Transition time… week in review.
Ok people, I’m shaking things up a bit because it is November – and that is what I do in November. Plus AMPHiB LiB is all about transformation and evolution – so why not? Lots happened last week so here is a rambling sequence of events to get everyone up to speed.
Oct 29 Worlds collide.
This was a crazy day made complete with a double booking. I attended the Winnipeg Junior Chamber’s General Meeting. I’m trying to become more active in the business community and it is great to connect with a really outgoing group of Gen Y and Xers. I also have some exciting ideas for the Jaycees based on the Change the World at Work series I’m developing. More to come on this next week.
After a quick jet from the Winnipeg Convention Centre over to the U of W, I met up with my mentor for the Toxic Trespass film screening. I have mixed feelings about the film but more importantly, I was slightly disappointed in the outcome of the event. Based on the comments and panel discussion that took place after the film, I sensed people were very disempowered and demoralised. This is not what I like to see at all! For good resources that demonstrate the actions you can take to reduce yours and your children’s exposure to environmental contaminants, check out www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
Oct 30. The Land of Opportunity?
Another eventful day. My mom’s birthday. And the Immigration Job Fair hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. This was a first and extremely well attended – possibly up to 1,000 people. There were also lots of lessons to take away. 1) Boy do we really have no clue how many newcomers land in Manitoba – despite the Provincial Nominee Program! Want to know why? Because once newcomers land in Canada no efforts are made to ensure that they have resources, supports and in particular, employment in their fields. Nobody is at the airport welcoming them into the country – although plenty is done to attract and recruit. So whether they make use of the many NGOs with mandates to assist them is completely dependent upon their happening upon that information. 2) Based on conversations I had with many attendees, newcomers are not getting jobs in their fields. They are promised the land of opportunity and then many resolve to take “survival” jobs once they discover they cannot do what they did back home. Why? Well you know why. I spoke with a gentleman who was a dentist in China and is a machinist in Canada.
So why was I there? Options for Success Inc, sister company to iNSPiRED PRACTiCE, established by my mom, was there to talk about the Workplace Integration of Newcomers Project (WIN). WIN is a pilot project driven by industry that offers newcomers recognition for prior learning and experience in their home countries and provides gap training to help people find employment in their fields. Often all that is standing in the way of a newcomer finding employment is that they require some minor instruction (language and technical) to ensure their skill meets industry standards in Canada. Go here to learn more.
The Queen of the Castle (which is a nice way to say head of the household) got a lovely dinner at Amici Restaurant (her favourite!) and a beautiful cake.
Oct 31. What happened to Halloween?
This year I didn’t get much time to be in love with Halloween. The pumpkins were carved last minute. Decorations were coordinated by another member of the household. Oh and the 250 kids who showed up at the door – I didn’t get to see. I was facilitating a conversation cafe to generate some talk from participants of Leadership Winnipeg’s Platform Program about a couple of the recent learning activities. This contributes to the ongoing evolution of the program. The facilitation was based on this innovative technique and the developmental evaluations are based on the model of Appreciative Inquiry.
Nov 1. And on Thursday she rested. Kind of.
I had a busy day of meetings with clients from one of Options’ worker adjustment contracts. So a break was well-deserved. We all should get at least one lazy evening and this was mine.
Nov 2. Catching up.
I sat down for coffee with a fellow consultant, Ruth Marr, who is working on a very creative, pioneering project to develop a sustainable tourism toolkit. After many busy months, we caught each other up on life and work. As with most good conversations, new ideas and strategies bubbled up and I think we both walked away feeling as though there was plenty more to talk about and brainstorm on. Awesome! Something to put on the agenda for December/January.
Nov 3. Surprise!
I love the Forks! And on Saturday morning while at the Current (Inn at the Forks) to meet with my mentor, Priscilla Boucher I soaked up the sun and the sights. And resolved to do more of this. Mentoring relationships can be really fantastic for mutual growth and development. Of course, mentoring is designed to benefit both mentor and mentee and so this Saturday morning meeting was the first to explore on what and how Priscilla and I would work together. Lots of valuable things came out of our discussion. Awesome is being able to connect with someone who has extensive experience and knowledge and is willing to share that with you and see possibility in your ideas and the seeds you are planting. Even better if they too are excited by your ideas and projects and want to share in their development. More good things to come out of this.
Later that day, I went to my grandfather’s surprise 75th birthday party. He was very surprised. 
And extremely moved. I was happy to be there as the eldest of the 1st generation Canadian along with many other generations in my family.
Nov 4. NYC Marathon.
Sunday was all about my better (and much more athletic) half who was in New York running the Marathon. All morning, I was quietly cheering him on from miles away. It was his first marathon and he was a star – he finished with a time of 4 hrs 39 mins. And of course, no Sunday is complete without 5 hours of prep work for the week ahead.
Filed under: Changemakers, Inspired Living
