Greetings colleagues,

I am taking a much-needed mental health break from trying to decipher my Outlook calendar after the time zone changes this week. I suspect many of you are sharing in my frustration. Please forgive me in advance if I am an hour early, or an hour late, for an appointment over the next few months!

I have been looking forward to this week for some time, as it includes in-person meetings of both our Member Well-being and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committees.

Our Advisory Committees bring together members from across the province who have a passion for a particular area of our work. They offer the Board important perspectives and guidance grounded in the experiences of Principals and Vice-Principals in schools and communities throughout BC. During our meetings, we will consider our Strategic Plan and spend time in discussion about how we can continue to move this work forward.

I use possessive words like our and your intentionally. This is your Association, and I am here as your representative and colleague. The work we do is stronger when it is informed by your experiences, your questions, and your ideas. We are always looking for ways to gather member voice, and I hope you will see this at upcoming Chapter President and Chapter Council meetings. Personally, I hope to connect with all of you in person during the Chapter visits. I am still waiting on invitations from many of you and will have room in my calendar beginning in January.

Sid Jawanda and Director Paul Marsden
during SD36 visit

One way to become involved in your Association is to join an Advisory Committee. The commitment is usually one in-person meeting and one virtual meeting each year, for a two-year term. Applications for our committees are scheduled to open in March 2027, and members will be advised through eNews and a Member Update. I encourage anyone interested to consider applying. You do not need to have all the answers; a willingness to share your perspective, listen, and learn with colleagues is a great place to start.

Last week, I had the opportunity to represent you at a summit of associations serving non-unionized Principals and Vice-Principals across Canada. Representatives from eight associations in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia gathered from October 25 to 28 to discuss the issues and opportunities we share.

We met together as a full group and also had opportunities to connect with colleagues in similar roles. Presidents, Executive Directors, Communications Directors, and Professional Learning Directors each spent time discussing ideas and strategies that could benefit the members we represent. You can see a photo of the full group in the link under BCPVPA News.

Association Presidents at the meeting

Association Presidents and staff at the meeting

While our associations work within different regional and educational contexts, much of what we discussed was familiar: increasingly complex leadership responsibilities, workload and well-being, recruitment and retention, and the need for strong professional learning and support. It was a reminder that many of the challenges we experience in BC are shared by our colleagues across the country.

We also shared a belief that strong, well-supported school and system leaders help create safe, inclusive, and thriving learning communities. At the centre of our work is the well-being and success of every school leader and every student. By learning from one another and working together where we can, we can help governments, education partners, and the public better understand and value the contribution that Principals and Vice-Principals make to public education in our communities, our provinces, and our country. I have a core belief that strong leaders make strong schools and, in turn, strong communities. The future of our nation and our democracy depends on the work you do each and every day. Future leaders, voters, entrepreneurs, builders, and influencers are all in our schools right now, and your work will help unleash the opportunities they need.

BC has its own employment and contractual realities, and it was valuable to hear how other associations operate within each of their contexts. I came away with an appreciation for the strengths of our arrangements in BC, as well as ideas to consider as we continue working to support and advocate for our members.

In addition to the Advisory Committee meetings, I will have the opportunity to attend the BCSSA Fall Symposium this week. I look forward to the learning and connections that come from spending time with our colleagues and education partners.

Have a great weekend.

Sid Jawanda
President, BCPVPA

Hear more from Sid: