 MOTHER KNOWS BEST
It’s part of Mom DNA to share advice: Stand up straight, eat your vegetables, and of course there is always the one about clean underwear. So we asked our WLC Advisory Board members to tell us the best advice their mothers gave to them.
Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Vancouver:
- On shopping — "You can’t afford to buy cheap clothes!"
- On cooking & domestic responsibilities — "Why bake when there’s a perfectly good bakery down the road?"
- On marriage — "I’m like Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. If you would only get married, my life’s work would be complete."
- On direction — "Set you own agenda. Decide what you want — in life and in love —and don’t ever settle for less."
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, President, Absolute Spa:
- "Keep stress low, don’t worry and don’t sweat…anything. You are in control; you can fix anything. You are the only one who can make a difference to your problem." These powerful words not only laid the groundwork for my life and happiness, but also led me into my second career… the spa health and wellness business.
Sue Paish, QC, CEO, Pharmasave Drugs (National) Ltd.:
- “Organization and work ethic beats out brains and beauty on all things that are important,” …boring but probably true!
Elise Rees, FCA, Partner, Ernst & Young:
- “Neither a borrower nor a lender be,” …basically pay your costs as you go. Useful advice in this time of credit crunch.
Elizabeth Lyall, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP:
- “You get out of life what you put into it.” These words regularly ring in my head; I live by them, and I say them to my children.
Dianne Watts, Mayor of Surrey:
- “Just wait until you have kids of your own and you will understand what you’re putting me through!!” My girls are now teenagers one, 14 and the other 16. I get it!!
- Mother-in-Law: “Don’t ever tell your daughter you don’t like her boyfriend — just bite your tongue.”
Yvonne De Valone, President, Downtown U-Lok Storage Ltd.:
- There are five girls in my family. At dinner time, we used to compete for different chairs each time we sat down to eat. My mother used to warn us: “If you keep changing your seat at the dinner table, when you grow up, you’ll be changing your partner too.” Today, four of us girls have gone through a divorce. Maybe we should have listened to her sage advice!
Filomena Nalewajek, CEO, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice:
- “Life is like giving birth… it is hard work and you can expect some pain but with determination, good will and focus on your goal, the results will be spectacular.”
Fiona Douglas-Crampton, Executive Director, WLC:
- The best advice my mother ever gave me was not something she said, it was something she did. I grew up on a hobby farm in a big old house with six kids, and about 30 animals. Everyone wanted to be there, mostly because of my mom. Dinner for 15-20 people was a regular occurrence (this was before we had a dishwasher!!). I’ll never forget the first time she stopped cooking just to polka around the kitchen with me. That is the spirit I try to take with me every day with my kids. I don’t always do it as well as she did, but then again, there was no one like her.
Have you been a victim of crime? That’s a question we posed to the folks sitting at our table* at The Board’s recent Crime, Punishment & Prevention forum with panelists Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu and WLC Advisory Board member, Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. The overwhelming answer from our table? YES!
This is not surprising when you learn that Vancouver has 379 “chronic offenders” with an average of 39 convictions each. And, there are 27 “super chronic offenders” including some who Chief Chu calls “ludicrous offenders” because they have over 100 convictions each. These are the people who break into cars, homes and businesses, or shoplift to support their drug habit. One has been an active offender for more than 19 years and has an “astonishing 154 convictions.”
Another chronic offender has not worked in 20 years, is not on welfare and says he can support himself (and his drug habit) from his property crimes — up to 35 crimes per day! A recent Vancouver Police Department report shows that if only ¼ of his offences were break & enters (his preferred mode of operation), his cost to the public in 2006 would be around $5 million!
But, even more amazing is that sentences in B.C. decrease the more convictions an offender has. The average sentence for a first conviction is 101 days, decreasing to 25 days by the time the criminal is convicted for the 35th crime which, according to Chu, “defies logic.” And, less time off the streets means there is less of a chance for them to participate in an effective drug treatment program.
So, how do we make a difference? That’s what members of the WLC wanted to know when they met with Mayor Dianne Watts to tap into her vast experience in this area at the WLC Speaker Roundtable after the event. In early 2007, the City of Surrey issued its comprehensive Crime Reduction Strategy.
This report provides plenty of ideas on how to prevent and deter crime, deal with offenders and educate people on the reality and perceptions of crime. And, according to Mayor Watts, there is no question that early childhood development programs (which The Board has championed) are “the piece that’s missing that will make the most difference” in the long run. Programs focusing on literacy, youth intervention, parenting and community activities all help keep children from getting off track. And, as women, who better to champion these initiatives? Your voice is important so take a look at both reports to learn more. When there are polls on crime, participate. Consider getting involved with committees tackling this issue such as The Board’s Crime Task Force.
 ASTERISK: IT’S A TIP!
You probably noticed the red asterisk in our crime article. We wanted to draw your attention to our little tip on conversation. We’ve all been to luncheons or dinners where we end up spending all our time talking to just the people on either side of us. A very simple way to get everyone at the table engaged in a conversation is simply to pose a question. For some this may require stepping out of your comfort zone and also speaking up! But the benefits are enormous. Having everyone at your table engaged in conversation together makes for a much richer experience. Plus you get to know the person sitting across the table from you — and how often does that happen at a table of 10?
 CHANGING THE WORLD ONE GOAT AT A TIME
On May 14 Craig Kielburger, founder and chair, Free The Children and ME TO WE, will speak at a Board luncheon and fundraiser and receive the inaugural Rix Center for Corporate Citizenship and Engaged Leadership Engaged Citizenship Award. If you have a young professional that you mentor, or children of your own, bring them to this event and they will come away inspired! So will you. We highly recommend you attend as this is a rare and very special event.
Craig Kielburger is one amazing guy, as is his brother Marc, who will also join him at the event. Craig has received the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award, the World Economic Forum Global Leader of Tomorrow Award, the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, the Roosevelt Freedom Medal, the Governor General’s Medal of Meritorious Service, the State of the World Forum Award, and two honorary doctorates. He has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. And, he’s only 26 years old!
What is so powerful about Craig and Marc’s work is that they are inspiring a group who previously didn’t know they had a voice — teens in our schools. Most of these kids, before they were exposed to Free the Children, didn’t know they could make a difference right now—that they don’t have to wait until they “grow up.” Actually Craig and Marc Kielburger are a Mother’s Day gift to all of us. They are not just building our future leaders, but leaders for today! Register now.
 POLITICAL FUNNIES
We have our B.C. Election on May 12 but if you want to see one of the funniest bits on federal politics, take a look at this Rick Mercer Report on Election Kids.
And, please vote on May 12 and help B.C. reach two milestones: two million voters and over 60 per cent voter turnout rate for the first time in 18 years.
 RICK MERCER + SUE PAISH
When Stephen Covey spoke at The Vancouver Board of Trade’s Annual General Meeting in 2007, he was blown away by how well that AGM was run. He said he’d never seen a smoother, more efficient AGM ever! The bonus to all of us was that we then got to hear him speak. This year it’s Canada’s funniest comic and political commentator, Rick Mercer. He will be the keynote speaker at The Board’s 122nd AGM as we welcome Sue Paish, QC as The Board’s incoming chair. Sue joins an illustrious group of men and women leaders including Wendy McDonald, CM, OBC who became The Board’s first woman chair in 1990-91, followed by Jill Bodkin in 1994-95 and Carole Taylor, OC, OBC in 2001-02.
This is one of the signature events of the year so why not be the connector and organize a group to join us on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at The Westin Bayshore Hotel to celebrate yet another woman chair of The Vancouver Board of Trade and the founding chair of our WLC. Register now.
YOUR FEEDBACK
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments, ideas for this newsletter, for speakers, for content to: info@wlcircle.com
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TWO MOST IMPORTANT WORDS 
May 14, 2009 
