
al etmanski
I enjoy being a full time dad and step dad to our five adult children, four daughters and a son. I thrive in the company of my grandson. Our specialities are talking about death, Lego dinosaurs, making walking sticks and cracking fart jokes. Like everyone I’ve had my fair share of upheavals. My most recent one has cracked open my heart. As a result I’m falling in love with the world. Every day a little bit more.
My lifetime as a community organizer has taught me the importance of rallying the lovesick and broken hearted. And the value of that chip on my shoulder becoming compost.
I’ve written four books and I’m curating another one about caring in Canada.
These days I’m learning to be a sheet pan chef. I’m also a flower arranger in training. Plus I am trying my best to stay away from nouns, the word ‘but’ and far too many adjectives 🙂
My website is a little out of date. Still it will give you a sense of what I’m about.
Upcoming Programs by al etmanski

Eldering in Times of Transformation
Also With Cheryl Rose and Zhiish McKenzie
October 6 - 10, 2025
“A human being would certainly not grow to be seventy or eighty years old if this longevity had no meaning for the species.” - Carl Jung There comes a time when you find yourself, perhaps to your surprise, in a new land which is unlike any part of the long life journey you’ve made so […]