President’s Perspective - October 16

Greetings colleagues,

I hope your Thanksgiving weekend offered some of what you needed: time with family and friends, a chance to rest, or simply a change of pace. I was grateful to head home after the longest stretch I have ever spent away from family, friends, home, and, of course, my dogs.

With winter approaching in the north, the preparations I would normally spread over October had to fit into a few days. Fortunately, everything at home and the lake is now tucked away. The snow can arrive when it chooses, although I would appreciate it taking its time!

This weekend, we will welcome new and new-to-role educational leaders from across the province to our Compass Leadership Academy. I am looking forward to meeting our newest colleagues and learning alongside them.

Beginning as a Principal or Vice-Principal brings excitement, responsibility, and plenty of questions. Many of us will remember those early days: wanting to do everything well, discovering how much we still had to learn, and appreciating the colleague who made time for a conversation. Compass offers an opportunity to build knowledge, confidence, and relationships with others who understand the work. My hope is that participants leave knowing they have colleagues they can turn to long after the weekend ends.

Being in the office has also given me a closer view of the preparation behind an event of this scale. I am grateful to our staff for the care and effort they put into making these learning opportunities possible.

There are some transitions underway within our staff team. Our Executive Assistant, Amy Parmar, has moved on, and we thank her for her contributions to the Association. We are currently interviewing for her successor, and it has been wonderful to have Sharon North back in the office to support us through this transition.

We are also preparing to interview candidates for the Director of Member Support Services position. The strength of applicants for both roles is encouraging, and I look forward to the conversations ahead as we continue building the team that supports our members.

Requests for Chapter visits continue to come in, and I am looking forward to connecting with colleagues across the province. These visits are an opportunity to hear what is going well, understand the challenges you are facing, and learn more about the communities you serve. Those conversations help inform how we support and advocate for you. The calendar is beginning to fill, so please reach out if your Chapter would like to arrange a visit this year.

To everyone joining us at Compass: welcome. I look forward to learning with you. To our experienced colleagues: thank you for the encouragement and guidance you offer those beginning their leadership journey. A timely conversation can make a lasting difference.

Have a great weekend.

Sid Jawanda
President, BCPVPA

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