Recently I was speechwriting for a CEO and pouring over books, courses and as always TedTalks on effectively communicating spoken messages I found some great stuff that cross-pollinates everything I do, shared below. Scott Berkun provided an enjoyable read on the life of a professional public speaker with many practical tips and resources. "All good public speaking is based on private thinking." - Scott Berkun "They worry more about slide templates, images, movies, fonts, clo

Early Tuesday morning I attended the 2017 Physical Activity Forum put on by the Alberta Centre for Active Living. The theme this year was "Don't Overthink It! - Promoting Physical Activity in a Busy Media Environment." I made it early to the 8am pre-forum urban poling session so wandered around campus where I found Mandy Johnson the urban poling master trainer carrying a bag of special "Activator" poles. It was cold and stormy so not a big turn out - one other very nice woman

When the clerk at Amaranth gave me a free chocolate bar for Mother's Day because he assumed I was one for buying baby food. I took it and ran. Not because I am a Mom, but because I have one so that counts. (The jury is still out.) Everyone who exists has one and that's pretty awesome. Friday I got to story report on Vivo's Active Learners Preschool class and sit in on two special Mother's Day celebrations the kids put on. The adorable students danced and sang for their proud

The benefits of giving back are always awesome, but the CBC Calgary Reads annual book sale is a unique opportunity to volunteer and reap the rewards of early VIP access to all the books pre-sale, all while supporting early literacy initiatives. Thursday night I poured over the very well organized stacks filling the Calgary Curling Club at the Spread the Words event, inhaling the musty goodness, deciphering inscriptions on inside covers and shaking out artifacts pressed betwee