LEAD Canada 2006 Highlights
Capacity Development Activities
LEAD Canada did not participate in Cohort 11 activity, nor have we provided any LEAD training to others. In the latter half of 2006, LEAD Canada turned its capacity development attention to two major initiatives – the re-launch of LEAD Fellows training to commence in 2007, and the Polar Catalyst climate change program.
LEAD activities undertaken or in Partnership with others LEAD Canada engaged in four action projects in 2006:
a) Green Infrastructure Project: Supported by a 2005 SOIF grant, we surveyed more than 20 of Canada’s largest municipalities for their understanding and investment in green infrastructure. We compiled an extensive review of the multiple benefits of green infrastructure, as a significant part of a forthcoming report on this subject to help make the business case for green infrastructure investments.
b) MDGs Project: Supported by a 2005 SOIF grant, we organized a workshop in May in Toronto, attended by approximately 40 individuals including 13 LEAD Fellows (two from Africa). The focus was on mobilizing several project ideas centered on greater engagement of Canadian society around the MDGs.
c) Third World Urban Forum: Supported by LEAD International and the Government of Canada, we helped to organize and deliver LEAD network participation in this Forum, held in Vancouver in June. Twenty-three LEAD network members, from Canada, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Russia, Indonesia, Senegal and the UK, received travel support to attend the Forum.
d) Polar Catalyst climate change program: LEAD Canada conceived the idea for this program and worked in the latter half of 2006 to formulate the initial concept and partnerships, the most significant of which is with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada’s national Inuit organization.
Involvement of Fellows: Nine Fellows currently are on the LEAD Canada Board, which met regularly by conference call and twice in person in 2006. Twenty-two Fellows are subscribed members in LEAD Canada. Approximately 15 Fellows in Canada were active in 2006 in one or more of the four activities summarized above, with time invested ranging from approximately 20-1,000 hours per Fellow during the year, most of this on a volunteer basis.
Examples of Fellows in significant professional positions include:
Peter Clarkson (C6), Regional Director, Government of the Northwest Territories (and former mayor of Inuvik, one of the most important Arctic communities in Canada)
Catherine Lappe (C8), Regional Director, Health Canada
Dr. David McKeown (C3), Chief Medical Officer for Health in the City of Toronto (presides over the largest municipal public health agency in Canada)
Yuen Pau Woo (C5), Co-CEO, Asia-Pacific Foundation
Plans for 2007 and Beyonda) Network expansion and strengthening: Most significantly, plan to field minimum of 8, maximum of 20 Associates per Cohort 12, to start in August 2007; by virtue of the Fellows training program re-launch, begin to position LEAD Canada to offer short-course LEAD training to clients on a fee-for-service basis, potentially to commence in 2008.
b) Network actions: Completion of initial Green Infrastructure Project; advancement and formal launch of the Polar Catalyst climate change program in 2007
c) Communications and public relations: Launch of LEAD Canada and Polar Catalyst web sites
d) Fundraising: Presently seeking corporate/institutional sponsorships for Cohort 12 Fellows training program, and corporate/foundation/government sponsorship for Polar Catalyst climate change program.
e) Major opportunities in region not otherwise covered: Undefined at present; for the network as a whole, an opportunity could be to strengthen LEAD’s capacity, visibility and activity in conflict resolution, in anticipation of heightened conflicts in and between nations and sub-nation actors vis-à-vis increasingly scarce resources, social inequity, climate change impacts etc.