When educational leaders from across the province gather, something powerful happens; we share first hand accounts of emerging themes throughout the province, and connect about our leadership challenges and opportunities. We engage in deep conversation, and we laugh together. The past few weeks have offered a number of opportunities to meet at conferences and events, and I am looking forward to seeing many of our members again this weekend.
Each November, February, and May, we host an important gathering in our Association’s year: Chapter Council.
For those newer to the BCPVPA, you may wonder: what is a Chapter Council?
In the simplest terms, it is where the voices of our members converge. Your local Chapter is represented by a member or members who bring the perspectives, questions, and hopes of their membership to the provincial table. When we meet, voices from every BC urban and rural community share their experiences, and help to shape the direction of our Association’s work.
Chapter Council is more than a meeting. It is where colleagues reconnect, where new leaders find their footing in a provincial network, and where experienced voices lend perspective. It is a place of learning, where we share what’s working, what’s challenging, and what’s emerging in educational leadership across B.C.
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The Heart of Collective Leadership
What I love most about Chapter Council is that it reminds us that leadership is not a solitary act. While each of us works within our own school or district context, the issues we face — student well-being, staff capacity, equity and inclusion, new initiatives, succession, and sustainability — are shared across the system.
Chapter Council allows us to take those local realities and weave them into our collective story. The conversations we have around the table ripple outward, informing the work of our committees, influencing advocacy at the provincial level, and grounding our strategic priorities in your lived experiences.
When a Principal from Haida Gwaii shares how ferry schedules shape student opportunity, or a Vice-Principal from Surrey speaks about mentoring new leaders, those stories expand our understanding. When you share, you become part of that collective story and help us to advocate for your needs.
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From Council to Classroom
The impact of Chapter Council extends beyond the weekend. Attendees report to their Chapters, ensuring that every member’s voice can become part of the provincial conversation. It is a powerful example of distributed leadership, where representation is active rather than symbolic.
For me, Chapter Council is an opportunity to connect in person with many of you whom I have met online, or in a phone call. It is an opportunity to connect in person, and for me to hear directly what you need for your success.
Today and tomorrow, leaders from all corners of our province will gather in downtown Vancouver to attend our Annual General Meeting, celebrate our annual Partnership Awards, and connect in both a Presidents meeting and Chapter Council. As we gather, I invite you to listen, share, and celebrate the power of our provincial network. Each voice matters, and together we are conducting this exceptional symphony of leadership that defines who we are, and where we want to go.