Neil Aitchison

A career in broadcasting has taught our speaker that laughter is not only fun, but necessary for surviving and thriving in today’s changing times.

Neil Aitchison is a popular speaker, M.C., actor, former broadcast executive and radio personality.

He will share a few laughs, some honest reflections on life and clearly demonstrate how you can cope with life’s constant changes and stresses by exercising your humour option.

Born in Harriston, Ontario, Aitchison was the first graduate of Conestoga College in Kitchener, and lives in Waterloo with his first wife, Helen. When not speaking, he is kept busy as the Senior Manager of Market Development for Melloul-Blamey Construction, one of Ontario’s largest and most diversified construction firms. Previously, he spent 6 years as Director of Development for Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s most successful theatre companies.

Aitchison is involved in a number of community events, activities and associations. He is a charter member of the Kitchener Westmount Rotary Club and has twice been named a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest award for community service in December 1991 and August 1999. In November 2002, he was the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for having made a significant contribution to Canada at home or abroad.

    Don't Be Afraid to Risk Failure (or Foolishness) With Laughter

    Neil Aitchison is back again with his trademark brand of humour, true stories, and engaging personality to convince us that it's quite all right to make a fool of yourself and risk failure. As he deftly illustrates, the only necessary ingredient for taking these risks is laughter.

    One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is the ability to laugh at yourself. In many cases, we aren't willing to risk failure and foolishness in order to realize the absolute power of laughter.

    Life is too short to be serious – lighten up! Live, laugh and learn with Neil Aitchison, as he takes you on a fun-filled exploration through some of life's most successful failures.

    Neil receives rave reviews as he draws from his extensive career in media, sales management, and broadcasting. He is an acclaimed actor, master of ceremonies – and in great demand for funerals and weddings.

    Twice named a Paul Harris fellow, Rotary's highest award for community service, he has since been the recipient of the Queens Golden Jubilee medal for having made a significant contribution to Canada at home and abroad.

    He'll no doubt share with you his enthusiasm for his newest role as a first-time grandfather.

    Handle Change and Stress With Laughter

    A Lifetime of humour has taught Neil Aitchison that laughter is not only fun, but necessary for surviving and thriving in today's changing times. Neil's engaging presentation emphasizes the power of laughter by outlining its numerous social, financial, and health benefits.

    By sharing some honest reflections from his personal and professional experiences, Neil effectively demonstrates how you can cope with life's constant changes and stresses by exercising your humour option. From the boardroom to the home front, Neil effectively addresses the pivotal moments of change in an individual's life – including hirings, firings, marriage, parenthood, and the ageing process.

    Life is far too short to be serious – so lighten up! Live and learn with Neil Aitchison as you make coping with change and stress in today's society a truly laughing matter.

    The How vs. What of Customer Service

    In his talk The How vs. What of Customer Service, Neil uses a dose of good humour to illustrate how superior companies focus not only what service they provide, but how they provide it. Using analogies such as the most successful restaurant franchise type in the world - Chinese food - Neil reflects on the humorous side of the restaurant industry and how it is the way in which we are treated that keeps us coming back as consumers.

    How, when we go to buy a car, it is not the car that is the deciding factor on where you do business, but the people with whom you are dealing. There are many ingredients in good service including teaching staff the good habits of customer service. Neil will examine, with a few laughs, what makes a company the service provider of choice.

    The Importance of Laughter in the Service & Selling Industries

    What makes an individual or a company successful? With over 25 years of sales experience under his belt, Neil Aitchison knows what it takes – vision, leadership, determination, and above all, a good sense of humour.

    With his trademark blend of humour, true stories, and engaging personality, Neil manages to convince us that it's quite all right to make a fool of yourself and risk failure. As he deftly illustrates, the only necessary ingredient for taking these risks is laughter.

    Learn how to risk failure and foolishness in order to realize your full potential. In doing so, you will begin to realize the absolute power of laughter in the service and selling industries.