Develop a broader perspective

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Future leaders from across the country will be gathering in Winnipeg next spring to take part in a unique and exciting hands-on learning experience.

Participants drawn from business, labor, government, academia and communities from across the country will come together to take part in the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, which will begin on May 7, 2004, and wrap up in Ottawa-Gatineau on May 21.

The 225 conference participants will be divided into 15 diverse study groups. Each study group will travel to a different part of the country where they will spend two weeks learning about the communities in that area. At the end of the two weeks, the groups make a report to the Governor General on their observations and experiences.

The leadership conferences began as the Governor General's Canadian Study Conference in 1983, inspired by the success of the Commonwealth Study Conference, an international conference founded by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956. The Canadian conferences have been held every four years since their inception. The name was changed for the upcoming conference to put more of a focus on the leadership-building function of the event.

Over the years, a number of people have taken part who have gone on to use what they experienced to their benefit and to the benefit of their communities. Bernd Christmas is the chief executive officer of the Membertou Development Corporation. He took part in the study conference in 1998.

"I guess I was asked to participate by several folk, and understanding the nature of it, which involves various study groups, and you meet up-and-coming leaders, both in the government, private sector and NGO level, as well as the labor movement, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to get a well-rounded understanding of how all those people think, and where they're going, and make some great contacts. And sure enough, I did," Christmas said.

"At that time, our city was Montreal, and so we had to learn all the facets of Montreal. We met with folks that have helped in promoting the city of Montreal. We met with some big businesses, such as Bombardier, Bell Helicopter. We also met with the social services side, people trying to deal with affordable housing, people running the health care system, all the hospitals in Montreal, the port authority. So it was very interesting, and I guess a knowledge soaking-up experience that I'll never forget. I thought it was fantastic."

Christmas explained that he benefited from his involvement in the conference on both a personal and professional level, and that he has been able to pass those benefits on to his community.

"I definitely know it has given me a more rounded experience, and makes me think in a bigger context. Meaning not just thinking about my community ... I think about how Membertou plays a role in Canada, or outside of Canada, and I think bringing all those experiences and all that knowledge back has helped me as CEO of the band. It made my job a lot easier, and made our community more exposed to the outside forces that are constantly pounding on our doors. And our community, fortunately, has embraced that, and therefore it's made it a lot easier," he said.

"I think from there, just the personal knowledge, the contacts, and how they've been able to help both on a personal level and a professional level, it gives you other ideas that you would never normally think of. For example, Membertou is involved with some big, large partners in the world, bidding to supply 28 helicopters. Would we have ever thought of that? No, we would not have thought of that if I had never been exposed, or others in our organization weren't exposed, to the global forces that are impacting on our community."

The deadline for applying to the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference is Nov. 1. Visit the conference Web site at www.leadership2004.ca.