Connect the Dots Ottawa

Social Media Showcase – connecting with the world from Connect the Dots Ottawa on Vimeo.

Connect the dots will kick off in a few hours and if you are still undecided about whether you should stay overnight at the hotel then here’s Louise’s view on the matter.

Louise Lalande books a room at Crowne Plaza from Connect the Dots Ottawa on Vimeo.

I once read that you can only connect the dots of life when you look back on them. I think this is true, especially as I continue to connect the dots in my existence. When faced with life’s challenges, often we forget about how much good can come out of them. Since 2008 I have faced some of the most difficult times in my life. Then again, I can now personally confirm the following: tough times never last, but tough people do. As I connect the intricate dots from my past, an inspirational image emerges…one that portrays personal success.

My name is Lainie Towell, and I am a professional artist who specialized in dance from the nation of Guinea in West Africa. I have traveled to the tiny, impoverished country seven times to learn as much as possible about this powerful art form. That was where I first met Akra, in 2004. He was a drummer with the ballet that I was working with in. Over time, we fell in love. (Or so I thought.) We were married in Conakry on April 20th, 2007. When I sponsored Akra to come live with me in Canada, we were amazed that it took only a short time for him to be granted a Canadian visa. But just as quickly, things started to go wrong. One night, shortly after receiving his permanent resident documentation in the mail, Akra disappeared. I arrived home to find an empty closet and his wedding ring sitting on the bedroom dresser. It was clear that I had been duped into marrying Akra so that he could get into Canada. When I reported my case to Citizenship and Immigration they told me to try to forget it. Akra was in Canada to stay, and as his sponsor, I was on the hook for him financially. If he collected welfare, I would have to reimburse government. I decided I had two choices: become a victim, or speak the truth. I decided to go public with my story! My decision was a major ‘dot’ and led me to many other significant ones. Not only has Akra been investigated and issued a removal order for misrepresentation, I have become the poster girl for the issue of marriage fraud in Canada.

In April 2009, I staged a performance in the streets of Ottawa. I dressed in a wedding gown and walked for two hours with a full sized red door strapped to my back, from The National Gallery of Canada to Parliament Hill.  This powerful image performance landed me an interview on Canada AM alongside Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. I was also featured in the Globe and Mail twice (including the cover of the Life Section), across Canada with Sun Media and in their free daily paper – 24 hours, Metro daily across Canada, The Calgary Herald, USA Today Online, CTV W5, Sympatico/MSN internet news, CBC Television, Radio- Canada, Le Droit, and in countless papers online and in print across the globe including Greece, Korea, Seattle, and St.Petersburgh Florida. My story is also now is part of two documentary film projects on marriage fraud  – one is in production for by CBC “The Lens.” As well, I was flown to Seattle to speak at the screening of “Point of Entry” by Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle-Tacoma for PBS USA. It is pretty amazing to see how far one performance can go!

When Akra walked out the door, he took with him my cherished dance practice. Suddenly, the very thing that had inspired me and nourished my soul became a hurtful symbol of the deceit and the pain that Akra caused. How could I continue to work in an art form that was so tightly bound to my fraudulent husband’s culture? I started to write and have since completed a book that is now being reviewed by a Toronto publisher. I also realized that dance was simply one medium for my true passion: creativity.

I successfully used my creativity as a vehicle for communication with the media and the government. Although I had never thought about blending art with public relations – I loved the idea!  This fall, I wrote a business plan for my new company, ‘Stunt Woman in a Pencil Skirt,’ the only Public Relations company in Ottawa to specialize in publicity stunts.

Last week, I picked up a copy of the Ottawa Business Journal and called them to inquire about an event that was advertised in their paper. I ended up meeting Susan Blain over the phone and shared my story with her. “Lainie, you need to meet Laura Booker and attend Connect the Dots,” she said. Laura and I did connect, and she invited me to share my story on the Connect the Dots blog. Despite the pain I experienced from my story, when I look back and connect my dots, I understand what Linda Chandler meant when she said: “When heart and mind connect with spirit and purpose, there is nothing we cannot do.” by  Lainie Towell, Stunt Woman in a Pencil Skirt

As a result of your requests, we are now offering a one day event pass for Friday November 13th, for only $129.

You will be amazed at the connections you will make and the future growth opportunities for you and your business.

Check out the schedule for the amazing line-up!