About Compass Diversity

Compass Diversity is dedicated to providing individuals and organizations with innovative strategies and solutions to inclusion in: community and work participation; human resource development and management; promotions and marketing; market and product development; and non-profit management and development.

The Compass Diversity Story

We provide services to effectively address matters relevant to the changing face of our community and workforce. They can range from how to have a competitive edge for your organization by effectively using the talents, knowledge, and abilities of a diverse workforce and community, to diversity marketing and product innovation aimed at people with disabilities, to means to provide an inclusive environment, and to one on one issues.

Compass Diversity draws from a seasoned pool of educated and experienced talent from the following sectors:

The Compass Diversity Story

In the Beginning…

Compass Diversity's origins began several years ago when people and organizations routinely approached Compass Diversity's founder, Margo Bok, to do consultations and presentations on disability related issues. People found her very informative and easy to work with and called on her repeatedly.

Margo gained a reputation for being an expert sleuth and walking directory of resources available to people with disabilities. Along the way, her work brought her to work with a wide array of community groups outside the disability sector. Here she began to hone her ability in non-profit development and management. Whatever the issue, Margo could deliberate and interpret information in a straightforward and personalized manner to enable clients to make more informed decisions. Not only that, she was able to bring people to work together and capitalize on their united strengths on mutually beneficial projects and activities.

When Margo first started working professionally with people with disabilities and non-profits, her business background and education came in good stead, as it was uncommon in that field to have such a background. She brought a different perspective - a business infused socially conscious and responsible approach when dealing with people and issues. For example, those involved in disability related issues and the public respect her as being a spokesperson and representative for disabilities issues. She has an understanding and appreciation of issues from both sides but at the same time, will not undermine, compromise, or downplay the major issues affecting people with disabilities to appease or garner favour with others.

One of the reasons Margo went to university was to become a mentor for others - especially for those challenged by a disability. Growing up with a disability, she found that there were few realistic examples of people with disabilities for her to look up to or to ask for advice from - especially those who have had disabilities since childhood. Always having had a mind of her own, Margo set upon the task of being a trailblazer for others with disabilities and of course to challenge herself. Often she had heard the statement, "We have never had any people (with disabilities) like you here before." She was glad that she was starting the process of breaking down the inclusion barriers facing people with disabilities in her own realm; however, numerous times it was a bittersweet experience, because in many cases the barriers should never have been barriers for others with disabilities in the first place.

Fast Forward to Today...

During Compass Diversity's development, Margo has brought in like-minded people who shared values of: independent living, self-determination and empowerment for people with disabilities; being socially conscious; and respecting diversity in general. These associates, like Margo, have been doing counselling, coaching, and business/community information/support brokering for years, and they too felt there was a need for a more formalized service such as Compass Diversity.

Each one of Margo's associates have left an indelible positive mark on the community as a whole through their integrity, abilities, drive, and commitment to improve the quality of lives of people. They bring with them a spectrum of strengths that support and push forward Compass Diversity's mission to provide a range of services to assist organizations and individuals to successfully enable individuals to fully participate in the workplace, marketplace, and social life.

One of the goals of Compass Diversity is to showcase the talents that these associates can provide to clients. They have a history of providing prompt, sound, practical information and support.

And If You Want to Know More…

Margo Bok has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (marketing major) from the University of Alberta and an MBA degree from the University of Victoria.

Margo actively promotes and enables the inclusion of people with disabilities and is a coach, mentor, spokesperson, advisor, and active participant in heightening awareness and understanding of them. She has been a spokesperson locally, provincially, and nationally.

Her career has been in the corporate, non-profit, and public sectors. Margo's collective experiences include such areas as: community, business, and economic development; marketing, special events, communications, and public relations; tourism and recreation; employment and training; management and entrepreneurship; market research and marketing strategy; research and development; human resource management and development; and non-profit and volunteer management and development.

She has received numerous honours as a presenter, academic, and community citizen. Margo has been profiled and interviewed for several TV, radio, newspaper and photo features.

People find Margo's insight and personable approach refreshing. She has the reputation for being sincere, principled, sensitive, caring, and reliable when working with and for others.

E-mail Margo Bok