On Saturday, I received the Canadian Lifetime Achievement Award in Nutrition. I was not able to deliver my full acceptance speech due to time constraints, so I decided to share it with you in this way!

Who knew that my eldest daughter being so sick back in 1999 would lead to receiving this prestigious award today? I am truly honoured. Over the years, I have spread the word about what we learn at CSNN – with great passion and energy…thinking that only the families I helped valued my work, never thinking that anyone else noticed or knew the difference I was making…today, I have been proven wrong. Thank you.

When I was in my twenties, someone asked me what my ideal job would be. I told them I didn’t know but if people started moving to another planet, I would like to be the one to teach them how to live on that planet and do things differently….well, that is exactly what a nutritionist does, isn’t it? We teach how to do things differently than the majority….

When I started teaching people how to do things differently, many people turned against me. Family members and a couple of friends ended relationships with me. A few people walked out of my seminars. A lady reported me to public health for explaining the benefits of unpasteurized milk to a group of mothers. Someone told me I would stunt my eldest daughter’s growth by not feeding her dairy and wheat – many of you know that she is 5’10’’, healthy and strong! The point is that our work was generally not accepted almost 20 years ago.

But I knew the truth. I knew that food and our emotions were the keys to aging with vitality, joy and grace. My unintentional experiments with both of my daughters, our animals and myself proved over and over again that everything we learned in school is absolutely correct. I helped a highly functioning autistic boy and girl eliminate all signs of autism. I helped a boy with asthma avoid the need for puffers. I helped a girl with celiac put an end to all her symptoms. I helped a girl with Type 1 diabetes reduce her need for insulin from 50 units a day down to 5 units. I have helped many people, of all ages, change their mind about committing suicide. The knowledge we gain at CSNN is sound. It is unique; it is infinitely valuable.

I will spend the rest of my life helping people that want to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is my greatest pleasure to do so. Receiving this award will always remind me that today my work is not only accepted but respected. As you now know, this is something I haven’t ever felt I’ve had in this career. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.