athletes who were ambassadors for Toronto’s Olympic Bid. For two years she worked as the Executive Producer of the Good Life Radio show hosted by Jesse Dylan on Sirius Satellite Radio. Robin received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for her work in Niger in 2018.


Portrait of Ron Kilius

Ron Kilius is a Toronto based Canadian businessman who created Superior Medical Limited and ran it for decades before retirement, and uses it to support his charity work around the globe.

A son of Lithuanian refugees to Canada after WWII, the mixing of family business, a constant curiosity and eagerness to learn, and an innate philanthropy were taught by loving parents from a very early age.

Like many immigrants, a hard fought family business brought eventual financial success; however, a hunger to experience more took Ron globally to places where daily survival is always a battle, From these remote venues a new worldview and opportunity opened.

Now over forty years on, Ron has accomplished much kindness visiting situations of need, providing healthcare expertise and donations, and working in over fifty countries to ensure maximum results.

Thousands of hospital beds, wheelchairs, surgical instruments and much needed medical equipment, patient diagnostic & monitoring equipment and especially cancer treatment modalities have found their way to every continent, via a generosity of spirit that builds hope, stops tears and brings smiles.

 In this dialogue, Ron’s comments in tandem with Robin Mednick, will not focus on past accomplishments, but will illustrate that in uncovering everyone’s own very special gifts, we can bring these gifts to the world.

 (Courtesy of Superior Medical Foundation)


Everyone is welcome to join Ron and Robin, and explore what is possible if we only try to lift humanity up a notch!

Venue: 1585 Yonge Street, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Use the Toronto School for Strings and Piano entrance)

Free parking, close to St. Clair Subway Station.
Door opens at 7 p.m.
Light snacks will be provided. You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle to help reduce disposable waste.

Or register the online Zoom session