Today Pembina Hills staff returned to schools and were welcomed back in a virtual broadcast address by Board Chair Jennifer Tuininga and Superintendent David Garbutt. Following their message, ATA Local Chair and Eleanor Hall School teacher Michelle Savoie introduced guest speaker Georgette Reed.

Reed’s message to staff was both impactful and inspirational. The daughter of CFL Hall of Famer George Reed, Georgette is a former olympian and elite athlete. Through the pursuit of her goals and the setbacks she experienced along the way, Reed shared some important messages about how to deal with adversity and challenging times. Some key points from her message include:

• The importance of understanding the process of change.
• Change requires constant willingness to adapt, along with the support of others.
• Self care is necessary in order to be there for others.
• Balance vs flow — Balance is stagnant, while flow is active and manageable if we are conscious of our needs.
• Focus on what you can control and be present.

We are thankful to Georgette for sharing her story with us — her message will help staff as they prepare to welcome students back to school later this week.