I see myself as a life-long learner and I am continually pushing to expand my knowledge, skills, and cultural competencies. I believe that Trustees need to be committed to their own personal growth and development, and I Ied by example when I was the Board Chair by reporting out monthly on my professional development activities. Those reports are all available on the SD61 website, but I have included some highlights of the learning I did over my previous term as a Trustee:

+ San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training – 2022

+ Cultural Perspectives Training, Indigenous Perspectives Society – 2021

+ Coaching Approach to Conversations, B.C. Public Service – 2021

+ Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Workplace, B.C. Public Service – 2021

+ Cultural Safety, Anti-racism and Restorative Practices Training, BC Representative for Children and Youth and Harley Eagle – 2021

+ Gender Diversity & Trans-Inclusion, Ambit Gender Consulting – 2021

+ Fundamentals of OCAP®, First Nations Information Governance Centre – 2020

+ Cultural Perspectives Training, Indigenous Perspectives Society – 2019

+ Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) Course, Status of Women Canada – 2019

+ Exploring Gender Diversity, Trans Care BC – 2019

I also do a lot of reading and recommend the following books for those who are looking to further their knowledge (or start learning) about anti-racism:

+ White Supremacy and Me by Layla Saad

+ Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

+ From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, And Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

+ Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

+ Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, Monique Gray Smith

+ White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo

+ My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem