Winston Mattis holds a M.P.A., from Queen’s University, a law degree from the University of Windsor together with a variety of other undergraduate credentials, including a project management certificate.
Winston started out his professional career in sciences, after studying biochemistry at York University at which he studied biochemistry. For three of the four years he spent at York University Winston was a disc jockey and announcer on CHRY. He created and broadcasted a show which he called Messages from the Sun Goddess, a show which fused the rap sounds of Grandmaster Flash (Messages) with the melodic contours of Earth Wind and Fire’s Sun Goddess. It is while at York University that Winston started playing music, initial in the acclaimed Yorktones Steel Orchestra before he started playing bass, a bit of drums, and alto saxophone.
Winston worked for about a year with the Ministry of Health in its reference laboratory located in the west end of Toronto. He then worked as an interviewer on a nationally syndicated evaluation project for the federal government (EI). Shortly thereafter, Winston started his own research company from which he provided consultancy services. While working as a consultant, Winston researched numerous issues for community-based organizations. Winston was one of the persons who helped in the initial stages of forming Eva’s Place. While providing consultancy services, Winston enrolled in the Public Administration Program at Ryerson Polytechnic, now Ryerson University and later on in Queen’s University M.P.A program. At Queen’s University, Winston started P.S. 2000 the first ever M.P.A. student-led magazine. The purpose of the magazine was to publish the creative policy ideas of M.P.A. students. Instead of going on to a doctorate in policy studies, Winston opted to enroll in a joint law program between Faculty of Law, University of Windsor, and the University of Detroit (Mercy) School of Law.
Over the years, Winston has worked in numerous fields including policing, human rights, community development and training. Winston was the researcher that researched the structure of apprenticeship in Ontario’s construction trades for the Royal Commission: Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario. Winston, for example, was part of the consulting team that researched and designed the Race Relation and Policing Policy for the Solicitor General of Ontario. Way back in about 1979 Winston was a delegate to the first ever federally sponsored Multiculturalism conference at which he addressed the assembly.
Throughout his career Winston has appeared in the media in a variety of capacities. As a musician and performer, Winston produced several albums and singles on Toronto’s music scene. He was one of the founders of the label SEE (Starlyte Entertainment Enterprise), a label that will be revived within the next three months. The label will not only produce and distribute approximately 300 song in six colleague’s music library, but will manage the careers of various up and coming artists.
Winston practiced Labour and Employment Law for fifteen years in Ontario, advising employers and employees on a wide range of human resources issues. Prior to starting his own law practice Winston articled with Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie, a boutique Labour and Employment Law firm in Ontario. Winston is a former musician/producer. He is also a former dancer who worked for a short time in theatre. A former Board Member of Ballet Creole, Winston has a long history of working in the performing arts industry. Winston, the holder of a certificate in photography from Humber College, is a published author who enjoys a reputation of being one of Canada’s leading thinkers in the areas of discrimination, and diversity management in the workplace.
In 2014 Winston founded a media enterprise called WINN (Workplace Intelligence Navigation Network) a website dedicated to the presentation of workplace-related information. The site presents workplace information and stories in a multi-media format. A combination of training and other videos are displayed for consumption. WINN sets out to amass the largest selection of workplace related information on the internet anywhere in the universe. Check out workplace-intelligence.com which goes live on April 05, 2015.
Winston has been a member of several boards and committees including, but not limited to: Riverdale Hospital, Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Community & Race Relations, and Public Policy Ryerson University.
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