November 2021 & 2022

Keynote Speaker: Gray Poehnell

Date: November 1, 2021
Time: 12–1:30 pm
Format: Virtual

Crafting a better story through Hope-Filled Engagement

Crafting a better story through Hope-Filled Engagement is an essential skill in today’s chaotic world of life and work. We all have stories, and our stories are essential to our life/career journeys. On our journeys, we are always facing two stories. One is the outer story, the events and circumstances of our lives; the other is our inner story, how we respond to these events and the meaning we give to them. Because of their life circumstances, the inner story that far too many people follow is one of hopelessness, one that implies that there is no point in really trying. In this keynote we will explore how we can be intentional about the life-long process of crafting a story of hope and possibilities, a story that can sustain and guide us as we explore all our potential on our life/career journeys.

Biography
Gray Poehnell is an experienced life/career consultant with over 32 years experience working with a wide diversity of clients and students. Gray is of Metis descent and is committed to supplementing mainstream career approaches by addressing the increasing need for a diversity of tools and concepts that are easily accessible to increasingly diverse populations. He has focused on holistic, inclusive approaches that cultivate hope, accessibility, journey, story, practical spirituality, creativity, and imagination. 

Keynote Speaker: Alyson Seale

Date: November 1, 2022
Time: 12–1:30 pm
Format: Virtual

Let Your Disability Help Amplify Your Employment Success
Finding a job can be a daunting endeavour. It is even harder when you must consider disclosing your disability or not. Join us to talk about strategies to amplify your employment success by building confidence, asking for what we need during the recruiting and hiring process, and learning how to engage potential employers in conversations about disability, and how beneficial you and your disability will be to the organization.

Biography
Alyson has been working in the field of disability for more than 30 years and is currently an Associate Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley teaching in a pre-employment program for people with disabilities. She has served on the board of directors for her local society for community living and several community employment committees promoting employment for people with disabilities. Alyson has an undergraduate in Adult Education, a masters in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, and is a seasoned speaker/consultant. She loves to tailor her speaking to the individual group needs, provide rich examples, a sprinkling of humor and always provides resources for participants to take their learning further. For more info, check out www.alysonseale.ca.