Introductions and Welcome

Speaker: Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft, City of Waterloo

Lynne Woolstencroft was born in Saskatoon, and was educated in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario before moving to Waterloo with her husband, Peter, and two children.
In addition to her former responsibilities as a full time professor at Conestoga College and local politician, Lynne was on the KW Symphony Board, a member of the Social Planning Council, founding member of the Joseph Schneider Haus, and a political supporter for the founding group and chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

In 1970 she was elected Trustee to the Waterloo Regional Public School Board, to the City of Waterloo Council from 1985 to 1991 and the Regional Council from 1986-1991. After taking a short break, Lynne was re-elected in 1997 as City Regional Councillor and in 2000 as Mayor for the City of Waterloo.

Lynne Woosltencroft has served in many capacities on the Twin City Committee, Waterloo Award Committee and Community Grants Advisory Committee. As a Regional Councillor Lynne chaired the Y2K Task Force, served on the Regional Grants Committee, served on the Planning and Culture Committee and was elected Vice-Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee.

Currently Lynne sits on the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo, the Waterloo North Hydro Commission, City of Waterloo Economic Development Committee, Canada's Technology Triangle, the Grand River Hospital Board of Trustees, Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation, Affordable Housing Task Force, K-W Barrier Free Advisory Committee and is the City Liaison to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality. Lynne was also instrumental in the creation of the Mayor's Environmental Task Force which will develop an Environmental Strategy for the City. Lynne also represents the Region on the Planning & Works Committee, the Grand River Conservation Authority, Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and is the Vice-Chair of the Administration & Finance Committee.

Lynne is committed to strengthening neighbourhoods, creating a comprehensive growth plan, dealing with the issues surrounding the need for more affordable housing, and continuing to make Waterloo a leader in environmental policies.

KEYNOTE: "Tending the Commons, An Emerging New Role for Leaders"

Michael Jones, leadership consultant and educator, Juno-nominated composer & pianist

Coffee House & Book Sales

"The Commons"

At this Seeking Common Ground: Connecting Work, Spirit and Organization conference, explore the many ways spirituality can be released in our workplaces to benefit individuals, organizations and the larger community.

The setting is "The Commons", a place where people may come together to speak of their hopes, fears, aspirations and dreams. The primary intent of the Commons is to re-engage the imagination through a practice of listening and speaking with discernment and care.

Music will be interwoven throughout by our emcees, all professional musicians: Michael Jones, leadership trainer and consultant, Mary Joseph, lawyer and minister, and Dr. Tim Elliott, vocation consultant and priest. Dr. John Bryan, corporate organizational consultant and pastor, will lead us through reflective synthesis. Lynette McCormack is our graphic illustrator extraordinaire. And when you need to journey to your centre and back out again, a labyrinth will be available for your walk.

Join us at "The Commons", the heart of our conference community.

Michael Jones is a composer, pianist, author, leadership consultant and educator. As the founding artist with Narada Records in 1984, he has composed and recorded 11 popular solo and ensemble albums , appeared on approximately thirty compilation discs, and sold over two million of his recordings worldwide . His many albums have served as a benchmark for solo piano recordings.

In 1992 Michael served as a Senior Associate with the MIT Dialogue Project and the Cambridge-based consultancy DIA Logos Inc. integrating his musical performances and insights into leadership and creativity. Michael's clients include Shell, Catholic Health Care, The Conference Board of Canada, University of Texas, College of Business and many others.

Michael is the author of an awarding-winning book on creative practice, Creating and Imaginative Life (1995) and has published numerous essays on leadership, dialogue and creativity in newsletters and journals.

He is a founding consulting member of the Society for Organizational Learning (SOL), an Associate Leadership Faculty Member with the Executive MBA Program, University of Texas, San Antonio and a Senior Fellow with the James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland, D.C.

Michael has a BA in music and psychology and an MA in Adult Learning. Reach Micheal at his web site is www.pianoscapes.com or michaelj@encode.com

Mary Joseph, one of our Conference emcees, is a practising lawyer, ordained Minister and certified Spiritual Director in Toronto Ontario. Mary is Associate Pastor at Deer Park United Church, practises Immigration Law and works with professionals in individual spiritual counselling.

Dr. John C. Bryan, Executive Advisor, will be our conference reflection facilitator. He is a senior organization design and development consultant and executive advisor with COREinternational inc. and President of BWB Consultants Ltd. Trusted Leadership, Requisite Organization and Life Integration are the core and aim of his practice. John has been an executive for The United Presbyterian Church in the USA and Chair of the Board for Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. He is widely published in areas related to organizational behavior, professional development, personal development and ethics and is certified as a Life Orientation Analyst and an Intensive Journal Facilitator.

Lynette McCormack, graphic illustrator extraordinaire, will provide Graphic Recording for the Conference: she will provide graphic frameworks that will help to create a space for sharing, connecting, and reflecting on the evolving conversation. By visually recording people's words and images, everyone will be able to see relationships between ideas and emerging themes.

PLENARY: "Connecting Work, Spirit and Organization"

Michael Stephen, Past President, CEO, Chairman, AETNA Canada and International, Author, Spirituality in Business: The Hidden Success Factor

The talk will examine the bridge that exist between these realities. They are separate and distinct but so internally connected if we are to honor and reach our full potential during this life journey. The importance of legacy as a separate spiritual dimension that should direct our lives at home and at work is examined in detail.

Hopefully we will discuss and share a common understanding of what spirituality is and what it means for each of us.

The phenomenal growth of interest in the notion of spirituality at work, and in organizations is clearly a divine invitation for us to practice and live with renewed faith and confidence at home and in the work place.

Work is what we do. Companies and organizations are the inanimate places where it is carried out and where we spend a good portion of our lives. Organizations enunciate and live the quality, or the lack thereof, of the spiritual leadership that has responsibility for its growth and development.

For me, spirituality is the spark of the creator in my very existence. My life thus becomes the invitation to develop that personal relationship to its fullest. It implies that I must look for ways to support, react, and intensify that relationship with my friends, family, and associates. Work is an opportunity to continue to enrich our lives provided we take full
responsibility for our careers and activity. From survival to self-actualization, we must take charge.

"Check your soul at the company gate"
"Don't think - do"
"We make decisions at the top"
"Keep your personal life out of here"

We examine the morality and health of organizations that are well known. Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Arthur Anderson, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sacs. The leadership of these organizations seems to share a common belief system rooted in dishonesty, greed, arrogance, and the complete rape of integrity and honor.

We examine the companies of "old style" leadership - top - down; command and control. There is a new leadership paradigm, which is deeply spiritual, where individuals are invited to become engaged and responsible for success and spiritual development. Servant, shepherd and steward are three characteristics that are central to this leadership paradigm.

Personal stories are shared where I have seen and lived this spiritual experience while negotiating with partners; problem solving with industry leaders and legislators; where trust and friendship were the foundation of these relationships.

Finally, I describe the six lessons that I learned in business where work, spirit and organization were merged in a context that expresses our spirituality in very solid terms.

Retired from Aetna after 26 years, Michael A. Stephen, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, was Chairman of Aetna International, Inc. (AII), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna, Inc. AII was responsible for Aetna's business outside of the United States. Director: Travelers Property Casualty Company of Canada; Providence Center Foundation. Member of the International Advisory Council of Opera New Brunswick; Member of the Business Advisory Council, University of New Brunswick; Member of the Toronto Harvard Alumni Association. Clubs: Toronto; York.

For many years he has focused on the creation of a business environment where managers experience individual and personal transformation, which in turn assures organizational growth and development. It is in this environment where competitive advantage is created and nurtured. He is frequently asked to speak to business and professional groups about the challenges and opportunities for insurance and financial service businesses in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America.

Michael is married to Beatrice Bourque and they have four children and six grandchildren.

Michael published his first book in early 2002, entitled "Spirituality in Business: The Hidden Success Factor". It describes the international experiences in Asia and the Americas.

"Caveat Emptor or Honesty in Business: Jewish Ethics as a Capitalist Critique"

Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz, Rabbi, Temple Anshe Sholom, Hamilton, Ontario

In the wake of recent corporate scandals, many wonder whether it is at all possible to have ethical standards in business. Judaism offers an approach that values the acquisition of wealth, but not at the loss of moral values. In this session we will explore whether the accumulation of wealth is a good or not, how work can be a spiritual mirror to the need to rest and what moral restraints one religious system suggests as a means of controlling a capitalist system run rampant.

Rabbi Zeplowitz is spiritual leader of Temple Anshe Sholom, Canada's oldest Reform synagogue. He is past president of the Canadian region of the Central Conference of American Jews and of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto. Rabbi Zeplowitz has spoken extensively on ethical issues. He has taught classes in medical and business ethics, and lectured in many settings on the development of moral character. He is active in promoting issues of social justice - in recent years establishing a Jewish-Muslim teen dialogue group and building a coalition of rabbis in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Values in the Workplace: Is the Practice of Values an Art, Science or Both?
Dr. Jane Smith-Eivemark, Director, Mission, Values & Spirituality, St.Joseph's Health System

Jane is employed by the St. Joseph's Health System, Hamilton, Ontario, as the Director of Mission, Values and Spirituality. She earned her Master of Divinity at Regis College within the Toronto School of Theology and her Doctor of Ministry at St. Stephen's College at the University of Alberta.

Jane's passion is to listen to the heart - to be receptive to the truth in its many manifestations. She is also keen to do further research into the soul vis-a-vis spiritual direction as well as being deeply committed to establishing a healthy work environment. Jane and her husband, Phil have
just finished co-authoring a book on the spirituality of marriage: Marriage as a Sacred Journey. They have three daughters: Sarah, Kate, and Alex.

Leadership & Followership

Ben Sprunger, Past President, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

The mystic of leadership generates thousands of English language books and articles each year. Yet no single path, technique or methodology assures success. As a Christian, the leader may feel it in appropriate to exercise authority or power as conventional wisdom suggests. Conversely, possibly the greatest leader of all, Jesus, demonstrated servant leadership that relied on humility, care, love, nurture, and servanthood. How do these characteristics assist in making effective leaders who do not rely on overt use of power? Why would anyone follow a servant? Why would anyone follow me?

Learning Objectives:
After this session, you will be able to . . .
1. Understand the various characteristics of power and authority, how they interact with other characteristics, and how they can help or hinder the work of the leader.
2. Identify various kinds of motivators and which ones are effective.
3. Assess why people might follow some and not others.
4. Understand the interrelated dynamic that credibility and hope play in leadership.
5. Examine why people might be willing to follow you.
6. Exercise your leadership abilities with confidence and servant- like authority.

Ben Sprunger, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates.) MEDA has 3,500 members throughout Canada and the US and 180 staff around the world working out of eight offices. He served as President from 1994-2002 retiring February 2003. Previously he was founder and CEO of Life Skills International doing work on four continents. He also served as Chief Operating Officer, Director of International Operations and Chairman of the Board, Quest International the provider of the largest drug and alcohol prevention programs used around the world. At age 34, Dr. Sprunger was elected as President, Bluffton College. Prior to Bluffton, he served as Associate Professor, Associate Dean, Director of Research and Assistant to the President, Wheaton College.

He received Bachelors and Masters degrees from Ball State University and Ph. D. in Psychology and Education from Michigan State University. He has co-authored books on management, administration and ethics in the work place. He lives in Worthington Ohio with his wife Sue. They have three children and five grandchildren. His permanent residence is 1854 Snouffer Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085.

Aligning Your Investments with Your Values

Gary Hawton, CEO Meritas, Ethical Mutual Funds

Does it matter how you invest your RRSP or what companies your pension plan
owns? In an age where there is an Enron or Worldcom-like headline every day
and hundreds of thousands of child-slaves are employed by factories
supplying the stores where you shop, what is a proper response? Take some
time to dive into this important topic and find out how you can align your
investments with your social, ethical and environmental beliefs without
sacrificing financial performance. There are more choices than ever in this
growing market and more investors and companies are looking for practical
ways to connect their investments with their personal values or corporate
mission statement.

Gary Hawton attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario obtaining his
Bachelor of Business Administration. He has followed up his schooling with
a variety of investment courses and is certified as a Canadian Investment
Manager and a Chartered Financial Planner. He has also completed the third
and final level of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

He has spent most of his career in the investment industry in a variety of
roles including direct investment sales to high net worth clients. He has
also provided sales management to financial planning sales teams for two
national financial institutions, was part of the management team during the
start up phase of two of Canada's leading discount brokerage firms and most
recently was part of the executive management team at a full service
brokerage firm.

He is currently registered as an Investment Counselor and Portfolio Manager
with the Ontario Securities Commission.

On a personal note, he attends The Meeting House, a Brethren in Christ
Church located in Oakville, ON with his wife and two daughters.

ghawton@meritas.ca
www.meritas.ca

PLENARY: Renewing Organizational Trust in A Time of Suspicion

Canadian society is in transition, radically changing interactions and expectations to conform to a new climate of suspicion, anger and fear. In many ways, the fraying of trust in society points to the inadequacies or limitations of current business ethics practice. What are the causes for this rapid deterioration of social trust? How will we create and manage credibility in an environment of mistrust? And what can organizations do to re-establish integrity and advance ethical excellence as a strategic and social asset? Drawing on a national study exploring the state of trust in Canadian society and their recently completed White Paper, John Dalla Costa, Jim Allen, and Carol Faull will co-present a summary of findings, implications and recommendations addressing these questions.

John Dalla Costa is the founder of the Centre for Ethical Orientation (CEO), a Toronto-based consultancy working with business and non-government groups to foster a global ethic for the global economy. Collaborating with the Global Dialogue Institute (Philadelphia, PA) and the Ethics Officers Association (Bedford, MA), CEO has been working on a project to fashion an ISO-based ethics certification program for multi-national companies.

The author of four books published internationally (including The Ethical Imperative: Why Moral Leadership is Good Business), John has spoken at conferences around the world including the Vienna Peace Summit in Austria, the London Form in the U.K., The Jakarta Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia, and at the Global Business Forum at the United Nations Millennial Summit in New York. John's articles have appeared in the Financial Post Magazine, the Report on Business Magazine, Marketing Magazine (Canada and the U.K.), and The International Herald Tribune. In 2002 a reflection by John was included in a special issue published by the Conference Board of New York exploring the corporate governance implications of September 11th. For several years John taught in the Executive Management Program at Queen's University. He is a graduate of the Owner/President Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. And in 2001, John completed a Masters of Divinity Degree at Regis College at the University of Toronto.

CEO has worked with a host of clients, including CIBC, Motorola, Bell Canada, TransAlta, RBC Financial Group, The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (Province of Ontario), Health Canada, The CBC, The Anglican Archdiocese of Toronto, Sony and L'Arche Daybreak. With his wife - writer and teacher Lucinda Vardey - John divides his time between their homes in Toronto and Tuscany. He is working on a new book, and has begun course work towards doctorate fusing business and theology.

Jim Allen was, up until November 15, 2002, the Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Marketing at CIBC. In this position he was responsible for advertising, marketing planning, market research, data base marketing and data warehousing. Mr Allen began his career at CIBC in 1986 as a branch distribution officer, planning locations for new branches and since has held a number of positions in the areas of distribution network planning, channel management, customer segmentation and marketing.

Prior to CIBC, Jim was an urban planner with the IBI Group and the Region of Peel. He holds a Masters degree in Urban Planning from Queen's University of Kingston and Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, Venezuela.

Jim is currently working on a white paper on Ethics and Trust. At the same time he is also attending The University of Toronto, where he is enrolled in the Masters of Divinity Program.

Mr Allen is a member of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and serves on it's Board of Directors and marketing and outreach committees.

Carol Faull joined the Centre for Ethical Orientation in 2002 on completion of a well planned, yearlong sabbatical. Before embarking on her sabbatical, Carol spent six years as an expatriate with Montreal based Telesystem where she launched and/or managed successful wireless telecom start-ups in India, Romania, Brazil and the United Kingdom. While her postings were dominated by senior management positions in Operations, Carol had the opportunity to lead the strategic planning function for Telesystems' four Brazilian companies utilizing The Corporate Strategy Board in D.C. and Columbia's Executive Strategic Planning Program in N.Y.

Prior to joining Telesystem, Carol held a variety of senior management positions with Bell Mobility over an eleven-year period including stints as Head of Innovation, Director of National Accounts and Vice President of Operations for Ontario.

Carol brings a unique perspective on leadership to the Centre for Ethical Orientation given her many years of experience of business and international cultures.

CONCURRENT SEMINARS:

Post- Enron: Buddhist Ethics and Good Business

Dr. Lloyd Field, CEO, Performance House Ltd., author, Buddha in the Boardroom

Is it possible in our present economic environment to create workplaces where social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs of individuals are met? As employers or investors, does our responsibility run deeper than an economic equation and a purely competitive relationship?

One place to look for guidance in response to these questions, is to the ancient wisdom of the Buddha. Buddhism is not against free enterprise. It does, however, suggest that there be a much closer and deeper relationship between financial gain and the well-being of society. How business profit contributes to the betterment of the community/society is the issue. Shareholders and business leaders have, in Buddhist thinking, a responsibility to create an ethically-based and holistic community within their organization and contribute to creating a better society. This is not an issue of philanthropy, it is an issue of intention.

The critical difference between our present business model and Buddhism relates to the idea of intention. If our intentions are motivated by greed, hatred or delusion, the outcome of those intentions and the actions prompted by them will inevitably be human suffering, and this includes our own, personal condition. Suffering is the lack of 'will' to do good, it is also distress, pain, poverty, illness, etc.

Lloyd M. Field, Ph.D., CHRP, SPHR (USA), FCIPD (UK)

"Rather than see employees turn to a third party for assistance, corporations must create a positive work environment where employee self-responsibility can flourish".

This message has taken Lloyd's 30-year consulting career throughout North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Many of his clients are included in Canada's top 100 and the Fortune 500 companies. His insights and contributions to the Human Resource Development field have been praised by many leading senior business executives.

Currently, Lloyd is Chairman of Performance House Ltd., an international management consulting firm which specializes in strategic organizational development and human resource management. He founded the practice in 1975 after serving as Vice-President, Human Resources for one of the Johnson & Johnson International Companies. He was also the youngest executive elected to their Board of Directors.

As an author, he is a frequent contributor to international business publications. In its 4th Edition his book, Unions Are Not Inevitable!© A Guide To Positive Employee Relations, is a Canadian best seller. His newest book on ethics, spirituality and human resources, titled Buddha in the Boardroom© will be published in late 2003.

Currently he is on the Board of Sarvodaya USA. Past Board responsibilities include President & Secretary of Nalanda College of Buddhist Studies; Executive Committee of the K-W Symphony; Lutherwood-Coda; and Kids Help Phone.

lloyd-dharma@rogers.com
519-241-1951 (office)

Mindfulness: How To Improve Almost Everything by Doing Almost Nothing

Lou Carcasole, Mindfulness Leader, Consultant

Our lives are like a tree composed of many branches. We fuss over the health of this or that branch, forgetting that if we can only strengthen the roots of the tree, every branch, twig, and leaf will benefit.
Mindfulness works at the deepest levels of our mind/body process - the very core or roots of our being. As one cultivates the skills of Mindfulness, every aspect of one's life improves leading to a greater sense of balance, integration, and well-being. This workshop will present in a clear and simple way, what Mindfulness is, how and why it works, and how you can begin to reap its many benefits.

Lou Carcasole has been an engineer, business consultant, Organization Development specialist, home builder, and entrepreneur. He now devotes himself to teaching Mindfulness and has conducted Mindfulness courses for numerous social services agencies as well as for major corporations. He began practicing Mindfulness in 1987 and has been teaching it for over six years. He holds a B.Sc., an MBA, and an M.Ed.

Radical Growth (a division of Lou Carcasole & Associates Inc.). www.radicalgrowth.com

Spiritual Fitness (TM) for Life

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry, National President of the Canadian Islamic Congress, Engineering Professor at the University of Waterloo, Author, Spiritual Fitness for Life

Based on his book Spiritual Fitness (TM) for Life, Dr. Elmasry will try to cover what spiritual fitness is, the benefits of spiritual fitness, how to achieve it and how to measure it.

Although grounded in the teachings of the Islamic faith in which Egyptian-born Prof. Elmasry was raised, Spiritual Fitness for Life also draws freely upon the great scriptural and philosophical treasures of the most influential religious movements on earth -- Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as humanism.

Prof. Elmasry is one of Canada's leading engineering professors. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and world expert in digital technology. Spiritual Fitness for Life is the first book of its kind to apply an engineering-based, structured approach to a topic of such universal concern and interest as human spirituality. He is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Waterloo and director of its microchip research group.

The Book: Spiritual Fitness (TM) for Life: In the great tradition of C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, Matthew Fox, Madeleine L'Engle, Thomas Moore, Tom Harpur, Gertrud Mueller Nelson, Ralph Milton and others, Spiritual Fitness for Life dissolves the sometimes-intimidating barrier between lay and clergy teaching, to emphasize universal values that bind all humanity together in its journey toward a closer and fuller knowledge of God.

Intended as an inter-religious overview of accessible and meaningful ways in which to nurture and care for the soul, this reader-friendly guide is aimed not only at people who have found a home in one of the three great faiths "of the Book" (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), but also at those of all backgrounds who seek ways and means to explore the world of spirituality in a practical and gently disciplined manner.

Spiritual Fitness for Life is the culmination of a seven-year project to search out and share common truths of the world's human community. Completed only days after the horrific events of September 11, 2001, it herald's the author's hopes for a future of peace and reconciliation as a shocked world begins to heal from the greatest wound of this young century. Dr. Elmasry holds trademark rights to the title "Spiritual Fitness."

Spiritual Fitness for Life is distributed on-line by Pandora Press: www.pandorapress.com

Paperpack, 214 pp, retail price is $ US 16.95

What do reviewers say about Spiritual Fitness (TM) for Life :
"In a culture obsessed by externals and by physicality, it's like a bracing tonic to encounter such a lucid prescription for inner or spiritual fitness."
-Tom Harpur, Toronto Star columnist and best-selling author whose latest book is "Finding the Still Point - a Spiritual Response To Stress".

Get A Life, Get A Meaningful Life
(Vocational Coaching)

Paul Giroux, Senior Career Management Consultant,Right Axmith

Tools and strategies in a user friendly, innovative, visual format to support renewal or vocational coaching in the world of work. The workshop is based on the thought processes, strategies, exercises and activities of some of the best thinkers, contributors and leaders of our age.

Activities include:

* Journalizing your life visually and verbally.

* Resolving the positive and negative energy in the major stepping stone events of your life.

* Understanding your life in terms of your conscious values within the framework of a value development process.

* Learning, focusing, aligning and taking action with commitment, and a sense of calling.

* This innovative process is supported by visuals, metaphors, metaphorms and icons to make a lasting and transformative impact.

Paul Giroux is an executive, career, renewal and life coach with 17 years experience in coaching hundreds of executives, workers and employees with Canada' major corporations. He has been employed at Right Axmith and Mainstream Access, two of the largest companies in career and transition management.

Paul has worked in both the corporate and non-for-profit world, has been an entrepreneur and a member of a theological faculty. His education has been in commerce and finance, philosophy, psychology, theology and sacred scripture. He is an avid reader and his interests include sports, theatre and film.

Barbeque Dinner

KEYNOTE: "The Work of Humanity: Project Heaven on Earth"

Martin Rutte, International Consultant, Author, Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work

Martin is an international speaker and consultant on spirituality in the workplace. As president of Livelihood, a Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, consulting firm, he explores the deeper meaning of work and its contribution to society. The company's areas of service include: strategic vision, corporate spirit, performance management, and creative leadership. Mr. Rutte has helped formulate and implement strategic visions for many of North America's leading corporations, including Sony Pictures Entertainment & Southern California Edison. Martin's pioneering work on spirituality in the workplace was featured in an address he gave to The World Bank which was shown on the ABC-TV special, Creativity: Touching the Divine. He is co-author of the New York Times business bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work and is currently working on two new books: The Work of Humanity - Project Heaven on Earth, and Religion @ Work: Inspiring Words from the Faith Traditions on Business, Work, and Economics. More information is available at: www.martinrutte.com

Can Spirituality and Politics Mix?

Mayor Carl Zehr, City of Kitchener

Most people have some level of "faith" and belief in the spiritual world, while the world of active politics attracts relatively few people. Of those few politicians, many attempt to hide their spirituality from their colleagues and the public, believing there should be a separation of church and state. However, there is no hiding one's spirituality because it is inevitably reflected in a politician's decisions and how that decision was determined. I will attempt to show, with anecdotes, how my faith and spirituality affect my daily interaction with the public, City staff and political colleagues.

Reception and Book Sales

PLENARY: Ceremony and "Wisdom of the Elders"

Vern Harper, Native Elder.

CONCURRENT SEMINARS:

Creating Resilience

Reva Nelson, Speaker, Facilitator, author, Risk It! and Bounce Back!

Being elastic and flexible, like silly putty, is necessary in a world of change and chaos. Through stories, examples, and specific skills you will learn how resilience is an essential business and personal skill. Discover ways to land on your feet in the face of change in this touching and rejuvenating session. Reva Nelson, author of Bounce Back! Creating Resilience from Adversity, believes we all have the ability to help ourselves, and each other, become more resilient. Leave the conference with a greater level of confidence, self-esteem and renewed hope for a positive future!

Reva Nelson is an accomplished speaker and well-known author of Risk It! How to Overcome Fear to Make Smart Changes, and Bounce Back! Creating Resilience from Adversity. She has inspired numerous audiences in the technology, health, education, government, insurance and financial fields with her practical and stimulating keynotes and seminars on change, communication, and leadership. President of Words.Worth since 1985, Reva has researched, designed and 'lived' her programs, resulting in mainly repeat and referral business.

Past President of the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS), Reva Nelson was a facilitator at CIBC's Leadership Centre for over four years. With a background in education, theatre and business, she is often in demand for media interviews. Reva Nelson, a skilled personal and corporate consultant and speaker, encourages companies to believe in their people and their capabilities for innovative growth through solving challenges. "With trust, honest communication and the right intention, amazing results can occur."

Reva Nelson, Words.Worth Keynotes & Seminars, 416-656-0994 revan@istar.ca
For articles and more information see www.revanelson.com

Labyrinth and the Quest for Leadership

Diane Brown, President, Leap Enterprises
(Introducing the Bell Star Labyrinth)

Labyrinths are patterns that open our mind, body, heart and soul to the greater of good. The labyrinth patterns of the past are calling us to seek new patterns of spiritual truth and global understanding. During this time you will be introduced to a new labyrinth design - the Bell Star Labyrinth - that was designed for leadership, healing, and regeneration. The Bell Star Labyrinth creates sacred space where understanding, acceptance and respect are fully sustained. This path will open you to an inward process that will teach you how to be part of the leadership needed for the global community. The end result of this experience is to realize what you need to "Pay Attention" to in order to live from your "Full Potential".

Diane Brown, HBA, CLF. Diane has over 20 years experience in the field of Human Resources specializing in Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership. During her career with Agriculture Canada, Transport Canada and Nav Canada, Diane became certified in numerous programs such as - Myers-Brigg, 360 Feedback, Emotional Intelligence, Steven Coveys Programs, Project Management, and spent time studying at National Training Labs. Her academic pursuits led her to study business at the University of New Brunswick, Theology at the University of Toronto, and Race Relations at York University.

In 1997 Diane was introduced to the Chartres Labyrinth, which changed the direction of her work and focus. In 1998 Diane started her own company called LEAP Enterprises. Diane now offers "Inner Work" programs that integrate labyrinth patterns into Personal Growth and Transformational Leadership programs.

In Diane's own words:
The Chartres Labyrinth has awakened me to a new way of knowing, creating, loving and being with each step along its path. Over the last four years I have been living intentionally, working with, creating, co-creating, learning and teaching others through the Chartres Labyrinth. The unfolding has been unexpected and one of trust and faith.

Diane can be reached at: Phone: 416 332-1302
E-mail: diane@labyrinthstore.com Website: www.labyrinthstore.com

Falling Awake: Personal Coaching to Create the Life of Your Dreams

Brian Skerrett, Brian Skerrett and Associates

There are 12 Success Strategies you will hear about it this workshop that can dramatically and permanently raise the quality of your life. They impact on all areas - physical, mental, emotional, social, financial and spiritual.

Application of the ideas and follow-up with the recommended books and websites will bring greater vitality, joy, serenity, health, wealth, love, contribution, confidence, happiness and peace of mind.


Brian Skerrett has been a developer of people and of organizations in his own private practice since 1975. He acts as a coach to individuals and business executives and as a consultant and trainer to large and small organizations.

Brian was the chair of ACCORD, and he also chaired the first Canadian Spirituality at Work Conference in 1996. He works in Canada, U.S. and Mexico with such clients as Magna International and PHH Fleet Leasing.

Brian spends his summers on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia with his wife and their border collies. His spiritual traditions have been Anglican and Buddhist and he is a graduate of Jon Kabot Zinn's Mindfulness Based Stress Management program.

Brian has a master's degree in counselling psychology and several diplomas in Human Resource Development from University Associates and from the University of Toronto.

bskerrett@sympatico.ca
skerbria@homewoodhealth.com

Corporate Values

Janice Fioravanti, Organizational and Strategic Capability Architect, Sun LIfe Financial Canada

Creating the Commons:
An invitation to share best practices and dialogue about value centered leadership and creating values based organizations. This business case approach looks at the story of an organization attempting to do just that.

Creating Coherence:
Cultural integration is key to any successful merger and is of critical importance for the newly combined organization, Sun Life Financial Canada. This workshop looks at using participatory techniques to create common understanding, commonly held ways of relating to each other, especially in the midst of diversity, multiple site locations, different backgrounds and changing business realties.

Creating Connections:
Part of creating the commons is to make the space and place for voice. If an organization dared to ask over 12, 000 people about their values and what matters, what would they say?

Creating Credibility:
"Between the idea and the reality
Between the motion and the act
Falls the shadow"…… T.S.Eliot

Cynicism and mistrust are a fact of life in many modern organizations. .
What if everyone had leadership took ownership for that which is of value? How can we build accountability systems and metrics for that which is often viewed as intangible so that we build systems with integrity?

Janice Fioravanti, MBA, holds the position of Strategic Capability Architect for Sun Life Financial Canada and is currently involved in the cultural integration of the newly combined organization of Sun Life Financial and Clarica. This work includes culture, vision, brand and leadership. She oversaw the on-line values and culture audit of twelve thousand people to enable the organization to identify a common set of core culture principles. Janice also provides executive coaching believes in a values based work place where people can be together in ways that honour both who they are and what they contribute. Janice has taught both Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at Wilfred Laurier School of Business and Economics and has taught at Conestoga College in the Career Diploma Program. She holds a Masters of Education and has taught everything from kindergarten to fourth year university. She is fascinated by how we learn and grow to-gather. She is currently active in Leadership Waterloo region, a community based leadership program. Janice has served on many boards in the Kitchener Waterloo Community and has been involved with the YWCA, Big Sisters, Catholic Family Services and the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.

The Journey of Life - Making The Most of Whatever Life Sends You

Dick O'Brien, Inspirational Speaker

The Journey of Life - Making The Most of Whatever Life Sends You

This is a positive, uplifting and inspirational seminar that focuses on dealing with the inevitable surprises that life may send you. It is a combination of practical stress management, personal resiliency and realistic optimism. It helps people to create balance in their life, reduce conflict at work and refocus on what is important.

This presentation reflects on how you handle life when it throws you a curve? It includes:
The capacity to deal with stuff when Stuff Happens
1. The capacity to focus less on the events of your life and more on the responses
2. An attitude that circumstances don't determine a person they reveal them
3. The habit of responding over reacting
4. The acceptance of responsibility for self motivation
5. The acceptance of ownership, authorship and stewardship for their lives

Dick O'Brien, M.A.Sc. is a professional speaker and a consultant in human relations. He has been a therapist and a trainer for 25 years. Mr. O'Brien has held senior management positions in government and business. For the past fifteen years, he has been assisting corporations, school boards hospitals and police departments with issues of stress, wellness, counselling and leadership.
Dick O'Brien combines his personal experience as a counsellor and trainer with practical psychology and corporate consulting to develop common sense presentations.
Dick has presented to employee groups, parents, teachers, professional care givers, supervisors, business people, police officers and students in the past fifteen years with very positive results. He uses humour, case descriptions and a high degree of enthusiasm to create a worthwhile and practical training seminar.

R D O'Brien and Associates 27 Tamarack Court, Grimsby, Ontario, L3M 5M2
Voice (905) 309 5035, Fax (905) 309 5049, email - rdob@sympatico.ca

Spirituality & Health

Dr. Francesco Anello, Physician

Medicine includes the whole spectrum of human experience from birth to death, sickness and health and transformation and stuckness. From the vantage point of the path of a physician, observations on integrating spirituality into the work of medicine will be explored and applied to the greater question of work in our society.

Francesco Anello is medical director of Complementary Healing Arts in Cambridge, Ontario. He is a medical doctor with 20 years experience in family practice and integrating holistic principals into a medical practice. He is A Course in Miracles student since 1980. He has studied with Stanislav Grof and Jaquelaine Small as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner; Rudolph Ballantyne, Jeffrey Bland, Ken Wilber and John Lilly have influenced his growth as a practitioner. A regular contributor to WholeLife magazine and a numerous speaking engagements in the Waterloo Region have allowed him to reach many people with his message of 'self care' and health promotion.

Finding Vocation: Clarity + Courage = Confidence

Dr.Tim Elliott, President, Elliott Resource Services, and Professional jazz pianist, "Get in the Groove"

In an informal setting using music and self-reflection exercises, we will explore how in order to move forward in life with confidence and find your vocation, both clarity and courage are necessary. Self-reflection questions will be provided to help focus on what is clear and needs to be clearer and what courage is and how it can be a gift.

After twenty five years as an Anglican minister serving three congregations in Toronto, Tim started Elliott Resource Services - vocation and transition consultants - in the summer of 2002. Elliott Resource Services will be a successful person-focussed team offering programs that integrate music, spirituality and business to encourage purposeful and responsible living for organizations and individuals. His program CLARITY + COURAGE = CONFIDENCE is based on his Doctor of Ministry research through the Toronto School of Theology (1988). A pianist, he is currently researching the connection between jazz and spirituality. He is also the senior partner in Getting in the Groove - Jazz for the Improvising Organization -an enterprise that uses live jazz to illustrate effective teamwork and creativity. He can be reached at elliottresourceservices@bellnet.ca

Mindfulness and Business and Other Marketplaces: Conscious Compassionate Connecting

Peter Marks, Business Development Manager, Homewood Behavioural Health

In this discussion and experiential seminar, Peter will explore an effective way to maintain the ability and desire to Consciously, Compassionately Connect with others.

This practical four-step process uses marketplace mindfulness strategies to effectively integrate and apply insights, energy and skills that we have learned through behavioural, cognitive, physical and other spiritual growth practices. This way of being facilitates more conscious and compassionate relating and living by reducing our tendencies to become trapped in unconsciousness and/or dependent on only one growth 'silo' that, as a 'stand alone' is generally incomplete, resulting in less than optimal business, personal values and
relating.

Peter Marks is co-founder and President of the Canadian-based, non-profit organization, Community for Mindful Living. He is also a Director of Vipassana Support International, a major North American non-profit organization dedicated to teaching and supporting mindfulness practice strategies developed by Shinzen Young and his teachers.

Over the past 20 years, Peter has personally studied and/or retreated with numerous
Vipassana (mindfulness) teachers, such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Joan Halifax, Ram Dass, and numerous others. Peter's work career has ranged from engineering, social services agency director, sales and marketing and currently he is business manager for Homewood Behavioural Health.

Over the past 15 years, Peter's primary volunteer activities have been working with, and training caregivers to offer contemplative (conscious) services to the long-term disabled, ill and dying.

CLOSING PLENARY:

"Vitality in Community"

Paul Born, Executive Director, Tamarack: An Institute for Community Engagement

Paul is an accomplished speaker and facilitator, based in Waterloo, providing entertaining and inspirational talks and seminars across Canada.
Topics Include:
· Seeking the Possibilities of Community
· Leading together, Community Economic Innovation
· Building an Entrepreneurial Community
· Building Strategic Partnerships with Business
· Leaderful Communities

Paul's experience in helping organizations and communities to develop new and sustainable ideas that help motivate people to action is extensive. He has led innovative projects which have been recognized internationally, nationally and provincially.

Paul was the Executive Director of the Community Opportunities Development Association (CODA) for 12 years when it merged with Lutherwood to form Waterloo Region's largest non-government agency. He also founded and was the Consulting Director of the Opportunities 2000 initiative a region wide initiative to reduce poverty in Waterloo Region from 1997-2001. (www.op2000.org) Paul was the Consulting Director of the Foundation for Rural Living and the founding Chair of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network. Paul is married to Dr. Marlene Epp and has two children Michael and Lucas.

His new venture with The Maytree Foundation was to develop an Institute for community building and leadership development in Canada, Tamarack An Institute for Community Engagement. The overall goal of Tamarack is to further community building in Canada.

115 Pheasant Ave., Cambridge, ONT. N3H 2L8
(519)-650- 0819 Phone (519) 650-4574 Fax
E-mail: paul@tamarackinstitute.ca

"In the Flame of the Heart: Awakenings of Self, Spirit and Community"

Dr. Diana Denton, Professor, Drama & Speech Communications, University of Waterloo

In eastern tantric traditions the liberating of consciousness is described as "to become something that moves in the heart." The heart that moves is a heart responsive to the touch of experience, to her textures, feelings - a heart responsive to the pulse of the world. This session explores the intimate, compassionate connection between self and world as we engage the practices of the heart through meditation and imagination. We consider the notion of sustainable action as a movement of heart as we explore how to create sustaining relationships within our workplaces and communities.

With a Ph.D. in Holistic and Aesthetic Education and an MA in Adult Education/Human Resources Development from the University of Toronto, Diana Denton integrates business, spirituality and the arts in her work as professor, poet and consultant. Since 1980 Diana has maintained a private consulting practice specializing in training, coaching and consulting in the areas of interpersonal and team communication, leadership development, performance and stress management, and spirituality in the workplace. She has facilitated numerous workshops for private, corporate and educational groups that support an intuitive exploration of the self through meditation and imagination. Her publications include poetry, articles on presence and phenomenology, and a book examining knowledge of poetics and the body in explorations of the self and spirit - In the Tenderness of Stone: Liberating Consciousness Through Awakening the Heart. She is an editor of a forthcoming collection entitled Holistic Learning: Breaking New Ground. As a professor at the University of Waterloo in the Department of Drama and Speech Communication, Diana teaches courses on leadership, conflict management, organizational consulting, interpersonal and team communication.

Last updated: April 30, 2003