November 2009 issue
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Presenters Showcase Diversity
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION |
The approaches, interpretations and faces of mentoring may vary, but an APEGGA conference in September demonstrated its importance and value are universal. In fact, the theme for the fourth annual National Mentoring Conference, held over two days in Calgary, was Mentoring: The Universal Advantage.
“Mentoring offers advantages to everyone involved in the process,” said APEGGA Mentoring Coordinator Arlene Lack. “Mentoring happens in the home, in the school, at work and in formal programs. Mentoring has been here since time began, and it is needed now more than ever, when working parents have less time to coach and when the workplace requires soft skills to a greater extent than in the past.”
The main presenters in Calgary were themselves examples of the diversity of mentoring. They attracted an overall attendance of 139 to the two-day conference.
Douglas Cardinal, OC, the internationally known architect, says his greatest influences were his Aboriginal mentors. Mr. Cardinal in turn mentors his own son, as well as architects who have worked under his guidance.
“Douglas Cardinal was the highlight of this year’s conference for me,” said Ms. Lack. “Doug’s humility was very touching and the brilliant originality of his designs was an amazing esthetic experience. It was also a reminder of how important it is for protégés to practice active listening in their interaction with their mentors.”
There’s a great lesson in the subtlety of the mentoring model used by the Alberta-born Métis. “He described how he sits with stakeholders at the beginning of a project and listens as they formulate the vision of what they want and need,” said Ms. Lack.
“This great man is in fact mentored by the stakeholders and then goes away to formulate a creative vision of how he can implement their vision.”
Orrin Hudson is changing the lives of thousands of at-risk youth across the United States. “The principles he uses in mentoring children apply to adults as well,” said Ms. Lack. “The chess analogy is a key to his success with young people. His enthusiasm and use of rhyme, music and rhythm are inspirational — he is amazing.”
Canada’s mentoring guru is Rey Carr, who has been providing support and resources to mentors for decades. “He opens up the world to us and makes us aware of the global presence of mentoring.”
Lionel Laroche, P.Eng., is an expert and author in the meshing of cultures. He advises on how mentoring can assist people from other countries in becoming successful professionals in Canada.
“Lionel gives practical tools for the mentoring of foreign-trained professionals so they can be successful in the Canadian workplace,” says Ms. Lack. “His mentoring tools are based on his research. They help us become more specific with our insight and advice to immigrant professionals.”
Four mentors were honoured at the annual banquet that wrapped up the first day of the conference. The awards are given to recognize the efforts of mentors. A special award was given to Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour, CM, of the University of Alberta and a founding member of Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology.
“Dr. Armour portrays the very essence of mentoring. Her generosity and humility about the mentoring she has done with students throughout her career epitomizes true mentorship,” says Ms. Lack. “She focuses on others and their development, especially in encouraging women’s interest in the sciences. Her mentoring is powerful at the national and international levels.”
An Order of Canada member who will be mentoring young people across Canada in the Governor General’s Mentorship Program, Dr. Armour has presented and assisted in three of the four annual APEGGA Mentoring Conferences.
Master of ceremonies this year was Tom Greenwood-Madsen, P.Eng., a past winner of the APEGGA Mentor of the Year Summit Award. He also co-led a workshop with Dr. Armour, and focused on the importance of the mentor giving up the “control and command” approach, under which many professionals have been trained.
Next year’s conference — once again in Calgary — will be bigger and more exciting than ever because of an international scope. Presenters and delegates will be invited from other countries where formal mentoring has been practiced for years. The theme for the 2010 conference is Mentoring: The World Stage.
Dr. David Clutterbuck, author of a dozen books on mentoring and founder of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, will come here from the U.K. Other exciting possibilities for speakers are also being explored, Ms. Lack says.
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MENTOR RECOGNITION |