The Ripple Effect: How One Life Creates Lasting Change
I’m sitting outside as I write this. It’s one of those crisp September days—sunny, fresh, full of life. If you hear the faint hum of a lawn mower in the distance, that’s the soundtrack of this moment.
And maybe that’s fitting, because what I want to share today carries both the beauty and the weight of this season.
This past week, Canada lost a giant in the disability rights movement: Lorraine Silliphant. I never had the privilege of meeting her, yet her story landed in me like a spark.
The ripples of her legacy (grounded in love, inclusion, and human dignity) remind me that leadership has never been about titles or spotlight moments. It’s about showing up, again and again, with persistence and conviction, to create space for others to belong.
And I’ll be honest: part of me felt discomfort writing this. I’ve never met Lorraine, and I asked myself, Who am I to tell her story? But the pull to share what her life has stirred in me (and what it might stir in you) was much stronger than my hesitation. Perhaps that in itself is a lesson in Leadership.
A Week of Fragile Reminders
It may be no accident that her story came to me now.
My mom’s good friend passed away just a few days ago. And in reconnecting with a former HR colleague, I learned that their daughter had died at only thirty.
It’s been a week of reminders that life is fragile, that none of us knows how much time we’ll get, and that what really lasts are the ripples we leave behind.
That’s why Lorraine’s story struck me so deeply.
Lorraine’s Calling
Lorraine’s calling began in 1968 with the birth of her son Ralph. Out of that moment of love came her life’s work: improving the lives of people with intellectual and other disabilities.
She raised her family, volunteered countless hours, and went on to serve nearly twenty years with the New Brunswick Association for Community Living, including as Executive Director. She worked with boards, governments, and communities to advance human rights, social justice, and inclusion. In her later years, she focused especially on affordable housing—always mindful that progress could be fragile if not tended to.
Her contributions were recognized nationally with life memberships, human rights awards, and accolades for inclusive education. Yet what inspires me most isn’t the recognition. It’s her persistence. Her showing up, decade after decade.
And here’s the part that made me smile: Lorraine was also known for balancing meaningful work with life’s simple pleasures. Curling. Golf. Birthday lunches with “the girls.” Summers at the family cottage. Winters in Florida with her husband Dave. And her nearly daily glass of cheap red wine.
That balance—purpose and pleasure, conviction and joy—is what made her leadership sustainable.
The Leadership Lessons
Lorraine’s story isn’t only about disability rights or advocacy. It’s about what real leadership looks like—especially for those of us navigating messy, human, real-world contexts.
Here’s what I hear in her story:
Your calling is enough. Stop waiting for permission or titles. Lorraine’s qualification was her love for her son. From there, she built a movement.
Persistence outlasts polish. Leadership isn’t about charisma or perfection. It’s about consistency—showing up, even when nobody claps.
Progress is fragile. Whether it’s inclusion, culture, or trust—you can’t set it and forget it. You have to keep tending the ground.
Balance is fuel, not a distraction. Lorraine curled, laughed, and poured the wine. She knew joy wasn’t optional—it was what made her impact sustainable.
You don’t need to be known to matter. Many Canadians never knew her name, yet their communities carry her fingerprints. Don’t confuse visibility with impact.
A Reflection for You
Lorraine’s legacy invites us to consider:
What calling is tugging at you right now?
How might your one precious life create ripples for generations to come?
And how can you lead in a way that makes space for others to belong—while still leaving room for joy?
Because let’s be real—most of us don’t feel like giants. Most of us feel like we’re just trying to keep our heads above water. But giants aren’t born. They’re built—one act of persistence, one moment of conviction, one ripple at a time.
My Invitation
Don’t underestimate the power of your one life. Lorraine didn’t. And neither should you.
Your legacy isn’t just in the work you do… it’s also in the way you laugh, love, and live along the way.
And if you’re craving a space to lead this way (values-first, persistent in your calling, balanced with joy) I’d love for you to join us in Be the Light. It’s where leaders come to reconnect with themselves, find tools that actually work in real life, and grow in ways that are sustainable, purposeful, and deeply human.
Because leadership doesn’t happen in the spotlight. It happens in the ripples. And together, we can make those ripples reach even further.
Listen to the full episode here:
