It is often said the only constant in life is change, and that became a theme among the three speakers at the Morden Chamber of Commerce’s International Women’s Day luncheon last Friday.
The trio of local women speaking at the Morden Activity Centre all touched on how they had evolved and pivoted in their life journeys to date.
Describing her journey as an adventure, Kaylee Meakin touched on how you may face challenges in life but you need to just keep getting back up.
“It takes courage to evolve … or does it just come naturally and or with ease?” said Meakin. “I would like to say it’s both … how I got to where I am today, I never would have believed it.”
Meakin is a registered massage therapist specializing in prenatal, postpartum, and infant care as well as a certified spinal flow practitioner supporting nervous system health and overall wellbeing.
Through her business, The Prairie Dragonfly, she has created a space where families feel supported during pregnancy, early motherhood and infancy. Alongside her clinical work, she is also a small business owner with a retail shop featuring high-quality baby gifts—blending compassionate care with entrepreneurship.
“Some of those paths have been easy, smooth; others are winding and rocky,” observed Meakin.
She touched on facing choices along the way but being open to embrace possibilities and open doors.
“I have evolved to be a woman who wears many, many hats,” she said, going on to reflect on the name of her business and what drew her to the image of a dragonfly. “Some would say it’s my spirit animal … because the dragonfly changes form throughout it’s life, it represents becoming your true self through transformation. It also means great change, adaptability in hardship, joy and rebirth and new beginnings.”
Up next, Janet Neduzak commented on the importance of International Women’s Day.
“We take time to recognize the journeys of women … the ones shaped by purpose, resilience, leadership and often quiet sacrifice.”
Neduzak has dedicated her career to dentistry and community health. Since 1984, she has practiced as a dental assistant and for the past 18 years has shaped the next generation of professionals as a dental assisting instructor at Red River College Polytechnic. Neduzak has also served as president at both provincial and national levels within the dental profession.
She observed that her story is not unique but does reflect the challenges faced by so many women who seek to balance life, family, and career.
Working in dentistry in Morden taught her about the importance of connection and relationship with patients, while her provincial and national roles highlighted that representation matters not just for yourself but for all of the women coming behind you.
“None of this happens in isolation. Family has always been the anchor of my life,” Neduzak noted.
“And long before any career decisions were made, I was fortunate to be shaped by strong and influential women in my own life,” she added, citing how she learned such traits as adaptability and grace as well as an unshakable work ethic and resilience. “A woman’s career does not have to follow a straight line. It can be rooted in community and still reach far beyond it.”
Finally, Kelly Vipond traced her varied path which had her working in the area of environmental education at one point before working back stage in the theatre and then teaching in The Pas. She later lived in Kuwait for a couple years before eventually landing in Morden where she was the director of the adult education centre for many of years.
She has since transitioned from career in education to becoming a therapist in private practice.
Her journey is a powerful example of embracing change with intention, trusting the pull toward purpose, and allowing past experience to strengthen future impact.
Vipond urged women to pay attention to what is inside them and what is true for them and “taking care of ourselves, but we can take care of other people too.”
For her, a lot simply comes down to compassion.
“People come to you, as a counsellor, in the lowest part of their life,” she said. “Be connected to your heart.
“If there’s something speaking to you … you gotta listen to that stuff. That’s where the good stuff comes from.”
Morden Chamber of Commerce executive director Clare Agnew observed that the speakers all had such inspirational stories to share.
“It just really speaks about our community and how we support each other,” she said. “I just think it’s a really great opportunity for us to get together and celebrate the women in our community.”
Touching on the theme of pivoting, Agnew noted how it came up in each of the three speakers in terms of how their careers had evolved, yet it was different from one woman to the next.
“They’re often juggling other responsibilities with their families at the same time,” said Agnew. “I think the women who spoke today really shared what that looked like for them and why they got there, and that’s often a different reason as well. I think the topic was served well.
“I think that it was awesome to have men in the crowd today,” she added. “I think that’s one of the things I have been trying to talk about … and specifically ask men to come … women’s day isn’t just for women. I think men also have to support women … I think it’s really important they also hear those stories and why it’s important to support them.”
