Like many of you, I have been struggling to come to terms with the finding of the remains of the 215 children at the former residential school in Kamloops. With all the horror in the world, it’s always so hard to know how to speak publicly for fear that it will seem ingenuine, despite the deep emotion and concern I actually feel offline. In this case, I think we all ask ourselves: why speak now when we’ve known about the horrors of the residential schools for so long? Frankly, I don’t know the answer to that.

This time, as a settler who benefits from colonialism, I want to share the actions I am taking, aloud, in case anyone else is feeling the same way. This isn’t an email to shame or preach. Simply put: I have benefited from others who are sharing links and resources, and I am called to carry on the sharing. 

Some ways I am taking action:

🔸Sitting with the discomfort and sadness I am feeling. From the Settlers Take Action website: We have to accept that while we might not be directly responsible, we still greatly benefit from colonialism in Canada. We need to understand that we can love this country and know it needs to be better.

🔸Reaching out to key stakeholders in our family’s lives to start a dialogue: my MP, the principal at my children’s school, my church. Find your elected official here.

🔸Last week, I took my kids to a Residential Schools monument in North Vancouver. I didn’t even know it existed until then. We laid flowers, read the names, and talked about the tragedy of taking so many kids from their homes. There were 3 Indigenous sisters smudging and reading the names of their family members - they shared with us a bit of their family’s story. It was pretty powerful for all of us because it made it so real.

🔸Donating, starting with: Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

🔸Signing the petition for a National Day of Mourning.

🔸Getting better educated. There’s a free course called Indigenous Canada, a 12-lesson Open Online Course from U of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

If you care to join me in this learning, we are setting up a discussion group to meeting 3x/monthly starting in August. A detailed learning schedule is below in events list. Sign up and /or stay posted on this by clicking here!

2021 Monthly Webinar Training

JUNE: Motivate for Results through Driving Forces

PLEASE NOTE THE UPDATED JUNE DATE:

Wednesday, June 23rd @ 12 pm-1 pm PT

This session will help us understand the WHY behind our actions.

The benefits of understanding our driving forces:

• Helps to build stronger relationships 
• Increases appreciation for what is important to others
• Helps you to include the viewpoint of others 
• Allows you to communicate more effectively with others
• Raises your satisfaction and fulfillment in work and life
• Assists in hiring people that will be engaged in the culture
• Supports managers to engage their staff and utilize their passions

A Deeper Dive Into Your Leadership DNA

Friday, June 25th @ 12 pm-1 pm PT

You've completed the TriMetrix DNA but now want to learn more!

Join us for this complimentary event open to people who have completed the TriMetrix DNA Assessment.

The Last Thursday of the month in August, September, October - 12 pm PT

Join us as we learn, together.

Step 1: Register yourself for the course here.
Step 2: Register / sign up for news on our group by clicking here.
Step 3: Watch the modules as outlined below in advance of our group. The main purpose of this group is accountability to watching, and to share our thoughts as we learn.

Thurs, Sept 23rd - 12 pm PT

A remarkable turnaround by a leader with a remarkable philosophy: Find your noble purpose. Put people at the center. Unleash human magic. "It was Fall in Minnesota. It was getting cold and we were supposed to die." This is how Hubert Joly describes the early, dark days as CEO of Best Buy, a job most thought he was crazy to accept. Amazon was tearing a disruptive path through retail, but in the face of that existential threat Joly did something remarkable: he saved Best Buy and remade it into a thriving company rated as one of the most desirable businesses to work for.

Join us for an interactive discussion about unleashing human magic and achieving improbable results. 

Let's be better together.

All the best,

Carolyn de Voest B. Ed CPCC MBA

Principal & Founder

t   778.238.6448
e  carolyn@betteryourbest.ca
w betteryourbest.ca