By Erin Engstrom

Are you wondering why BC HRMA has invited Rick Mercer to kick off our pre-conference activities on Wednesday, April 25^th?

Well, simply put, he’s coming to help us celebrate our 50^th Annual Conference. Puttin’ da huma back in human resources. (Cue the hip hop music.)

When I first started working as conference manager at BC HRMA, I asked for a description of what a typical HR delegate was like. Someone (who will remain anonymous) described you as “rather conservative; kind of like a chatty accountant”.

Human resources is serious and our industry may have a reputation of being ‘gray’, but at the end of the day you have to admit that humans are a funny and colorful species.  Sometimes you need to laugh so you don’t cry. The hit TV show The Office is wildly popular because people can relate to the challenges and humour in corporate management, office politics and basic human interaction. You deserve an hour to sit back, lighten up and simply enjoy some good entertainment before conference.

And, we chose Rick Mercer because we think he is smart, witty … and hilarious!  People are expecting some celebrity ‘splash’ for our 50^th annual conference and I think Rick Mercer is one of the best Canadian entertainers.  He makes us think and laugh while pointing out the best and worst of Canadian people, politics and practices.

We’ve invited Rick Mercer to help us celebrate 50 years of conference, acknowledge the 70^th Anniversary of our association, and thank you—our wonderful members—who try to keep the Michael Scott style of HR on the TV and out of our workplaces.

Register today for the 50^th Annual BC HRMA Conference & Tradeshow in Vancouver, April 25-27, 2012!

Erin Engstrom is the conference and events manager at BC HRMA. When Erin isn’t working, she can be found cooking for friends at an impromptu kitchen party or racing her kids between the pool, rink and pitch. Erin never stops—but that’s because she’s afraid that she would be too tired to jump back into the race of her wonderfully chaotic life. e.engstrom@bchrma.org.