Leadership Vancouver Island participants at a local autism awareness fair
NANAIMO – Leadership Vancouver Island (LVI) not only helps train individuals for future leadership possibilities, it assists companies prepare employees for possible succession opportunities.
LVI began in 2005 through the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce to serve organizations that invest in their team’s leadership, recognizing that the learning they gain through the program transcends across the workplace and into relationships that ultimately impact the community. It is now a stand-alone nonprofit society run by volunteers.
Former Chamber President Russ Burke has been a long-term Director of LVI, and notes “What we’re trying to accomplish is targeting organizations that want to develop leaders within the organization at all levels.
Leadership Vancouver Island Director Russ Burke
“It’s also a great succession plan for smaller businesses and for all organizations, and it’s a great retention tool because employees see they’re investing in them, and want to develop their skills within the organization or business.”
Burke says LVI typically has between 18-25 enroll in the program each year from the Cowichan Valley to Campbell River, although that number dipped during Covid and is currently surging upwards.
Major supporters include the City of Nanaimo, School Districts 68, 69 and 70, North Island College, Vancouver Island University, Herold Engineering, Enex Fuels, Oceanside Chevrolet and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. The Real Estate Foundation of BC has provided scholarships for up to four realtors for each of the past five years.
“We really try to target employers, and they do a search within their organization for prospective candidates,” Burke notes. “Sometimes they put out a lottery to determine who can attend. There are a lot of not-for-profit organizations that send people as well, and we can help some of them out with tuition.”
Tuition is $3,500, and LVI asks each participant to pay $500 if they’re sponsored “so they have some skin in the game, as they say,” Burke states, adding LVI does assist organizations get some funding through the provincial government. Graduates earn six transferrable credits towards a VIU degree.
LVI starts with a two-day retreat in September at the Lake Cowichan Research Station and includes one leadership day each month until graduation in June. Material includes conflict, project and time management and relationships with outside organizations and community partners. Professional business coaches are also available throughout the year.
A look inside a typical Leadership Vancouver Island classroom
During November and December the students break into smaller groups of four to six and charge them with the task of coming up with a community project. The concept is to provide a place to practice the learnings from the Leadership Days.
LVI students have worked on approximately 60 community projects since the beginning, including rebuilding the Ladysmith Skate Park and the kitchen facilities at the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, two projects at the Child Development Centre, and assisting with Toolbox For Change – a specially designed wooden box containing Indigenous reading material.
Program graduates include former Nanaimo city councilor George Anderson, now a lawyer and a Governor on the VIU Board, Rotary President Janice Krall who is the Chief Development Officer of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation, Mark Marcil, now Vice President, Vancouver Island for Canadian Western Bank, and current LVI Coordinator Andrea Rosato-Taylor.
For information on how to enroll, visit: www.leadershipvi.com
By Mark MacDonald