Women from throughout Canada converged on Calgary March 2-4 for the 2006 Leading Women Conference under the theme Embracing the Challenges of Leadership Together.

Friday evening began with interviewing several women who had made a distinctive contribution in their particular sphere of work and ministry. These included Dr Jane Ballentine from the Canadian Medical Association's board of directors, Donna Kennedy-Glans, founder of BRIDGES, a social development organization that helps women in the Arab world, Africa and the Near East, and Captain Danielle Strickland, who spoke of her work in Vancouver's impoverished Downtown East Side.

Highlights of each day included Early Morning Encounters, a daily time of worship including periods of reflection and instruction from God's Word, and Discovery Sessions in which motivational trainers guided our discovery in three key areas of leadership. These in turn were followed by Learning Labs, which enabled everyone to apply the training directly to their current leadership experience. It was enriching to share in groups as we learned to listen and encourage one another in the various leadership challenges that we all face.

Following the final Celebration and Awards Luncheon, a prayer of commissioning concluded our time together, in which we asked God to anoint us as we went back to our particular spheres of service.

by Major Donna Bond
Divisional Director of Women's Ministries, Ontario North Division