I met Stephen Hammond through the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). I joined because I wanted to learn how to communicate issues related to aphasia and my work as founder of the BC Aphasia Centre. I learned so much there from our guest speakers and other members. During that time, I led the organization I founded to transfer assets to a larger organization to continue the work. But I stayed involved with CAPS on the board and made plans to try to develop a new specialty area. Stephen was President of our chapter during my first year as treasurer.

Stephen is a former lawyer who in now a speaker, author, educator and trainer in workplace and community human rights. Over the years, Stephen and I have remained friends. We have a common interest in politics, and his mother was an MLA in Manitoba. Stephen and his husband Jack have been generous with us, inviting us to interesting social events. And every time I ask for a donation for something, they are there to support me. They are usually among the very first to step up. It means a lot to me to have that unquestioning support.

During my time at CAPS, I became known as a networker and informally coached a couple of colleagues on the art of networking. It served me well as I have a very good memory for faces and names. I pray that the MS doesn’t take that away from me.

In 2009, I helped Stephen get a chance to meet up with his old professor from Osgoode Hall, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour.

He wrote a nice blurb about it on his blog.

On Monday night at the University Women’s Club in Vancouver, I was lucky enough to get a ticket to a sold-out speech given by Louise Arbour, thanks to my friend and networking maven, Jennifer Sweeney. Anyone who knows me, knows how much of a fan I am of Ms. Arbour. I’ve talked about this uber-talented and brilliant woman, since she taught me Criminal Law at Osgoode Hall Law School years ago.

As I look at this photo and read the blog, I find myself missing that person who could ‘work a room’ and figure out who should meet whom. That was my favourite thing to do, to help people connect with each other as my way of helping. Exactly one year later, my serious facial pain started and I haven’t been the same since. But since my surgery (balloon compression rhizotomy of the right trigeminal nerve) almost four months ago, I am starting to come back . . . stay tuned.

My personal fundraising page can be found here.

Thanks Stephen and Jack for believing in me.