Patios other than mine, that is.  Despite my deep affection for this quaint little cottage I call home, it doesn’t exactly win the neighbourhood award for lovely landscaping.    Gardening has never been my forte, and somehow, finding a few spare moments to even sweep off my deck just doesn’t seem to make my “to do” list.  At least the wee little patch of lawn out front occasionally gets cut, thanks mostly to my kind and patient neighbours. Growing the green space of my dreams, on the other hand, goes way beyond my aptitude or abilities.  A green thumb I am not.

This year, I vowed different.  I had a plan.  I was going to give it all up for good!  I was going to turn over my territory to the trees and let the gardeners get growing….

If you haven’t already heard of the VegetablePatch.ca, then no doubt you will soon.  Jesse Boynton Payne, founder and Chief “Green Bean” of the VegetablePatch.ca, began growing and selling organic vegetables from urban gardens all over the city just last year.  This year, the VegetablePatch.ca will adopt a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model, and will be distributing sustainably grown produce to shareholders right here in the city centre.  Making use of otherwise underused land like…say…my backyard…Boynton Payne is making organic, environmentally friendly eating easy, affordable and fun.  How cool is that?

As for the aforementioned trees,  the City of Ottawa Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement Program (TREE) is an initiative that has been underway since 2007 to nurture the Ottawa’s urban forest by planting 100,000 trees before 2010.  By planting trees all across the city, we can maintain forest cover and help combat climate change.   Apparently, a variety of trees are available for planting in the spring and fall, on a first-come, first-served basis.  All you need to do is call 613-580-2424, ext. 1TREE (18733) or email TREE@ottawa.ca.

So, since I’m all for organic gardens (so long as I’m not responsible) and terrific trees, I thought I was all set for the season.  Well, turns out I wasn’t the only lazy landscaper with a genius plan.  The VegetablePatch.ca has already filled their garden space quota and the City is now accepting registrations for tree deliveries in the fall…

Looks like this spring, I may have missed out!

Photo credits: Pat McGrath/Ottawa Citizen, Robert J. Galbraith/Can West News, and  flora.org.

Anyway, these Courage City profiles have proven to be some of the blog’s most popular posts, and have been a favourite feature of mine.  As it turned out though,  spending a few hours talking to totally interesting and inspiring people was easy and entertaining.  Reflecting afterwards and actually doing justice to their stories in print was not so easy.  Instead, it was a wee bit intimidating, not to mention time consuming, and since starting back to school, I’ve been hard pressed to carve out the required hours. 

Fast forward to today, and to the Earth Day launch of Beautiful Destruction, an exhibit of  Louis Helbig’s compelling aerial photographs of the Alberta Tar Sands being held in conjunction with the Ottawa International Writer’s Festival. 

Helbig, a local photographer, pilot, and owner of Egami Image, once the subject of one of my most daunting Courage City assignments, spent 6 weeks last summer flying West in antique plane and taking pictures that truly are worth a thousand words.  These photographs with their abstract artistic sensibility, striking colour and fascinating detail, make a powerful statement about what is happening at the Alberta Tar Sands.  Even for those of us who aren’t fully engaged in this issue, Helbig’s images make it hard not to stop, to think and to start to pay attention.

Read more about Louis Helbig’s Tar Sands journey here, and check out his exhibit if you can.  It runs from April 22-May 2 at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Art & Humanities, 314 St. Patrick Street.

Thankfully, many very smart brand experts out there can.  After consulting the oracle (Google), and reading up here and there, I can only begin to appreciate the notions of brand identity, brand personality, brand value, and brand promise. 

Personally, I like the way Martin Thoma simplifies:

“Your brand as the sum total of all that is known, thought, felt and perceived about your company, service or product…it exists only in the mind of the public. It can be created, developed, managed, influenced and even bought and sold – but it cannot be owned or controlled.”

Does the concept apply to cities then?  Think for a moment. What do you know, think, feel and perceive about San Francisco, Paris, or Hong Kong? What about Ottawa?  What do you know, perceive, think and feel about Canada’s capital? 

There are many who think that cities are brands, and it seems Ottawa is no different.  In fact, Tourism Ottawa has been working on this idea for a while now. Some very specific brand guidelines have been developed to help market Ottawa as a destination, and to extol the virtues of our fair city to the world.   For fun, I’ve condensed them here into a Wordle…

What do you think? Do these brand-building concepts speak to you? Do they accurately describe the Ottawa inside your mind?  Do they capture your imagination? Is this a place where you long to live?

This question of Ottawa’s brand interesting to ponder in the midst of the heated public discussion underway about the fate of Lansdowne Park, the Kanata Soccer Stadium, and Ottawa’s urban development in general.  The city is in a tizzy, and rightfully so.  What happens will matter to us all, and not simply because of the money. 

Even if you are not a sports fan, big buildings, significant architecture, and public infrastructure are a critical element of a city’s collective identity. Design matters.  Done right, these city-building mega projects can serve more than their primary purpose…they can inspire genuine pride in generation after generation of urban dwellers. They can even become iconic symbols of greatness; of a time and a place when people came together to contemplate a better future, and when decision-makers went beyond mere expedience by considering their investments as an enduring legacy.  

Whatever the impetus or motivation, and in spite of inevitable controversy, big things can happen. Good things. Things that can make a strong statement to the world, that improve with age, and that might actually be perceived positively through the lens of history. 

This might be one of these times in Ottawa, so more than a little public engagement is healthy.  Let’s come together, listen carefully to each other, and to invite great ideas into the discussion. What kind of place do we want to become?  Only when we hear each other will we be able to imagine our future.  Building on needs, let’s also consider our wants and use more than a little imagination. 

To do otherwise would be to miss an opportunity.

Here is the Ottawa inside my head.  This is the city where I want to live…

Instead of spending big money on martinis, why not splurge on a ticket for a gala fundraiser?  What could be better than getting dolled up for a big dinner, seeing a show or even dancing the evening away – all in support of a good cause.  Ottawa’s events calendar is chock- a- block of such opportunities, and aligning your social life with a sense of social justice can have tangible benefits for you, your community, and the world beyond. 

Here are a few upcoming events worthy of a splurge, along with some outfit options…

This Saturday, February 14, the black-tie Snowflake Ball 2009 will be held at the Hilton Lac Leamy.  This gala will benefit those suffering from Crohn’s, Colitis and colorectal cancer through The 3C Foundation and CHEO’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Centre, sponsored by the CHEO Foundation.  This swank affair will be a Masquerade, and guests are encouraged to don masks or 18th century costumes in the spirit of a Venetian “carnivale”.  In addition to cocktails, Cordon Bleu cuisine and live music, there will be live performances, a charity auction and take away party favours courtesy of PRADA perfumes.   Tickets are $250/person, and available here.

         
                              Snowflake Masquerade – by Kitelove on Polyvore.com

Or, for the more arty advocates, what about the V-Day 2009?   This local event is part of an international V-Day movement, which combines the grass roots efforts in 119 countries to raise awareness and funds to stop violence against women and girls.  Money raised at this weekend’s benefit performances of the well-known off-Broadway show “Vagina Monologues” will go to the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) in Ottawa and to the V-Day International Spotlight Campaign to stop rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The V-Day Ottawa shows will feature performances by scores of Ottawa women, including a few local celebrities like Globe & Mail Senior Political Jane Taber and CTV weekend anchor Kimothy Walker, in addition to a generous number of raffle prizes and a “made by men” bake sale.  Two shows will take place on February 20 and 21 at the Bronson Centre. Tickets are $20 ($25 at the door) and may be purchased in advance at Venus Envy, the Ottawa Women’s Credit Union, Mother Tongue Books, Sophia Esthetic and Collected Works.  For more information, click here.

Arty Advocate – by Kitelove on Polyvore.com

Finally, for those music lovers out there, Ottawa’s annual Black & White Opera Soiree concert and gala will take place Feb 21.at the National Arts Centre.  Presented by Bell, TV news anchors  Peter Mansbridge, Lloyd Robertson and Bernard Derome will host a “Gilbert and Sullivan on Parliament Hill” evening, with proceeds benefiting the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Opera Lyra.

See the show on its own, or join a fabulous gala celebration that includes cocktails, dinner, the concert and a VIP post party complete with the star performers. Tickets for the concert are priced between $50 and $80, and can be purchased through TicketMaster outlets (613-755-1111) and the NAC box office. To go to the gala for $325/person, call 613-947-7000, ext. 322 or 613-233-9200, ext. 224.               
                                          black & white soiree – by Kitelove on Polyvore.com

And, if the bottom line ticket prices are still a bit too steep, don’t despair. You can always get involved by volunteering your time.  Behind the glitz and glamour of a gala night, there is plenty of planning and preparation to be done, and “many hands do make light work” as they say.

I myself have found a cause to get behind, but more on that later.  For now, consider some fabulous fun with big benefits!

This has taken me awhile, it’s true.  It may even have taken me too long, but what the heck.  It was fun.  I took some time and really thought about it a lot.  Turns out, I had a really tough time narrowing it down. 

So, to those of my fellow bloggers on the list below, no rush…it’s tougher than it looks! 

Decorate it Darling

ThriftKitty

Youth League and the Spies

Victoire

Lake Jane

Ottawa Arts Blog

1.  Lists:

I love lists.  I am constantly making them.  It’s almost as if they’re my most effective means of self-expression. They’re quick and easy to do, they don’t need to be perfect and they provide a sense of deep satisfaction – both in writing them and in crossing them off!  I make them on the back of envelopes, on the refrigerator, on multicolored sticky notes, and in my head.  Actually, I am almost always making a list of some kind in my head, or trying desperately to remember to add whatever item or task  to a list I already have underway.  My mother often refers to the notebooks she totes as her “brains”.  It seems I’ve inherited this same approach…

I’ve kept journals, sketchbooks and agendas for years, but now I rely exclusively on my Moleskine, which travels with me everywhere I go. 

Anyway, my lists have most definitely served me well over time, as I’ve kept track of much more than just my daily “to do’s”.  In fact, they’ve truly helped me to be less reactive and more focused on what’s important for moving myself forward. 

My fella once referred to the constant whirl inside my head as a “beautiful storm”, which was profoundly flattering, and even a bit romantic.  I do try to remember his kind characterization, especially in my more scatterbrained moments, as it does provide me a wee bit of relief.  Instead of feeling like a complete freak, I end up feeling more like a creative genius with an endearing intellectual habit.  This can be quite comforting at times….

Other than groceries, the following is a partial list of the lists I maintain:

1. -To do – today, this week, this weekend, this month and this year….
2. -Ideas & plans  – including blog posts, creative projects and entrepreneurial directions
3. -Things to learn
4. -Experiences I want to have
5. -Places to see
6. -My favourite things
7. -Stuff to acquire – including furniture, clothing, household goods, and jewellery
8. -TV shows I would love to “pitch” if I had time
9. -Dream vacations
10. -Thoughtful gift ideas for those I love
11. -Shopping excursions – locally and beyond
12. -”Must Do” decorating
13. -”Aspire To” decorating
14. -Internet stops to make
15. -Movies to see
16. -Books to read
17. -Personal improvement objectives
18. -Why I’m grateful
19. -Things I want my daughter to know
20. -Wardrobe basics still outstanding
21. -Things to make time for
22. -Lists I need to make

(you get the idea…)

2. My Green Machine:

I don’t know how I would survive without my laptop.

Eighteen months ago, I finally decided to equip myself at home.  Prior to then, I had been more or less happy with a museum artifact for a home computer supplied by my employer for use on those few “work at home” days when productivity took precedent over my presence.  I would  bank online or surf only when necessary, and I viewed myself as a bit of a technophobe.  Interestingly, I was also feeling restless and uneasy about the direction my life was headed in.

Then, I heard leading social media marketer Mitch Joel of Twist Image at a conference.  I heard him loud and clear.  “The future is now!”  he said emphatically, and I was convinced.  After listening to him speak about the emergence of Web 2.0, I immediately left the building and went directly to inquire about the purchase of a laptop.  Looking back, this was a pivotal moment, and it precipitated a giant leap forward for me.  It was then that I realized the awesome enabling potential of the Internet. 

Shortly thereafter, I was the proud owner of a shiny new Dell – with a long list (as per above) of things I wanted to learn specific to the digital world.  In fact, my New Year’s resolution just last year was to sign up for Facebook, and then find out more about Flickr, Blurb, Etsy and E-Bay.

Anyway, it wasn’t long before the my laptop, the Internet and Google helped to transform both my outlook and my life.  I know it sounds dramatic, but if you consider that I have been blogging since June, I’m quite proud of the accomplishment. 

Once logged on, a world of possibility was revealed to me and I began to see paths and opportunities I hadn’t previously noticed.  To start, I signed up for a reader, uncovered a community of like-minded individuals, learned about blogging, and began to feel empowered.  Each step forward I took, I was confronted by obstacles – both real and perceived – and each and every time, a resolution could be found online.  By tapping into forums, by searching Google, or even by reading personal development blogs, my learning and development was fast, furious and undeniable.  Google became my catalogue for the Universe.  I could shop for, look at or learn whatever I wanted to, whenever a thought crossed my mind, and there was no limit to what could be found. 

Fast forward to now.  As it turns out, the kind of self-directed discovery that is facilitated online is perfect for someone like me (with a cerebral storm underway most days!).  Since acquiring my laptop, I have started a blog, rediscovered my passion for decorative design, signed up for school, learned to manage time more effectively, balanced my work and life, started to sketch,  taken my digital photography to a new level, dabbled in graphic design, begun to think seriously about a more creative and independent career,  and even imagined a different future.

Thanks to my green machine, I am no longer restless or uneasy.  I’m inspired, motivated and busily creating the life I imagine.

3. Vintage Living:

I confess to being a consumer by nature. In my own defence however, I also believe this is an essentially human instinct.  Since the dawn of civilization, our desire to surround ourselves with beauty has inspired the creation of art, decorative objects, furniture, architecture, clothing and jewellery.   Our collective appreciation of art, adornment and finery throughout history cuts across culture, class and geography, and unites us in the recognition that creativity has made a tangible contribution to the evolution of humanity.  Fighting the compulsion to create, share and acquire beautiful things seems to me like denying our capacity to love.

Anyway, we have all gone a bit overboard, and now this innate desire for beauty seems to have been replaced by a mad drive to accumulate useless crap.  This same stuff takes way too much energy, resources and cheap labour to manufacture.  While I too have been known to swoon over pretty things that sparkle or rationalize the acquisition of some shiny new little do-dad, I am increasingly uninspired when perusing the vast variety of available matter.  The sheer volume of goods that are produced for mass consumption astounds me, especially when considering that most of it will someday settle into a landfill somewhere. 

Instead, I have begun to develop a penchant for old things, and vintage living has become almost a philosophy for me.  I have grown to value longevity, quality and timelessness in just about everything I want – or need – to acquire, and most often, would rather sift through what has already been used to find what I’m looking for.  From cars and clothing to furniture and first editions, I believe that making “heirloom” choices can contribute to a more sustainable way of life, and that by learning to discern the treasures from trash, I can reduce my impact and enjoy life’s small luxuries.

Images from Wary Meyers and Domino Magazine.

Whether it be a junk shop, a thrift store, a garage sale, an antique market, a flea market, an auction or estate sale, finding vintage,  thrifted, or “upcycled” goods that inspire me while also serving a purpose  just suits me better than frequenting big box mall or the local dollar store.  So, when buying new, I try to get only what I know will last as long as possible and otherwise, I prefer to shop vintage. 

And, as my shopping habits have evolved, I’m pretty sure I have spent less and gained considerably.  My sense of personal style has strengthened, my environment has grown more reflective of who I am, and my little girlaboutOtown has even begun to eye up my wardrobe.   One day years from now, she may be able to wear what I have  acquired, as I often keep her in mind when making choices.

4.  Books and Magazines

Despite my stated belief in the virtues of vintage living, I’m not beyond reproach.  I love books and magazines, and can’t accept the notion that there will ever be such a thing as too many.   Over the years, I have wrestled with this addiction, through several phases of simplification and more than a few moves, but I have finally conceded.  While dragging several hundred pounds of books and magazines from place to place may have been bit embarrassing, there is no doubt that I do not regret keeping them.  I read and re-read regularly, and relish the thought of curling up and returning to them again soon.

Evidently, certain themes have emerged in my choices, and over time, I have curated quite a library of design & decorating, fashion and architecture related reading.  Add to these a decent supply of business & marketing, personal growth & development, and art & photography books, and it seems I have succeeded in surrounding myself with a real life collection that reflects my most enduring interests and passions. 

Currently, I subscribe to no less than 5 monthly periodicals, and shamelessly acquire both new and used  books as often as I can rationalize it.  My Amazon Wish List is among my top-five most visited bookmarks, and I am constantly adding to it.

 5.  My Home

It’s a little house on a corner, and it is different than most in town.  In fact, its “one of those things that not like the others”, and I suppose that is one reason I love it so much.  Off a main road and into a neighbourhood not known for trendy shops or tony real estate, my place sits under a pair of majestic white pine trees and is surrounded by an excess of peony bushes (is there such a thing?).  A bit out of place maybe, but right in the centre of the city, this little west coast craftsman style cottage feels a bit like cheating.  It is almost as though I have uncovered a little slice of California life right here in Ottawa, the thought of which makes me smile every day.

It is bright and sunny with a Southern exposure, and dotted with windows in every direction.  With wood floors, high ceilings and a cozy second floor that is only half height, this unique house will most definitely need its fair share of care and attention over time. But, it is a decorator’s dream.  I am never without hopes and aspirations for it, and I look forward to making it a more intimate, personal and happy home as I settle in through the years.

With its old-fashioned front porch, coloured stucco and symmetrical design, it is a charming and unpretentious retreat that is both comfortable and completely liveable.  Small spaces require a certain discipline, but they can be liberating as well.  Rather than feeling overwhelmed by too much cleaning or maintenance, I am inspired by the enormous potential of the house and excited to participate in its evolution.  As a former real estate junkie – who once had a constant eye out for the next house for sale that might be more suitable – I am profoundly satisfied to have found myself here at home.

My home is similar in look and feel to this historic craftsman style home in Richmond, British Columbia, from Bob_2006.

6.  Music:

Ok.  Last, but not least, I love music.  I am not a musician, a music historian, or an audiophile of any kind, but I do listen.  When I do,  it is because my soul demands it.

Music has always been a core component of my life, and its affect profound.  At times, I have felt a real communion with the universe through its sound, and I have been known to lose myself completely just listening.  I cry, or dance, or think deeply in these moments, and I am at once comforted and inspired by its  its cathartic power.  There are certain strains that will always lift my spirit, or lyrics that stir memories, and there are some songs that I simply must sing.

I don’t have a huge “High Fidelity” style collection, I haven’t bought an iTune yet, and I have no affinity for any particular genre.  Instead, I prefer to enjoy a diversity of melodies, harmonies and rhythms, and I like to listen alone.  That is not to say I don’t enjoy live music, or singing around a campfire, or even sharing in someone else’s experience, but when I am alone, and the music is loud, I am at peace.

Image source 

I am fortunate to have friends that do things a bit differently.  Each year, they invite guests to drop over for refreshments just before heading out to see The Gift of Christmas – The Singing Christmas Tree, a first class musical production put on each December by the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Nepean.  While not a part of the Bethel Church, these friends are very active members of the Ottawa community, and this is one big community event! 

Now in its 10th year, The Singing Christmas Tree is a free 2-hour variety show extravaganza featuring solo vocalists, ensembles and a 65 person choir.  This seasonal spectacle successfully combines all the razzle and dazzle of a professional song and dance production with the timeless appeal of a church pageant, as children participate alongside some very talented adults.  The show does take place in a church, so you can expect a little bit of church in the show, but it is downright fun for all ages.

Most importantly though, The Gift of Christmas is a actual gift to the Ottawa community.  Since its inception, more than 45, 000 people have seen the production, tons of food has been donated to local food banks, and almost $100, 000 have been provided to local charities like The CHEO Foundation and Rogers House.  This year, audience donations will be in support of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support, an organization dedicated to helping young cancer patients and their families.

And, if the generosity, goodwill and all around good fun isn’t enough to get you going, a long lost family member is reunited with loved ones at each performance.   Having witnessed these moments before, they are enough to grow anyone’s heart three sizes!

See for yourself.  Check out The Gift of Christmas – The Singing Christmas Tree at the Bethel Pentecostal Church, 500 Viewmount Dr., Nepean.

Directions here.

This year’s performances began December 5, and runs through December 14.

Dec. 12 – 7:00 PM
Dec. 13 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Dec. 14 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

“There will be setbacks and false starts. There many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.”

grid·lock n. 1. A traffic jam in which no vehicular movement is possible, especially one caused by the blockage of key intersections within a grid of streets. 2. A complete lack of movement or progress resulting in a backup or stagnation.

Some might lament the residual effect of old scandals, or successive minority parliaments, or even the emergence regionalized political parties.  Others might blame voter apathy, a lacklustre civil service, or a profound breakdown in trust that is impossible to attribute to any single cause.  But most would probably agree that we’ve arrived here as a result of a combination of these factors. 

Somehow, I don’t think it needs to be this complicated, and I wonder whether we may all be missing the point entirely… 

Ask yourself what kind of Canada you want.  Are you confident you have the knowledge and expertise to state without hesitation precisely what is best for us all?  Are you sure you really know how to achieve peace, prosperity and justice at home and abroad?  Do you understand the complex traditions of parliamentary procedure and the intricacies of Canada’s machinery of government?  Could you articulate in detail exactly what changes are necessary and would you be equipped to make the right decisions at every step of the way – without the benefit of a diversity of perspectives or careful and thoughtful analysis? 

Probably not. 

And yet this is exactly what we have come to expect from our leaders.  We have become too easily impressed by a show of knowledge, dazzled by a flash of feigned expertise and even distracted by seemingly authoritative policy platforms.  It’s all about the issues we think, and about making sure we align ourselves behind an agenda we can relate to or support the representative who shares our view of the world.   We’ve been very busy dutifully considering pros and cons, studying up on complex questions of science, economics or culture, and furiously speculating about the possible impact of a strategic vote.   We have come to accept the premise that we too must know it all, and that if we take our citizenship seriously, an election should be a rational, rigorous intellectual process.  To vote on instinct, without all of the relevant information, has become antithetical to how we operate as a society – and places too much emphasis on personality. 

I disagree.  I think too narrow a focus on the correctness of any given idea leaves us blind to the critical question of leadership.  

Leaders Who Behave!

Leadership isn’t about how sharp or quick a person is.  It shouldn’t be about subject matter expertise or the precise details of a plan.   Instead, we voters should place our trust in leaders who we believe will do the right thing, regardless of circumstance or rhetoric. Our judgements should be made on the quality and character of an individual’s behaviour rather than the breadth or depth of their knowledge, and our evaluation of their performance should be based on how well the behavioural attributes of leadership have been demonstrated. 

How open is their mind?  How well do they listen? How would they act in the face of a difficult challenge? How well is conflict understood, and how is it managed? How are interests balanced when making a decision?  Once a decision is made, how transparent are the reasons for it, and how well are they communicated?  Most of all, how well are suggestions treated and what exactly will a leader do with them?

An emphasis on behaviour over knowledge is by no means a new idea.  The notion of behavioural competency assessment is about as established as it gets in the world of human resources management, and anyone who has been through a “behavioural interview” can attest to their revealing nature. 

When filling a job, managers who want to distinguish between equally qualified candidates will pose the same hypothetical “what did/would you do?” question to each individual.  In doing so, the manager can much better gauge a candidate’s capacity to problem solve through analysis, judgement and flexibility.  At the end of the interview process, a manager makes a subjective decision about “fit”, based on instinct and informed by personal and organizational values.

Change the Questions We Ask:

If this approach can apply to each other, then why not to our leaders – especially at election time?  Next time around, whether it be the national televised debate or a chance encounter at a coffee shop, here are a few questions to ask.  Maybe you’ve heard them before… 

♦ Give an example of a time when you could not participate in a discussion or could not finish a task because you did not have enough information.  

♦ Tell me about a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy even though you did not agree with it. 

♦ Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to gain information needed to solve a problem; then tell me how you analyzed the information and came to a decision. 

♦ Describe a situation in which you were able to read another person effectively and guide your actions by your understanding of his/her individual needs or values.

♦ Describe the most creative work-related project you have completed.

♦ Give me an example of a time when you had to analyze another person carefully or a situation in order to be effective in guiding your action or decision.

♦ What did you do in your last job to contribute toward a teamwork environment? Be specific.

♦ Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.

♦ Describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others in a desired direction.

♦ Tell me about a situation in the past year in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

So What Kind of Canada Do I Want?

My Canada is a place where we don’t simply respect our differences, we try to understand them.   It is a place where we recognize that a diversity of experiences and perspectives, combined through genuine collaboration, can fuel innovation and drive change.   It is a place where our hearts and minds are receptive to new possibilities, where ideas are welcomed and nurtured, and where bold actions are celebrated. 

My Canada is also a place where kind and constructive honesty between people is more valued than perceived politeness, where we dig deep to uncover the source of our disagreements and where our efforts to come to real and lasting resolution are sincere.  Most of all, in my Canada we have the courage to do things differently, the integrity to confront our mistakes and the sensitivity to learn from them. 

This is the kind of behaviour I expect of leaders in the face of very real challenges, regardless of where I might stand on the issues. 

In my kind of Canada, this is kind of leadership that will earn my trust.

So was it fate?  Perhaps. 

Today, I happened on this for the first time, and…well…it did the trick!

You too can think different.  

Even in Ottawa. 

Especially in Ottawa.

I dare you!

Think Different

Here’s to the crazy ones.

  The misfits.
    The rebels.
      The troublemakers.
        The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules.
     And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
     disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
      Because they change things.
 
They invent.    They imagine.    They heal.
  They explore.    They create.    They inspire.
    They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
 
While some see them as the crazy ones,
   we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do.

(From the Apple “Think Different” ad campaign, 2007)