In addition to the support received from the Province and from the LGLA’s partner associations, the UBCM membership expressed a strong interest in the LGLA initiative – contributing over $50,000 to LGLA core funding and providing many words of support and encouragement for the goals of the Academy.

In return for this support, UBCM members expect a coordinated program that is responsive to the needs of local government elected officials throughout the province, and which is run efficiently and with an eye to filling gaps in existing training initiatives rather than duplicating training already offered through other programs.

LGLA programming endeavours to address individual and group needs, the needs of communities of varying sizes and includes both a regional delivery element and an online presence. The Board of Directors is also committed to making training opportunities both affordable and accessible to all local governments and First Nations communities.

Initial curriculum development drew inspiration from a set of core competencies determined through a February 2006 brainstorming session attended by provincial government/partner agency/local government education sector representatives and later confirmed through a Civic Leadership Questionnaire administered at UBCM’s Chief Elected Official Forum in May 2006 and sent to the full UBCM membership in June 2006.

These eight core leadership competencies (Leadership, Understanding, Accountability, Facilitation, Prioritization, Big Picture Vision, Stewardship and Public Engagement) are understood to be essential elements of leadership excellence and are a guiding force in LGLA program development.  The intent has been to set the competencies in the context of strategic issues of the day, thereby ensuring the pertinence and real-time applicability of the curriculum.  LGLA Board Members, through their work with local governments, their longstanding experience in the sector, and their day-to-day familiarity with the needs and concerns of local communities and their representatives, are tasked with ensuring that the organization stays on top of current and emerging issues.