March 11-13, 2026
Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, Richmond BC
The Local Government Leadership Academy’s annual forum brings together senior staff and elected officials from local governments and First Nations to explore innovative ways to collaborate and drive positive transformation.
The 2026 conference theme is The 2026 conference theme is Finishing Strong: Legacy, Leadership and What Comes Next. The Forum will offer space to reflect, renew, and refocus. Finishing Strong is about more than closing a chapter – it’s about honouring accomplishments, stewarding resources, strengthening relationships, and shaping a legacy that endures.
Finishing Strong: Legacy, Leadership & What Comes Next
As local leaders approach the culmination of their term, the 2026 LGLA Leadership Forum offers space to reflect, renew, and refocus. Finishing Strong is about more than closing a chapter—it’s about honouring accomplishments, stewarding resources, strengthening relationships, and shaping a legacy that endures.
This year’s Leadership Forum invites participants to celebrate their contributions, capture their stories, and prepare for what’s next—both personally and for their communities. Through thought-provoking sessions and meaningful dialogue, participants will explore the many dimensions of leadership and legacy.
Attendees will explore ways to:
- Strengthen their legacy through sound, lasting financial stewardship
- Build resilience and trust through effective crisis leadership
- Capture and share their leadership story to inspire others
- Shape the future of local leadership learning with their feedback.
- Approach elections and transitions with optimism and integrity
- Nurture relationships that sustain trust and effective leadership.
*NEW* 2026 LGLA Leadership Forum Program
Wednesday, March 11
Opening Ceremony
Lead with a Story (Part 1): Turning Your Journey into Impact
Behind every local leader is a storyteller. Join renowned speaker Bill Baker for an engaging session on the power of storytelling in leadership communication. Learn how to craft stories that inspire, persuade, and strengthen your message—while reflecting on your own leadership journey, celebrating your contributions, and preparing for what’s next for you, and your community.
Mid-session Refreshment Break sponsored by MIABC
Networking Reception sponsored by Destination BC
Thursday, March 12
Breakfast sponsored by BC Assessment
Stewarding the Finish Line: Legacy, Leadership, and Lasting Value
After years of service, your community’s roads, facilities, assets, and relationships all tell a story of your council’s leadership. This session helps elected officials reflect on their legacy not just in words, but in lasting financial and physical outcomes.
Refreshment Break sponsored by Lidstone & Company
After the Storm: The Enduring Legacy of Local Leadership in Disasters
When an emergency hits, local leaders are tested in profound ways. This session explores how leadership during crises shapes community resilience, trust, and long-term recovery—and how those moments become a lasting part of a leader’s legacy.
LGLA Curriculum Preview Session
Help shape the future of local leadership learning. This interactive session invites participants to share feedback on proposed curriculum themes and online course designs, ensuring the program reflects the real needs and priorities of today’s elected officials.
Lunch sponsored by Fortis BC
Finishing Strong: Governing Effectively in Year Four
The final term often brings urgency to complete initiatives and show meaningful results. This session offers guidance on staying grounded in good governance, thoughtfully prepare for what follows, and help the next team start strong – whether you hope to be on it or not. Join us and a panel of multi-term local government leaders, who have decided this will be their final term.
Refreshment Break sponsored by BCLC
Truth & Reconciliation in Practice: Working in a Good Way
This session will highlight the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Truth & Reconciliation: In Practice, A Guide for Working in a Good Way, exploring how its values-based, role-driven approach moves reconciliation beyond checklists and into meaningful organizational practice. Panelists will share how the framework was conceptualized and developed, and how the SLRD is embedding and sustaining it throughout the upcoming election transition and beyond.
Friday, March 13
Breakfast sponsored by Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors
Lead with a Story (Part 2): Building Your Library
Build on the insights from Bill Baker’s storytelling session by expanding your personal story library in this hands-on follow-up workshop. Through guided exercises and peer exchange, participants will identify and shape additional stories that strengthen their communication with key audiences and help capture the legacy of their term,
Refreshment Break
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time…
This session is not your average PowerPoint panel. We’ve lined up a lively set of stories from elected officials who know first-hand that best laid plans don’t always work out as imagined. In the fourth year of your term, we’ll take some time to learn from the mistakes, failures and flops along the way, with levity and fun.
Closing
Many thanks to the Municipal Finance Authority of BC for supporting the 2026 LGLA Leadership Forum program.
Hotel Room Block & Airline Discounts
2026 LGLA Leadership Forum Room Block:
To book a room under the EA Forum & LGLA 2026 Leadership Forum block at a reduced room rate, call 1-604-279-8384 or email your reservation request by February 9, 2026.
All reservations will be guaranteed with a non-refundable deposit of the first night’s room and tax at the time of booking. The group rooms are $229/night plus taxes and fees. If making multiple guest reservation requests, the final rooming list is required at latest by 14 days prior to arrival. Please be sure to identify yourself as an attendee of the EA Forum & LGLA 2026 Leadership Forum to receive the group rate.
Airline Discounts:
LGLA is very pleased to have been able to secure airline discount codes for travel to the 2026 LGLA Forum with the following airlines. Many thanks to Air Canada, Westjet and Helijet for supporting the work of the LGLA.
- Booking Link
- Discount: 5% off standard fares, 10% off flex fares & higher
- Travel Dates: March 4-20, 2026
- Code: W23MVVB1
- Booking Link
- Discount: 5% off Econo and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium base fares
- Travel Dates: March 4-15, 2026
- Code: 5R0F4PU
- Booking Link
- Discount: 30% off Full Fare
- Travel Dates: March 9-15, 2026
- Code: LGLA26
Cathy Watson Memorial Award
The Cathy Watson Memorial Award sends one elected official to the Local Government Leadership Academy’s annual forum (or Elected Officials Seminar), who would otherwise not be able to attend. The bursary covers registration, accomodation and up tp $1,000 in travel expenses.
2026 Forum Partners & Sponsors
Many thanks to the 2026 LGLA Leadership Forum Partners & Sponsors
