audience is limited to 50 seats
presented by:
THE LISTENING ROOM :
Common Ground
Friday May 1
May 1, 2026
Mahone Bay Centre | Abriel Room
Doors open 5:00 pm
Wine and light fare
Stories 5:30–7:00 pm
There is power in speaking.
There is greater power in being heard.
The Listening Room is an evening devoted to presence.
❋ Intentional Structure
Ten remarkable Humans
Ten lived moments.
Ten reflections on resilience, generosity, reinvention, humour, leadership, and the quieter forms of courage that rarely ask for attention.
❋ Collaborative Energy
This is not a panel.
Not a lecture.
Not a debate.
❋ Expert Facilitation
Each storyteller will share one personal story , a defining moment that shaped the arc of their life.
A decision.
A turning point.
A moment of clarity.
❋ A Supportive Space
No scripts.
No performance.
Just truth, offered plainly.
Human beings have always gathered in rooms to tell stories.
Long before microphones and screens, people sat together and shared what they had lived.
Stories helped communities understand themselves. They helped people recognize one another.
Somewhere along the way, we lost that practice.
We replaced listening with reacting.
Presence with distraction.
Stories with noise.
The Listening Room was created to bring that practice back.
It is a simple idea.
A small room.
A handful of people.
Stories told honestly.
No debate.
No performance.
Just lived experience shared with care.
When people listen to one another without interruption, something shifts.
And every community becomes stronger when those stories are shared.
Photo courtesy of Betty Merideth
Less noise.
More presence.
Photo courtesy of Betty Merideth
Interested in Sharing a Story?
The Listening Room is not about polish. It is about truth.
If there is a moment in your life that reshaped you , quietly or dramatically , and you feel called to speak it aloud, we invite you to reach out.
We are curating ten women who are willing to stand in clarity, not performance.
One story.
One moment.
Ten minutes.
That is all.
Send us a short note about who you are and the story you feel ready to tell.
We are listening.
Big Ideas,
Real Impact.
Drop us a line and a short synopsis of your proposed talk and the topic that best suits your story.
Presentation Topics 7-10 minutes
Seven Reflection Points for Storytellers
Storytellers are invited to choose one of the following reflections as the starting point for their story.
Your story should be personal, honest, and rooted in lived experience.
There is no need for a polished speech.
A moment is enough.
1. A Moment That Changed Me
Tell us about a moment in your life that shifted how you see the world or yourself.
2. Something I Had to Learn the Hard Way
Share a lesson that life taught you through challenge, failure, or difficulty.
3. A Person Who Altered My Path
Tell us about someone who influenced your life in a lasting way.
4. The Day I Found My Courage
A moment when you chose to speak up, step forward, or do something that frightened you.
5. A Time I Had to Begin Again
A story about starting over after loss, change, or uncertainty.
6. What I Wish I Had Known Earlier
A reflection on wisdom you gained later in life.
7. A Small Moment That Meant Everything
Sometimes the smallest moments shape us the most. Share one that stayed with you.
In a world full of noise, this is a space for presence.
MAY 1 TBD times and presenters TBDArrive & Meet
As everyone arrives, we take time to settle in, get comfortable, and begin connecting with those around us. The journey starts here.
Check-In5 pm
OUR STORYTELLERS
1 .Leah McLaren is a journalist, novelist and screenwriter and former columnist for The Globe and Mail. She has published two novels, The Continuity Girl (2007) and A Better Man (2015). The first was a Canadian bestseller.2. Scott DeCouto -Stillfeild Wellness. Scott is a deeply curious person, driven by a lifelong desire to learn, grow, and understand. For many years, that curiosity expressed itself outwardly, building knowledge, skills, and a practice that has supported hundreds of clients. Today, that same curiosity is turning inward, shaping a more reflective and evolving path.3. Mark Ferraro-Hauck4. Liam Britten , Liam Britten is a multi-instrumentalist based in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, where he runs his own music teaching studio. He works in various musical roles, including session musician, film composer, and music director. 5. Christopher Basdeo brings a wealth of experience to his work, grounded in 15 years of law enforcement, where he progressed from dispatcher to criminal investigations. His collaborative work across Quebec and Nova Scotia honed his commitment to people's best interests and gained a unique perspective on life. Currently, a real estate agent for Sotheby's International Realty and a board member for the English Community Organization of Lanaudière, he strongly believes in advocating for people to have a voice. 6. Shannon Carla King is a local landscape artist who has embraced and incorporated all aspects of her life into her art practice from her love of the outdoors (growing up on a rural farm) to her experience in the energy industry. She embraces authenticity to represent reclamation, preservation and conservation sites in her contemporary collection of fine art. Shannon has been painting and selling art for over 40 years and is the author of "Art without the Mask" currently in progress.6. 7.Bobbi Zahra is a native Newfoundlander who's lived in Nova Scotia since leaving home for university longer ago than she'd like to remember. She's a small-town girl who lived in a city and has recently relocated to a small town. Bobbi's a trainer, a writer, an editor, and a theologian, and has a tremendous appreciation for the arts. She loves traveling and is grateful for everything she's learned through exposure to different places, people, and cultures.8.Forest Sea is a permaculture homesteader, herbalist, and death doula based in Lapland, Nova Scotia. Their life and work are deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the land and the support of the local community. They identify as non-binary, have AuDHD and find solace in the intersectionality of being Queer and multiracial.
Whether they are tending to the earth, supporting others through life's most profound transitions, or crafting poetic prose, Forest’s path is defined by a commitment to natural healing and local advocacy.9.10.