For those of you who do not know me, my name is Lori Folkins and I am a Hydroelectric Operating Supervisor (River Control Supervisor) at River Control also known as the International Control Dam.
Working at the International Control Dam has been such an incredible experience in so many ways. A few years Prior to becoming a Hydro Electric Operating Supervisor at River Control, I had the opportunity to do a rotation there. And shortly after I arrived, I attended a training seminar which was about the importance of the Niagara Diversion Treaty. Which basically is an agreement between Canada and United States to preserve the natural beauty of Niagara Falls by maintaining a minimum of 100,000 cubic feet per second of water over the falls during the day during tourist season and 50,000 cubic feet per second of water over the falls at night and during non tourist season. With the remainder of river divided equally between the two countries for power generation.
During the training various stake holders made presentations regarding the falls flow requirement and to be honest I found the material to be rather dry. And I found myself drifting a bit. Then one of the representatives from US Core of Engineers began his presentation by saying something like this;
“This treaty is very very important.. There many places in the world where they literally run rivers dry for money. Beautiful rivers and water falls completely dry. And Every time we violate this meaningful treaty there are powers that say “Why do we need a treaty anyway and who even notices if we fail to meet the falls flow requirement." And then he said "from my perspective, your first priority as River Control Supervisors is, Stewardship of the River”.
I was so touched by that. So moved that I live in a place that values the natural beauty of river over money and from that moment on I knew that I wanted to be a Steward of The River. And now that I am a Steward of the River, I feel so humbled and honoured and grateful to be the given the opportunity to be the first female have this responsibility.
I have been working in traditionally male dominated roles for all of my career. After graduating from High School I moved to Ontario from a very small town in New Brunswick and in 1987 I was one of a small group of young women to graduate from Radio College Canada’s Electronic Engineering Technology program.
Before starting with Ontario Hydro in 1990, I had a few different jobs; I assembled computers, I worked as technical support for Automation Products at an Electrical Distributer. Then I worked as technical support for a manufacturer of Programable Controllers & Automation Products.
Within Ontario Hydro I’ve worked as an Inventory Technician at Richview & Clarkson, an Electrical Operator in London, Eastern Ontario and Niagara Region, as well as a Nuclear Operator at Pickering GS.
And I am proud to have finished the Electrical Operator Training Program at the top of my class and the Nuclear Operator Training program with a 95% average. In 1998 I left Ontario Hydro to work as the first female Municipal Electrical Operator at Hydro Mississauga, and then the first female Municipal Electrical Operator at St Catharines Hydro and Horizon Utilities returning to Ontario Power Generation in 2008 as a Hydroelectric Operating Technician at Sir Adam Beck.
Through out my career I have gone to places where very few woman have gone and Ive seen incredible things.
Mother Teresa said “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” I believe that we belong to each other and that as women we share our triumphs and our challenges. And to me the most valuable thing we can do is to support each other.
Also when it comes to women’s empowerment men play very important roles. Whether it is Father, Brother, Grandfather, Partner, Son, Teacher, or Friend the influence of these roles is vital for the true empowerment of women. And I have experienced this first hand in my family and in my work life. I’ve received so much support and knowledge and training and friendship from my family & colleges both female and male.
I cannot talk about empowerment without acknowledging my greatest female role model my mother. Who was also the first female in her role as purchasing manager in the company she worked at. My mother is an incredible woman who always made me feel special and capable of almost anything.
Today all over the world men and woman are gathering together in celebration of the political, economic & social achievements of women and in acknowledgement of the sacrifices made and challenges faced. To me this in itself is remarkable and wonderful and hopeful. And it is such an honour to be part of that celebration and to work for a company who values the contributions of women and all employees. That values each persons diversity, unique background, experience, perspective and talents. To live in a country whose key values include gender equality, empowerment of women and girls as well as the promotion and protection of our human rights as women.
It is hard to believe that (although some women were given the right to vote just over 101 years ago) it was not until 1960 that ALL Canadian women (including indigenous woman and woman of colour) finally had the right to vote in Canada.. Yes we’ve come along way since then. But in terms of women in trades we still have a ways to go.
Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State for the United States, said "Societies are better off when women are politically and economically empowered". I agree.
I recently heard a statistic that said that Less than 20% of woman are enrolled in trades, transport and construction education programs today. And when we look around our work place this statistic seems generous.
According to Statistics Canada Women represent the majority of young university graduates in Canada, but are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) fields.
At the same time, women in Canada have become increasingly well-educated and today represent a larger share of the labour market than they have ever represented previously. However, women continue to have fewer apprenticeship or trades certificates in Canada than their male counterparts.
So yes, as woman we still have work to do.
I’d like to share an adapted quote from Marianne Williamson and her book called “A Return To Love”.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the divine. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of Creation that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
There have been many challenges working as a female in male dominated roles but like many women, one of my greatest challenges in the work place and in life, has been around standing fully in my own power. Culturally there has been a lot of confusion around power verses aggression. And as woman, many of us, have been taught to over value the importance of being nice and liked. That in being powerful we become masculine.
What continues to support me in my own empowerment is the acknowledgement that power is in fact very natural.. When we think of a thunderstorm or herd of galloping horses or of the great power of the water going over Niagara Falls its easy to see that power is quite natural.
To me true Power comes from confidence, from mutual respect, from being assertive and speaking our truth clearly without hesitation or apology.
True Power is standing up for ourselves and others even if we wont be liked. True Power comes from being honest and clear about our intentions and boundaries. From taking responsibility for our choices.
Ive learned that empowerment is deeply related to where I choose to stand within myself. That my worth is not determined by the opinions of others.. That my value is not determined by my circumstance.
I believe that change comes from within and that we as woman must recognize how much change we can make happen if we believe in ourselves and are willing to support one another and stand in our own power.
By honouring ourselves and treating ourselves with respect we set the stage for others to treat us this way also.
Culturally and within the family we are often told what we ought to do and be in life. I believe Being authentic is like saying yes to life and is vital to empowering ourselves.
Its true that Traditions often help us to sustain cultural values but more often its the nontraditional thinking that brings new discoveries and unthought of possibility.
Julie Burstein said “that the best way to learn anything is through stories”.
I’d like to share a story with all of you that illustrates my point its called;
"The Man who tried to Deform Trees" adapted from a story by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes book “The Power of the Crone”
"There once was a man who decided to create an orchard of deformed trees..
He was sure that people who had Zen and Bonsai Gardens would want buy these exotic and uniquely shaped trees.
And so he began with saplings, and as they grew he bent them over with ropes and staked them to the earth. He pulled the leader branch, at the top of the tree, almost all the way to the ground..
But as time passed, all the trees would eventually break the ropes and grow straight up towards the sky.... And so after much thought, he decided to tie thick ropes with large rocks to the middle of the trees where they were bent over. That way, they would not be allowed to grow straight up.. But no matter what he tried the the leader branch would inevitably curve upward and start to grow straight again.. It drove him mad and eventually he gave up.
Well the old wise ones say that trees are heliotropic, they follow the sun, they follow the light.. They can not be taken down buy ropes or rocks. And any chance they get, any branch, any twig or leaf will always aim itself upward towards the radiant light."
And we are like that too, when the time comes for us to commit fully living empowered lives, that is when we cut the ropes and remove the rocks.. Setting ourselves free.. And the whole reason to be free is to bring our unique gifts out into the world.
And now I would like to leave you all with a Blessing I wrote a few years back;
May you be blessed with the gift of knowing your own courage, strength & beauty.
May you look upon yourself kindly and with compassion so that your gentle spirit feels ever safe to reveal its’ creative message.
May you continue to gather and to celebrate with those you love and remember the magic and beauty of your kinship.
And in the silence of your own company may you feel held in the ever present and loving support of the Universe.
Working at the International Control Dam has been such an incredible experience in so many ways. A few years Prior to becoming a Hydro Electric Operating Supervisor at River Control, I had the opportunity to do a rotation there. And shortly after I arrived, I attended a training seminar which was about the importance of the Niagara Diversion Treaty. Which basically is an agreement between Canada and United States to preserve the natural beauty of Niagara Falls by maintaining a minimum of 100,000 cubic feet per second of water over the falls during the day during tourist season and 50,000 cubic feet per second of water over the falls at night and during non tourist season. With the remainder of river divided equally between the two countries for power generation.
During the training various stake holders made presentations regarding the falls flow requirement and to be honest I found the material to be rather dry. And I found myself drifting a bit. Then one of the representatives from US Core of Engineers began his presentation by saying something like this;
“This treaty is very very important.. There many places in the world where they literally run rivers dry for money. Beautiful rivers and water falls completely dry. And Every time we violate this meaningful treaty there are powers that say “Why do we need a treaty anyway and who even notices if we fail to meet the falls flow requirement." And then he said "from my perspective, your first priority as River Control Supervisors is, Stewardship of the River”.
I was so touched by that. So moved that I live in a place that values the natural beauty of river over money and from that moment on I knew that I wanted to be a Steward of The River. And now that I am a Steward of the River, I feel so humbled and honoured and grateful to be the given the opportunity to be the first female have this responsibility.
I have been working in traditionally male dominated roles for all of my career. After graduating from High School I moved to Ontario from a very small town in New Brunswick and in 1987 I was one of a small group of young women to graduate from Radio College Canada’s Electronic Engineering Technology program.
Before starting with Ontario Hydro in 1990, I had a few different jobs; I assembled computers, I worked as technical support for Automation Products at an Electrical Distributer. Then I worked as technical support for a manufacturer of Programable Controllers & Automation Products.
Within Ontario Hydro I’ve worked as an Inventory Technician at Richview & Clarkson, an Electrical Operator in London, Eastern Ontario and Niagara Region, as well as a Nuclear Operator at Pickering GS.
And I am proud to have finished the Electrical Operator Training Program at the top of my class and the Nuclear Operator Training program with a 95% average. In 1998 I left Ontario Hydro to work as the first female Municipal Electrical Operator at Hydro Mississauga, and then the first female Municipal Electrical Operator at St Catharines Hydro and Horizon Utilities returning to Ontario Power Generation in 2008 as a Hydroelectric Operating Technician at Sir Adam Beck.
Through out my career I have gone to places where very few woman have gone and Ive seen incredible things.
Mother Teresa said “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” I believe that we belong to each other and that as women we share our triumphs and our challenges. And to me the most valuable thing we can do is to support each other.
Also when it comes to women’s empowerment men play very important roles. Whether it is Father, Brother, Grandfather, Partner, Son, Teacher, or Friend the influence of these roles is vital for the true empowerment of women. And I have experienced this first hand in my family and in my work life. I’ve received so much support and knowledge and training and friendship from my family & colleges both female and male.
I cannot talk about empowerment without acknowledging my greatest female role model my mother. Who was also the first female in her role as purchasing manager in the company she worked at. My mother is an incredible woman who always made me feel special and capable of almost anything.
Today all over the world men and woman are gathering together in celebration of the political, economic & social achievements of women and in acknowledgement of the sacrifices made and challenges faced. To me this in itself is remarkable and wonderful and hopeful. And it is such an honour to be part of that celebration and to work for a company who values the contributions of women and all employees. That values each persons diversity, unique background, experience, perspective and talents. To live in a country whose key values include gender equality, empowerment of women and girls as well as the promotion and protection of our human rights as women.
It is hard to believe that (although some women were given the right to vote just over 101 years ago) it was not until 1960 that ALL Canadian women (including indigenous woman and woman of colour) finally had the right to vote in Canada.. Yes we’ve come along way since then. But in terms of women in trades we still have a ways to go.
Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State for the United States, said "Societies are better off when women are politically and economically empowered". I agree.
I recently heard a statistic that said that Less than 20% of woman are enrolled in trades, transport and construction education programs today. And when we look around our work place this statistic seems generous.
According to Statistics Canada Women represent the majority of young university graduates in Canada, but are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) fields.
At the same time, women in Canada have become increasingly well-educated and today represent a larger share of the labour market than they have ever represented previously. However, women continue to have fewer apprenticeship or trades certificates in Canada than their male counterparts.
So yes, as woman we still have work to do.
I’d like to share an adapted quote from Marianne Williamson and her book called “A Return To Love”.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the divine. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of Creation that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
There have been many challenges working as a female in male dominated roles but like many women, one of my greatest challenges in the work place and in life, has been around standing fully in my own power. Culturally there has been a lot of confusion around power verses aggression. And as woman, many of us, have been taught to over value the importance of being nice and liked. That in being powerful we become masculine.
What continues to support me in my own empowerment is the acknowledgement that power is in fact very natural.. When we think of a thunderstorm or herd of galloping horses or of the great power of the water going over Niagara Falls its easy to see that power is quite natural.
To me true Power comes from confidence, from mutual respect, from being assertive and speaking our truth clearly without hesitation or apology.
True Power is standing up for ourselves and others even if we wont be liked. True Power comes from being honest and clear about our intentions and boundaries. From taking responsibility for our choices.
Ive learned that empowerment is deeply related to where I choose to stand within myself. That my worth is not determined by the opinions of others.. That my value is not determined by my circumstance.
I believe that change comes from within and that we as woman must recognize how much change we can make happen if we believe in ourselves and are willing to support one another and stand in our own power.
By honouring ourselves and treating ourselves with respect we set the stage for others to treat us this way also.
Culturally and within the family we are often told what we ought to do and be in life. I believe Being authentic is like saying yes to life and is vital to empowering ourselves.
Its true that Traditions often help us to sustain cultural values but more often its the nontraditional thinking that brings new discoveries and unthought of possibility.
Julie Burstein said “that the best way to learn anything is through stories”.
I’d like to share a story with all of you that illustrates my point its called;
"The Man who tried to Deform Trees" adapted from a story by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes book “The Power of the Crone”
"There once was a man who decided to create an orchard of deformed trees..
He was sure that people who had Zen and Bonsai Gardens would want buy these exotic and uniquely shaped trees.
And so he began with saplings, and as they grew he bent them over with ropes and staked them to the earth. He pulled the leader branch, at the top of the tree, almost all the way to the ground..
But as time passed, all the trees would eventually break the ropes and grow straight up towards the sky.... And so after much thought, he decided to tie thick ropes with large rocks to the middle of the trees where they were bent over. That way, they would not be allowed to grow straight up.. But no matter what he tried the the leader branch would inevitably curve upward and start to grow straight again.. It drove him mad and eventually he gave up.
Well the old wise ones say that trees are heliotropic, they follow the sun, they follow the light.. They can not be taken down buy ropes or rocks. And any chance they get, any branch, any twig or leaf will always aim itself upward towards the radiant light."
And we are like that too, when the time comes for us to commit fully living empowered lives, that is when we cut the ropes and remove the rocks.. Setting ourselves free.. And the whole reason to be free is to bring our unique gifts out into the world.
And now I would like to leave you all with a Blessing I wrote a few years back;
May you be blessed with the gift of knowing your own courage, strength & beauty.
May you look upon yourself kindly and with compassion so that your gentle spirit feels ever safe to reveal its’ creative message.
May you continue to gather and to celebrate with those you love and remember the magic and beauty of your kinship.
And in the silence of your own company may you feel held in the ever present and loving support of the Universe.
