About Us: Our Team

Hardy Steinke
Executive Director

I am passionate about living with our minds and hearts always expanding! I love to learn by reading, webinars, podcasts, and conversations. It all has something to do with our evolving spirituality, relationships, the beauty of being alive and making the world a more loving place for everyone.

In addition to beaches and beautiful gardens, my other favourite places would be cafés where we can go heart-to-heart about what we’ve been thinking, feeling, and doing lately.

Married to Cindy, we have 3 adult children with partners, all amazing, and 6 darling grandchildren!

hardy@heartcomonos.ca

Bhuvan Vashisht
Community Engagement and Volunteer Manager

Hi! I'm Bhuvan, an old world Soul who cherishes new experiences, unique landscapes, ancient cultures, and traditions from around the globe! With a professional background in finance and business, I've worked with several Fortune 500 companies. My passion for healthy fine dining, poetry, and holistic living is something I also like to share with others. I enjoy blending the old with the new in everything I do! Whether it's Breathwork Classes, Mindfulness Meditation, Self-Empowerment or Healing, I just love growing and witnessing the growth of my loved ones. My interest in community building is deeply rooted as a Yogi who genuinely desires to serve humanity. Namaste!

bhuvan@heartcomonos.ca

Christine Bennett
Executive Advisor

I am a life-long resident of Mississauga. Growing up, the only shopping areas were in Cooksville, Applewood and Port Credit, and only 25 years ago, there were cows in a field just a few miles from where I live now and horses were pastured near the Square One location. My how things have changed! My favourite thing about living here is the diversity found not only in my neighbours but in the food, culture, arts and shopping available here.

I like to stay current with local, national and international news, and love being involved in my local community. I have a special interest in issues surrounding mental health. I caught the travel bug early and like to explore new cities and countries – it doesn’t matter where in the world I go – any place new is exciting. In my spare time I like to do yoga, garden, read, paint and attend live theatre.

christine@heartcomonos.ca

Jordan Nusbaum
Programs Manager

I strongly believe in the unity between body and mind, and between individuals and communities. I love playfulness, thoughtfulness, creativity, and I admire courageousness, generosity, and honesty.

My background is in academia, community research, and the expressive arts. I hold an MA and PhD in Social and Political Thought from York U, and my work specializes in early modern and post-structural philosophy. I really appreciate how working with Heart Comonos gives me the opportunity to put theory into practice.

I love the expressive and interpretive arts, especially literature and music. I love reading Dostoyevski, Jorge Luis Borges, and Lewis Caroll, and I love improvised musical expression (I have a special soft spot for the Grateful Dead and Phish). One of the things I look forward to most every year is the chance to canoe the beautiful and many lakes of Ontario's Provincial Parks with friends and loved ones.

jordan@heartcomonos.ca

Arwen Muir Karaszewski
Marketing Coordinator

Since I could hold a crayon, I've been drawing and expressing myself through art. I grew up in Cooksville and currently study Illustration at OCAD University. Every day I enjoy building relationships with the world around me and look forward to learning something new. I have a passion for teaching others and encouraging people to express themselves through art, as humans have been doing since the beginning of our time.

I believe in the importance of community and that if we come together, anything is possible. Heart Comonos has shown me how our well beings improve when a diverse community gets together to share their ideas and interests. It inspires me to create and continue learning with others.

On top of my love of the arts, I spend time building community with the group "Project Hope", riding my bike and gazing at nature.

Nicole Bonder
-In Memoriam

Our very loved Nicole Bonder - our friend, co-worker and Project Coordinator for two years, passed away on January 14, 2023.

Quite simply we cannot find words to express the depth of our sadness and loss.

We only know that somehow, her love for people and the Cooksville community will live on.

Rest in Peace, dear one.

Heart Comonos is people coming together in the Cooksville-Mississauga and surrounding area to share their ideas, gifts, skills, knowledge and life experiences. We partner with individuals and organizations to create projects and activities that support the multiple dimensions of personal and community wellness.