The Need
That Waterloo Region is a strong, dynamic community is due in no small part to the wealth of exemplary leaders it has had in the past. Their vision, commitment and determination to effect change are vital components in what we are today.
In today’s competitive, fast changing environment, the emergence of our future community leaders cannot be left to happenstance. Our aging baby boomer leaders are retiring at an alarming rate. The fast paced life of younger generations often allows little time to develop the skills required of successful community leaders who can make a difference, who can lead our community in successful future directions.
This issue is not peculiar to communities. Successful employers in all sectors contribute significant resources to developing their future leaders. Even municipal governments are addressing this issue internally. For example, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo has assessed a serious future leadership shortfall and has developed a strategy to address this looming need.
The issue also is not peculiar to our region. Francoise Morissette and Amal Henein of Queen’s University through extensive research have identified this as a serious national problem. They conclude that we can no longer rely on the lone hero who appears on a timely basis to provide leadership where and when needed. They conclude that Canada must develop a critical mass of leaders and that this requires priority strategies stressing the values of leadership development and excellence. Other writers on this subject have identified the same issues and the same need. For example, Dr. David Walker, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University , states that “we can’t expect leaders to ‘pop up’; they have to be nurtured through a culture that values leadership, promotes good leaders and gives them opportunities to burnish their skills.”
In response to the broader national need, leadership development programs are emerging to address the looming deficit. The University of Waterloo is launching a new Masters of transformational leadership. Brock University has formed a Management Development Centre. The University of Guelph offers a Masters of Leadership program. The Niagara Institute and Banff Centre continue to offer thriving leadership development programs.
Why Leadership Waterloo Region
As one response to this issue locally, our region’s Community Foundations, Chambers of Commerce, and Volunteer Centres founded Leadership Waterloo Region. This organization has developed a community leadership development program that, over the course of ten months, helps participants acquire a broader understanding of critical issues affecting our region and then assists them in acquiring the leadership skills necessary to address them. The program also fosters a strong local support network of like minded community leaders within our region. It differs from the academic programs mentioned above in that it focuses on our specific region, our issues and our history and in addressing these issues. It teaches the leadership skills required to be a more effective community leader in our region. Our ten month program also is more accessible in that participants can continue in their present employment and the fees are quite reasonable.
During the ten month program participants listen to and interact with existing community leaders. Together they also take on real life community based projects to practice the skills they are learning, aimed at developing strategies and solutions. By developing a “systems view” of the community, they understand that decisions in one area may have repercussions elsewhere.
Leadership Waterloo Region believes its program is highly effective in developing and nurturing future community leaders dedicated to our region. It seeks out constant feedback on its program, not only from the graduates but also from a Leadership Advisory Council comprised of more than 35 senior community leaders. A Curriculum Steering Committee provides input and feedback from our local universities and community college. Also, a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will fund a further evaluation of the impact of the program on the community. Truly, the program is responsive to the needs of our community.
The evolution of the Leadership Waterloo Region’s program has resulted in a record of accomplishment that is the envy of other community leadership programs across Canada and the United States. The program has:
• been recognized as a leader among Community Leadership programs and is the recipient of the International Preceptor Award (awarded by the American Community Leadership Association);
• 250 graduates representing a broad spectrum of disciplines including elected officials, business owners and managers, public sector officials, police officers, as well as personnel from the media and community organizations;
• participants and alumni reflecting the diversity of our community in skills, personalities, financial circumstances, and cultural backgrounds;
• active alumni who collectively sit on 400 boards and committees as well as being engaged in city and regional task forces and focus groups; and
• an extraordinarily lean operation employing three staff and using 200 volunteers in donated office space, so that financial resources are not consumed by overhead.
News
In September 2008, Leadership Waterloo Region, in response to a gap identified by its Leadership Advisory Council, launched a new program. Youth on Board links established leaders who are serving on board of directors with youth leaders who are seeking to increase their understanding of the role of board members and the responsibilities of social profit boards.
