[celebrate]: to observe a notable occasion with festivities; to mark or honour by ceremony Think of the last "milestone" you – or someone close to you experienced. Maybe your team completed a major project, or a colleague retired, or you made significant changes within your organization. How did you acknowledge the moment? Did you stop to make meaning of the experience and what it meant to you and the people involved? Or did you quickly move on to the next task at hand? Maybe you celebrated but simply went through the motions. Slowing down and acknowledging an important moment in a meaningful way not only enriches the experience, it also strengthens our relationships, our organizations and our communities. It brings closure to the experience and helps us move forward, fully, into new possibilities. How I Can Help Design + facilitation of unique gatherings that acknowledge and celebrate individual and organizational accomplishments. Click here to learn more about making your celebration a “party with a purpose”.

How I Have Helped

After 30 successful, fulfilling years in education, I wanted my retirement celebration to adequately reflect the significance of this milestone in my life. It was extremely important that I share it with the people that were most influential and supportive along the way. I wanted it to be not only a celebration of this passage in my life, but an honouring and acknowledgement of the contribution these people had made along the way. After a couple hours of collaborative planning, Laurel and I had co-created the perfect event. Using thoughtful, purposeful questions and gentle probing, Laurel was able to guide me toward an authentic plan that ideally suited the occasion. Needless to say, the evening was a huge success – remarkably meaningful, but lots of fun too. I received rave reviews from each guest and it left me with an incredible feeling of joy and closure. I am most confident that Laurel's skilled expertise was the key to the evening's success.

Joyce Munro
Retired Principal, Woodward Elementary School, Hamilton, Ontario

As I aged many began to refer to me as a community and business "elder". My purpose had evolved. I wished to offer support, hope and compassion to others both in the business world and amongst friends and family. It was time to organize a rite of passage ritual to "eldership". This ritual would give a clearly defined focus to the next stage of my life. If anyone could create an event and ritual that would appeal to both friends and family as well as my business associates I knew it would be Laurel. This eclectic group of 60 people shared the experience of their relationship with me, what they perceived I could contribute going forward and then celebrated with music, stories, food and "libations". The event opened the eyes of many to the value of community and celebration of this key milestone. For me it is indelibly imprinted in my heart and mind. It guides my business approach and my relationships with others in a new and powerful way. Rites of passage have been a part of many cultures for thousands of years. Introducing such celebrations into our culture can bring a richness and connection that has a lasting impact. Consider where a rite of passage can enhance a life and then call Laurel and she with you will make it happen!

Linda Moore
Co-Owner, tng leaders; Co-Founder & Chair, Canadian Centre for Leadership and Human Values

The birth of our third child, Kate Elizabeth, a beautiful baby girl, was indeed a blessing to celebrate. I am so thankful that Laurel was able to create a special gathering to welcome baby Kate into our family.

This was an opportunity to gather many members across three generations of Kate’s family and, through story-telling, connect with her past and acknowledge the great joy that her birth brought to us all. Throughout the celebration, Laurel was able to ignite a deep rooted sense of belonging, connectedness and love between Kate and all the family present at the party. It was a time to honour Kate’s past, capture the excitement of the present and look forward to her future.

Thank you, Laurel, for hosting this gathering that left lasting memories, old and new. I only wish we had done it for our other two children as well!

Lea Callaghan
Mom to three young and energetic children