I’ve never forgotten the advice I received years ago from former Niagara College vice-president Beth Weldon, sadly now deceased, taken far too young as the result of pancreatic cancer.

She was rare in empathizing with my frustration, which I now better understand was partly because I was a right-brained, system thinker in a setting ruled largely by left-brained linear decision-makers.

Beth told me, ‘Brenda, maybe you can’t change the world, but you can change your corner of the world.

That’s how we all need to think… More Posted on 08-30-24

Scissors or Glue?

As presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her team repeatedly reinforced during this week’s exciting US National Democratic Convention, it is a crucial moment in history for hope, optimism, and change.

Harris is committed to economic issues such as safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, affordable housing, lowering living costs, and corporate tax increases.

However, she also highlighted her commitment to social issues such as women’s rights, gun safety, and environmental protection. 

Threaded throughout her speech were references to the kind of caring neighbourhood she grew up in, the importance… More Posted on 08-24-24

Same Work, Different Names?

A number of years ago, my futurist colleagues introduced me to the concept and importance of ‘edge’ or ‘early’ signals.

Unlike a trend, an early or edge signal is more likely to be weak, speculative, and experimental; as such, it offers a glimpse of an emerging possibility that could lead to significant changes in the future.

Edge signals are identified in various ways, including paying attention to the media, training sessions, blogs, interviews, casual observations, and conversations – especially with… More Posted on 08-20-24

Bob Rae: Not Retired and Still Going Strong

If you’re not based in Ontario or, for that matter, old enough to remember him, you may not be aware of Bob Rae. However, having met him, I can share that he is deeply respected for his authentic, pragmatic, and engaging approaches to complex issues.

Robert Keith Rae, commonly known as Bob Rae, is a prominent Canadian diplomat and former politician. He began his political journey as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), serving as a federal Member of Parliament and then transitioned to provincial politics, becoming the leader… More Posted on 08-14-24

Burned by a Blame Thrower

Maybe it’s because I’m a Libra, but my mother always said one of the first sentences out of my mouth as a two-year-old was: ‘It’s not fair.’ Unfortunately, several years ago, that inner two-year-old surfaced, and I found myself not only using that exact phrase but also whining and stomping my feet. 

It was a reaction to the pain of being burned by a blame-thrower who attacked my credibility with blatantly untrue comments. It was challenging because those comments were made when I wasn’t present… More Posted on 08-09-24