film screening and LIVE Q&A WITH LOCAL PRACTITIONERS
The perimenopause event we've all been waiting for.
Perimenopause is one of the least understood chapters in women's health, and this afternoon is our answer to that. A current film, a panel of practitioners ready to answer your real questions, and a room full of women looking for better answers.
Saturday, May 30 · Doors 12:30pm · Functional Medicine Uptown Community Space 109 Erb St. W, Waterloo
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
Every woman goes through perimenopause, and yet almost no one is talking about it.
It affects your cycle, your sleep, your mood, the way your body responds to stress and food. And yet most appointments skip past it, most practitioners are not trained to name it clearly, and even friends in the middle of the same shifts struggle to find language for what they're experiencing.
This AFTERNOON is about gaining clarity.
Women are ready for more of this conversation.
Before the Pause continues the work, turning the lens earlier to the years most women navigate without a roadmap.
– Dr. kristijana rakic, nd
About the Film
The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause is the documentary the producers describe as an effort toward validation, visibility, and prevention. From the team behind the original award-winning (M) Factor, this second installment focuses on the years preceding menopause, when most women are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told they are too young for what they are experiencing.
"We are starting this conversation earlier at 35, not 50. Too many women are told they are too young or are misdiagnosed. This film is about validation, visibility, and prevention." — The Producers, The (M) Factor
Saturday, May 30 · 1PM Screening
Functional Medicine Uptown Community Space | 109 Erb St. W, Waterloo
Followed by a live panel discussion with local women's health practitioners
and community partners.
EVENT DETAILS
The Shape of the Afternoon
The Film
Doors open at 12:30pm, with the film beginning at 1:00pm. The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause runs 55 minutes and brings together leading physicians, researchers, and women whose stories will be familiar to most in the room.
The Q&A
After the film, our expert panel takes your questions. This is the part so many women say the real aha moments and value land. No topic is off the table.
The Connections
Come early to connect. Local small businesses and the women you will have just sat beside for an afternoon.
Hosted and led by women in this work.
An MC who knows how to hold a room, and a panel of practitioners who work with women in perimenopause every day.
Kelly McDonnell MA, MBA, RSW, RP
Kelly is the founder of Bliss Counselling and a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with over fifteen years of experience helping women navigate identity, relationships, and major life transitions. She'll be guiding our conversation and Q&A.
DR. KRISTIJANA RAKIC, ND
Dr. K works with women in perimenopause and menopause, addressing hormone imbalance, metabolic change, and the cognitive and energy shifts that often arrive without explanation.
GLORIA VAUGHAN, FMHC
Gloria has spent over twenty years coaching women through weight loss resistance, a path she has walked herself. Her work goes beyond the number on the scale, restoring metabolism, energy, and the confidence to hold both.
DR. ERICA BEHR, ND
Dr. Erica works with women who are beginning to notice the shifts, often years before anyone names it perimenopause. Her practice is built on creating a space where women feel equipped to advocate for their health.
Community Giveback
Proceeds from this event are donated to Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, extending the reach of the afternoon beyond the women in the room. Your ticket contributes to a local organization supporting women in crisis across the region.
Have a question?
Don't see your question below? Send us an email at community@fmuptown.com and we will be in touch.
How long is the event, and what does it include?
The afternoon runs about three hours. A fifty-five minute film, a live panel Q&A, and time before and after to connect with local women-led businesses and the women in the room. Your $30 ticket covers all of it, and proceeds support Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
How do I ask questions during the Q&A?
There are two ways to ask. Submit your question ahead of time using this form, or ask in person during the Q&A. The live back-and-forth between women in the room and the panel is often the most valuable part of the afternoon. No topic is off the table.
Is this event for women only?
The content is directed toward women, but partners and supportive men are welcome. Perimenopause affects households, not just individuals, and we are also exploring a future event specifically for the men in your life.
What if I can't make it after I buy my ticket?
Tickets are non-refundable but fully transferable. If something comes up, pass your ticket to a friend who would benefit, or email community@fmuptown.com to transfer your registration.
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
- LANGUAGE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING
- CONTEXT MOST APPOINTMENTS SKIP
- LOCAL WOMEN, AND BUSINESSES GATHERING TOGETHER
- MAY 30 IN WATERLOO
What becomes possible when we open up the conversation.
Imagine sitting in a room of over one hundred women who've been quietly asking the same questions you have.
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Language that names the experiences most women have not had the words for |
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Answers to the questions you've been researching late at night |
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A clearer sense of what to expect and a framework for the next decade |
An afternoon built for you
Saturday, May 30 in Waterloo
The film, the panel, and the conversation women have been waiting for, all under one roof in Waterloo Region.
$30 · Functional Medicine Uptown Community Space · Proceeds support Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
