Sharp Women Central Alberta | January 2021 by SharpWomen

welcome welc om e

letter from the editor JAN 2021

Happy New Year! It’s official, 2021 is here… time to put the past in the past and start with a fresh perspective. By just about any unit of measurement, 2020 was a tough one. From the pandemic to politics, we have been through a lot and a reset feels long overdue. At last, we are at the beginning of a brand new year. One dozen unsullied months teeming with potential for renewal, change and rebirth. Out with the old. In with the new... Easier said than done? Perhaps. It’s so tempting to imagine the economic and emotional turmoil of the last 12 months simply vanishing with the turn of a calendar page. We are reaching the end of January, and boy it’s been a doozy so far hasn’t it? Historic events aside, the outlook as we enter 2021 is “more of the same”. More of the same quarantine, caution, closed-in time at home. The “new car smell” of 2021 seems to slowly dissipate as life and its chaos starts to rub off on our shiny new planner and big dreams, making January feel… bleak. Can you relate? In our first issue of 2021 we are diving deep into all the aspects of how most women feel in January. Equally excited, equally terrified. January can be a particularly stressful month. You have the pressure and expectation to fulfill the amazing goals you set for yourself and business this year, alongside a ginormous to-do list, a massive overflowing inbox of unanswered emails all while trying to kick-off that one nasty habit as part of your New Year Resolutions… sigh. There is a reason that by mid-January, 80% of these resolutions are broken… But maybe have just been approaching January the wrong way. Winter is packed with metaphor: what is dormant is still alive, what appears dead isn’t. All is stripped bare to the structure. During this season of short days, we actually see more clearly than at any other time. In light of what was, we can see what is—the cycle that continues, even during the most difficult times. Nature adapts, lives on, and should we.

In this edition Myla Trenchuk in her piece “Breathe Life Into Your Goals” teaches us just that —how to adapt—and explains how to look into Goal-Setting from a different perspective.

In addition, Janice Hrushka shares with us actually doable steps on how to improve our wellbeing in the Health & Wellness column (yes… these really work!) and god-sent Lynn Gagne answers all the questions we’ve had for months giving all the nitty gritty deets from CRA in her article “Pandemic Bookkeeping: Clarity in the Chaos”. Need some inspiration? Our two amazing Featured Sharp Women (Emma Kunaka and Jillian Vukovich) will give you all the feels. I am probably biased—as this is my first edition as Editor-in-Chief—but I can confidently tell you each piece in this magazine is jampacked with wisdom and there is something for everyone. So, as we head into this new year, let’s not be afraid to embrace Ruby Cole-Ellis the wisdom of uncertainty. By Editor-in-Chief all means have a well-conceived Instagram: @rubycoleellis strategy, a focus, a plan but when the inevitable stumbling blocks appear on the path, we know now that there will be a silver lining and we aren’t alone on the journey. Be well my friends, and enjoy the read.

NOTICE & TERMS OF USE “The Editor reserves the right to proof and edit content, without changing the intent.The Editor reserves the right to challenge statements and assertions of fact where citations or proof of fact is not offered. Sharp Women Magazine reserves the right to reject material that promotes, in the view of the publishers, unsafe or unhealthy practices, hate speech or other inflammatory content. Online comments are subject to review and deletion if deemed inappropriate. The material and content on this site are for information purposes only. Sharp Women Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information, nor for any action taken as a result. Content has been contributed by individuals, events and/or organizations, and, as such, may not have been verified by the publishers. The opinions expressed in articles, features, ads and editorials are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the publishers. Any reproduction of the content and material in Sharp Women Magazine, without the express written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited, though sharing links to the magazine and/or its articles on social media, with credit, is permitted.”

SPIRITUALITY COLUMN

JANICE HRUSHKA Health & Wellness Column

MYLA TRENCHUK

MELODY KLINCK

Livinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Dream Column

LYNN GAGNE

Relationship Column

HEATHER EPP

Finance Column

Food Column

TA BLE

FELICIA KOCSIS not-for-profit column

KATRINA SHARPE Social Media Column

CINDY NEEDHAM Personal Growth Column

RACHEL BRAUN Leadership Column

NICOLE HOLINATY Professional Development Column

C O N T EN T S

04 RANCHELLE IN THE RAW THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: FACT OR FICTION 08 DATE WITH DANIELLE WHAT WOULD WE TALK ABOUT 10 LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE BREATH LIFE INTO YOUR GOALS 12 BUSINESS THE SALES HABIT: MAKE IT EASY 14 SPIRITUALITY SEARCHING FOR SACRED 16 RELATIONSHIPS MY JOURNEY THROUGH INFERTILITY 18 PERSONAL GROWTH EMBRACING THE STEPS UP THE MOUNTAIN 20 HEALTH + WELLNESS SMALLER STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU 24 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE ART OF COLLABORATION 26 FINANCE CLARITY IN THE CHAOS 28 FOOD ITALIAN ARTISAN BREAD 32 YOUNG ENTREPENEUR BREAKING STIGMAS 36 SHARP WOMAN FEATURE SPOTLIGHTING GREATNESS 42 NON-PROFIT THE MUSTARD SEED 44 SOCIAL MEDIA LINKEDIN 101 46 LEADERSHIP LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Our Contributors

Guest Contributors

ANDREA DILLINGHAM-LACOURSIERE

DANIELLE KLOOSTER RANCHELLE VAN BRYCE Co-Founder Sharp Women Co-founder Sharp Women

KELSEY EVANS Administrative Coordinator

LUCIA MORALES Executive Assistant

RUBY COLE-ELLIS Editor in Chief

RACHELLE SCRASE Director of Photography

from t h e C EO

So, there were millions of people running around thinking if they just had positive thoughts, positive affirmations that their life would magically change. Maybe you were one of those people? Or perhaps you know someone who read the book and then told you not to bother because it doesn’t work.

Why? Because the Universe cannot differentiate between a thought that comes from abundance or one that comes from lack. Just like if you plant a weed, a weed comes up, or if you plant a flower, a flower comes up.

Allow me to dig deeper with you and share what IS magical about this Universal Law.

“To desire is to expect - to expect is to achieve.” - Raymond Holliwell

This can happen when you first start living from the Universal Laws. You send out to the Universe what you desire, then you start to doubt if it’s possible, after all, you probably have tried this before or you will have some other ‘lack’ thought creep into your consciousness.

Understanding this Law Holliwell wasn’t the first author to chat about Law of Attraction, and, besides the bible, there are many authors who refer to this Law.

“The first phase of desire embraces a positive process of attraction; that is, when an individual earnestly desires a thing he sets up a line of force that connects him with the invisible side of the good desired. Should he weaken or change in his desire, that particular line of force is disconnected or misses its goal; but if he remains constant in his desire or ambition, the good demanded is sooner or later realized in part or in entirety. The principle involved is that you cannot long or yearn for anything unless it already exists, if not in form, then in substance; and ‘desire’ is the motive power for calling it forth into visible appearance or physical effect.”

•“Should he weaken or change in his desire, that particular line of force is disconnected or misses its goal…”

Here is something else that I think was missed in The Secret. When you send out your desire (I call it PINGING the Universe), the Universe conspires IMMEDIATELY to make the desire a reality. This is the magical part. It starts to align everything you need. However, what you need in order for that thing to happen more than likely requires you to change, or develop a new skill set, mindset or something else and SO…. the Universe presents an obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you. For example, you PING the Universe that you are ready to help more people in your business. Response: oh… yeah!!!! She is ready to serve more people. In order for that to happen she needs to know a bit more about XYZ. That day, week, month... someone phones you and says, hey… I have this XYZ thing for sale and I think you would benefit from it, here is how it will help you. You respond, oh, no thank you, I don’t have the ‘time, money, insert reason here’.

This is only ONE paragraph and has so much information to it. I could (and have!) spend about 45 minutes minimum diving into this paragraph. I will break this down in bite size pieces:

• “The first phase of desire embraces a positive process of attraction; that is, when an individual earnestly desires a thing he sets up a line of force that connects him with the invisible side of the good desired.” Here is what most people don’t know: a desire is different than a want. A desire comes from God /Spirit /Universe /Creator. Most of us are tapped into a WANT. A want looks like this: I have a business and revenue is needed to run my business. I look at my bank account and realize that I don’t ‘have’ enough money in my bank account (for whatever reason) so I WANT money. I feel like I don’t HAVE it and therefore I am in a state of lack. This is where, in my opinion, The Secret failed. They inferred that if I just stated that in a positive way, that I would attract that. The truth is that your sponsoring thought is one of lack so what you are sending out the Universe that you don’t have enough and so the Universe responds with more of what you are sending out. Not enough.

The Universe’s response? OH - I guess she really didn’t So, what does this mean for you? desire that thing. Okay, let’s stop conspiring with her. If you want to understand this Universal Law, I recommend The Universe does not necessarily respond to you in the you study Raymond Holliwell’s work, Working With The Law. way you think it should. It always responds, though.

The principle involved is that you cannot long or yearn for anything unless it already exists, if not in form, then in Reflect and Respond substance; and ‘desire’ is the motive power for calling it For today, reflect upon your daily thoughts. Are they thoughts forth into visible appearance or physical effect.” of gratitude and seeing the abundance in the world or are As I stated earlier, a desire comes from God /Spirit /Universe you constantly telling yourself and the Universe that you don’t /Creator. It is given to you and because it is given to you, have the time, the money, the patience? Are you taking time is part of your journey, part of your purpose, and you are to BE in a state of peace or are you stressed, anxious, have meant to have it. God would never set you up to have a doubt, worry and fear? desire and then say “HA- just kidding, you can’t have that!!”. Whatever is your ruling mental state, then you will continue What does he mean by ‘then in substance’? Simply put, if the to attract more of that. Why? Because the Universal Laws are desire is placed there, then the ways and means to create it like other Laws of Nature (the law of gravity), whether or not is there already. Let’s use Benjamin Franklin as an example. you know how to use it, it still applies to you. He had a thought about electricity. There was no such thing yet invented. According to Universal Laws it was available ‘in The key to a successful life is to live in the truth of the Universal the substance’. Because he had a desire to make the world Laws. They apply to everything and everyone so you might as a better place; he was given the way to make it happen. Did well learn how to apply them to your life. it happen overnight? No. Did it happen? Yes (whether it was Franklin or Tesla, the example is a good one, as most people If you want to have a deeper conversation and understanding of this, reach out to me and let’s have a conversation. know that Franklin spent years proving his theories). Ranchelle@SharpWomen.ca Till next time, stay real.

GET YO U R YE AR ST AR T ED W IT H SUC CE S S With interest rates sitting at an all time historic low (1.69% for a 5-year Fixed Rate), now is the perfect time if you've been considering refinancing or switching your current mortgage to a lower interest rate. Putting you on the path for greater financial success in 2021. When refinancing your mortgage, you have the flexibility to consolidate your credit line into your existing mortgage. Allowing you to reduce your overall interest paid, as the fixed interest rate is sitting below prime, which in many cases is lower than your credit line interest rate.

CHECK OUT THE SAVINGS ..... Original Mortgage: 3.18%

New Mortgage: 1.69%

$1,472 Monthly Payments: $1,462 Total Interest: $40,582 Balance at Maturity: $232,040

Monthly Payments: $1,269 Total Interest: $21,319 Balance at Maturity: $224,943

**based on a $279,751 mortgage amortized over 22 years

TOTAL SAVINGS OF $38,468 !!! My inspiration and drive in my business is to bring joy and savings to my clients. I love working with like minded individuals, which is why I'm excited to be working with Sharp Women Central Alberta, for this next year, as their exclusive Mortgage Specialist.

REACH OUT TODAY FOR A FREE RATE COMPARISON TO SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE AN EARLY RENEWAL

-Tanya Rogalcyzk

dat e w i t h da ni el l e

As cofounder of Sharp Women, I’m pretty passionate about our mandate and message. Talking about how we, as women, can live our lives on point is something I am always discussing. Why? Because it is not just the journey on which I hope and believe all women want to be on; it’s also my own journey. So, let’s say that as girlfriends, we set up a wine date. You can have tea or another beverage of your choice, of course, but the chances are high that, for me, it will be a glass of red. What would we talk about? Well, I think you see where this is going. Yes, we would talk about your life and mine. We would catch up on all the latest happenings. And, although I am a recovering politician, my social conversations are still frequently peppered with political and social commentary. So, all of those things would be on the table. But, inevitably, we would end up talking about where we’re at in our personal journeys.

Where you at? Being vulnerable is really important to me, and I am intentional when I share.

Sure, a person needs to earn the right to hear some of the really deep details of my story, and I am not one of those “I have no filter or boundaries” sharers. But, for me, living my life on point means that I am not in a relationship to put up a façade of perfection and only show the highlight reel of my life. I want connection. Real connection. The best way I know how to foster meaningful connections is to share stories of what I am learning about myself, where I struggle, and the “growing pains” of becoming my best self. I want to be in relationship with people who are willing to employ that kind of courage as well, for the sake of relationship and connection. If we were on a wine or coffee date, I would want to know where you are at in your journey. What kind of life are you creating? What are your dreams, your passions, your hopes and wishes? Where are you struggling or confused? Where is your pain? I’ll tell you my stories and you tell me yours. We’ll connect.

Me, Too I know that the #metoo movement is all about women identifying that they have been subjected to sexual harassment and assault, but, for me, there is another, equally important element to “me, too”. So often, we come to believe that we are the only one struggling with something; we are alone. Sharing vulnerable stories offers us the opportunity to find out that it’s not true. I’ll tell you a story (with permission). My business partner in Your Life on Point and Sharp Women, Ranchelle Van Bryce (you’ll meet her in the pages of this magazine), came to me a few years ago, before we had a business partnership or had even dreamed about this movement. I was running a business incubator and she was one of the coaches we utilized. She came to me to “confess” that she had been struggling with hustling for her selfworth and had been hiding in the emotional closet, and that had meant she hadn’t shown up as her best self. She took responsibility for her shortcomings and shared with me the mindset struggles she had been experiencing that had led to the behaviours. When she told me how she was feeling and thinking, telling herself stories about “not ______ enough” (smart, good, competent – fill in the blank), my response was, “But, Ranchelle – me too.” I, too, struggle with thoughts of not being enough, or sometimes, of being “too much”. Up to that point, she had been feeling like she was alone in her struggle, that everyone else had their poop in a scoop and it was only her who couldn’t get it together. It took a great deal of courage for her to share with vulnerability. When she understood that she was not alone, that I felt the same way much of the time, it gave her permission to change her story. And, moreover, it made her wonder how many other women were out there, believing they are not enough, and that they are alone. A year later, she brought to me the idea for an event for women. We created The Sharp Event, from which Sharp Women was born, and – voila! Here we are today. My “me, too” opened a door for Ranchelle, and opened a door for me. We connected on a whole new level, and now we have a passion to invite

other women to bring your “me, too” into this powerful place of connection and growth.

Give it a Try As a former politician and public figure, I understand how risky it can feel to be open and vulnerable. Yes, there are those who will judge and perhaps even try to use your vulnerable stories to hurt you. The hard truth is this: if you are going to be open to receive love, you are going to be vulnerable to receive pain. I think love and connection are worth the risk. Not just from a human standpoint, either. If I had not chosen vulnerability with Ranchelle that day, Sharp Women may not even exist. That’s pretty compelling.

li v in y ou r best l i f e

THE NEW YEAR is an ideal time to create new intentions and goals. It feels like a fresh sheet of paper full of possibilities. But two, maybe three weeks into the year, your motivation slows down. You no longer feel inspired and your efforts have taken a really slow pace. You might ask yourself, “what happened?” and you feel stuck. I know this has happened to me and if you can relate, we aren’t alone! According to a study* of 800 million userlogged activities, most people will give up on their New Year’s goals by January 19. So how can we stay on track to achieving our goals? Before I share some action steps for you to consider, let’s stop for a moment and take a look at the difference between goal setting and goal achieving. Both are necessary, but often people overlook the fact that there is a significant difference between the two. The intellectual process of determining the direction of your goals is goal setting. This involves using your mental faculties to reflect to the screen of your mind a crystal clear picture that you have created of what it is that you want. The process of getting emotionally involved in that crystal clear picture and moving towards the direction of that idea through your actions is goal achieving.

10 |

Here are some action steps you can take right now to move you towards making your clear picture come to life: •

Choose a goal that is not only challenging, but also one you are emotionally connected to. A goal that you are authentically excited about and it gives you that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling!

•

Decide and write down the date of when you want to reach your goal.

•

Create a goal that you have not achieved before. If you have done a similar thing in the past, it’s not a worthy goal and it will not inspire you.

•

Make a specific plan to accomplish your goal. I call this the Method And Plan for your success aka “your MAP”.

•

Form a list of people and other resources that may be of help to you in achieving your goal.

•

Start to think, feel and act as if the goal is already accomplished. Use your imagination to create the picture in your mind and work from that place. Imagine your goal achieved and how amazing it feels!

•

Shut out all negative influences - focus and think only of your goal. Be persistent. Create goal achieving habits and even when you don’t feel like it, do it anyway!

•

Have your goal written down and carry it with you; reading your goal card several times a day!

All (wo)men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous (wo)men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” (Quote by T.E. Lawrence *(wo) added by me!) Remember this - you CAN be, have, or do anything you want! The decision is yours to make! Put the actions steps into place and create the life that you truly desire! Start now. It’s your time! *Research by Strava as published in Inc.com January 3, 2020

Myla Trenchuk is a Mindset + Success Coach helping individuals reclaim their spark! She is a wife to Rob and a mama of four girls. More info at www.mylatrenchuk.ca

bubsui sniensess s

The Sales Habit: Make it Easy

often batted around the halls of entrepreneurship. So, I think the first thing to address would be those silly stories. After all, if you don’t have sales, you don’t have a business. So, we can eliminate the I don’t like sales story right off the bat. You do like sales, because that is how money comes into your business. You like making money? Then you like sales.

I am currently rereading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, which is, at the title would suggest, a fantastic walkthrough how to create great and powerful habits that can really catapult you forward in your life and business.

You might be thinking – with some annoyance – “Thanks, Tips! Of course, I want to make money. Of course, I know I need to sell. But it’s hard and I hate it and I’m bad at it.” By believing and saying these stories, you are actually putting up roadblocks to success.

BY DANIELLE KLOOSTER

The book basically lays out for laws for creating stellar habits, based on the foundations of quite primal human behaviour: cue, craving, response, reward. Using this fourstep path, Clear offers this formula, which he calls the “Four Laws” of successful habit formation:

• • • •

Make it obvious. Make it attractive. Make it easy. Make it satisfying.

One of the things I hear most often from clients is how “hard” they find sales. Statements like, “I’m not a salesman”, “I don’t like sales”, or the ever popular “I’d rather have a root canal than have to sell” are phrases

And, as my business partner Ranchelle often says, everyone is a salesperson. If you’ve ever convinced your parents to take you to McDonalds, your kids to eat vegetables, or your partner to watch a chick flick with you, you’re in sales. The good news here is that you can change the story you’re telling yourself and set up systems that make sales much easier and more successful.

Cue, Craving, Response, Reward Habitual behaviour is different from non-habitual behaviour in one striking way: use of energy. When you think about it, the amount of energy you have to expend to engage in your habits, things with which you are comfortable and familiar, is far less than what you have to put into things that are not

habitual. For example, if you are driving somewhere new, you must be alert and aware, paying attention to street signs and your GPS. Driving home from work can become so automatic that you might arrive in your driveway and not even remember the trip. Familiarity made it easy and used less energy, freeing up your brain power to be used on other things, like making mental lists or listening to a podcast. In terms of the four laws of habit formation, you can Make it Obvious by putting sales into your calendar and daily work plan for every day. Every. Day. Make a commitment to do three sales and marketing activities every day you work, put it in your calendar and don’t book anything else at that time. That ping from your calendar will act as a cue for you. Engaging in sales is obviously already attractive, in that it generates revenue. However, if that attraction isn’t strong enough for you, consider upping the attractive factor by employing the fourth law: Make it Satisfying. Consider setting up a reward system for yourself. It could start with something like, “When I make ten sales calls in a week, I will reward myself with an afternoon off”, and build up to “Every time I make a sale, I will have a chocolate.” Okay, yes, that could ostensibly lead to a lot of chocolate consumption, so maybe you’ll come up with something else, but you get the idea.

Regarding practice, the only real way to get good at something is to do it. Remember your first day of work at a new job? I do, and I remember it always involved high stress levels and lots of energy use. Once I’d been at that job for a decent while, the amount of energy required for completing tasks was reduced because practice and repetition made it easier.

Get Help It’s important that you talk this through with your business coach and nail down a sales plan and process that serves you and works for you. You get to decide and make it yours. But, if your current sales habits and processes - or lack thereof – are not giving you the business experience you desire, the good news is that help is available, and you can change that experience. You can make it easy!

How Do I Make it Easy? The answer to making it easy is found in two words: systems and practice. Systems can and probably should include some automation, like an email marketing campaign, scheduled social media posts, and setting up autopay options for customers. Also, it’s really important to have a great plan and process for yourself. Being clear on your value proposition, having a strong elevator pitch and good supporting key messages, and having a good sales process blocked out are foundational things you do once, and tweak as needed. When you stammer and fish about for words, you reinforce your fear and resistance to selling. The dreadful combination of having both a mindset block and also not being prepared makes for a very stressful experience and will lead to more reluctance on your part, not to mention increasing the likelihood of getting a “no”.

DANIELLE KLOOSTER Co-Founder of SHARP WOMEN

Taking the time to get your game plan in place will go a long way toward making it easier to do sales, so long as you don’t use it as an opportunity for pocrasti-planning (an awesome Brene Brown word).

spi r i t u a l i ty

I HAD A GOOD LAUGH, when I was asked to write a few words about spirituality for Sharp Women of Central Alberta. Truth be told, I don’t consider myself much of a spiritual person. I’ve never been able to compartmentalize who I am, and why that is. How could I be living my most authentic journey on this ball of gas with having to pretend to be someone of one group, and shift up or down for another? Not this woman. If we’re doing this thing called life right, we shouldn’t need to, either.

Religious Foundations My relationship with faith and organized religion has been complicated from the get-go. My dad was a staunch atheist (raised Jewish in Montreal), my mom the good Roman Catholic turned born-again Christian later in her life, born and raised in Red Deer. My dad, a public-school teacher, didn’t believe we should attend Catholic school, and my stay-at-home mom’s compromise was for us to go to catechism, Sunday school and mass. I spent more time in religious studies going to public school than I would have any other way. I will say this however, I appreciated the rituals, they were grounding, thoughtful and meditative, and those have stuck with me long since after attending mass on the regular. And while the appreciation for red wine is strong, I sometimes still get a hankering for a eucharist wafer. Ever since I can remember, when sifting through all things that were deemed worthy of devotion, even as a small child, confusion took the wheel. In my youthful understandings of Catholicism, I thought that, to be sacred, there is a connotation of gilded reverence, forebodingness, tightly locked away relics only the highest ranking holiest held keys to. These divine antiquities whose sole purpose is to bind us further in unwavering beliefs and passed down lyrical miracles we must blindly accept ensures the perpetuity of one of the oldest, most successful business models, organized religion.

Lyrical Miracles? These last few years of my life have been anything but lyrically miraculous though. Unhealthy relationships steeped in forever promises ended. The heartbreaking unexpected loss of family, of friends, shook me deeply, to my core. Insecurities abound when footing feels less than secure any way that the compass is pointed. The general frenzied state of the world, and the callouses we build up to insulate and without cognition, disconnect. Most of those incidents would test a person’s faith if they were inclined to lean in that direction. But what if you don’t? How do you yell at a god you don’t know exists? I wondered why I was feeling so isolated and vulnerable, hurt and scared. In between all of that, I

was desperate to anchor myself to something meaningful, something challenging and fulfilling and sustainable, worthy and relatable, never demanding attention but still offering a space for devotion, all at once.

Searching for the Sacred I looked and searched and tried and looked again. For years I blindly pursued that which had been identified as sacred, magic, that-which-refuses-to-be-named-but-is-undeniablewhen-found through books, travel, music, art, film, social justice, stories entrusted to me. You know the ones; those instances that bring us closer to god/enlightenment/the feeling of something beyond this experience, this plain. The physical manifestations of sacredness were all I sought after, which is different than searching for god. At least for me it was. Still is, actually. It became harder to find in manifested or manufactured ways, and over the past year, impossible, thanks wholly to COVID-19. I looked, and took to nature, and found almost what I was looking for. An extension of disconnect and a never drying well of ‘awe inspiration’. Something I had nothing to do with creating or maintaining (apart from being a decent human being and one that doesn’t deny climate change), could affect my day-to-day through its beauty and mere existence still brings me to my knees and is worthy of my devotion. But now there is more to it. As I have come into knowing myself, my unapologetic existence as a person that truly tries to abide within the confines of “do no harm but take no sh*t”, became a recognition that maybe we are the stuff of ancient stars, of life creating terrestrial combustion, a happy little accident of epic proportions. That the A-negative blood coursing through this body to these hands that get older each year still have a want to create, to make, to hold. Therein lies the sacred in all of us. We are all divine creatures, omnipotent deity not included. It is in us. We are it. We have never needed to look further than the mirror and the window to see how we can change the world, even if it is simply our own version of it.

Andrea Dillingham-Lacoursiere is a mother, an auntie, a daughter, an advocate, an accomplice, and ally, and a fierce and loyal friend.

re la t i on s h i ps

AS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP, I never had any reason to doubt that one day I would be a mother. It was always the strongest desire in my heart, and everyone who knew me knew that was my destiny. It would be fair to say that the beginning of my journey with infertility came as a shock to me. I never imagined that when the time was right, that my body would deceive me. The struggle lasted 4 years. During those years I would become painfully aware of what I lacked. Although 1 in 6 couples experience infertility in Canada, I had not been familiar with anyone in the process and I would come to realize the reality is treating infertility is always a gamble.

Starting a Marathon

After 4 years, in October 2015, on our 8th attempt we were finally successful! I will never forget the sheer excitement and fear we felt. Our daughter Grace was born on June 10, 2016 and our daughter June was born on December 11, 2017. Our family was complete. Each pregnancy came with many challenges. Both pregnancies were twins. Each twin passing at about 8-9 weeks. Grace was born with the cord around her neck and I had a placental abruption with June. However, both are vibrant, energetic, sweet, beautiful and perfect. We are the luckiest parents, and I am beyond blessed that these two call me mom.

Greatest Trial, Greatest Triumph

At 36, I was rushed to Red Deer Regional Hospital with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. At that point, we were referred to a high-risk pregnancy doctor and then within months to the Regional Fertility Clinic in Calgary. For the next 4 years, we tried multiple concoctions of medications, numerous injections and procedures. Our life consisted of calendars, charts, clocks, appointments, needles, bloodwork, ultrasounds and scheduled intimacy.

Although most of us will have to experience heart wrenching adversity in our life, Infertility proved to be my greatest trial. Saying that, Infertility humbled me. It was raw, it was real, it was emotional. I am a better person and have grown to appreciate so many things about myself. Infertility gifted me with an abundance of compassion. Not only for other couples in the infertility roller-coaster but for all individuals and couples experiencing turmoil. I learned the invaluable lesson of self-compassion, to honor and accept my humanness.

We attempted multiple IUIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Intrauterine Inseminations) and multiple rounds of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). I was drained. The emotional, not to mention financial, toll was adding up and it was exhausting, in every sense of the word.

I learned sometimes life does not follow our desired timeline. I find it is easy to get caught up in this notion of how our life should go, and we do not plan for how it could go. I have learned that timing plays an undeniable role in our life.

Photo Credit: Infinity Brand Photography We are given blessings when we are ready to genuinely appreciate them. Destiny can always dictate something to happen but when and how it happens in a matter of timing. I learned that being vulnerable in this whole process is the game changer. You need to feel every emotion you are experiencing. It is impossible to grieve alone. There were days that I would push my husband away and tell everyone I was fine. Fine is just a biproduct of fear. I was scared, in fact I was terrified. What if I would never know the feeling of being a mother? This journey is so isolating and lonely. Some days were next to impossible. Some days you cannot see through your own tears. It is those soul crushing moments in my journey that have allowed me to look at my daughters, especially in those moments of absolute sheer chaos (because they do happen) and see them both for what they truly are. They are miracles, they are our miracles. I am beyond grateful, and gratitude has allowed me to fall in love with the life I have, the struggle we endured getting here, and it continues to help me make sense of life and bring peace to every new day. Sometimes, women become the strongest mothers before their children are ever conceived.

Melody Klinck is the owner of Inspiring Virtues and resides in Red Deer, AB with her husband Lewis and their two daughters. She is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and aims to give back and assist people experience grief through loss or change, with a mission toÂ Empower and Elevate women, girls and parents to step into and to own their value and have

p er son al gro wth

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY TIME, space and how we as humans fit in to it all. Right from going to the planetarium in grade school, I was hooked on learning about the sweet mysteries of life. Over the past 30 years I have been exploring the relationship between the mind, body and spirit. Throughout this time, I began to connect the dots and see the bigger picture. I started to see the precious and amazing gift that life is. I believe that we are here to experientially learn who we are. What seem like random events, are moments in time for you to experience yourself. It is how we choose to respond to these events, that makes a difference in the results we get in life and the lessons we learn.

BREAST CANCER MOUNTAIN Breast cancer is one of the most challenging events that I have faced so far in my life and that includes losing my mom, dad and granny at a fairly young age. Breast Cancer is an event in my life, that to this day, is still teaching me lessons about who I am. Let me share how this journey started for me… After my call back mammogram, I was told to sit and wait for an ultrasound. That was when my Spidey sense went off and I felt fear wash over me. I knew that my life was

about to change. I knew that it was going to be a roller coaster of a ride, but I also knew it was just an event in my soul’s journey. Every time I felt my body prickle with fear, I reminded myself that I couldn’t change the situation, only how I chose to respond to it. The moment the radiation tech called my name, I decided to stand tall, embrace my inner warrior and stare fear in the eye. A couple of weeks later when I heard my diagnosis, I pictured beating breast cancer as climbing the hardest mountain I have ever hiked. I knew that with one step at a time I would get to the top. I was ready to conquer cancer.

ONE STEP AT A TIME One step at a time is needed to get through a lot of dark, challenging moments in life. One step at a time helps you see, understand and accept what is in front of you, so you can respond to the challenge from a place of empowerment instead of fear. One step at a time helped me understand the rough terrain I was on. I couldn’t change that I was going through breast cancer, but I could choose to stay connected to my inner warrior and bring the light to snuff out the darkness of fear. I will never forget the feeling of victory as I hit the top of that beast of a mountain. I felt like a warrior through

and through. My body was fatigued and battered, yet at the same time my spirit felt strong. I learned how all of the work I had done over the past 3 decades made a profound difference on my mindset. Even though breast cancer was challenging me in every way possible, I still felt in control because I was handling the chaos from a state of empowerment. After getting to the top, I realized quickly, cancer wasn’t the straight up and down mountain like I pictured. Dealing with the fallout from the surgery, chemo, radiation and hormone therapy was a crazy and intense mountain range all on its own.

ME 2.0 I chose to embrace the craziness by calling myself Cindy 2.0. I was the same, yet different and I was determined to figure out how this new version of myself was going to work. What I quickly learned, was the faith and mindset that got me through treatment was going to be the same mindset that gets me through this entire journey. I couldn’t change the mountain I was standing on I could only choose how I wanted to respond to it. Life sure does challenge us, and if we choose to, it will also expand us in amazing and unexpected ways. I would never have thought that going through breast cancer would lead me to my life’s purpose. Yet, it has. Remember, how you respond to the events in your life shape who you are and determine the results you get!

Cindy Needham is the Founder of Thrive the Climb ~ Staying empowered through breast cancer and Author of The Pink Mountain ~ How to stay positive through breast cancer from diagnosis, to treatment & beyond.

he alt h & w e ll ness

Photo Credit: Infinity Brand Photography

Each year as we head into a new year, millions of people make resolutions. Many of those are related to wellness, and although we try to come up with new trends, many concepts still stand the test of time – eat your vegetables, exercise 4-5 days per week, get plenty of sleep, and include self-care. Many of you may have begun your New Year’s Resolution……. and many of you may have already abandoned the quest. We often choose an extreme challenge, or radical change, trying to dramatically alter our lifestyle for maximum benefits. But, maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to take as much effort as you may think, and this year more than ever, many people are looking for change. When we look to a person of optimal health, their lives are composed of many small, healthy habits they follow daily. They aren’t complicated, in fact living a healthy lifestyle can often simplify your life in many ways, as it creates a routine. It is a sincere want for change, and some motivation. If change is what you are looking for, then replacing some of the old habits with new ones into your routine can be simple.

get the 7-8 hours of sleep needed each night. A good night’s sleep is a marker for good health, and it doesn’t just help with thinking clearly, or more energy, it also helps with our healthy eating goals!

4. Eat your veggies... and fill half of your plate with them! Along with the vegetables, a quarter of your plate should include healthy carbohydrates, a quarter with lean proteins, and a dollop of healthy fats.

Spend a little time each day meditating. Meditation practices have become a common way for people to destress, manage sleep, promotes emotional health, and reduces anxiety. It’s an excellent way to decompress and get perspective.

It is all in the setting a Routine A routine is a sequence of tasks you do daily, such as brushing your teeth in the morning. Over time these routines become automatic, we often do them without thinking, and they help to give our day structure. Routines can be the foundation we lay for positive impacts to our health and life. This allows us to take baby steps, avoiding the extreme challenges or radical changes, and allows us to achieve small successes that empower us to accomplish big things. Small repeated daily actions can greatly influence our wellbeing. When it comes to healthy habits, small decisions add up over time. My advice is to start small, and grow from there. The impact these changes can have over your health and wellness are totally worth it!

Here are 5 suggestions to help get you started: 1. Drink 1 extra glass of water each day. Having enough water is imperative to your body working optimally, and we often get busy and forget to drink enough. Some tips to help you: bring a water bottle to work with you, use a timer or an app, or purchase a fun bottle. 2. Take a 10-minute walk daily.

Even a 10-minute walk daily can have a positive impact on your health. A 10-minute commitment can lead to 15, then 20, then 30 minutes and more as your endurance improves.

Go to bed half an hour earlier. We lead busy lives and often like to burn the midnight oil. Many of us just don’t

Rethink your New Year’s resolution, and start your journey off with a celebration. I love the sense of new beginnings that a new calendar year brings. Get excited about taking smaller steps towards a healthier you!

Wellness is not about quick fixes, slow and steady wins the race! Creating small changes will lead to positive results, and those positive results eventually graduate to greater successes. As we head into 2021, I welcome you to join my free “Balanced & Wellness” Facebook Group. This is a yearlong women’s weekly challenge program for 2021 designed to help you meet those health & wellness goals one step at a time.

Janice is certified in Holistic Nutrition, as well as Blood Microscopy. With a clinic in Red Deer, Janice works with her clients in person and at a distance. Her holistic approach considers the whole person - mind, body, spirit - helping people through diet and a balanced lifestyle. Through her one-to-one sessions, health assessments, meal planning, and Live & Dry Blood Analysis, she guides her clients, to achieve optimal health and wellness. www.balancedterrain.com

prof e s s i o n a l dev el opm ent

The Art of Collaboration B Y N I C O L E H O L I N AT Y

Are you strategic with your collaborations? What kind of professionals do you attract? As the Director of Business Development and Communications for the Red Deer Regional Airport, my role includes responsibility for the marketing efforts, community involvement, and growth of the Red Deer Regional Airport. Having key strategic partnerships is imperative to both myself as an individual as well as our organization, and those partners having the same long-term goals helps immensely! Alongside my fantastic team, we have been able to change the idea of traditional marketing within central Alberta and create an atmosphere that focuses on giving back to the community and hosting events that will better the charitable causes of the region. This drive is not accomplished without the assistance of key community leaders and innovators who share our vision, share our business culture, and share our desire to drive Central Alberta further.

Who You Attract is no Accident When we think about our professional lives, it is important to remember that who you surround yourself with is no accident. Who you attract is no accident. And most importantly, who you collaborate with is no accident. You reached out to these people and they were attracted to you in much the same way you were attracted to them.

You share a mutual viewpoint and drive that is matched only by your desire for outcomes. These viewpoints may come from you as a business, but also may come from you as an individual. You are attracting LEADERS by being a leader; DOERS by being a doer. And your base fundamentals are the driving force behind this big attitude I like call ENTHUSIASM! So now the big question, but where am I going to find these individuals? And this is where I offer my largest piece of advice: get involved. Join that board of directors who work towards the betterment of an organization that you believe in. Participate in a fundraiser that your heart is set on, and even better, offer to hep their team organize it! Get involved in your community, meet those in your area (they chose to live there and start a business there too, so you already have a ton in common), and don’t be shy! For most this initial step will seem outside of your comfort zone, but with practice and enthusiasm, you will be introducing yourself to the leaders of your community and networking with the best of the best.

Making Magic And that is where the magic starts. You will meet others who want lead, others who want to do, and others who believe in what you believe in. You will form a network of amazing human beings who will be there to support your cause when you are ready, because you have supported theirs. It is no surprise that those who volunteer seem to be everywhere, or that those who sit on boards bring the expertise to MANY organizations.

Nicole Holinaty is a marketing and communications expert who calls Red Deer County home. With over 15 years of marketing leadership under her belt, she is a collaborations and partnerships guru with an eye for community involvement and innovative communications strategies.

f in an c e

LYNN GAGNE

Lynn of BWize Consulting & Training is a certified professional bookkeeper who spent more than 30 years running different businesses, including owning a professional bookkeeping firm with more than 300 clients over a period of ten years. She built her company around providing tools to small business owners so they can keep more money in their pocket.

Last year, 2020, will forever be branded as the challenging year of the pandemic. Many businesses have taken advantage of the various relief programs, including CERB, CEWS, CEBA, CERS, RRRF, and LEEFF. There seems to be an acronym for everything and not a lot of understanding of the rules that apply. As we move into 2021, Canada Revenue Agency has begun to ask for proof and validity of the money that people have claimed. As many business owners took the relief offered while in panic mode, there wasn’t a lot of thought given to qualifiers or whether or not they actually needed it. A lot of the money taken has already been spent and is no longer available. Best efforts were made to save the business and, for some, now there is no money and no business. It is, indeed, a sad financial and tax situation this year. Bookkeepers and accountants are confused about the rules and how they apply. Ironic, as this is our business! As a business owner, if you are feeling confused, you are certainly not alone. In a situation where money is tight and you may not have the funds to pay some professionals to do your books properly, it is even more important that your books are done! Unfortunately, Canada Revenue Agency isn’t likely to consider the affordability of bookkeeping help as an excuse why your taxes aren’t done. Rather, they’re most likely to quote Division B, Subdivision A, section 6, vii as a reason why you cannot claim your vehicle expenses as presented. (Even an accountant would have to look that one up!)

When money gets tight, the stress level rises, and we’re prone to make decisions we wouldn’t otherwise make. So, what should a business owner do if they took government relief money during the pandemic? Even if you can’t afford to pay a professional, here are some things you can do: Have a system of organization. There is nothing more expensive than being unorganized. Implement a system of some type that keeps you organized. Get your bookkeeping up to date. Spend some time updating your books, because books that are behind are difficult to get caught up. Details are forgotten, receipts are missed. Additionally, you can incur huge penalties and interest with Canada Revenue Agency if you are behind. If you do work with a professional, remember they aren’t mind readers. They work with what you give them, so the more in order your books are, the more accurate they will be. Payroll and GST money are sacred. This is not an area that you want to make mistakes in or apply the “rob Peter to pay Paul” theory. Incorrectly calculating or spending payroll and GST money can get you into trouble faster than almost anything else. Know what you’re doing and make sure that you are completely up to date. Know what to do if Canada Revenue Agency calls you. As someone who has helped out with a lot of audits, the worst thing you can do is make commitments to Canada Revenue Agency and then not follow through. What will you do if Canada Revenue Agency calls? Handle it yourself? Have someone to help you? Call your accountant? I personally think that if you took money from the government, they will be calling you. Not IF, but WHEN. Avoid the stress altogether and have a plan for what you will do and say when the time comes. Do not present a disorganized state to Canada Revenue Agency. In helping with audits and trust exams in the past, I’ve found that the worst thing you can do is be disorganized in presenting information to Canada Revenue Agency. An audit or trust exam can be very invasive. This is not the time to try to hide truths; this is a time to present the facts in a way which anyone can understand. Plan. How will you pay back the money you have borrowed? What is the long-term plan? What is your budget? How are you pivoting in business? You may want to use the pandemic downtime to re-write your business plan. Doing this can provide amazing clarity and is a great place to generate ideas. If you can’t write your own business plan, you may find that your business is no longer viable, and some serious changes need to be made. A business plan should be a working document for yourself to keep on track of your business.

REGISTER HERE Take the time to get educated on Canada Revenue Agency “compliance” vs “collections”. This is an important distinction. When money is tight, you are going to want to understand the difference and how it may apply to you. You will have to make decisions about where the money goes and understanding this difference between these two terms can be (literally) the difference between business success and failure. Above all, don’t be discouraged. Tax professionals, legal experts, credit counsellors and other business owners, among others, are all working hard on the impact of the pandemic on businesses and the upcoming tax season. Follow up often with your tax professionals or be on the lookout for credible resources that can help you navigate your way now and in the new year.

fo od

PREPARATION: Mix the yeast and water together and set aside. While yeast is activating mix your flour and salt together.

Ingredients: 3 cups flour

After yeast has bloomed mix it in with your flour and salt mixture. Mix as best you can it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix completely. Cover mixture with plastic wrap and set aside overnight or 6-8 hours. Pre-heat oven time 450 with Dutch oven inside.

2 teaspoons salt (or to taste) 1.5 cups room temperature water 1 teaspoon yeast

While oven is preheating take dough out of bowl and form into a ball and place on parchment paper. Let rest for 30 min. Place in Dutch oven with the lid on for 30 min. After 30 min remove the lid and place back inside the oven for 12 min. Remove Dutch oven and remove the bread and place it on a cooling rack. Serve with favourite toppings and enjoy!

Heather Epp, CTC Travel Designer The Wandering Foodie Travel Ltd. www.thewanderingfoodie.ca

pr i n t a bl e

p rint abl e

y o u n g e n trepeneur

Her main goal in life is to break stigmas… from stigmas of poverty and wealth, to stigmas around money or breaking glass ceilings that still exist around women in the business and finance world.

“We thought we would come out, make some money and go back… and ended up absolutely falling in love with the community! Just like that we knew we had found home”, she says.

Jillian’s nurturing instincts are deeply rooted in her. She went to school for Psychology and thought her career would stay in the lines of counselling, nursing or paramedics. “I've always been a helper... but I'm very empathetic and didn't really know if those fields of work would resonate well in the long term”, she adds.

Back home, Jillian had worked in some financial institutions, and didn't really like the banking side, so she had ruled the idea of staying in the industry. But, after the move to Central Alberta, something reignited the idea that it might be a good fit for her.

The Big Move In November 2014 Jill and her husband moved to Alberta from their hometown in Ontario following the liquid black dream, originally for a short-term plan.

“I started looking into different firms here in Red Deer that dealt with financial planning, taking the time to understand their culture, their mission, their vision; and I landed on IG Wealth Management because the company really aligned with the vision of what I wanted for a career”, Jill explains. She has been a Financial Advisor with the company since 2016.

as to what to do with that income in case something unexpected happened. That was such a huge push for me to this industry. I believe that my parent’s story is a very common story. I believe that there are a lot of people out there who work incredibly hard for what they have, but they're not prepared for any of the unexpected things that can happen,” Jill adds.

A Difficult Conversation Money is something that most people don't feel very comfortable talking about. “It is unbelievable the amount of shame that surrounds money and it's crazy because it's literally both sides of the spectrum… From people who are ashamed they make too little money to people who are ashamed they make too much and don’t know what to do with it,” she says. For Jillian it is extremely important to create a really comfortable space where her clients can just be open and honest and talk about it all... the good, the bad, the ugly. She strives to make people feel confident in the choices that they're making and be able to assure them they will be okay regardless of what the future holds. But it is not as simple as that. Jillian recognizes that there are a lot of stereotypes she needs to break about her profession. Let’s face it, there's every movie out there about people on Wall Street with their fancy lifestyles taking advantage of everyone.

A Personal Motive Reflecting on her career journey, Jill shares with us that the inspiration to get into Financial Planning was her own family. Her dad had a successful 30-year career as a contractor that ended abruptly 3 years ago after being diagnosed with cancer, forcing her mother to quit her job to look after him. 6 months later, her father had to shut down his company, leaving her parents in a difficult situation.

“... though they had very successful lives and had great incomes, they never had any guidance as to what to do with that income in case something unexpected happened.

“Albertans work really hard for their money —especially in this current climate—so important for me to lift the stigma that financial planners don't have your best interest at heart. I assure you, that their best interests are the only thing that I have in mind because I truly believe if I do the right thing for my clients and the people in my life, the universe is going to give that back to me.”

The Gender Barrier As fulfilling as this career has been for Jillian, it has not come with its own set of challenges. Jillian quickly identified that she was a minority in a very male-dominated industry. “There are not a lot of women in high-level finance. And so, it was hard having to battle the stigma that I wasn't going to make it, because it was put upon me that women don’t make it far in this industry… It was a constant fight to ensure myself that I am smart enough, worthy enough, talented enough.” she points out. It would take her time to realize that as a woman, brought her own set of skills and attributes that were different from anyone else out there. In addition, Jillian also identified that women tend to be excluded from finance in general. “As an economy we've come so far but there is still a belief that women don't know as much or shouldn't be involved in the family business or financial decisions”. With the utter fact that women are going to hold about 50% percent of the wealth in the next 10 years she found a passion to educate as many women in finance as possible.

10 years she found a passion to educate as many women in finance as possible. “As this Baby-Boomer Generation transitions and unfortunately passes away, that wealth trillions of dollars is moving to women in Canada. The sad fact is that some women don't feel confident enough to go and have a conversation with a man because sometimes they feel talked down to, or feel embarrassed... And so, I think the more women we have in this space and in this field the more open conversation and context we can have surrounding money. The more education they have, the more comfort they can experience which translates to more empowerment, which will benefit us all,” she explains.

Giving Back With no friends or family in Red Deer, Jillian got extremely involved in volunteering as she recognized it was a great way to meet people and understand how the community worked. Jillian is part of the Red Deer District Community Foundation and the Women of Excellence Awards Committee. She is also a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House and the Canadian Blood Association. In addition, two years ago created a charity fundraiser event for The Mustard Seed called “Bowls for Bellies”; and it's a soup cook-off between 15 different restaurants with over 350 attendees from all of Central Alberta. This was an incredible proud moment for her, not only because she was able to coordinate the entire event from the ground up, but because the work of The Mustard Seed hits home. “My dad was homeless when he was young. I personally understand a lot of the struggles some of our community members go through, you know? I think we're all truly fortunate regardless of where we feel we are in life in comparison to a lot of places in the world. And so, I think it's incredibly important to give back,” Jill shares.

The Gift of COVID The COVID-19 has affected us all, and it would be an understatement to say it did not affect the Financial World. However, Jillian has found that the pandemic allowed her and her company to pivot and stand-out from others in the industry. Being able to communicate with her clients digitally, Jillian has been able to serve her clients more efficiently and expand her book of business out of Red Deer to all of Alberta. With 50% of Albertans living pay check to pay check, COVID-19 also forced a lot of conversations about money. Jillian was able to be of service and become an educator in a time of misinformation and chaos. “At the beginning, people didn't understand what was happening. We had the second largest rapid fall in the market place in history and people weren't being communicated with, which caused fear, which caused terrible decisions. I was able to share my knowledge in a time of need and get referrals of people who in other circumstances would have never reached out and make a difference in their lives,” she adds.

Bright Future Ahead In her 5-year career with IG Wealth Management, Jillian has achieved many designations and hit prestigious milestones, like becoming the first female Division Director for her company in Red Deer. But she does not want to stop there: “I would love to get to some sort of other first for females in my company and in the (Financial) Industry. I think it's really important to show that women can do just as good—if not, I argue for a better—job as Financial Planners,” she says. Jillian hopes to continue to grow her business, network and team. But, her most important goal is to keep educating women on financial literacy. “My biggest dream is I want my name to resonate as an educator, and as someone who empowers women to feel really confident with any decision they make, but in particular with those that affect their financial well-being in their financial future.”

“I’m really inspired by others,” she says. “My mom was such an inspiration. Raising six kids as a single mom, she always made sure we lacked nothing. Education was a major focus, which has served me well in my life. So, now I have a big soft spot for women. And I am a big encourager. When a woman is facing a crisis, I am going to sit with her and cry with her, but I am also going to encourage her and work with her to find solutions. I believe we all have tremendous gifts and potential. My gifts and calling might be different than yours, but I want to help you find yours and step into them.” Serving others in this way, Emma believes, enables her to fulfill her calling and live to her highest potential. “I think we all have our moments when we feel like we’re not measuring up,” she shares, “but I don’t dwell on it. I refuse to settle there and live in that mindset. Every day, I set my intention to do the best I can. Of course, my faith is a big part of that. But as well, I believe you consistently have to speak to yourself, to speak to your mind, to speak to your calling and your gifts and then go for it.” Emma says her best day is any day she can help a woman work through a challenge and come to this point.

When Emma Kunaka and her husband moved to Dallas, Texas from Zimbabwe, they thought it was only going to be for a few years, to take some post-secondary education, and then they’d go back. Life had other plans. Instability in Zimbabwe and other circumstances led them, twelve years ago, to Central Alberta, where Emma is now the Community Care and Internationals Pastor at Home Church. “We love it here very much,” she says. “My oldest son was born in Africa, but was young when we moved, and my two younger ones were born in Texas. We tell them stories of what life was like in Africa, but it’s very foreign to them because they never lived it. We’ve been back to visit twice, but this is home. We’re proud Canadian citizens.” In her role at Home Church, she takes care of many things, including connecting people to resources, based on their needs. Though this is very practical work, it is also work that comes from a heart of compassion, and Emma says that, because she is sensitive and genuinely cares, she often ends up crying on the phone with the person facing the crisis. She considers it a privilege to serve people.

Pulling Out the Potential in Others Emma’s “why” is to live to her full potential within her giftings and to help others realize their gifts and potential as well.

A Community of Support Since Emma believes that one of the most important ways to advance in life and meet one’s full potential is to be intentional in building a strong support network, she has started a podcast called Spotlighting Greatness. Available on YouTube and Facebook, her intention is to take the platform to global heights. “There’s a lot of laughing, and a lot of crying,” she says, “but there is something life-changing about connecting to other women’s very real stories and hearing how they overcame their challenging experiences and moved into victory.

Emma Kunaka is the Community Care and Internationals Pastor at Home Church. She and her husband Gilmore live in Red Deer and are the parents of three sons. Emma is also the founder of a podcast called Spotlighting Greatness, which can be found on YouTube and Facebook.

Emma shines a light on other women and supports them to live to their fullest potential. In so doing, she is living in, and shining a spotlight on, her own greatness and conquering strength as well.

THE POWER OF

COLLABORATION Courage. Caring. Collaboration. Curiosity. Critical Thinking.

Karen Brault

The culture of RSM Canada is exemplified by what RSM Canada deems the “5 Cs.” At the Red Deer and Sylvan Lake offices, team members put the 5 Cs into action every day. Local leaders Kris Poulsen, Marsha Smalley and Karen Brault say that these five principles are a foundational part of their decision making, interactions and activities. These things matter to them in their daily practices and habits because they believe in the brand promise: it’s all about The Power of Being Understood.

“Our core mission is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, our community and our people,” says firm partner Kris Poulsen. “These are not just words we slap up on the wall. We live them every day.” Karen Brault, director of the Financial Accounting Outsourcing Program, says, “I would not be able to do my job without the 5 Cs.” Marsha Smalley, also a partner in the firm, feels that living the 5 Cs elevates the environment for everyone and models the way, even for clients. “When people know they can trust us, that we live by the 5 Cs and they see it demonstrated by us, they also step into those values. The result is that everyone feels good about their experience.” One way in which the Red Deer team is able to live up to these values and stay effective in their efforts is to lean heavily into one of the Cs: collaboration. “We collaborate as a team every day,” says Karen. “We work together as a team to serve our clients and to help and support each other.” Because of the culture of collaboration, the team at the Red Deer office has formed a tight bond. Marsha Smalley says, “I can go to anyone on our team with anything. Just like my clients trust me, I trust them. I know they genuinely care about me and will collaborate with me so I can succeed and so our clients can succeed.”

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Kris Poulsen

“Our core mission is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, our community and our people. These are not just words we slap up on the wall. We live them every day.” ~ Kris Poulsen, RSM Canada

It makes sense for the team to collaborate with each other in order to get the best results, but how do they collaborate with clients?

For more information on

RSM CANADA

In a world where things are constantly changing, the RSM Canada team ensures they share the latest and most pertinent information with clients. They work in partnership with clients as a team, showing them all their options, brainstorming together and employing something they call “radical candour.” In being trusted advisors for their clients, they know the importance of working together to deal with issues, optimize plans and set a solid course.

VISIT

At RSM Canada, the power of collaboration is critical to The Power of Being Understood.

rsmcanada.com

Pictured: Marsha Smalley, Karen Brault, Kris Poulsen

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n ot - f o r- prof i t

THE MUSTARD SEED

Building Community, Growing Hope, Supporting Change By Felicia Kocsis

The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984. Operating in six cities across Alberta and British Columbia, The Mustard Seed is a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental, and spiritual needs met and grow toward greater health and independence. According to the most recent Poverty Snapshot 2018 by the City of Red Deer, in Red Deer approximately 1/10 people live in poverty, 4,680 households are at risk of homelessness, and 5,000 households experience food insecurity. This past year, the pandemic brought forth even more challenges to those who are already struggling. The need for support skyrocketed as individuals and families struggled with job loss, financial struggles, and more

The Mustard Seed faced challenges like never before, but their mission to build hope and wellbeing for our most vulnerable citizens though Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love remains unchanged. However, continuing to do this throughout the pandemic has required creative adaptation, resilience, flexibility and grace, to respond to the ongoing changes while staying focused on serving those in need.

Through the support of the amazing community around us, they were able to serve over 45,000 meals, offer 46 shelter mats a night, and provide over 2,500 health and wellness services for those experiencing homelessness and poverty last year. The Mustard Seed was also able to expand their School Lunch Program. This program strives to provide meals for students from impoverished families who may not have one otherwise. The quality of food is essential, and an important ingredient, that contributes to the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success and development. Expanding beyond Red Deer, this program also provides a packed lunch for children throughout many communities in Central Alberta. Over 49 schools and 5 school districts are part of this program which provided over 59,000

In the spirit of adaptive change, The Mustard Seed has also had to alter the way we engage with in-person activities, shifting them into a virtual experience and reimaging them like never before. This includes many popular events like The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fun Run, Bowls for Bellies, Camp for Hope, and more. If you want to support those experiencing homelessness and poverty in your community, their next upcoming event is a unique and exciting way to have fun while supporting a great cause; the Coldest Night of the Year happening on February 20, 2021. The Mustard Seed and thousands of Canadians come together for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th annual Coldest Night of Year fundraiser to end homelessness. Although this year will be a little different due to the pandemic, we invite you to check out TheSeed.ca/CNOY where you can sign-up for free! The Mustard Seed looks forward to what God has in store for their organization in the year ahead and the opportunities they will have to keep serving those who need it the most - all because of their amazing donors and caring communities.

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soc i a l m e di a

LINKEDIN 101

T H E S O C I A L M E D I A P L AT F O R M F O R E N T R E P R E N E U R S A N D SMALL BUSINESSES B Y K AT R I N A S H A R P E

Unlike Facebook, Twitter or other popular social media sites, LinkedIn is a platform for professional networking. It’s the platform every working professional is on, yet not many uses to its advantage! Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an established small business owner, it’s important for your company to have a social media presence. While LinkedIn may not be as fun as Instagram, when used correctly it can raise your business’s visibility and credibility, build your personal network, secure clients, and convert them into loyal customers. Here are 4 easy steps to build your business through LinkedIn: 1. Optimize Your Personal LinkedIn Bio: LinkedIn uses its own search engine and established algorithm to determine whose names it will return in a search. One deciding factor is keyword density. How many times does your bio include your profession and skills? A majority of people find individual or business LinkedIn profiles via the search engine. Use a keyword strategy in your bio to make it easier for your ideal clients to find you. You may have already gone through a similar process when creating an SEO strategy for your website. This strategy will just need a few tweaks in order to target your ideal clients on this social media platform.

Write down 5 to 10 keywords and phrases you want to target for LinkedIn and naturally incorporate those throughout your profile. Do however, avoid “keyword stuffing,” this will not help boost your name in a search and can look tacky. 2. Make LinkedIn Connections: The size of your network on LinkedIn will not only help your professional credibility, but it will also determine how often you appear in search results. Make a habit of connecting with professionals you meet, in person or online. Customize the request by reminding them how you met and something nice about them. Adding professionals to your network, no matter how well you know them, will organically help your visibility, plus you never know who you are exposing yourself to in their network, perhaps a future loyal client! Lastly, ask your loyal clients and connections to endorse you on LinkedIn. This will add to the appeal of your profile and make you stand out. 3. Create a Company Page: Creating a company page will set you apart from every other entrepreneur. Trade in that gray box next to your company name for your company logo that when clicked takes people to a page devoted to your company.

Your business LinkedIn page is where you can share and post articles about your company as well as industry. Regular informative and memorable content will create visibility and credibility as well as keep you top of mind for when your audience is ready for your product/service. 4. Create a Posting Strategy: Everyone seems to have a LinkedIn profile, yet no one seems to create content. This makes LinkedIn the platform to post your professional, informative and entertaining content in order to quickly gain visibility. Create weekly posting goals but remember quality over quantity. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t post for the sake of posting. The higher the quality of your content, the more likely you are to gain loyal followers who will engage with you online, and hopefully become clients in the future. You want to be welcomed into the personal sphere of your target audience and hold that position to be top of mind. Some content ideas to post would be milestones, common questions and in your industry, tips & tricks, why you started your business, what inspires you, common misconceptions in your industry, etc.

Katrina began managing social media pages for small businesses in 2015 while taking a hiatus from studying Criminology. She quickly realized she had a hidden talent and began working towards a career in Social Media Marketing. A few years later, Katrina returned to school in Media Studies and Professional Communications to further her natural ability of connecting with an online audience. In January of 2020, while in her last semester of school, Katrina was hired at Cinch Communications in Red Deer as a Social Media Marketer. Her burning desire is to use her skills to make a positive impact in as many businesses as possible.

No matter your business investing your time and energy in LinkedIn is always a great idea. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better way to showcase your professional credibility, grow your business relationships and stay in your audiences top of mind so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re their first stop when they are ready for your product/service. Use LinkedIn today to let prospective clients, business partners and loyal connections know what you have to offer!

lea d e r s h ip Postsecondary education is undergoing an experiential learning renaissance, and communities and businesses are reaping some of the many benefits. Though learning through experience is nothing new, experiential learning is becoming increasingly integrated throughout postsecondary programs. These activities empower students to connect their classroom learning to real world issues, develop career and academic skills, and engage with their communities. They also provide opportunities for communities, businesses, and universities and colleges to partner in shaping the next generation of leaders, colleagues, and community members. When I began my work in experiential learning in 2018, I knew of its transformative impact from my own university experience. In my undergrad, I was fortunate to be able to study abroad twice. In my masters, I conducted field research on-location in Germany, and worked as a Research Assistant under the mentorship of leaders and scholars I still look up to today. However, I had so much more to learn about the impact of experiential learning on the places and spaces it happens in, and the people it engages. Early in my role, it was obvious to me that my learning could not have started at a better time. In Budget 2019, the Federal Government expanded the existing Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) by proposing to invest $631.2 million over five years to support 20,000 new work placements per year for postsecondary students across Canada.

LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE by Rachel

Employers could apply for wage subsidies to hire a student, granting them access to new talent and mentoring opportunities. In turn, students could gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experience. Whatever was going to happen next, I was thrilled to be part of it.

Experiential Learning Defined

There are many definitions of experiential learning but the one you are most likely to come across is by David Braun A. Kolb. In this monumental work, Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development (1984), Kolb detailed his theory of experiential learning as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combinations of grasping and transforming the experience”. This process is best illustrated by the experiential learning cycle.

• Experience: The learner engages in doing/having an experience.

• Reflection: The learner reflects in the experience, reviewing how the experience matches (or not) with their previous under standing. This is the most important part of the experiential learning process.

• Conceptualization: Through reflecting, the learner creates new or modifies existing knowledge or skills.

• Experimentation: The learner plans and tries out their new knowledge or skills in new situations. After some experimentation on what does or does not work, the learner begins a new experiential learning cycle, perpetually adding new knowledge and skills to their repertoire.

Learning through Experience We continue to learn through experience outside of formal education, and I deeply believe that one can apply elements of the experiential learning cycle to their individual career development. Kolb’s theory emphasized how experiences, including thoughts, environment, and emotion, influence the learning process. In my own career development practice, I seek to engage with these elements by intentionally making time to reflect – to grasp and transform an experience from something ephemeral to something I can learn from. There are so many reflection prompts to choose from online, but an experiential learning favourite is Ash & Clayton’s DEAL Model.

• Describe: Describe the experience as tangibly as possible. When did it take place? Who was there? What did you or others do or not do?

• Examine: Examine the experience, comparing it to how you expected it to go. Did you meet your objective/goals? What knowledge or skills did you use?

• Articulate the Learning: Detail what you have taken away from the experience. What did you learn? How did you learn it? How will you use this learning in the future?

How to get Involved

Rachel Braun is the Evaluation, Reporting, and Support Specialist for the Office of Experiential Learning at Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Calgary. Rachel is passionate about lifelong learning, and holds a Bachelors in German & History and a Master in Religious Studies from the University of Calgary. She is currently working towards a Certificate for Emerging Leaders at the University of Calgary, and her Designation as a Credentialed Evaluator from the Canadian Evaluation Society.

Check out your local university or college’s website for information on how to hire a student, apply for funding, or partner with a community engagement initiative. Key search terms include: • Work-integrated learning (WIL) • Co-operative education (co-op) • Internships • Community engaged learning (CEL • Service learning

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