Dr. Leslea Walters is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, having trained as an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist. She sees patients in her downtown practice, delivers babies at the Women’s Hospital (Health Sciences Centre) and operates at various hospitals around Winnipeg.
She’s quick to tell you that she ended up in medicine “by accident” after a brief career as a flight attendant. We asked her a couple of questions before she takes the TEDxWinnipeg stage on June 26:
What’s on your playlist at the moment?
Oh boy. That is a loaded question…
My taste in music is extremely varied. My playlist tends to contain music from upcoming live shows I plan to attend (I love live music), some show tunes are always present because I am a performer at heart and love to dramatically sing along. I try to explore something new every week and I use Apple music which pulls old favourites from my library.
Currently in my playlist are:
- The Tragically Hip
- Jann Arden
- Black Sabbath
- KISS
- Lady Gaga
- Ingrid Michaelson
- Ed Sheeran
- P!NK
- Adele
- Alanis Morissette
- Chantal Kreviazuk
- Heart
- Death Cab for Cutie
- Coeur de PIrate
- Joni Mitchell
- Lindsey Stirling
- Paolo Nutini
- Sia
- Prince
- gnash
- Lennon Stella
- Sleeping at Last
And music from:
- Rent
- The Greatest Showman
This list might be very different next week, and the next, and the next
Why are you excited to speak at TEDxWinnipeg?
Connecting with people, and sharing what I know gets me really fired up!
I am forever curious about what other people similarly have to share. I’ve been so inspired by the speakers giving TED Talks (seen online). I have never been to a live event, so getting to experience it from a speaker’s point of view is, I realize, a huge and amazing opportunity.
How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who cares; who shows up. I want people to know that I am genuine. I want good things for all of us and for me too! I want to be relatable and helpful and reassuring.
What do you do with a completely free evening or weekend?
Well, weekends at home are almost never free. I have work to catch up on, or am on call at one of the local hospitals. For a completely free evening or weekend, I usually have to go away. I always bring books to read, because I love to get lost in a great story. But travel usually includes a concert or theatre performance. And if I had it my way, every day would include a long walk to explore different neighbourhoods, get fresh air and time alone with my thoughts.
What is your greatest extravagance (aka: how do you treat yo’self?)
I love a good spa day. Quality chocolate. A great meal. And wine.
The most extravagant way I treat myself is with travel. I love to visit new places and meet people from all kinds of different backgrounds. What I have come to understand, by exposing myself to as many “different” people as I can… is that we really are all the same. In our hearts and in our souls, we are human. And it is our humanity that has the power to unite us.
What’s the best thing you’ve read in the past year?
Gone are the days when I had time to devour a few books in a week. Within the last year, two books have stood out: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and In Shock by Rana Awdish.
Every day, I read something on Twitter that makes me laugh. Or cry. Or feel angry. Or inspired. I learn so much because I use it to challenge myself and my ideas. And hopefully I challenge others and their ideas also.
What TED Talk do you think everyone should see?
Well, mine, of course.
