One of the most interesting challenges of leadership is living at the fine edge between opportunity and focus. This week I found myself writing letters of gratitude—thank you, no—to international companies, trade organizations, and accelerators who see global potential in PrimeHealth. Their excitement is energizing—and it’s tempting to say yes to everything. But sometimes the wiser choice is no. At the same time, we’re deeply engaged with Fraser Health Authority and the BC Nu

Some injuries aren’t loud. They don’t make headlines. They arrive in drops. A comment here, an assumption there—a steady trickle of microaggressions, dismissive interactions, and subtle exclusions. If you imagine the nervous system as a glass of water, each of these moments is a drop. One or two? The glass can hold it. But over time, without release or repair, the water rises. Sooner or later, it spills over—and spillover gets messy. Little “t” trauma is that slow, cumulative

When we’re born, our nervous system is like a new instrument. Caregivers are the first conductors—tuning us with eye contact, tone of voice, touch, responsiveness. Over thousands of tiny “duets,” our system learns a default tempo (how fast we activate), a key (how safe the world feels), and a dynamic range (how much intensity we can handle before we squeak). That early soundtrack becomes a blueprint for relationships throughout life. If it stays outside our awareness, it

Some experiences split life into  “before”  and  “after.”  That’s  Big “T” trauma : a serious injury, assault, sudden loss, a violent incident, a crash. In the absence and disability world—PrimeHealth’s home turf—many of the people using our tools are living in the “after.” What Big “T” trauma does to the nervous system When danger hits, the body’s alarm system does its job: Hypervigilance:  scanning for threat even in safe contexts. Startle + sensitivity to sudden change:  l