13 years ago our now Executive Director Laurie O’Connor walked through the doors of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre and she knew right away that she was home.

Beginning as the Learning Centre Director, Laurie was responsible for the success of many programs, including the Literacy Program, which holds a special place in her heart, connecting adult learners with a love of learning in a safe and respectful environment. After a short time, Laurie stepped into the role of Director of Operations, a position she held for three years before accepting the position of Executive Director. During Laurie’s tenure, the SFBLC has grown by leaps and bounds! Adding many new innovative programs, expanding our reach, and welcoming new donors, volunteers, and powerful collaborations, the SFBLC is thriving under her leadership.

When we asked our colleagues to tell us one thing they admire or appreciate the most about Laurie, this is what they had to say:

“Just one?”

“I feel like Laurie approaches things with a lot of grace, with kindness and integrity built into it.”

“She makes sure she has time for everyone.”

“Even when she has hard feedback to give, it is with a smile and kindness behind it.”

“I’m always impressed with her institutional memory- she often has an answer to something unexpected.”

“I appreciate her calm demeanor.”

“She’s down to earth.”

“ Laurie is a straight shooter, she’s a no B.S. kind of a person. She will tell you things straight to your face but with a big smile and kindness!”

“She’s always happy to talk and answer questions, I can just pop into her office.”

“Every time, she takes the time to come and greet donors and just to be there to say hello and to say thank you.”

“ There’s something really special in the way she approaches this work. She wants everything to run smoothly for everyone, and that is different than what you might expect.”

“She has good insight and wisdom to help you through a challenge with calmness, but explains the reasons behind it really well.”

“She loves seeing pictures of my pets and so that really works for me- lol!”

“She is always asking me how I am doing and how my kids are doing.”

“ I like it when she says good morning to me and gives me that beautiful smile.”

“She teases me about my kids and about Santa coming & getting stuck in the chimney!”

“She’s very understanding, she takes the time to listen and explain.”

“I like her calmness. She never overreacts.”

“ It takes a lot of strength to manage the day to day realities of our work, and I really admire Laurie’s work ethic, her steadfastness to our cause, and the way she is able to sift through various perspectives to bring about positive results.”

“ I appreciate how Laurie’s door is always open and her deep care of the community.”

Laurie does a lot behind the scenes to impact not only systems, but individuals. There are many things she does that have helped others follow their path to a happier, healthier life. The recipients of Laurie’s many acts of kindness have let us know about the ways Laurie has made an impact in their lives. Whether it is helping someone complete their schooling, or find furniture for their new place, or lending a listening ear or a helping hand, Laurie is widely known for her practical support, sound advice, and her ability to solve problems. We are grateful to have a leader who has this ability, who cares deeply about the community we serve, is passionate about social justice, and works really hard to bring about change. Her commitment to collaboration consistently brings us back to the big picture, and keeps us grounded in our collective belief that we are here to serve, to create change, and to bring about real impact.

As any Executive Director of a social profit can tell you, it is not an easy gig, but whether she is navigating the way through a pandemic or figuring out how to improve systems at the local, provincial, and national levels, Laurie never complains, she just keeps moving forward in pursuit of good things for the community and the organization. One of our long time board members says the thing that she and her fellow board members admire most about Laurie, is “ her ability, even in the darkest of times, to keep focused, see the light, and have hope.”

Laurie’s approach to leadership includes a strong commitment to servant leadership, and the SFBLC’s Director of Operations & Engagement says this is particularly evident in the way Laurie approaches change: “When I moved into this role 8 years ago, there was a lot to learn. Thankfully, Laurie had done my job before I came along, so she was always there for me to answer my questions and offer support along the way. What really sticks out for me though, is that she had the grace to immediately let go of her prior role, even on my very first day. She took a giant step back and placed her trust in me to get the job done. This approach gave me the confidence I needed to proceed with the things I wanted to do and...I have to say, her belief in me lit a fire that continues to this day. I will always be grateful to Laurie for that leadership, and it is still, many years later, something I think about quite often.”

We could go one and on about our fearless leader (and we did!) but what we really want to say is this:

Happy 13th Anniversary Laurie! Keep fighting the good fight. We will be beside you all the way.