Discovering Halifax

I was delighted to be invited to speak at the first in-person conference in three years of the Canadian Society of Association Executives – my topic: Rethinking your Leadership Style with a New Coach Approach. I love spreading awareness of how powerful coaching can be for the success of individuals, teams and organizations. What a privilege it was to make my first visit to beautiful Nova Scotia last week to deliver this presentation.

The conference was a resounding success on many levels – lots of new contacts, meaningful conversations, tons of learning, so many interesting and fun experiences, celebrations (including the participation of His Worship, Mayor Mike Savage), tours and events but perhaps what impacted me the most was discovering the rugged and exquisite beauty of Atlantic Canada and its fine people.

A wise friend recently told me that Mother Nature seems to draw what’s needed from people according to where they live. Learning a little bit about this region’s fascinating and dramatic history (the incredible story of the massive, devastating 1917 explosion, the reaction to the wreckage and remains that washed ashore from shipwrecks and plane crashes over the centuries including those of the Titanic in 1912, and of Swissair flight 111 in 1998 and others, the waves of immigrants arriving at Pier 21) provided some insight as to what makes our Nova Scotian cousins the rugged, resilient, kind and exquisite people that proudly inhabit this wonderful region.

Also, sea shanties, craft brews and the best lobster!

I took a day over the weekend before flying back to Vancouver to explore the famed coastline to picturesque Lunenberg with stops at Peggys Cove, Chester and Mahone Bay. The entire drive is breathtakingly beautiful and I found myself stopping to take photos or just behold the fall colours, the placid water, the rock formations and the constant succession of coves and boats like one pristine painting after another.

While admiring the unique landscape shaped by 350 million years' worth of shifting tectonic plates and retreating glaciers that randomly dropped massive boulders here and there, a visit to Tom's Lobster Shack at Peggys Cove seemed appropriate. As if on cue, just as I took a seat on one of the many colourful Adirondack chairs placed for visitors' viewing enjoyment, a fellow arrived to play his didgeridoo right in front of the famed lighthouse! Lunch and a show!

There is so much to discover here. If you’re planning a conference, corporate retreat, reward trip, family vacation put Halifax on your list!

Heartfelt thanks to Discover Halifax?for hosting our?conference at the beautiful Halifax Convention Centre. My time in Nova Scotia was decidedly impactful and deeply memorable.

Emma Girduckis, CAE ??Jeff Nearing Sara Ericsson Omar Assakkali Deborah Davy Jeff Calderwood Letricia Gordon Fullerton Chase Myhill Walter Chan Tami LeBlanc, CMP