Mission
To provide a forum for inspiring speakers and conversations that promote the practical application of spirit in work and everyday life.

When  
3rd Thursday of every month -- 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Where
Terasen Building -- Main floor, Conference Rooms
1111 W. Georgia, at Thurlow, Vancouver, B.C. 
(access to meeting room is on the north side, past the elevators)

Cost 
Without Lunch:   $10
With Lunch:         $15 for Members
                              $20 for Non-Members

Click Here to Join Workplace Centre

To Sponsor an Event, please call: 604.685-6560
or email: info@workplacecentre.org                       
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March 2010

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, March 18, 2010         12:00 - 1:30 p.m.       Vancouver's Post-Olympic Social Plan: No more short-term charity       with Michael McCarthy,  Ethics in Action Winner, Author and Intentional Traveller     Are charity and random acts of kindness enough to foster long-term social change? ...Is there a better way? The world has discovered Vancouver, thanks to the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. However, when our global visitors leave, the city's urgent social issues will remain: homelessness, drug addiction, limited mental health services and inadequate housing for the poor. What will our response be? Will Vancouver continue to apply short-term fixes like food banks, shelters, welfare and "random acts of kindness" as public policy? Has an attitude of short-term "charity" towards the disadvantaged stifled effective, lasting change? Join Michael as he describes his civic and spiritual vision of "intentionality": a compassionate, long-term plan that identifies and tackles our most urgent and systemic problems.                                   click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, March 18, 2010  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Michael McCarthy is a journalist, freelance writer and media professional with 20 years' experience in radio, newspapers (including the Vancouver Courier), books, magazines and online publications. Focused on ways to make the world a better place, he has written extensively about homelessness, poverty, micro-entrepreneurship, housing, global warming and saving the environment. Michael was founder and editor of Spare Change, a newspaper for Vancouver's homeless that sold one million copies. He also travels to third-world countries to fund grassroots aid projects and practise micro-philanthropy... [Read more]              click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560

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January 2010

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, January 21, 2010             12:00 - 1:30 p.m.     A Workplace of Peace: Create one with joy     with Ted Kuntz,  Author and Psychotherapist Find out why a focus on "world peace" isn’t working... In our desire to create world peace, we focus most of our efforts and attention on the global arena: the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan -- anywhere with war or conflict. But what if peace begins with each of us, at home, in the workplace, and in our communities? Are you ready to embrace the powerful affirmation: "Peace begins with me," and learn practical strategies for how to create that? ...[Read more]                                   click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, January 21, 2010  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Ted Kuntz is a psychotherapist in private practice in Vancouver and author of the Canadian bestseller, Peace Begins With Me. Ted has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and more than 25 years of clinical experience. He is the former Director of Counseling Services with SHARE Family and Community Services Society, and was an instructor in Child, Family, and Community Studies at Douglas Community College. ...[Read more] You can also find out more about Ted & his work at www.peacebeginswithme.ca.             click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 back to top

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November 2009

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, November 19, 2009             12:00 - 1:30 p.m.     Spirit and Health Care: Inspiring hope and resiliency     with Rev. Don Hill,  Critical Care Chaplain, St. Paul’s Hospital     Have you developed the art of healthy selfishness? From Florence Nightingale to Mother Teresa, selfless devotion to healing others has remained an ideal for quality health care. Swallow one's suffering. Give tirelessly. Make the patient's physical comfort supreme. But what about the spirit of a sick one: How well are our hospitals and institutions tending to that? And amidst today's hospital cutbacks and long patient waiting lists, caregiver burnout has become a serious concern. How well are we truly caring for ourselves, while we care for others?... [Read more]                                     click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, November 19th, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Reverend Donald Hill, M.Div., M.Th, RMFT, is the chaplain in Critical Care at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. He is also a family therapist at the Vancouver Christian Counselling Centre and an interim minister at Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby. Previously, Don has held numerous positions in counseling, family therapy and spiritual care... [Read more]             click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 back to top

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October 2009

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, October 15th, 2009             12:00 - 1:30 p.m.     Inspired Leadership: Exploring possibilities for the decade ahead     with Isabelle St-Jean, author of Living Forward, Giving Back, Life & Business coach, and Owner of Inspired Momentum What qualities of leadership can you embrace in your daily life to help create a truly inspired future? Whether in our personal or professional lives, most of us tap into our inner leader when making decisions and value choices, or relating to others. We don’t need a formal leadership role at work to take on this responsibility. But what does the spirit of leadership call us to do? And how can we answer our own unique call of the heart and bring it to fruition? In a lively and interactive presentation, Isabelle will explore these and other questions. She'll elaborate on what qualities you will find in three types of leadership: authentic, nature-centred and facilitative... [Read more]                                     click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, October 15, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Isabelle St-Jean is a life and business coach, speaker, facilitator, author, and the owner of Inspired Momentum Development. She helps people to navigate life transitions, including career changes, retirement and business start-ups. She also speaks and facilitates seminars on leadership and human potential development, in the context of purposeful and audacious living. Author of Living Forward, Giving Back: A Practical Guide to Fulfillment in Midlife and Beyond, and contributing editor for two award-winning anthologies: Audacious Aging, and Einstein’s Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination and Excellence in the Workplace... [Read more] (For more information on Isabelle, also see www.inspiredmomentum.com)            click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560

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September 2009

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, September 17th, 2009             12:00 - 1:30 p.m.     Mindfulness: Finding Peace in Paradox     with Catherine Hajnal, PhD, Founder, Eight Branches Consulting, and former Assistant Professor of Business, Carleton University  How much time do you spend thinking                                                about the past or the future? Have you ever stopped and truly listened to your body, mind, and spirit? When you do, what you hear might surprise you. We spend most of our time thinking about the future or revisiting the past. Our bodies respond to these thoughts, often in unhealthy ways. As we focus on thought, we can sometimes miss what is right in front of us, here and now. Yet all we truly have is this present moment. Join Catherine as she shares how to bring purposeful attention to the present moment at work and in life...[Read more]                                   click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, September 17, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Catherine Hajnal, PhD, operates her own Vancouver business, Eight Branches Consulting, facilitating and nurturing joyful living in individuals and organizations. She completed her doctorate in industrial engineering and socio-technical systems at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. During her studies, she explored the connection between occupational stress and the design of work, which spawned a passionate interest in creating healthy workplaces. Catherine is an ASQ certified manager of quality/organizational effectiveness and... [Read more]             click here to RSVP  -or-  phone: 604-685-6560 back to top

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Past Events


June 2009

Spirit at Work presents

Thursday, June 18th, 2009             12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Spirituality and Homelessness with Judy Graves, Coordinator, Tenant Assistance Program, City of Vancouver Does your spiritual heart reach out to people of all income levels? Many people view development projects as a valued sign of a city’s progress, revitalization and economic growth. But few consider the impact on the homeless and low-income tenants. Who considers the needs of these urban-dwellers when slick architectural plans are unveiled? And what does a city’s treatment of the homeless reveal about its spiritual health and well-being? Judy Graves has worked for City Hall on behalf of Vancouver’s homeless for 35 years. But she also sees her position as a spiritual calling. Join us to hear a passionate woman who works hard and cares deeply for people 'on the street'... [Read more]                click here to RSVP   -or-  phone: 604.685-6560 DATE:           Thursday, June 18, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm LOCATION:   Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                      1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:             Without lunch: $10                      With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:          Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                         ____________________________ About Our Speaker: Judy Graves received an honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of British Columbia in May 2009. This summer, she will act as an expert witness regarding the homeless in a court challenge to the Election Act. In 2008, she received the Reg Robson Award from the BC Civil Liberties Association and an honourary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from Corpus Christi College. She was also the featured speaker (in May 2008) at the national Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa. Judy has coordinated the City of Vancouver's Tenant Assistance Program since 1974... [Read more]               click here to RSVP   or phone: 604-685-6560

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May 2009

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, May 21st, 2009       12:00 - 1:30 p.m.     Nature Spirituality in Cascadia: The sacred power of the Pacific Northwest     with Douglas Todd, Editor of Cascadia: The Elusive Utopia and Religion Writer/Blogger for The Vancouver Sun How do you define and nurture your own unique “spirituality of place”? Residents of the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia to Oregon, savour the region’s remarkable mountains and forests, its rugged beaches and livable cities. But few know that the area, known as “Cascadia” for its cascading waterfalls, is home to the least institutionally religious people on the continent. That doesn’t mean we’re a haven of atheists. Instead, most of the 14 million residents of this untamed territory are often deeply spiritual, gaining their sense of the sacred through the humbling, spectacular presence of nature. Join us as Douglas Todd outlines the types of spiritual practices found in Cascadia, with a particular focus on nature spirituality. He’ll draw on the eclectic views offered in the 2008 book he edited, Cascadia: The Elusive Utopia. It features 15 leading contributors, from noted historian Jean Barman to Canadian poet laureate George Bowering.                                   click here to RSVP  or  phone: 604-685-6560 Date:           Thursday, May 21, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm Location:    Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                    1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:           Without lunch: $10                    With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:        Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: Douglas Todd is editor of Cascadia: The Elusive Utopia, published by Ronsdale Press in 2008. He is a blogger and long-time religion and philosophy writer for The Vancouver Sun and other newspapers. He has twice won the Templeton Religion Reporter of the Year Award, which goes to the top spirituality writer in North America’s secular media... [Read more]                click here to RSVP  or  phone: 604-685-6560 back to top

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April 2009

Spirit at Work presents   Thursday, April 16th, 2009           12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Spirit on Stage: Humour and Disability with David Roche, Stand-up Comedian, Inspirational Humourist, and Author of The Church of 80% Sincerity: “the church of choice for recovering perfectionists.” How can we make our shadow side...                                     ...a gift to ourselves and others? Born with a severe facial disfigurement, he endured many surgeries and heavy radiation therapy as an infant and child. He’s had people spit on him and call him a monster. He was even rejected from a seminary because his appearance would "bring him disrespect as a priest," he was told. Yet inspirational humourist David Roche, author and international speaker, has transformed his disability into a source of compelling spiritual growth and positive motivation for others. He says: “My face is a gift, because... [Read more]                                   click here to RSVP  or  phone: 604.685-6560 DATE:           Thursday, April 16, 2009  –  12:00 - 1:30 pm LOCATION:   Main Floor, Conference Rooms, Terasen Building,                      1111 W. Georgia St. (at Thurlow), Vancouver Cost:             Without lunch: $10                      With lunch:  non-members - $20;  members - $15 Lunch:          Catered sandwiches, salad, tea and coffee                               __________________________ About our Speaker: David Roche is a stand-up comedian, author and international motivational speaker. He performed his signature one-man show, "The Church of 80% Sincerity," at the Clinton White House, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC and the Olympics Arts Festival in Sydney, Australia. He has also headlined across the U.S., Canada, England, New Zealand, Australia and Russia, and garnered media attention around the globe, including a profile by Paula Zahn on CNN. [Read more] “In laughing at himself, David Roche tricks us into laughing at ourselves, and thus disarmed, we dare to challenge our fears and assumptions.”     -- Bonnie Sherr Klein, Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker and Author                click here to RSVP  or  phone: 604.685-6560 back to top

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March 2009