Sun Dec 9 – Rising to the Challenge of Citizenship

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Come early for coffee and conversation at 10:30 am.

Our featured speaker this week will be Barbara Hodder.  Barbara will share the story of her journey to Canada and why she serves in the Canadian Armed Forces and how she uses her position to inspire and lead.

Born in Rochester, New York, A/SLt Hodder resides in downtown Toronto with her husband, MWO Darrin Hicks, CD (7^th Toronto Royal Canadian Artillery).  The eldest of three children, her parents, siblings and extended family still reside in various parts of the United States.  She immigrated to Canada in 2003 and became a Canadian citizen on June 24, 2014.  As a newly minted Canadian she felt drawn to give back to her new home and swore in to the Royal Canadian Navy in 2016 and received her commission in 2017.   

Employed at Scotiabank as a Senior Organizational Change Strategist, A/SLt Hodder holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, as well as designations in Organizational Change Management and Lean Six Sigma.  Her areas of speciality include organizational change, human resources, diversity leadership and major event planning.  She also has a small but growing side career in counseling and life coaching, with a focus on interpersonal relationships and goal achievement. 

A/SLt Hodder earned an MBA from Athabasca University in September 2018 with a focus on Organizational Leadership and Strategy.  She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication from Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY) and a Bachelor of Music double major in Music Business and Opera Performance from the Crane School of Music (Potsdam, NY).  A Naval Warfare Officer by trade, A/SLt Hodder currently serves as the Divisional Officer for HMCS YORK band.

For our musical performance this Sunday, we are so happy to have our own Cassie Norton!  Cassie Norton is the music director of Toronto Oasis and a Toronto-based singer-songwriter. She is a classically trained violinist/folk leaning tunesmith with a punk rock heart. She has recorded two full length albums, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010).  She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and at her private studio. Check out her website: www.cassienorton.com