WESTLOCK — For the past decade, the Hope Resource Centre has provided Westlock residents and guests with hope and inspiration through its annual community symposium.
The springtime event, held March 11 at the Westlock Inn, shared this year’s theme of Authenticity: The Power of Vulnerability and brought together several participants and guest speakers from across Alberta and Ontario.
“Collaboration is the most essential life skill of our era,” said Hope Resource Centre executive director Sylvia Yoder, pointing out a need for shifting change in a positive direction and building healthy relationships whether they be personal, employment or community relationships.
“The reason I chose vulnerability is because we’ve got a community that’s divided right now … (and) vulnerability is the bridge to connecting and connection is the bridge to collaboration,” she said. “So if we can’t be vulnerable we’re not going to be able to establish those healthy connections that are essential, whether we’re helping someone or working with someone, we need to make that connection.”
The half-day event featured opening remarks from Town of Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer, keynote speakers from the Aspen Primary Care Network and Hope Resource Centre, several presentations including those from local youth, an update on the homeless (coalition) and one from professors at Humber College (in Ontario), as well, there were several community resource tables including those from Alberta Health Services Volunteer Resources, the Westlock Community Garden, the Westlock and District Food Bank, Healing Hearts, Westlock and District FCSS, and the Humber College research team, among others.
“We wanted to expose our community to the work that’s been done, that’s been supported by the three municipalities,” said Yoder of the homeless presentation. “We really, really wanted to fill the room with hope, positivity, inspiration and an acknowledgement that directly and currently, there are homeless supports being provided,” she added, noting several organizations are working together on the homelessness issue in the community and they wanted to reassure guests that “municipalities are very aware of the need and are doing everything they can at this time.”
“It’s a global need. We’re not going to fix it quickly; it’s going to take time,” she said.
The annual symposium welcomed a full house with participants of all ages in a “very safe and powerful environment.”
“That connection is the framework we need when we’re building collaborative, authentic partnerships,” explained Yoder.
“Vulnerability can be an equalizer… no one is better than anybody. It’s also fully inclusive, and it addresses diversity. Building this theme made me realize we’ve got some steps to complete before authentic collaboration is achieved.”
