 Stephen's presentation exceeded my expectations. You were able to provide us with what we needed in a gracious manner, you did it with humour, rather than pointing out our shortcomings and you left us inspired and wanting to make a difference. I think that's the best way to learn, Stephen. Thank-you for that.
Louise Geisbrecht
Employment Equity Office,
University of Manitoba.
If you want to educate and highly entertain your audience, you must hire
Stephen Hammond. We wanted to educate our CEOs about workplace harassment, discrimination and as Stephen puts it, "the changing face of Canada." This guy is funny (very funny), he's entertaining, he's current and he knows his subject matter like the back of his hand. Our attendees raved about
Stephen's presentation, the way he engaged everyone with his use of
technology, his content, and how they can't wait to use their new-found
knowledge when they get back to work. In fact, the feedback we received
from our members has been the best we have ever received from any one
speaker at any of our Professional Development days. They also love that
Stephen provided on-going resources to be used by our members long after our memories fade. We will definitely be inviting Stephen back. This guy isgood.
Melinda Heidsma, Chair,
BC CEO Network
For our annual emergency preparedness Boot Camp we wanted to wow participants with speakers who were dynamic, thought provoking and edutaining. We asked Stephen Hammond to present because of his reputation to do just that. He took the complex workplace issue of harassment and discrimination,  and made it understandable and relevant. Our clients were totally engaged. Many of them said they now want Stephen to speak to their workplaces and associations. Only he could take a serious subject like harassment, make a game out of it (literally) and have the audience clamouring for more. Outstanding.
Donna Gingera, Principal
Hour-Zero School Emergency Program
 Thank you so much for being part of our conference. Your presentation was dynamic, thought-provoking and feedback from our conference evaluations said you were great and the best. I'm really glad a white man can speak strongly on Aboriginal issues as it sometimes makes more impact on other white managers than if I would say it. Thank you and Meegwetch for being an advocate for Aboriginal people. We really need people like you.
Louise Chippeway
Program Coordinator, Human Resources Programs
Manitoba Civil Service Commission
 Stephen Hammond spoke to our Corporate Leadership event two years ago. When, this year, due to budget constraints we could only afford one day and two speakers, I said we had to have the best in Canada and Stephen had to be one of them. His interactive technology, his stories, and his humour (he's a funny guy for such a serious topic) help to bring about real and positive change in our workplace. Our CAO said it was the best leadership event we've ever had. I couldn't agree more.
Tatjana Zatezalo, MPA
Manager - Organizational Development & Health
Human Resources
Halifax Regional Municipality
The feedback I received from managers and supervisors I talked to is that they found the sessions to be highly engaging. The sessions were informal and fun, yet participants were able to gain from your expertise and practical advice. Your knowledge of the municipal environment, including male-dominated workplaces, helped you to make a connection with our supervisors and managers.
Terry Hartley
General Manager, Human Resources
City of Lethbridge
Who would have thought we could have a session about human rights related issues and still have a good time? Your session was very well received by our employees in our desire to know more about our obligations and responsibilities.
Your presentation was very creative and that helped people to take in your message and apply it back at work. Thank you for helping us get a better understanding of this issue.
Francine DiMambro
Senior Advisor, Human Resources
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
From the moment you took off your shirt to reveal a fun t-shirt underneath, all participants got a clue that the session would be fun. It was, and your variety of teaching techniques (including getting people to sing TV theme songs) allowed staff to learn, and have fun in different ways and walk away remembering. One staff wrote “I always learn something that sticks with me when I attend a presentation by Stephen”. What we appreciate most is the effort you put into customizing your talk to our organization by meeting with us ahead of time, understanding our objectives, and then taking that into the classroom into your delivery of the program.
You are clear and to the point, you speak with conviction, you take both current events and work examples and use those to reinforce your learning objective, which helps staff to walk away with specific realistic day to day examples to remember. You are engaging and take full advantage of audience participation with the use of hands on examples and the added touch of using humour to teach a point. I would describe you as a natural speaker, presenter and educator for all audience types based on your approach, style, and your natural ability to engage, entertain and motivate others while learning critical life long skills.
Harold V J Clark, CHRP
Director, Strategic Planning, Policy and Human Resources
Legal Services Society
This session, just like the others, was very informative to our students. It helped to open their minds about an area of diversity they may have had little experience with, and better understand the needs of a group of people, and a culture they may know little about. I know it helped them to be inclusive when they got out to the working world of recreation, and better serve their communities as a result.
On each occasion you speak, I have found you to be professional — reliable, on time, and smartly dressed, knowledgeable, funny, informative, and thought-provoking. You really know your stuff.
Caroline Kimoto
Langara College
Our senior managers were very pleased and impressed with your presentation. You took a group of participants who came in with a skeptical outlook and in a short space of time got them engaged. People left the room with a positive message about changing their workplace for the better, some skills to handle problems as they arise and a definite feeling that the session they had attended was worthwhile and enjoyable.
Your style was open, interactive and fun and that led to a great atmosphere for learning. It is also clear that you understand the “fire culture” in a way which made people stand up and take notice.
Sharon Seabourne
Manager Human Resources
Winnipeg, Fire Paramedic Services
Stephen Hammond is a dynamic speaker whose knowledge and expertise make him both credible and engaging. The questions he asked really pinpointed the areas of knowledge which were lacking amongst the group and showed disconnect between "rights" and the actual climate. I am excited to engage the community further with Stephen Hammond's continuing education! All the reviews from staff, students and faculty have been extremely positive - all asking when will he come back!
Jackie Gruber
Human Rights and Equity Advisor
University of Manitoba
You were able to bring our management group up to speed on important issues that they otherwise might not have considered and you did so in a way that caught people’s attention. Our managers went back to their respective workplaces better informed and better prepared.
I also appreciate the method of your presentations. Your examples were very current and you were able to utilize the electronic response system we were using to get their direct feedback. It was very informative and worked well with our group. I also appreciate that you are able to use humour and also able to get your message across without “preaching”. Your style and manner in addressing the issues within the room were very effective and we felt much more prepared to understand and be mindful of the risks in these extremely important areas of our business after your presentation.
Peter Blake, C.A.
Chief Executive Officer
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated
Keynote speaker Stephen Hammond closed his amazing presentation about people’s perceptions of Canadian society with the many steps forward human rights have taken over the years. He reminded us how precious our human rights are and that great things have been, and still can be achieved, even in the face of the most daunting obstacles.
Manitoba Human Rights Commission
I worked with you when a number of municipalities were creating a training program template that would be used for years to come. Your knowledge and skills in delivering complex issues in interesting ways, encouraged me to have you come and talk to some of our staff. There were a number of items I wanted you to cover and I appreciated that you were able to come up with a variety of ways to deliver them.
When challenging questions arose, you handled the situation with diplomacy yet let the participant and the rest of the group understand that their job is providing respectful customer service, and not allowing personal beliefs to affect their customer service, particularly when working at a city facility. I respected your facilitation methods and observed how you were able to create a positive learning environment where the participants learned but were also entertained and I believe that leads to better learning.
Your style is informal and non-judgemental and that is very important when we are talking about being inclusive to a multicultural community.
Cathy Lavery
Coordinator - Community Development
City of Burnaby, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
I have always appreciated Stephen’s professionalism and style. He is excellent at getting people engaged to talk about subject matters that are difficult and complex. When people leave his sessions they either have good ideas, or good questions to answer. In each case people have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the workplace.
Stephen is gifted at being able to add humour to a subject that very few people think of as funny. He is able to not only keep up with current issues, but also current technology, to support the learning process.
Steve Traviss
Senior Human Resources Officer
District of Maple Ridge, B.C.
“ Brilliant. Superb. It was amazing.”
Catherine Peltier Mavin
Aboriginal Policy and Promotion Advisor
Government of Canada
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Canadian cases. Each challenge was thought provoking and the interaction followed naturally. Stephen didn't speak to the audience he spoke with the audience with just the right mix of humour and common sense. I have already recommended Stephen to all of our Provincial Directors in Canada and would not hesitate to acquire his services again.
We liked the approach you took in your book, Managing Human Rights at Work: 101 practical tips to prevent human rights disasters and wanted that same common sense approach for our employees and supervisors. Stephen, you were able to cover a wide variety of issues related to respect, human rights and reasonable accommodations. In the process, our people came away with a better understanding and some important ideas on how to resolve problems as they arise.
Your sessions have greatly assisted our Fire Officer candidates as they gain a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in dealing with workplace issues such as Harassment and other forms of discrimination. Their learning of your knowledge of the law and the practical side of workplace issues is a benefit to our department as we require our Fire Officers to effectively deal with workplace issues before they get out of hand.
Your session was pivotal in allowing our employees to think about creating an inclusive workplace and environment for our academic community. It is a subject matter that can be emotional and even provocative and yet you were able to get people thinking about new and better ways to treat people. You challenged our staff to think more inclusively by the case examples you used. It was obvious from your presentation the in-depth knowledge and passion you have for human rights topics. At the end of your session, our employees went back to work with tools to either treat all people in the work environment and those they provide serve to appropriately, or to ask for advice if they encounter problems.
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When I read your book, Managing Human Rights at Work: 101 practical tips to prevent human rights disasters, I knew I had to purchase the book and use it as a resource for everyone in our program. The language and insights provided some excellent tips for many of our managers to use with their respective operations.
I was fascinated to watch as you took a very complex and otherwise potentially dry subject matter and made it “live” for our managers. With your assistance, participants were able to understand how certain behaviours are simply not okay in today’s work environment. The examples you used were very relevant and resonated with the group. You also helped our managers understand that it is indeed their responsibility to model appropriate behaviour and to monitor their work environments for inappropriateness. And all of this in a fun, non-threatening and non-preachy style!