Reflections by Bonnie Hutchinson

Who wants to be a leader?

Among recurring thoughts I’ve had over the past year is, “I’m glad I’m not in an official leadership position.” Of course, we’re all leaders of our own lives. But right now, as we’re all making it up as we go along, I do not envy anyone in a formal leadership position. Parents, teachers, business owners, political leaders, anyone making decisions that impact other human beings–none have ever before had to make decisions in the midst of a global pandemic.

In the olden days… The stereotype of “leader” with which I grew up was the person with official authority who gave orders, expected and usually got obedience, and was assumed to know the right thing to do.

As I grew into adulthood and the world changed, I began to see other kinds of leaders. I learned about “influence without authority” as a form of leadership. I learned about legitimizers–people who may not have formal authority, but whose influence is such that others will not cross them.

Leadership is not… One intensive weekend back in the 1990s, I was one of about 40 participants with lecturers from the Kennedy School of Leadership at Harvard University. They turned my ideas about leadership upside down.

“Leadership is not about power; leadership is not about status; leadership is not about money; leadership is not about charisma; though all those things might be useful,” the speaker began.

I could feel my brain start to form question marks.

“Leadership is about getting the work done.” Pause here to let that sink in. “And the work is–helping people meet their developmental challenge.”

Whaaat? What’s a developmental challenge?

A developmental challenge is something you need to master in order to move on in your life–and everything you know so far doesn’t equip you to master the challenge. Child example: A toddler mastering the skill of walking is an example of a developmental challenge. Activities that help you crawl don’t help you walk. Nothing about crawling on hands and knees helps you learn to balance on two feet and step forward.

That’s an example of a developmental challenge–when, in order to grow to your next level of development, everything you know so far doesn’t get you there.

Adult examples: As adults, we may have physical challenges, but our greater challenges are often social, emotional, mental or spiritual. For example, many of us have thought we knew how to be a good parent–right up until we had children! Then it got more challenging,

Right now, each of us–and humanity as a whole–faces what may be the greatest developmental challenge of our lives.

Each of us is coping with situations we’ve never encountered before. Skills and habits that helped us master the world as it was may not help us deal with the world of lockdown. And who knows what might be needed in the world that will emerge?

In the past year, we’ve seen typical patterns of responses to a new situation.

The adapters: “Here’s what I/we want as the outcome; what is most likely to make that possible?”

The questioners: “What’s in it for me? What’s a good enough reason for me to change?”

The obligers: “Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it."

The rebels: “You can’t make me.” The new developmental challenge.

What’s different about the challenge created by the virus is that it impacts the whole of humanity. As a species, we’re not going to be able to move on until we figure out, not only how to move forward in our own lives, but how to foster cooperation among a huge portion of humanity.

Will we master our global developmental challenge? I believe we will–eventually. How long it takes depends on the kind of leadership we exercise in our own lives and what we accept from those with formal authority.

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I’d love to hear from you! If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send a note to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.

The Camrose Booster 4925-48 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1L7 or email it to:

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Volunteers

Nicely said, Colleen Nelson. A well-deserved tribute to all the volunteers who keep not only the Bailey Theatre open, but many other facilities and events throughout the community, and indeed the whole province. And that’s in addition to what they are contributing to our way of life through their full-time jobs. What a gift to us all. Peter LeBlanc, Camrose

Goodbye Dad Editor’s note: We normally do not publish letters from outside our coverage area, however, there is a good message here for all of us: all of us need to take this COVID-19 business very seriously.

Dear Blain and Ron:

You never dream this could happen to you…I am one of seven (six now) siblings and during COVID, we have a Sunday morning Zoom call for all the Prevost clan and we have a great time, teasing each other and connecting.

One of the comments we use to make is, “Thank God no one in our family got this disease.” It was always out there and didn’t affect us…it was someone else’s disease. My younger brother Ken succumbed to COVID-19.

He was living in Ottawa and he began exhibiting symptoms. He was tested, found out he had the virus, and so did my sister-in-law and my niece. For some reason, they had a milder version of the disease.

My brother began exhibiting symptoms of shortness of breath and was immediately hospitalized. He was also determined to have pneumonia.

Prior to this, he was in excellent health, he meditated regularly, did tai chi and walked an hour a day.

I am particularly sad and filled with grief because we chatted three to four times a week about his different projects since we were both speakers and trainers, often sharing ideas and concepts.

He and I began our entrepreneurial path together when we opened a retail store in Ottawa in the late ’70s. I never dreamt that our family would be touched by this scourge, and the unfairness of this is hard to comprehend.

Here we are, one year into this pandemic, and he had just got his first vaccine and this happens to him.

I leave you with this. Never assume anything. Life is fragile and, for Heaven’s sake, take this virus seriously, and abide by the rules. If you are an antivaxxer…need I say more. Here is the text sent by my niece (his daughter).

“We said goodbye to my dad today. It was so relaxing and peaceful to see him. I missed him so much. Seeing him was so, so good. I felt the most calm I have felt in days. Mom and I were called into the hospital urgently and we saw him for two hours. Which is unheard of. It was lovely. I said everything I could ever want to say. My brothers spoke to him over the phone and made their peace. He for sure had two big tears flowing down his face. We held his hands. Rubbed his head. Put my hand on his heart. We sang ‘You Are My Sunshine’, listened to music and sang along, just relaxed. There was a thunderstorm and then the sun came out. The doctors said, he will pass tonight. It was the most graceful exit we could have imagined.”

Hug your family. Roy Prevost, Burnaby, BC

Flip-flops

On Wednesday, April 28, Premier Jason Kenney said that health measures don’t work to reduce the spread of COVID-19. On Thursday, April 29, the Premier instituted new health measures in closing schools. Yet another flip-flop from the Premier. Another feckless attempt to reduce infection rates. Yet we in Alberta had the highest per capita rate of active cases in Canada, and higher than every American state after Michigan.

No, I don’t think it’s because we need the government to lock us all in our homes and tell us when to come out. However, I do think we need responsible leadership, that acts quickly and decisively, to health care needs based on science. Unfortunately, that isn’t happening. It appears that our Premier is trying to play both sides of this issue, so he can win–politically. He reacts timidly and slowly, because a third of his MLAs, people he picked for his team, feel even with the new COVID-19 variants, we should relax restrictions. We should ignore science. Insofar as I can tell, this is ideology founded on some notion of Libertarianism. He says he’s taking a measured approach, but isn’t he just making this all much worse? His weakkneed measures don’t go far enough to curb the spread of the virus, but they do lead to more business strife, pandemic burnout, and infections. Ultimately, they lead to more sickness and deaths.

If we went into a strict lockdown and embraced vaccinations, we’d be well onto the other side of this by now. Look at the example of New Zealand. Instead, our Premier, frightened of the extremists in his own party, tries to play both sides of the issue. He creates confusion and we all suffer for it.

Kenney still thinks the conservatives in this province are “united”. They aren’t. They never were. This crisis shows everyone that, and it shows it clearly. Kenney somehow thinks he’ll appease both responsible Albertans and reckless anti-maskers in the political dreamland he’s living in. The trouble is he’s dragging this entire province down with him. It’s time we make it clear he needs to stand up and take restrictions seriously. No more flip-flops.

Mark Lindberg, Camrose

Selfish people

Something is really bothering me. I have sincere remorse for those who do not have jobs, the closed restaurants, the limited family togetherness. Those people are among the heroes of this unusual traumatic time.

This time, I am angry and also writing to those people who say that their rights have been infringed. As you continue to circumvent the COVID-19 protocols, you are taking and delaying my right of freedom.

You dare to spread the contagious virus with your continuous gatherings in the streets, in parks, at indoor parties, at church, and in any unnecessary close relationship with others. It causes more disease and possibly death. You are guilty of extending my loss of freedom.

On the subject of freedom, death takes away total freedom, it is absolute. Why do you complain about your living freedoms? Lew Goddard, Camrose

Home Education Registration

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Battle River School Division is currently accepting Home Education registrations for the 2021/22 school year. Are you interested in home-schooling your children?

BRSD Home Education off ers support to parents wanting to teach their children from home. Home Education means your children’s education can represent your values, lifestyle, and schedule. • Parents choose learning objectives, curriculum, and teaching methods • Flexible timelines and schedules that are tailor-made for your family • Minimum of two Google meets with Home School Administration • Planned recreation and themed activities • Access to BRSD resources like school libraries and clubs • $850 in available funding • Parent-led faith-based program available We will be hosting a Virtual Meet and Greet on May 12 at 1 p.m. Please call the school to register so we will be able to provide you a meet link. If you have any questions about registration, the home education process, or about our division, please contact: Battle River Alternative Centre for Education

Laura Swanson, Principal

780-672-2205 or 780-672-6131 Ext. 1206 lswanson@brsd.ab.ca Melanie Buckley, Assistant Principal

780-672-2205 or 780-672-6131 Ext. 1207 mbuckley@brsd.ab.ca

Come visit us today!

CAMROSE 3720B-48 Avenue

Corner of Highways 13 & 26

Telephone: 780-679-0822 Toll free: 1-800-898-3336

A fun choice for after school care

By Murray Green

Children are being cared for in this community after the final school bell rings.

Since 1998, OSCAR Child Care has been providing essential and affordable after school care for children ages four and a half to 12, in Grades K to 6.

OSCAR is located at Chester Ronning, Jack Stuart, Sparling and École Sifton Schools. The program days of operation follow the Battle River School Division calendar, and operate from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Subsidy is available to any families who qualify.

“There are so many wonderful benefits to having your children attend the OSCAR program. These include children remaining safely supervised in the school or on school grounds until an authorized person signs them out from the care of our certified staff. OSCAR is licensed and held accountable to Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Regulations,” said Kandace Bonney, OSCAR director.

Children gain social, physical, intellectual and creative skills and emotional intelligence during fun and intentional programming based on their interests and abilities. Any family input is valued. The children love seeing themselves, their families, and their cultures represented at the OSCAR program. Children develop self-confidence and are better able to problem solve and apply critical thinking skills when they are in an atmosphere where they are praised often and know that they are valued. Children are also more likely to stay in school when they have participated in an after school care program such as OSCAR.

“OSCAR is an exciting and fun choice for any family requiring out of school care. Our registration is coming up in the beginning of June for the 2021-22 school year, so if you want to ensure a spot for your child or children in this great program, make sure to Like and Follow us on Facebook at ‘OSCAR Child Care Society’ and watch for more information. You can also look OSCAR up on the Camrose and District Support Services website https://camrosefcss.ca. We can also be reached at 780-672-0141,” added Kandace.

OSCAR is a program under Camrose and District Support Services.