Today, Mel and I attended West Side Pride, a Pride Festival for the west side of Ottawa and the surrounding regions. It was held in Stittsville's Alexander Grove Park, a beautiful City of Ottawa park that I had not previously visited. As per the event's website, organizers "created this event to celebrate and promote the amazing 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the western part of Ottawa and the surrounding areas into the Ottawa Valley." It's so important that individuals have places where they feel they belong. Tonight's bonus visual presents a montage of photos from West Side Pride.

The highlight for me was meeting Sophie from Shelter Movers, which is a national charity that provides free moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse. Shelter Movers was established in 2016 and is the only service of its kind in Canada. More than 1,200 volunteers in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Greater Toronto, Greater Moncton, Montréal, Nova Scotia, Vancouver and Southwestern Ontario help to carry out the organization's vision: "A world where survivors can move on from abuse and violence in power and dignity."

Shelter Movers offers three types of moves, according to the needs of their clients:

Shelter Movers works with police for high-risk moves (when there is a risk of violence) and security personnel for lower-risk moves. It coordinates everything—movers, drivers, vehicles, storage, pet fostering and language interpreters. Every month, it moves an average of 145 families. And since 2016, it has completed approximately 6,500 moves.

Shelter Movers is funded primarily through individual donations, corporate partnerships, grants and fundraising events, and is supported by its volunteers.

Now on to this week's Saturday Synopsis.

It's different from taking training, which can sometimes be more theoretical than practical, dwelling on software features you would never actually use. But having someone sit and watch how you work and what you work on, and then making suggestions on how to tweak your approach, seems immensely superior. It requires no extra time on the part of the learner. As for the geek, they're probably willing to give you that hour for free, especially if you reciprocate by sharing your own wisdom. Wanting to share cool tips is built into the geek gene: I know it is for me.

Like Maya Angelou, I work at the language in my blog posts. I fret over what to write about. I doubt that what I have to say has any merit. When I begin writing, I sometimes don't know where I'm going. But something emerges, because something has to emerge—such is my commitment. Not every post is great, or at least great for all my readers. But every post I write elicits a reaction from someone. In that way, it's like looking at a hundred paintings in a gallery: each of us will like many, hate some, and love only a few.

"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."

— Rachel Carson

[The teacher] offers the level of touch that each student chooses. She doesn't give everyone a hug, nor does she refrain from giving hugs to students who want and need that. The kids are in control: a hug, a high five, an elbow bump, or a no-touch dance. It's their choice.

I spent the vast majority of my Public Service career leading people. And though I was in various managerial positions for more than three decades, I always tried to lead through influence more than through authority. Influence is the power to bring about changes without directly forcing them to happen, while authority is the power to effect changes by making decisions, giving orders and directing subordinates.

"Each month, my kids and I have breakfast with a group of other dads and their kids. As each dad takes their turn going around the table speaking about their kids and what they’re proud of, I watch their kids. They perk up, their eyes wide open in anticipation as their dad shares why he’s proud. Their reactions are priceless, and my kids have the exact same response. The ‘pride exercise’ is the highlight of each breakfast and one of the foundational pieces at each monthly All Pro Dad Chapter Meeting."

— Jackie Bledsoe

Lift other women up. Listen. Give compliments. Point out positive results, honest effort and noteworthy behaviour. Even simply letting other women know you're thinking of them can help them feel special.

"I am at a place in life where peace is a priority. I deliberately avoid certain people and situations to protect my mental, emotional, and spiritual state."

— Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life