Best GSS Retreat Ever!
We’ve had excellent retreats over the years but…
the June event was truly special: our first chance to get together in person since 2019! Fort Edmonton had lots of room for over 80 enthusiastic attendees, lively and engaging morning sessions, and the powerful drumming energy of the afternoon.
In addition to staff getting to hang out together, the retreat also gave us a chance to re-connect with favorite presenters. Jackson Heraid opened the day, bringing his emergency services and health background—and excellent presentation skills—to the topic of communicating under stress.
He outlined why workers in this sector are under more pressure than emergency responders, encouraged us all to “treat every coworker like a client”, and discussed biological reasons why we can reflexively mis-interpret colleagues’ actions and not extend the same compassion to each other that we extend to clients.
Eileen Bona, founder of Dreamcatcher Nature Assisted Therapy services, led the second session of the day. A favorite presenter at past conferences (especially when she brought animals along), Eileen used her delightful humor, energy and sense of play to address ‘Stress Management and Resiliency’.
She demonstrated the power of lightning up by bringing an assortment of little play items for everyone. Simply blowing bubbles at tables and keeping balloons floating around the room demonstrated how easily we could lift our spirits and how good that felt.
Eileen followed that with evidence-based information on the importance of releasing stress to stay strong and different strategies to help with that.
After the morning sessions, attendees had a welcome chance to re-connect and enjoy some afternoon sun. The Blatchford Hanger was a perfect setting because, over lunch, an inviting collection of drums could be set up for the afternoon drumming session. Even better, Julien Lepage, from the Calgary-based Circles of Rhythm, was back to lead the session.
We first met Julien at the 2017 staff training conference and his name always appears when staff are asked for retreat or conference topic suggestions.
In a 2-hour session that felt like 10 minutes, staff got to try out different drums and, with Julien’s intuitive and energetic guidance, we smoothly shifted the beat back and forth from playful to powerfully dramatic to sensitive and supportive. The time literally flew. No wonder the staff keep wanting Julien to come back.
This truly was a special day for GSS staff that hasn’t been possible for almost three years. The quality and relevance of the facilitator sessions helped make up for the long wait. Thank you to the Administrative Team that coordinated and organized the retreat, especially Margaret Paliwoda, who connected with and organized the speakers, facility, and refreshments. Thank you to Lorette Garrick, our Chief Operating Officer, whose commitment to staff having the opportunity to share learning and play made the day possible. And thank you to all the staff who took the time to attend, re-connect in person, and bring such energy and enthusiasm to the 2023 GSS Staff Retreat!
Check out these images from the lively day!
