Testimonials
Kate Sutherland is a searcher for truths. Whether it is personal truths, community truths or organizational truths, she searches for the highest order of integrity to be found. In these search journeys, Kate uses both sides of her brain, pushing the thinking, the methods and the margins. Kate’s work is an example of the kind of integrity one expects of an original: finding the simple truths underlying complexity and confusion of personal, collective and community change.
Kate has a profound gift for linking personal and social transformational practices. Her ability to articulate ineffable aspects of self-discovery and group process is extraordinary. Kate embodies her purpose and passion in a way that inspires everyone she meets. She brings keen insight and a treasure trove of skills to our grassroots leadership development program.
Kate understood quickly and intuitively where our group was at and where we wanted to go. Her thoughtful and highly respectful approach helped build the trust we needed in order to get on with the work at hand. With great presence and a deft hand, Kate helped us delve into tough areas of our group culture and dynamic and move ourselves to a place that was quite different – and better – than were we had been at the beginning of the process. Her recommendations and observations helped the group continue to evolve beyond the day spent with her. Highly recommended!
Kate Sutherland, along with Evan Renaerts, supported our organization through a difficult transition. Kate’s delicate attunement to what needs to arise, combined with her fierce stewardship of the unfolding of truth, helped us to move from a place of hurt and polarity towards a place of healing and maturity. She was unflinching in a large group of passionate individuals, many with strong opinions about what was “right”, and rode the balance point between strength and harmlessness in a way that allowed us to let our defenses down and hear each other. We deeply appreciated Kate and Evan’s support, which helped us to re-engage with our organization’s mission with renewed confidence and integrity.
We had the distinct pleasure to work with Kate Sutherland on several projects in the Sea to Sky Corridor: early childhood strategic planning; and building local capacity around food security throughout our geographically diverse region. Kate worked with our multi-disciplinary planning team to develop a strategic plan that reflected our diverse perspectives and cultures but also captured our common values and goals. Her work has resulted in a truly living and collaborative document that is inspiring, powerful, and informs and guides our work on a daily basis. Kate also worked throughout our region to develop grassroots early childhood development teams. These groups of parents and community members are spearheading many local initiatives, and also provide valuable input to the region wide projects of the broader planning team. Kate has an amazing ability to understand needs, to engage others, and to build consensus among diverse groups. This includes a real flair for developing capacity through community collaboration, and building connections and networks that are meaningful. Thank you Kate!
In 2007, Kate Sutherland organized Our Stories, Demonstrating Change through Storytelling, a conference for Vancouver Coastal Health’s SMART Fund. Kate had an amazing knack for bringing together artists, bureaucrats and community developers to orchestrate a conference that honoured the depth and insights of traditional Aboriginal, mainstream and contemporary storytelling. The two day event started on a high note, and just kept getting better. She created an environment of collective learning, validating storytelling as a way to express change that happens to an individual or community over time.