Most of what I’ve shared here lately has been about trivia, fundraising, community, and the moments of fun and connection that bring me joy. And while I sometimes forget just how many people from different chapters of my life and professional community are still here, reading and following along, tonight I wanted to use this space to acknowledge something much heavier. My heart and my prayers are with everyone affected by the tragedy at CFB Wainwright. To the families grieving unimaginable loss, to those who have been injured and face what may be long roads to recovery, and to the friends, colleagues and loved ones waiting, worrying and supporting them: I am thinking of you. I am also thinking of the Canadian Armed Forces community, the people of Wainwright and surrounding communities, and the first responders, healthcare workers, and everyone who has stepped forward in the midst of an extraordinarily difficult situation. There really are no words that make something like this easier. Tonight, I simply want to hold space for those who are grieving, those who are healing, and all those whose lives have been forever changed. My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were lost, and my hopes and prayers for strength and healing for everyone affected. ❤️

Last week, I sat on a panel sharing about our Indigenous Pathways to Engineering Program. We discussed barriers, belonging, and what it takes to create spaces where Indigenous peoples can thrive in the workplace. The conversation brought up memories of my own journey: the people who made space for me, the barriers I encountered, the places where I belonged, and the places where I had to find my own way. I started thinking about the books that have travelled with me through that journey and realized I've been reading, reflecting on, and testing ideas about leadership for almost 30 years. Some of the earliest were the classics: Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People and Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey gave me ideas that have followed me throughout my career: begin with the end in mind, focus on your circle of influence and, perhaps most importantly, sharpen the saw. Then came books written specifically for women in business and leadership, because I was discovering in real time that the playing field was different. They helped me navigate workplaces where expectations, opportunities, and even perceptions of leadership could change depending on who was leading. But they were still written with the status quo in mind. My bookshelf kept growing. Patrick Lencioni gave me language for trust, vulnerability, healthy conflict, organizational health, and what makes teams work. Simon Sinek asked us to Start With Why. Brené Brown challenged how I thought about courage, vulnerability, and leadership. Somewhere along the way, I stopped simply reading leadership books. I started testing them. Keeping some ideas. Questioning others. Returning to lessons years later and discovering they meant something different because I was different. My career has taken me from engineering technologist to engineer, industry to academia, and educator and professor to Associate Dean. Along the way, my own Indigenous leadership journey challenged me to think differently about whose voices are heard, who gets to lead, and whether navigating existing systems is enough. I've learned to lead with positional authority and without it. To find my voice. To understand my sphere of influence. To be the trim tab. To keep sharpening the saw. But today, I'm thinking about a different question: What must we do to change the playing field itself, to change the systems, so that everyone who brings brilliance and much-needed perspectives to the table has the opportunity to thrive? And perhaps I'm thinking about an even more personal one: What do I know now that I wish I'd known when I was the young engineering technologist starting out almost 30 years ago? And what might our students need to hear today?

My heart is with all affected by this devastating event. ❤️🙏

Hey Albertans!!! Still 4 hours left to vote! I went early today and was in and out in 5 minutes!

To my fellow Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂🧡 May this weekend bring you a little time to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the good things around you, both big and small. Wherever you are, whoever you are spending it with, or however you choose to mark the weekend, I hope you find some quiet joy in gratitude, some warmth in connection, and a few moments that simply make your heart feel full. Wishing you a peaceful and beautiful Thanksgiving weekend. 🍁🧡

First snowfall of the year! I'm not ready yet. 😂❄️❄️❄️❄️🌨️

Today I was feeling the chill in the air so I came home and made a classic chicken, rice and veggie casserole with a crunchy GF bread crumb topping. Happy Fall! 🍂🍁

This Monday, I find myself thinking about the week ahead. Wednesday is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Friday, we will gather in Schulich for Truth, Reflection and ReconciliACTION, a time to listen, reflect and be in conversation together. As I prepare for both, I have been thinking about how much this week encompasses the work I do and, more importantly, why I do it. For me, reconciliation has never been something that belongs to one day, one event, or one statement. It lives in relationships. It lives in the choices we make about how people experience our institutions. It lives in whether Indigenous students, faculty, staff, Elders and Knowledge Keepers know that they are welcomed, valued and that they belong. My heart is also with the many people who carry this work every day, particularly Indigenous people who do so while carrying our own histories, our families’ histories, and the ongoing impacts of residential schools and other colonial systems. For some, these are not histories at all, but lived experiences. And so, as we approach Wednesday, I have a particular ask of those who are non-Indigenous: take some time to reflect not only on what reconciliation means, but on what you can carry. Learn without always needing an Indigenous person to teach you. Listen without asking someone to relive their pain so that you can understand it. Notice where the emotional labour of reconciliation is falling, and consider how you might help lift some of that weight. My heart is with Survivors, with the children who never came home, with their families and communities, and with all those carrying the intergenerational impacts of residential schools. I am deeply grateful for those who continue to do this work, often while healing themselves. Wednesday is a day for truth, remembrance and reflection. And then we keep doing the work.

I haven’t hosted a Name That Tune Space in a while… 🎶 For the past few weeks, I’ve been carefully curating an 80s New Wave/Alternative list, and I think it’s almost time. 👀 Who remembers this genre? And more importantly… how fast can you name that tune? 😏🎶 Date and time TBD.

Oh this made my Canuck heart happy! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm going to the Rustic Barn! Amazing music trivia! Will you be there too?

I don’t just like trivia on X. Apparently I like trivia EVERYWHERE. 😂 For our 23rd anniversary, Jon and I decided to challenge Canada. INDIGENEER just placed #10 nationally. 🇨🇦🏆 Happy anniversary, BURGOTH. 😂❤️ #AmiTRIVIA #AmiPlay