Not long ago, I traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba to speak at one of my favorite events hosted by a valued repeat client, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME). They’re champions of LEAN Production principles and top-tier professional standards. After my keynote, John Chaput, the National Conference Chair, shared this on LinkedIn:

“Your Limitations Are Only in Your Mind!” – Alvin Law

“This message hit home for all of us privileged to hear Alvin Law speak at Embracing Excellence. As our keynote speaker, Alvin didn’t just share his story – he embodied it on stage. With humor, honesty, and unforgettable energy, he reminded us that resilience isn’t just a trait, it’s a choice! From delivering a powerful keynote to playing the drums with his feet, Alvin showed us what’s possible when we shift our mindset. Thank you, Alvin, for inspiring a room full of leaders to reimagine what we’re capable of.”
– John Chaput

I didn’t request this testimonial, and it’s as fresh as June 2025. While I always strive to deliver my best, this conference theme “Embracing Excellence” really struck a chord. It also brought back a powerful memory I would like to share.

Foundations of excellence

As I reflect on my journey, I’m amazed by how perfectly the stars aligned in my childhood. Time and again, I benefited from the culture of my hometown, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Take 1967, for example. Canada’s Centennial inspired a nationwide initiative to build new, state-of-the-art high schools. What are the odds one would land in Yorkton? Ours came fully loaded: cutting-edge classrooms for academics, trades, athletics… and my favorite… the arts.

This included a 1,000-seat theatre with an orchestra pit, rehearsal rooms, and music spaces that attracted top-tier educators. That influence extended even to junior high sports and music programs.

So, while it’s memorable that a music director once mounted a trombone on a wooden chair so I could play it with my foot, what truly fascinates me is when and where this happened: in an environment committed to excellence before it was trendy to be inclusive.

Learning to lead

In high school band culture, “First Chair” isn’t handed out. It’s earned! In my senior year, 1977, I was named Lead Chair Trombone for both our concert and jazz bands. This wasn’t charity because of my disability… it was earned.

“Lead” was more than a title. It was my first real lesson in leadership. As I often say, “Leaders aren’t born. They are grown.” Leadership isn’t just a role. It’s a vibe. A mindset. A decision to be the example others want to follow.

Our jazz band director, Blaine McClary, was a visionary. He was the one who imagined that trombone chair when I was 12. He believed in all of us. When we were selected to potentially represent Saskatchewan at the Canadian Stage Band Finals in 1978, he didn’t tell us. He asked, “Do you want to do this, together?” We all said, YES!

And we did it. We won Provincials and earned the right to represent Saskatchewan at the Nationals, held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Healing through music

I had been to Winnipeg before, but for very different reasons. I was a patient at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. Their approach, though well-intended, centered on “fixing” me using artificial limbs. As a child, I didn’t have a say. But by age 16, supported by my incredible parents, I chose to say, “Thanks, but I’m done.”

Artificial arms weren’t the answer. Music was. Music didn’t just help me heal… it set me free.

From patient to performer

Back in Winnipeg in 1978, we arrived with hearts full of gratitude and ambition. The competition was fierce, but we played better than we ever had. When the results came in, we were stunned… third place in all of Canada! Our little band from Yorkton made a national impact! Wow!

Then came a moment I’ll never forget…

As the names for the All-Star Band were announced, I was in my own world, reflecting on the wild journey from a foot-played trombone to a national stage. That’s when one of my bandmates smacked me: “Wake up, Toes! You made the All-Star Band… First Chair!”

It was surreal. I made my way down from the bleachers and onto the stage to receive my All-Star jacket and plaque. I took my place among the best trombone section in Canada, no longer the outsider, but a peer.

Full circle

On June 11, 2025, after my production rehearsal for that same CME event, curiosity got the better of me. I asked which hall in the Convention Centre had the grandstands. “Hall A,” someone said. So, I went.

The room was dark and empty, but I could feel it. That stage had once welcomed a high school kid with a dream. Now it welcomed a Hall of Fame speaker with a mission.

In that moment, I understood something deeper: excellence isn’t a destination. It’s a way of living. And when we choose to lead by example, embrace our stories, and uplift others, we don’t just live well – we live fully.

Embrace excellence… not just for your work.
Embrace excellence… as a way of living!