Hello Everyone,

Welcome to 2021! It will be a year of great change and I fully expect it to bring change for the better.

Yes, these next couple of months will be difficult, perhaps the toughest we are to endure since the pandemic hit. My main priority is that you do what you need to do to keep yourselves and those you love safe and healthy. But one thing I know for certain is that the pandemic will end. Stay focused on that. We will get there. It’s a good time to start thinking about what we’ve learned from COVID that we want to continue to practise post-COVID. For example, what changes in technology do we want to keep? Our shopAGO had success this holiday shopping season because staff were able to pivot to online sales. Should we continue aspects of working remotely – is Zoom here to stay? How will you adapt to these changes and others in your work? Effective, meaningful change requires commitment – and resiliency. Resiliency is something we can all build. Here is a video on the topic of building resiliency during difficult times:  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/video-how-to-build-your-mental-resilience-for-difficult-times/

I am optimistic about 2021 and the changes to come. It will not be easy but things will get better.

Stephan