This is Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Time to celebrate and give thanks. Today is also Heroes in our Midst day — and there are so many to be grateful for. From the check-out clerk who goes the extra distance to ensure you’re happy with your shopping experience to the teacher who tucks a note into her students backpacks to the stranger who stops to help someone on the road, there are heroes everywhere. Here are some of mine.

This past week has been super busy at the Calgary Counselling Centre where I’m working on contract as the Interim Director Communications. On Monday, we launched a new website. Thursday we kicked off National Depression Screening Day with a panel discussion at a breakfast and yesterday we opened registration for a webinar training series for counsellors working with couples and domestic abuse. It’s been busy and I am truly blessed to work with a team who make it seem effortless to meet deadlines and demands. It is inspiring to work with such a team — not just the communications team but all the members of the Centre’s staff. From reception to the CEO, they shine.

Yayoi, John, Tara, Caitlin, Candace, Tony, Amanda, Kate, Robbie and Kim and everyone at the Centre — you are all heroes.

On Thursday morning we kicked off NDSD with a breakfast where a panel talked about their experiences with depression. Cindy Radu, Director, Family Services at the Waterstreet Group, a lawyer/accountant and mother to a 9 year old daughter, shared her lived experiences with depression starting from her diagnosis in 2002. Maureen Kelsey from Pengrowth Energy Corporation spoke about what employers need to do to help employees and to erase the stigma around depression and Lois Hayward who heads up the counselling department at SAIT shared what educational institutions are doing to educate students on the need to take care of their mental health. MC, Adam Legge, President of the Calgary Chamber and Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO of the Centre started the conversation which Moderator Dan Delaloye, Exec. Dir. at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Calgary Region, kept flowing. It was an inspiring morning made even more so by the appearance of Calgary’s Mayor Nenshi who took the test live. And, the media turned out to support us too. CBC Radio, CBC TV, City TV, CTV all helped make it a stellar event.

Cindy, Maureen, Lois, Adam, Robbie, Dan, Mayor Nenshi and all our media partners — you are all heroes.

Thursday I attended the farewell event for Tim Richter, former CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation who has now moved on to lead the national initiative to create an alliance to end homelessness across Canada. Earlier in the week I’d heard a new description for leadership — A leader is someone who is courageous, curious and humble. Listening to the speakers, and then hearing Tim speak I realized — that’s what Tim is. That’s what he has done — he’s demonstrated true leadership in the fight to end homelessness by courageously taking on something that so many believe is impossible. He’s been curious about the causes, best practices, innovative ideas and tireless in his desire to find the answers to turn the perceived impossible into the reality of possible for people experiencing homelessness on our streets. He’s worked tirelessly, not for his own benefit, but for the betterment of all society. He is a humble man and a hero.

Tim Richter is a hero.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing Angela Rinaldis — the founder and President of Project True — for my People Who Make a Difference column tomorrow. I am inspired by the work Angela is doing to raise awareness about eating disorders and to create a centre for women and men experiencing them in the lower Mainland of BC. And, I am grateful for her presence on my path too. Angela has been an inspiration for my daughter Alexis as she recovers from her own eating disorder. As I told Angela yesterday, you are a gift in my daughter’s life and a gift in mine too.

Angela is a hero.

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Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing how Angela is making a difference. Today, you can make a difference by supporting Project True at the AVIVA Community Fund. If you haven’t voted yet for Project True at AVIVA Community Fund. please take a few moments today, and everyday, to do so!  It’s a great cause, and a fabulous way to make a difference.   Here’s the link to make it easy for you!  🙂  http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13435