Reflections on the Western Regional Gathering
By Joleyne Mayers-Jaekel
Graphic Recorder, Calgary Alberta
https://viclarity.ca
I was introduced to the world of Graphic Recording in 2009 during a professional development seminar for teachers while working overseas in Doha, Qatar. I was fascinated by the increased level of engagement from participants as the use of the visual medium increased their interest and buy-in. I began to seriously consider Graphic Recording/Graphic Facilitation as a career path in 2014 and in 2015 founded ViClarity Inc. As a professional graphic recorder and lettering artist based in Calgary, I now help individuals, teams and organizations make complex information more accessible and engaging through the creation of visual representations of ideas, conversations, and presentations.
My work as a graphic recorder takes me across Canada and the North, where I get to capture diverse stories, ideas, and visions from communities. I have the privilege of visually documenting important conversations, often on topics like Truth and Reconciliation, innovation, social and economic development, healthcare and community building. It's an honor to help bring these ideas to life in a way that fosters understanding and connection.
Before attending the Western Regional Gathering, I had never heard the term "Cultural Brokering." It was a new concept to me, but one that quickly resonated deeply as the event unfolded.
From the moment the Gathering began, you could feel the energy. For me, the coming together of folks with a clear vision, passion and desire to create change is a powerful catalyst for transformation.
The biggest takeaway for me from the Gathering was the importance of celebrating culture! Cultural brokering helps bridge cultural gaps, ensuring better communication and understanding between folks from different cultural backgrounds. Celebration plays a crucial role in cultural brokering because it fosters connection, highlights diversity and builds community.
Capturing the Moment through Graphic Recording
One of the best parts of my work as a graphic recorder is meeting people and capturing their stories through the visual medium. In creating these pieces, an artifact of the gathering is drawn in real-time recording the essence of the conversations, key insights, and the collective energy of the folks in the room, transforming dialogue into a shared visual memory that resonates long after the event.
On the last day of the Gathering, folks were asked how they would flourish in this work and were invited to write their response on the graphic recording.
That is my favourite part of the finished banner!
