Part of building resilience is being able to navigate through periods of unknown, just as much as times of strife. So together, we show up. We connect.

It’s been a tough week in northern Alberta, watching thousands of people flee their homes from wildfires. Seven years ago…it was us.

Are you feeling fearful as a leader? Turns out, you're not alone. More and more conversations I've had with leaders in the last several weeks have centred around the topic of fear.

Even with the strength of a team around you, there will likely become a moment where you need some guidance or advice. You need a mentor.

Leaders spend a lot of their days putting out fires, managing teams and supporting community initiatives. But in the midst of the daily work struggle and the show of support for others, we’re forgetting about self-love.

When we look back through history, the word used to describe profound leadership was “greatness.” It didn’t matter whether we were talking about a leader on the global stage or right here in the community, there were outstanding examples of great leadership surrounding us.

Empathy is rooted in our ability to understand what someone else is going through, to share in their feelings. Even if we can’t personally relate, we can listen without judgment and simply support what someone else is going through.

The events in Ukraine have and continue to impact all of us in differing capacities, even if we are not directly involved. The worry, anxiety and emotional toll that war takes can be difficult to manage; therefore, it is essential to remember our well-being during these times.

We are deep into a digital transformation in our world. Commonly referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it comes with enormous opportunities for those who are able to transform themselves.

Words matter. But so does action. As we head into 2022 it’s becoming clear there’s a divide between the words companies are saying around mental health and the tangible actions taking place.

We’ve heard about stigma around mental health for years, and while we are making progress in the general community, that stigma still exists in many areas of Wood Buffalo. There are cultural, religious or family stigmas that may prevent those in the community from accessing mental health care.

The importance of having a safe, inclusive counselling environment in our community has never been more evident as it is right now; however, funding to support some of these important initiatives isn’t as readily available.

Collaboration. It’s the latest in a series of buzzwords floating around our community as we shift into a new phase of the pandemic, and the nonprofit sector looks to explore new opportunities. Simply defined, collaboration is “the action of working with someone to produce or create something.”

All throughout history, togetherness has brought significant changes and provided so many opportunities to grow and progress.