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Archive for the ‘Community giving’ Category

Doing Well by Doing Good

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

I am excited to unveil BOWEN’s new corporate social responsibility statement. After months of research of best practices, soul searching and inviting feedback from our employees, we can say:

BOWEN Workforce Solutions is committed to making our community a better place. Whether it is linking great employers with talented employees, incorporating sustainable practices into our day-to-day business, giving of our time to worthwhile organizations or donating funds to causes we care deeply about, we take our corporate citizenship seriously. We care about our environment and incorporate sustainable practices into our day-to-day business routines. We believe in sharing our financial success with the community where we live, work and play by helping families who need it most, and making our community a better place. Our desired legacy is a caring, successful company that truly makes a difference for our community.

As a company, we felt it was worth the time and investment to make sure we identified meaningful ways to give back to our community, while giving our employees, candidates and clients opportunities for engagement and involvement.

There are fantastic organizations that are on the front lines each and every day, caring for those who need help and hope. Whether it is a homeless family, a hungry child or a parent needing suitable work clothes to start a new job, we can reach out and help make our community a better place for everyone. Individuals and corporations all have a role to play and I am proud of our employees commitment to making a difference.

In the weeks ahead, I will share more about our vision and how you can join us on this exciting new journey!

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A New Year…A Fresh Start

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

I love New Year’s!  It’s exciting to symbolically leave the previous year behind and look forward to all that the next 12 months has in store! For many, 2009 was an extremely challenging year with the declining economy, job loss and significant corporate cutbacks. Looking ahead to 2010, there is cautious optimism that job market will start to open up with new opportunities as the economy starts its slow recovery. Rebuilding takes time, but change is good.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to various groups about change and thought it was very appropriate to share just a few of my favourite inspirational quotes as we look ahead to the new year with anticipation.

“Life isn’t just about what you can have; it’s about what you have to give. What kind of person do you want to be? Start asking these questions and thinking about the bigger picture-why you’re here, why the world needs what you have to offer. What I know for sure: You keep asking the right questions of yourself, and the universe and your own secrets will unfold in ways you never imagined.” - Oprah Winfrey

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. “ - Maya Angelou

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - President Barack Obama

 Happy New Year!

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Tis the Season - how are you celebrating?

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

It’s that time of year when companies begin to host festive events that celebrate the Holiday Season. For some companies, this is a time to thank clients and staff for their business and hard work throughout the year. In recent memory, many Calgary companies made the headlines for their extravagant parties, where they truly went all out. However, this year, celebrations will likely be much more subdued. If the 2009 Stampede parties were any indication, corporate Calgary is making different choices for acknowledging special occasions this year. Parties are simplified, guests lists are shortened and in many cases, companies are choosing to use their corporate events as a time to do something good for our community.

I think this sensitivity to the difficult year that many Calgarians are facing is a wonderful reflection of the true personality of our community. People do care. They are aware that there are those in our community who really need help. Just look at how sharply the demand for food bank services has increased. To borrow a phrase from the United Way of Calgary and Area, we do live in a “great city”. It’s a place where community helps community. I know this year at BOWEN, we have been more aware than ever that we need to reach out and lend a hand wherever and however we can. It is about encouraging candidates not to lose hope that they will find work again, offering support to companies as they deal with tough workforce decisions, and going that extra mile as a team to raise funds or donations for the many good causes in our city.

Whether you are considering your own personal Holiday Season celebration, or helping to organize a corporate event, I encourage you to think of how you can add in a element of giving back. I would also encourage you to share your stories. If you company is doing something different, or you have a great idea on how to give back, please share it! We can all learn from each other and discover new ways to help.

Happy holiday planning!

Posted in Community giving, Economy, Seasonal | No Comments »

A day to remember

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

The recent amazing success of the Scott Smed Golf Tournament has once again made my husband Peter and I so thankful for the generosity of our friends and colleagues, and quite simply in awe of their support.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather when 144 golfers teed off for the 9th Annual Scott Smed Invitational on September 14, 2009 at Cottonwood Golf & Country Club. Teams dressed in baby blue, as a tribute to our son Scott, and headed out for the day to help raise money for three very worthwhile
causes: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program through Alberta Health Services, for two babies`orphanages in Uganda and Women and Children in Crisis programs through United Way of Calgary and Area.

What a day it was! Despite this past year being so difficult for so many, we raised nearly $100,000 for these very worthwhile organizations. What a difference this money will make to those in need, both here in our community and thousands of miles away in an Ugandan village.

To each of the people who swung a club, donated a prize, joined us for dinner or volunteered their time, “thank you”. It doesn’t seem like enough but once again, it is all we can truly say to acknowledge this remarkable opportunity we’ve been given to honour Scott and do something special in our community.

Visit http://www.scottsmed.com/ for photos and information on next year’s tournament!

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Chipping In for a Great Cause

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

On September 14, the BOWEN BrightLights Foundation is proudly presenting the 9th Annual Scott Smed Invitational. This golf tournament is a cause that is very close to my heart and is a special day for our family because it is a time when we honour our son Scott, who passed away as an infant in 2001.

For any parents who have experienced the loss of child, the journey of healing and hope is a long and very difficult one. However, we have been blessed by the support and caring of countless colleagues, friends and family members throughout the years.

As we grieved the loss of Scott, my husband Peter and I also realized we wanted to help other families in our community who would go through this heart-wrenching experience. We created the tournament as a way to raise funds to help provide grieving parents with comforting surroundings and resources to help them remember their child.

Over the years, the tournament has grown and evolved to also include support for babies’ orphanages in Uganda (our daughter is of Ugandan descent). Thanks to the generosity of golfers, sponsors, volunteers and donors, we have raised $430,000 for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program and for babies’ orphanages in Uganda. There are Scott Smed rooms at the Rockyview General Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre, as well as two more nearing completion at the Peter Lougheed hospital. The new Scott Smed Centre of Excellence will be part of the new South Health Campus and is the first of its kind in Canada, offering families the best possible care when dealing with the loss of a baby.

This year, Scott would be eight years old and the tournament is moving in a new direction to honour his legacy, while continuing to help women and children in our community. We are pleased to announce that the United Way of Calgary and Area has joined us as a partner, allowing us to continue to raise money for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program through Alberta Health Services, as well as for babies’ orphanages in Uganda through United Way Uganda. It will also give us the opportunity to raise money for women and children in crisis locally through United Way Calgary. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit these three very worthwhile organizations that are so dedicated to making a difference in our community and around the world.

This year has been an extremely difficult financially for many, and yet I am thrilled to say that our tournament has received a record number of sponsors and golfers! It’s an extraordinary accomplishment that shows just how remarkable our community is.

Giving back to the community has always been important to me personally, and I am thankful that at BOWEN, there are many colleagues who share this desire to make a difference to those who need it most.

I encourage you to think of what you can do too, whether it’s giving of your time, talents or financial resources, you can help us make Calgary a better place for everyone.

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A New Kind of Stampede

Monday, July 6th, 2009

One of the things that I am very passionate about is giving back to our community.  It’s been an honour for me to be personally involved with the United Way of Calgary and Area for many years. I am also very proud of our team at BOWEN, who are so committed to giving of their time and resources to many worthy charities in our community.

This year, an event that is near and dear to my heart, the Scott Smed Golf Invitational, is partnering with the United Way to help women and children in our community and around the world.

Calgary is a great place to live, work and play, and we need to make sure it’s a great city for everyone.  There are many outstanding organizations, like the United Way, that are making a difference in our city and helping those who need it most.

This past year has highlighted just how great the divide can be between those of us who have much, and those who have little. The faltering economy has had a huge impact on many in our community and the agencies who help those in need have been stretched to the limit.

As always, Calgarians are a generous bunch, and companies and individuals are stepping up to help. Like many organizations, BOWEN will not be hosting a Stampede event this year. Spending priorities change and we’ve had to make some tough choices. We are not alone. There are many companies who are either eliminating or scaling back their Stampede festivities, or finding a way to use that money for the community.

Several weeks ago, law firm Burnet, Duckworth&Palmer LLP cancelled its annual party, electing to donate $150,000 to the Calgary Food Bank instead. For those companies that are going ahead with their party plans, many also have a strong charitable component.

Stampede may be a little quieter this year, but it’s also a time for Calgarians to shine by showing how we care about those in our community and will come together to make a difference. That’s something that deserves a big “Yahoo”!

Posted in Community giving, Economy | No Comments »

HERE WE GO…Welcome to the BOWEN BLOG

Monday, June 15th, 2009

There is a lot of talk these days about Calgary’s job market and our ever-changing economy. Given the highs and lows of the past 12 months, it’s hard to keep things in perspective. If you’ve experienced a job loss,  you  have to figure out “what’s next”. If you’re a manager or business owner, you may be faced with making tough choices relating to your workforce.

BOWEN has provided workforce solutions to Calgary businesses for 35 years and in this time, we have seen some high peaks (think spring 2008) and very low valleys (think the National Energy Program in the early 80s).  We may not have seen it all, but we’ve seen a lot!

I am so excited to be launching the BOWEN blog as a new way to have a dialogue with you on a wide range of issues relating to employment, careers, workforce management and more. Whether you are a job seeker or an employer, please check back often. I’ll be posting new entries two or three times a week, and will also welcome guest bloggers to the site. I look forward to your comments and hope you will find the content helpful, no matter what side of the desk you are sitting on.

Posted in Career building tips, Community giving, Economy, Employment opportunities, General, HR Management | 2 Comments »