Where there's a will, there's a way.
About Us
Accessing the wisdom of community
The Wayfinding Group is founded on a genuine desire to help, and a firm belief that together we can navigate the most treacherous waters if we identify a common purpose and harness the wisdom of community to achieve it. The Wayfinding Group is on a quest to find the best and most effective methods to help organizations, groups and communities bridge their differences and work together to achieve their goals. Where there's a will, there's a way.
what we do
We help organizations, groups and communities find creative solutions to what had been seemingly daunting problems. We do this by providing sound processes, creative approaches, and thoughtful insights. By reframing difficult situations, we are able to help transform obstacles into opportunities, and stumbling blocks into stepping stones. We like to evaluate current practices, hidden assumptions, and implicit barriers to identify the possibilities, and determine how systems and programs can be improved. Areas that we find particularly meaningful and rewarding to work in are:​
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Mental health and addiction
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Indigenous self-government
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Community development
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The impact of built spaces on wellness​
Why we do it
These areas are meaningful because the solutions lie in community and resonate with our values of choice, inclusion, compassion, kindness, and integrity. At The Wayfinding Group we believe that "[t]he bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices."
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Why a Turtle?
In Celtic mythology the sea turtle represents wisdom, patience, inner strength and the interconnectedness of all things. It serves as a reminder to embrace life’s journey with patience and perseverance. This is true not only in Celtic mythology, but across many cultures. In African folklore the turtle is a trickster named Ijapa. Despite being slow, Ijapa is clever and can figure out a way out of complicated situations. In Chinese mythology a turtle helped Pangu, a creation and primordial figure, to hold up the world. For Indigenous cultures across North America the turtle holds the central role in the creation of the world, symbolizing the earth (Turtle Island) and life itself. At The Wayfinding Group we help our clients navigate challenging waters. We felt that the sea turtle represented both what we do, and reminds us of what is needed to succeed.
Meet The Team
Clark MacFarlane
Clark MacFarlane is the Founder and Principal Consultant of The Wayfinding Group. Clark excels in developing positive relationships with diverse stakeholders and creating opportunities for collaboration. He has a unique ability to listen, synthesize information and deal with difficult topics in a sensitive, diplomatic and productive manner. Clark has a true passion for helping groups and communities deal with what are seen to be insurmountable obstacles. He has a particular passion for the North and indigenous self government. Clark received an Honours B.A. in Political Studies and Psychology from Queen’s University, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Arts degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University. He also has specialized training in community development, facilitation techniques, and mediation, holding certificates from the Institute of Cultural Affairs and the University of Waterloo.
Charlotte MacFarlane
Charlotte MacFarlane is a Lead Consultant with The Wayfinding Group. Charlotte is passionate about community wellness and applies her academic and professional knowledge to improve community wellbeing. Charlotte has honed her research, consultation, report writing, and facilitation skills at local, regional, and provincial levels. Her experience of working with governments, health and social service organizations, and communities, particularly in remote and rural settings, adds value to our clients. Charlotte enjoys diving deep into subject matter to ensure our clients have the best information to achieve their goals. She has experience reviewing programs, identifying service gaps, and sourcing best practices. Charlotte received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies, and a Master of Public Administration, both from Queen’s University.
