About LGLA

About

Mission: To provide local government and First Nations elected officials and senior administrators with comprehensive, timely and dedicated leadership development opportunities throughout their terms of office/employment in the interest of improving governance at the local level.

Board of Directors

The LGLA is governed by a seven to nine-member board of directors drawn from the Union of BC Municipalities, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing, the Local Government Management Association, and the Municipal Finance Authority, with representation from the First Nations sector and up to two directors at large appointed by the Board.  The Municipal Insurance Association and BC Assessment also have the opportunity to sit on the LGLA Board.

Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg

President
UBCM - Union of BC Municipalities

Gary MacIsaac

UBCM - Union of BC Municipalities

Marijke Edmondson

Vice-President
Ministry of Municipal Affairs

Michelle Dann

Ministry of Municipal Affairs

Curtis Helgesen

LGMA - Local Government Management Association

Megan Chorlton

MIABC - Municipal Insurance Association of BC

Renata Hale

Secretary-Treasurer
MFA - Municipal Finance Authority of BC

Graham Held

BC Assessment

Mayor Maja Tait

Director-at-Large

Councillor/Chair John Jack

Director-at-Large

Foundations of the LGLA

In acknowledgement of the 100th anniversary of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) in 2005, UBCM conducted an analysis of training and educational resources available to local elected officials and senior administrators in British Columbia. We determined what we had long suspected – that there was a lack of ongoing, coordinated and comprehensive support in this area. The Local Government Leadership Academy (LGLA) is a response to this need, and is envisioned as a leadership development initiative that will serve the needs of local government and First Nations elected officials and senior administrators by improving the competencies needed to effectively manage and lead BC’s communities.

UBCM presented the concept of the Local Government Leadership Academy to Premier Gordon Campbell in 2005 and he was highly receptive to the idea. The Province responded above UBCM’s expectations with a contribution of $1 million to the foundation of the Academy.

In addition to this provincial contribution, support was received from four agencies that have strong ties to UBCM: BC Assessment Authority (BCAA), Local Government Management Association (LGMA), Municipal Finance Authority (MFA), and Municipal Insurance Association (MIA). Each has made a significant monetary contribution to the establishment of the LGLA and is on the LGLA Board of Directors: LGMA and MFA each have a permanent position on the LGLA Board; UBCM and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing have two seats each; and Director at Large positions may be filled by BCAA and MIA.

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.

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.

LGLA Founders and Contributors

  • Province of British Columbia
  • Partner Associations
    • Union of British Columbia Municipalities
    • British Columbia Assessment Authority
    • Municipal Finance Authority
    • Local Government Management Association
    • Municipal Insurance Association
  • Contributing UBCM Members
  • City of Armstrong
  • City of Campbell River
  • Capital Regional District
  • City of Castlegar
  • Central Coast Regional District
  • Central Kootenay Regional District
  • District of Chetwynd
  • Columbia Shuswap Regional District
  • Village of Cumberland
  • City of Dawson Creek
  • City of Duncan
  • East Kootenay Regional District
  • District of Elkford
  • City of Enderby
  • Town of Fort Nelson
  • Fraser Valley Regional District
  • Village of Hazelton
  • Islands Trust
  • City of Kamloops
  • District of Kent
  • City of Kimberley
  • District of Kitimat
  • Kitimat-Stikine Regional District
  • Kootenay-Boundary Regional District
  • Town of Ladysmith
  • City of Langford
  • District of Lantzville
  • District of Lillooet
  • Village of Lumby
  • Village of Lytton
  • District of Mackenzie
  • City of Merritt
  • Mount Waddington Regional District
  • Village of Nakusp
  • City of Nanaimo
  • City of Nelson
  • Village of New Denver
  • District of New Hazelton
  • District of North Cowichan
  • City of North Vancouver
  • District of North Vancouver
  • Northern Rockies Regional District
  • Town of Oliver
  • City of Parksville
  • Peace River Regional District
  • City of Port Alberni
  • Village of Port Clements
  • Town of Port McNeill
  • Village of Pouce Coupe
  • City of Powell River
  • Powell River Regional District
  • City of Prince George
  • Town of Princeton
  • Town of Qualicum Beach
  • City of Quesnel
  • Village of Radium Hot Springs
  • City of Revelstoke
  • District of Sicamous
  • District of Squamish
  • Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
  • District of Stewart
  • Sunshine Coast Regional District
  • District of Taylor
  • Village of Telkwa
  • Thompson-Nicola Regional District
  • City of Trail
  • District of Tumbler Ridge
  • District of Ucluelet
  • Village of Valemount
  • City of Victoria
  • Town of View Royal
  • City of White Rock
  • City of Williams Lake

Original Incorporating Members

At the time of its official formation, the LGLA was required to have five individuals as “members” who were signatories to the Society’s incorporation. These five original members were:

  • Richard Taylor
  • Gary Paget
  • Robin Stringer
  • Cathy Watson
  • Gary MacIsaac