INSPIRE Awards Board of Directors

Antoine Elhashem, President & Board Chair
Count Klassy, Vice-President
David Vogelhut, Secretary
Davina Hader, Board Member
Ann-Marie Costigan, Board Member

Committees: 
Rev. Kelly Renee, Head of Nominations and Procedures Committee

Contact INSPIRE Awards

Contact the President
Contact the Vice President
Contact the Board
General Inquiries Contact Form

INSPIRE Awards Team Bios

Antoine Elhashem (He/Him)

Antoine Elhashem (He/Him)

President & Board Chair

Antoine Elhashem, founder and president of INSPIRE Awards, had a simple idea, or more of a question: "Why don’t we do more to celebrate those who are doing amazing and inspiring work in our LGBTQ2S+ community?" From that, INSPIRE Awards was born.

Antoine has spent the last 30 years in LGBTQ2S+ media working with all the major historical local LGBTQ2S+ publications, has volunteered with numerous organizations. He is currently the publisher of some of the leading LGBTQ2S+ media platforms and host of a popular local talk show. He is incredibly passionate about community, representation, inclusion and diversity, celebrating, and lifting up people.

Count Klassy (He/Him)

Count Klassy (He/Him)

Vice-President

Count Klassy is a new age hip hop artist representing Toronto as his hometown! He’s been ghostwriting for Grammy-Award winning artists for 5 years, handling their digital marketing portfolios, while simultaneously working on his own music.

Count Klassy has previously worked as a Human Rights Educator and Event Coordinator for the Student Help and Advocacy Centre located at the University of Guelph.

He is passionate about inclusivity, diversity and building new chapters in our history.

David Vogelhut (He/Him)

David Vogelhut (He/Him)

Secretary

David is an active member of the LGBTQ2S+ community and is a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion. A graduate of George Brown college, he is often seen attending local community events, and is a proud member of the INSPIRE Awards executive committee.

Davina Hader (She/Her)

Davina Hader (She/Her)

Board Member

A Graduate of OCADU, an award winning cinematographer and filmmaker. As an artist, creativity has always been second nature. My work very often having a queer perspective.

A Queer woman, activist and prominent member of the Toronto LGBTQ community, advocating politically, healthcare and education initiatives, volunteering and giving workshops on many issues facing and changing queer and trans communities. A recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for work in the community.

I have been involved in making films for education, events, and documentaries for many years and more recently have been pursuing more recognition with creativity in film through my heart and storytelling.

I believe Queer talents go much deeper; our resilience, and those of us who have endured countless adversity through our lifetime to be where we are …and survived, most certainly understand and are testament of this.

Many times I have argued that our differences, obscurities, and uniqueness are really gifts that should be revered by ourselves and others and we should never be made to feel shameful of these features but rather allowed to be proud!

It is these differences that bring us together, standing collectively and celebrating these unique characteristics as a community we are pushing the envelope on public awareness, acceptance and finally change!

Ann-Marie Costigan (She/Her)

Ann-Marie Costigan (She/Her)

Board Member

Ann-Marie Costigan is a tribute performer, out and proud lesbian, who loves giving back to the LBGTQ+ community.

Rev. Kelly Renee

Rev. Kelly Renee

Nominations & Procedures Committee

Rev. Kelly represents a safe space for community building, learning, and sharing together, offering a wide variety of on-site and online programming through Kelly’s Green Lounge. From medical cannabis education, to promoting small businesses and entrepreneurs, Rev. Kelly highlights the very best of the cannabis community in all facets of the network. The KGL Network includes: KGL, KGLTV, The Church of KGL, Canna-Product Development, and Rev. Kelly: Minister, Spokesperson and voice of the “Cannabis Spirituality” movement. She is a proud ally and advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community and actively participates in community programming.

INSPIRE Awards Mailing Address

INSPIRE Awards

1691 Pickering Pkwy, Unit 205
Pickering ON L1V 5L9 Canada
Office: 416.926.9588