Adapt to Change in an Increasingly Diverse Alberta

Hi, I’m Frankline Agbor. I help individuals and organizations use diversity and inclusion as a comparative advantage in an increasingly diverse Alberta. Human Resources professional had the opportunity to share my message of change through diversity and inclusion on the 63rd Western Cities HR Conference, October 2-5, 2018, at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Alberta.

I once went to a press conference and one of the staff working for the politician making an important announcement on multiculturalism thrust right through to me, brushing through every other reporter in the room, and asked, “what are you doing here?”. In the same vein, certain Canadians are forever referred to as members of ethnic community, multicultural community, and people of colour, cultural communities, diverse communities, immigrants, newcomers, and many other words that conjure certain kinds of stereotypes, consciously or unconsciously. When you look at me, what comes to your mind? A refugee…a reporter…an unskilled labour waiting to be hired…a drug gang member…a terrorist…or welfare dependent?

Our world views are different and it guides how we respond to different people, different cultures, and determines whether we invite people around us or appreciate different cultures, or appreciate their talents, skills, experiences to hire them or spice up their responsibilities with promotion. 

What better place to deliver this Diversity presentation than at the Western Cities HR Conference 2018, hosted at the foot of Kananaskis Mountain Range, pointed interlocking peaks, overlooked by a blue sky, undulating sharp ridges boost of a thin veil of snow, carpeted at the base by a dense dark green forest, washed by conspicuous lakes and rivers, making the area a breathtaking piece of beauty in Alberta.

“…In closing, It’s not the strongest that survives but the one that can adapt to change. Canada is becoming increasingly diverse with 1 in 5 Canadians an immigrant. Organizations are making the most of this trend by adapting to this change, why not yours?” – Frankline Agbor, Diversity Magazine.