Thursday, February 7, 2019
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
VOLUME 1 I ISSUE 32
SEE PAGES 13-16 FOR OUR MONEY MATTERS FEATURE
Women share their Me day GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. It was a great day to be a woman in Lloydminster at the eighth annual Inspiring Women Conference on one of the coldest days of the year. The elements and a great agenda conspired to fill and energize the Stockade Convention Centre right from the start of this year’s personal and development day for women on Feb. 5. “I think it’s fabulous; look around the room. There’s a buzz and the tables are filling up,” said Kelly Sidoryk, a partner with Terra Weaver in KT and Company that organizes the event. “It’s the coldest day of the year and it’s really a great opportunity for women to come out and network and support and learn.’” Sidoryk noted the conference is aimed at all women who will find something that applies or works for them with a panel discussion, breakout sessions and keynote speaker Jessica Tetu from Saskatoon to soak in.
Tetu is touted as a serial entrepreneur who founded the Just For You Day Spa including a Lloydminster outlet, and spoke about her life story and success. The event kicked off with a local threewomen panel of Marilyn Young, Olivia Brockoff and Brandi Hofer sharing their inspirational stories on stage. It was Hofer’s first time public speaking as a well-known artist, but her message hit the right inspirational tone with the audience despite being nervous. She says she watched a lot of Ted Talks on TV beforehand but didn’t think they helped her much. “I ended up with something really honest, a story about my life and my family and my experience growing up in Lloydminster,” said Hofer, who enjoyed being part of the conference. “I love events like this because it’s women coming together and you learn we are stronger as a group in the community.” The chance to net-
work brought Phyllis Maki from Community Futures Lloydminster and Region to her second straight conference, hoping it would be as inspiring as the title says. “It’s always fun to be with other women who want to make things happen in the community who are energized. It just gives you that energy as well,” said Maki. “Networking is part of the reason I wanted to come today and I brought some of my staff because it’s important for all of us to make those connections. The connections to me is the huge piece.” As for the weather, she said, “I just got back from Phoenix so I was wishing I had missed it actually.” Marilynn Mann says she just came to socialize with other women while noting despite the cold, the sun was shining and there was no wind, to add to the upbeat conference mood. “It’s just a good chance to get out and see people and hear
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Terra Weaver, left, and Kelly Sidoryk are co-owners of KT and Company that presented this year’s Inspiring Women Conference held at the Stockade Convention Centre on Feb. 5. Heather Klages acted as the MC of the event that included a panel of speakers, breakout sessions and a keynote speaker in a day of personal and professional development.
other people’s views,” she said. Elaine Knowlson from Lashburn says she came for the professional and personal aspect of the conference, while her friend Eleanor Pegg offered her own reasons. “I just thought it would be interesting and kind of a me day and maybe learn something,” said Pegg.
Women could also choose to attend any of four breakout sessions including one on courage presented by Lloydminster and District Co-op professionals Kristine Knourek and Leanne Hawes. “We’ve put together a presentation called the Courage Toolkit,” said Knourek, the Cop-op’s marketing and communications manager.
In a nutshell, the presentation was all about how to create space for yourself in non-traditional rolls. “We are going to be speaking about three specific aspects or tools that women can use to grab their courage in any scenario they may face,” explained Knourek. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6