You would think after so many years in the field that I would not be surprised but it happens every time. I am always amazed at the hope, resilience and determination of the individuals who work in this sector. It reminds me why I am so proud to have had a career in this sector along side with such wonderful people working to make this world a better place.
At the ONN symposium people in the sector, from across the sector, came together to discuss how we move forward together. It was not the usual sector conference with experts set up to tell the sector how to do its work. Participants at the ONN conference had to do all the work and they rolled up their sleeves and cheerfully got on with the job.
Given the times one might think everyone would want to talk about the impending cuts to sector funding from governments and donations but that was not the case. Everyone acknowledged the hard time ahead but the group wanted to focus on how we achieve the sector's long-term objective of contributing to the public good and making our communities welcoming, inclusive and creative places to live.
Participants identified the need to tell our stories more effectively in the media and with the public, to become a valued and respected partner along with business and government in making our communities strong. We discussed how, across our sector, we have so much to learn from each other and how we can be so much stronger if we work together and build on each others strengths. We also discussed how we have to give ourselves permission to focus on making our sector stronger or else we limit our capacity to achieve our missions.
It was a day where people kept their eye on the ultimate objective of having a strong and vibrant public benefit sector in Ontario. We did not settle for less and get bogged down in immediate problems. We know we are in for the long haul. If we want to make Ontario a compassionate and vibrant place to live we need to stand and work together. It was a great day, a great start, but we need you to get involved. It is going to take every one of us to build a better Ontario.
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