June 10, 2009 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: We all walk in different shoes, and diversity is a value worth supporting. That hit home for me as I gave a house speech recently.
Carrie Catherine, a local singer-songwriter has a stage in her very cool home called "The Hayloft". There, I spoke to 50 women, with all proceeds going to the International Women of Saskatoon. This worthy organization is dedicated to assisting immigrant and refugee women integrate into the community. Their representative got up on stage and immediately took off her heels. She described getting the invitation to hear "Stilletto Chick" and going straight out to buy a pair. But much as she liked how they looked, it was too uncomfortable to wear! She is a very special woman who has endured a lot, having moved around the world to live in this "brisk" climate. And we are lucky to have her.
Because of organizations like hers, we are blessed with "non-uniform" thinkers and that makes for not only better decisions within companies, but a culturally more interesting community. The time we spent together reminded me that women from all over the world may be different - some rich, some poor, some educated, some not, but they all have one common bond - they all put a priority on their families. We want a better world for our children, and are willing to do what it takes to make that happen. So in our diversity, we've found we walk on common ground. We're not so different after all. Isn't that the best meaning of all?
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