My mother, Catherine ‘Kip’ Veale, passed away on July 29th after a full life of trailblazing, advocacy, and empowering others.
She had such a tremendous influence on me, as a child growing up in the Yukon and - it is clear to me now - in leading me to become a leadership coach.
There would be no Vision Coaching without my mom.
She had such a tremendous influence on me, as a child growing up in the Yukon and – it is clear to me now – in leading me to become a leadership coach.
Mom was more than a social worker. She was a mentor and a role model, both to me and my brother as well as the countless people whose lives she touched. My mother’s approach to helping people build support around them and empowering them to grow is at the heart of what we do at Vision Coaching.
Tireless dedication
Born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1943, she set out on her own journey of change when she moved to the Yukon with my father, Ron, in 1971. They settled in Whitehorse and raised a family.
She went on to become the first social worker for seniors and elders in the Yukon, a role she held for over two decades. Her advocacy work changed lives and shaped policy, leading to critical legislation like the Guardianship Act and the Care Consent Act.
It was her tireless dedication to helping others that continues to inspire me in my own work.
Growing up, I often found myself trying to figure out what to do with my life, taking on all kinds of roles, but I struggled to find my true path.
One day, my mother asked me, “Do you want to be a mile wide and an inch deep, or a mile deep and an inch wide?”
My mother was my greatest inspiration, and her legacy will continue to guide me in both my personal and professional life.
That advice stayed with me and ultimately led me to focus on leadership coaching. Her wisdom about focusing on depth rather than breadth has shaped how I approach both my personal and professional life.
Another of her sayings that resonates with me is, “There are a lot of right people, but only one right time.”
This became a guiding principle not only for my relationships, but for the timing of life’s decisions, and it has shaped how I view leadership and business.
Her words, her belief in me, and her quiet, unwavering support have all guided me to where I am today.
Dave the Renaissance Man?
She had a real Renaissance view in bringing up her sons, believing it was so important to have diverse interests and skills. She enrolled me, for example, in piano lessons.
But the weirdest thing would happen during those boyhood lessons: the notes on the page would become all blurry. She took me over to the optometrist, who pronounced my vision exemplary. And – funny enough – I had no problem spotting a hockey puck at the other end of the rink.
Then there were the saxophone lessons. Mom was so happy when she could hear me up in my room, practising diligently. After a while, she was puzzled as to why she wasn’t hearing any improvement in my playing. She soon discovered that I had recorded myself one day and had resorted to playing the recording rather than practising.
At that point, I think she gave up on the idea of Dave the Renaissance Man.
But clearly what stuck with me was her emphasis on the importance of advocacy and leadership – values she lived every day.
At the heart of everything
My mother was a founding president of the Yukon Child Care Association, the founding chair of Hospice Yukon, and the founding chair of Planned Parenthood in the Yukon.
These organizations stand as a testament to her belief in building strong communities and giving people the resources they need to thrive.
I was touched by an interview CBC Yukon did with a good friend of Mom’s. Heather McFadyen spoke from the heart about the influence Mom had with her friends and the impact she had in the Yukon.
At the heart of everything Mom did was her desire to create equality, to give everyone a chance to find their own voice.
I believe it is because of her that I have seen the tremendous value in supporting others and helping them find their own path forward. Her belief in people and her commitment to making a difference were the same values that inspired me to create Vision Coaching almost two decades ago.
As I reflect on her life, I realize how deeply she influenced me and how much of her strength, compassion, and wisdom lives on in the work I do today.
My mother was my greatest inspiration, and her legacy will continue to guide me in both my personal and professional life.
Dave Veale
Founder & CEO, Vision Coaching
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