Category: Social Responsibility

I Thought I Understood My Community. I Was Wrong.

Paul Wagenaar

Six years ago, I left the “for-profit” world for a short-term non-profit contract. I didn’t know what to expect, nor if I’d even be accepted or be useful.

What I found was a world full of steep learning curves, invisible heroes, and challenges I’d never imagined. In six years, I’ve learned more about my community, the struggles with poverty, addiction, housing, and systemic barriers, than decades in retail ever taught me.

I’ve seen incredible people pour heart and soul into work with no guarantees, no recognition, just a relentless drive to make a difference. Their dedication reshaped how I approach leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Next month, I step into a new volunteer role as the Chairperson of our United Way, inspired to encourage others to act: support charities, lift wages, donate time, and focus on long-term impact. Real change isn’t about us, it’s about the people and communities we live in.

BUILDING FUTURES: Hiring Summer Students

Paul Wagenaar

Every summer, organizations hire students to fill short-term roles. Few stop to consider that they are shaping long-term futures.

For many students, a summer job is their first real encounter with responsibility, accountability, and workplace culture. It is where reputations begin. It is where habits are formed. It is where confidence is either strengthened or quietly eroded.

For employers, hiring students is not simply a staffing decision. It is a leadership decision. It is a choice about whether to treat young people as temporary labour, or as emerging professionals.

When approached intentionally, summer employment becomes more than seasonal work. It becomes mentorship, community investment, and the foundation of someone’s career.

“A Reasonable Expectation of Humanity”

Paul Wagenaar

We move through and interact with dozens of organizations and people every day, healthcare, government, work, housing, commerce, and community spaces. Most interactions are brief, yet over time they quietly shape our sense of dignity, trust, and belonging.

This post explores a simple idea: a reasonable expectation of humanity in those interactions. Not perfection or special treatment, but clarity, respect for time, basic human regard, competence with humility, fairness, and accountability when things go wrong.

As you read, notice where these standards are present in your own interactions, and where they quietly fall away. And if you work inside an organization that holds power over others, consider how humanity is supported by design, not just individual effort.

As with most of my posts, this is a little longer than most, thank you for taking the time to read.

Atypical – Just Another Word for Discrimination?

Paul Wagenaar

Point of view … perspective … life experience … and what we learn each day. The more I learn about other people, their challenges, and their resilience, the more I am determined to help illuminate what many of us do not see. Please take a few minutes to read this post and to share it; the people in all our communities who live with disabilities and barriers could really use our help.

Do You Remember a Time When Your Life Changed?

Paul Wagenaar

More than a hundred years ago a book was written that continues to reverberate with many people, myself included even today. In a world full of negative commentary and conflict, it serves as a source of positive influence and hope.

Take a few minutes … its lessons might change your life.

Bipolar Disorder Does Not Erase a Person’s Potential … misunderstanding does

Paul Wagenaar

Did you know more than half a million Canadians live with bi-polar disorder? About 3 out of 100 people in your lives experience this medical condition but few of us really know much about what they experience. Most of what we know likely falls into myths, misconceptions, and stigma unfortunately.

This blog is a very short introduction into what we should all know, whether we are employers, co-workers, friends, family, or community members. By learning more we can help them open more doors to employment and understanding. We can help them overcome the barriers society and our lack of knowledge has created.

We owe them that.

Failing Should Be Taught More …

Paul Wagenaar

Learning to fail seems counterintuitive to everything our success culture seems to value. I believe people who say they never fail likely aren’t trying enough new ideas or ways of doing things. Failure isn’t the end, I believe it is simply an additional step on becoming successful. What is important, is learning how to fail so that failure doesn’t discourage you and lead to giving up.

Why Our Current Interview Practices Are Unfair

Paul Wagenaar

I believe our current system of interviewing people is flawed. People who are able to answer questions confidently and quickly have an advantage, even though they may not be the best applicant for the position. As an employer or as a job seeker, there are things we can all do differently … this is a short guide to just what we can change.

Inclusive Hiring Series – Part 1 – ASD

Paul Wagenaar

This is a brief guide, the first of a series of guides; this one is intended to help employers learn about and realize how much people who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent can contribute to their organizations and businesses. It is not a comprehensive research paper; rather, it is a simple guide based on the personal experiences of job seekers, employers who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other anecdotal information I have gleaned.

Your help, understanding, and willingness is needed.

The best choice is the right one; the next best is the wrong one.

Paul Wagenaar

Decision paralysis is something all of us have or will face … making decisions is hard. What if you don’t make the right choice? What if you only have one shot it? Will my decision change my life forever? All good questions and you are going to make good decisions and bad decisions … its part of life and know that whatever happens you will learn and get better.