Grateful for healthcare workers & my health

 Just a wee note to say how grateful for all the hard work and commitment our healthcare leaders are providing to the community.

If it wasn't for you we would not have our health and well-being.

Gratitude and appreciation for all of your efforts.

Great stories below of PEI nurses snowshoeing to work yesterday and worked a 12 hour shift.

Islanders brave winter storm to help out people trapped by snow | CBC News

Grateful for my students in providing feedback

 I am so grateful to my students in taking their precious time to provide constructive feedback in helping me improve to be a better teacher and person. I also appreciate it when they give kudos as I really needed it. A big THANK-YOU to my students!

Comments from Abilities Management Students - Fall 2021

• I love the way you care for us, talk to us about your lovely horse and your passion with HR. You are such a bubbly and sweet professor. 
• Thank you for your support and always being there for students. 
• Thank you for the great semester. 
• She has done an amazing job at teaching this course and attending to student needs for learning! Great job to Anita for helping a lot with student success and changing student lives! 
• You are a great professor, thank you for being there for your students! 
• It would be great if you could teach the future cohorts the BHSW 4002 – Project Management Course as your background, experience, and knowledge would be a great asset to the students in learning the course material. Thank you for bringing Ryder at the beginning of the live sessions. Seeing Ryder at the beginning of each class really produced a calming effect, reduced stress, and improved one's overall psychological state.
• The informative lectures - The professor was interactive and enjoyed her teaching style. 
• It was a fun learning experience and applied personal experience to help us understand the content better. 
• Anita is always very accommodating for her students. She provides us with content that is not only engaging but also very relevant/interesting for our future careers. She is always willing to go the extra mile for her students, which I really appreciate. 
• The Instructor always prioritized student learning. She taught the course with lots of great enthusiasm and ensured to help with student needs even outside of the classroom 
• Seeing Ryder and Anita being the best prof
• The insight, knowledge, and experience that the professor brought to the course, was very beneficial and helped me fully understand the concepts of the course material. Seeing Ryder at the beginning of the live sessions as it produces a calming effect, reduced stress, and improved one's overall psychological state.

Comments Health & Safety Students - Fall 2021

• Anita's passion for safety is contagious, her lectures were always very interesting and she got everyone involved which I have found is very hard to do when it comes to online learning. I like how Anita is having a conversion with us versus just reading off of the slides during her lectures. Loved seeing Ryder as well! 
• Content was delivered in a very thorough manner and was presented professionally.
•  Anita is always prompt to address answers and checks up on student progress if any difficulties are presented
• thank you for an amazing semester 
• She's a great teacher and very approachable. There is none like her! 
• Thank you for the great semester Anita. Your passion for health and safety is contagious and it helps me become more excited for my future career! P.S say hi to Ryder for all of us! 
• Thank you Dr. Nickerson [not a Dr. but thanks for the promotion 😀] for guiding me through this semester. As a student with no prior experience with occupational health and safety, you effectively presented your content in a concise and understanding manner. I would like to thank you personally for accommodating for lack of attendance and addressing accountability with me for the completion of my assignments. You are a caring professor that wants students to succeed; I will definitely use your professional experience to guide me not only in academics, but throughout my career and life. Your prior experiences have also impacted me in a major way, though I was not able to express how I feel in class, I found your stories relatable especially when regarding your recovery from injury. P.S. Ryder is adorable! Whenever he barks it reminds me of my own pup, Elvis! They would have made the best of friends. I hope you have a great holiday and I hope to see you next semester! 
• You are a great teacher and so passionate about what you do, I really admire that.

Grateful for my students....

Just a wee shout out to my student Diana for recommending posting this blog on Linked-In. I completely forgot to do this so a friendly reminder is greatly appreciated.

I also am very grateful for all of my students as you have enriched me with your experiences, opinions and hard work. You inspire me to keep making the learning journey an exciting one that strives for development for my students personally, academically and professionally.

Thank you for all of your time and efforts and "going the extra mile" in the classroom and out.

A good trainer still needs training

I am grateful for my personal trainer Sean Snary at Wynn Fitness https://www.wynnfitness.com/team-member/sean-snary/ as not only is he the BEST trainer he also is developing himself. Sean inspires me as he is very active and fits in work, family and full-time school with a busy client base. Sean is also finishing up his training in osteopathy and getting great grades. Thank you for motivating me both physically (fitness) and mentally - your gentle encouragement makes a difference. RESPECT!

I am very grateful for Cheryl Gibson and the team (vets, ferries, and so many more) by teaching me Equi-Bow Canada techniques for Equine. https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/
I have learned so much from Cheryl and the team of experts that come in for each training session on equine, muscle release techniques and how to help horses. Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge with others. You and the team make a difference for trainees and the equine that they will look after .... hopefully I get to practice this year on thoroughbreds, standardbreds and some cold drafts included.

If you want to learn more about helping your horse (equine) I highly recommend taking Equi-Bow Foundations course March 22-24 https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/courses/equi-bow-100-series-courses/ followed by Equine Anatomy II March 30 & 31https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/

Grateful for philantropists like Andre McDonnell - It's From the Sole

I saw on Ellen today the great work that Andre and the "It's From The Sole" team have been doing to help get footwear for those who are homeless. I highly recommend companies and groups of individuals to get together by collecting old sneakers (Nike, Adidas, Converse, etc.) and donate it to this great organisation http://www.itsfromthesole.org/

Corporations -- please get a drive together that inspires employees to collect and donate their old unused sneakers to those less fortunate.

Thanks Andre for inspiring us - helping communities - and making a difference. Respect!

For fun places to go on a slow Sunday morning

I am grateful for fun places -- hidden gems located in the west end of TO (yes the 6, hogtown, the big smoke). Great to go with family and friends to just hang and chill after a hard week's work; to recharge the battery. Maybe one day I will see Bill Murray at one of these places?

Here are some favs...but are not exhaustive

• Dixie value mall Flea Market (downstairs on the south side of the mall) which is only open on the weekends. It is a great place to find little treasures or hunts for the big bargain. I love going to the record/DVD shop in the back 40. The proprietor plays cool tunes there...he is a bit hard of hearing but a very sweet guy. Lots of old school records with new Blue Ray DVDs
• There are lots of antique shops too. This a great way to reuse and recycle -- plus find an eclectic gift for someone special
• People watching -- both the vendors and the shoppers, browsers and family members that may be dragged to the place
• Woodbine Mall: they have a cool indoor amusement park for the kids to go … very unique. I miss the JJMuggs restaurant that use to be there. 
• Woodbine entertainment: to see the live races (can't wait for it to open again in the spring to see the thoroughbreds, trainers, jockeys, and so many more people who support this sport)
• Centennial park Conservatory: which is open every day from 10-5. They have different themes and events. Great place to be around nature, learn from green thumbs who volunteer there... a very nice and peaceful place
• Yellow Cup Cafe in Etobicoke for their great crepes

Grateful for horsemen and horsewomen

They say that "law of attraction" helps you attract people into your fold - well that happened to me today at Cloverdale Mall. I met up with Larry Simpson, Publisher at Ponies247.com as he has an online publication for those who enjoy the standardbred and thoroughbred racing. I am grateful that I know some great horsemen and horsewomen at Woodbine and at Flamborough.

Too many to publish but here are few to start with:

• First I want to thank the trainers at Woodbine for their hot walker and grooming school: Jamie Attard, Renée Kierans, Sarah Sullivan and Andrea as well as Dr. C. Reid McClellan. Also, all of the great fellow students of alum 2018 - RESPECT
• Francine Villeneuve - Trainer and owner of Sport of Queens Racing -- Loved "Callie Liked Her Brew"
• Mario Williams for being an eccentric but good horsemen by going natural with his horses
• Kathy Ranford - the equine muscle expert -- love her horse Joy too
• John Braid - Flamborough - Standardbred Canada - I went on a cool ride with his horse Bob -- what fun and an exhilarating time!
• Carl and his lovely horse Sophia - another great horseman 
• John Mattine - letting me massage one of his ponies and helping me understand how much is involved in a barn at Woodbine
• AAA Racing: Alison and Robert
• Yannick Hardy -- one of the most underestimated riders
• Christopher (Chins) Husbands - what a fine gentleman and jockey
• All of the people in the office and security and kitchen 
• Charlie -- Farrier at Woodbine -- he is a true artist
• Off-riders, and so many more....