General Meeting Professional Learning and Development
ASBA General Meetings include a professional development day, which provides an opportunity for trustees to learn with, and from, each other on topics integral to the work of trustees and system leaders.
Keynotes at Fall and Spring General Meetings
Moving Forward Together: The Power of Authentic Leadership
In this personal, provocative, and practical session, David Irvine, one of Canada’s premier thought-leaders in the field of authentic leadership, shared a profoundly human view of leadership and community building.
Healthy Habits for Our Ever-Changing World
Dr. Shimi Kang, a leading neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author presented the practical tips for developing and maintaining healthy habits for:
- Wellness, including how to reduce emotional stress and enhance resilience.
- Collaboration, including how to best connect, motivate and inspire each other.
- Innovation and tapping into innate adaptability and creativity.
Unequal Benefits: Privatization and Public Education in Canada
Concurrent sessions at Fall and Spring General Meetings
- Indigenous Ways of Learning, presented by Dr. Leroy Little Bear and ASBA’s Indigenous Advisory Council
- Moving Forward Together: the Power of Authentic Leadership, presented by David Irvine
- The 5 Super C’s to Power Up Your Communication, presented by Brian Woodland
- Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through an Indigenous Education Holistic Lifelong Learning Framework, presented by the Calgary Board of Education
- What is Black and White and Grey all Over? presented by Education Consultants Terry Gunderson, Dr. Cindi Vaselenak, Dr. Norman Yanitski
- Well at Work, presented by Program Director for EdCan, Kathleen Lane
Speakers’ Corner
ASBA continued to host virtual Speakers’ Corner sessions with topics and speakers selected based on feedback from trustees and current priorities, trends and issues in education and school board governance.
ASBA additionally hosted its first national-level Speakers’ Corner: Anti-Racism Education with Dr. Jerome Cranston, which focused on providing suggestions for school boards and system leaders for making schools more equity-focused and racially-just institutions. This session stemmed from an anti-racism initiative championed by the Canadian School Boards Association and included participation from trustees and administration from across Canada.
Ask your ASBA Consultants
Education Consultants Terry Gunderson, Dr. Cindi Vaselenak and Dr. Norman Yanitski
Francophone Education and Culture
Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l’Alberta
Parliamentary Procedures
Becky Kallal
Strategic Thinking and Learning
Dr. Pieter de Vos
Anti-Racism Education
Dr. Jerome Cranston
The Learning Centre
In response to survey feedback received this past summer, ASBA is adopting microlearning as a cross-organization approach to addressing members’ needs.
Microlearning will offer increased flexibility and accessibility to members to learn about topics relevant to their roles as trustees in under ten minutes.
Looking forward, members can also expect to see changes to the look and experience of TLC.
2023 Canadian School Board Association Congress and National Trustee Gathering on Indigenous Education
Leading the Path Forward
ASBA hosted the 2023 Canadian School Board Association Congress and National Trustee Gathering on Indigenous Education – Leading the Path Forward – in beautiful Banff, Alberta from July 3-5. Attendees included school board trustees, superintendents, administrators and education stakeholders from across Canada.
Throughout the event, attendees learned about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Indigenous education, and school board governance and had the opportunity to participate in ASBA Indigenous Advisory Council led cultural activities and performances, including drumming and round dancing.
The event was opened in a good way with an Elder Blessing from Elder Theresa Strawberry, a welcoming to Treaty 7 Territory from Elder Charlie Fox and Dr. Leroy Little Bear. Additionally, the national anthem was sung in Blackfoot, English and French.
Blanketing Ceremony
Inspiring Remarks from Dignitaries
The Honourable Salma Lakhani, AOE B.Sc., LLD (Hon), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, introduced Keynote The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada.
Her Worship, Corrie DiManno, Mayor of Banff, introduced Keynote Naheed Nenshi, former Mayor of Calgary.
MacDonald Oguike, Director with the University of Calgary Continuing Education, introduced Keynote Dr. Shelly Niemi, Indigenous educational leader, researcher, scholar and public speaker.
The Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education, brought remarks to attendees.
Kelli Littlechilds, CEO, Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan, introduced Keynote Riaz Meghji, human connection expert and author.
From left to right
His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond,
IAC member Roy Porgozelski,
IAC member Elder Charlie Fox,
The Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada,
The Honourable Salma Lakhani, AOE B.Sc., LLD (Hon), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta,
ASBA’s President Marilyn Dennis,
ASBA’s Vice-president Shali Baziuk,
ASBA’s CEO Dr. Vivian Abboud
Keynote: The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada.
A seasoned stateswoman and diplomat, Madame Jean’s words serve to convene goodwill everywhere in the multilateral sphere, in every UN forum, from New York to Geneva, all the way to the Security Council, as well as within the European Union, the European Parliament, the OECD, the African Union. She is best known and appreciated for her convictions, her deep sense of universal humanistic values, the principles and rules of democracy, the rule of law, justice, fundamental human rights and freedoms, which she never betrays.
Keynote: Every Conversation Counts: How to Build Extraordinary Relationships
Riaz Meghji, human connection speaker and author, shared practical tools to combat isolation and build deeper relationships. Long before the year of social distancing, loneliness was a pandemic in our society. In an age of polarization, disconnection, and shallow substitutes for real relationships, every professional needs to know how to build and maintain genuine relationships with clients and colleagues alike. Attendees left this keynote with “Five Habits of Human Connection” that offer practical tools to combat isolation and build deeper relationships.
Keynote: A Not Very Political Life...But Everything is Political
Naheed Nenshi, Former Mayor of Calgary, shared a keynote on helping the next generation of students succeed. During his 11-year tenure as mayor, Mr. Nenshi led Calgary through one of its most prosperous and tumultuous decades. Mr. Nenshi’s leadership earned him both national and international recognition, with him being ranked #2 on Maclean’s 2013 Power List and awarded the 2014 World Mayor Prize. Drawing on his extensive experience, insights were shared into Canada’s political landscape showcasing how leaders empower their teams for success no matter the circumstances.
Keynote: Weaving the Braid of Culturally Responsive Leadership and Governance
Dr. Shelly Niemi, Indigenous Educational Leader, researcher, scholar and public speaker, shared the foundational key characteristics of culturally responsive leadership. Dr. Niemi has held Executive Leadership Roles within Indigenous Education within the British Columbia Public Education system since 2009, where her work can be found throughout many districts, post-secondary institutions, the Ministry of Education and Childcare, the British Columbia School Superintendent’s Association, and various community organizations across British Columbia.
ASBA undertook its first micro-credential badge as part of the event. Attendees were eligible to apply for this micro-credential badge to recognize their participation and engagement in professional learning over the three-day event.
Concurrent Session Speakers and Topics
- Indigenous Voice and Choice in School Board Governance, presented by Former Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild and Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools
- Engaging Stakeholders When Making Difficult Decisions presented by Parkland School Division
- Collecting Student Demographic Data: What Should You Think About and Where Might You Start presented by Edmonton Public Schools
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism presented by Edmonton Catholic School Division
- From Grief to Medicine presented by the British Columbia School Trustees Association
- Rebel Governance: Challenging Perceived Boundaries presented
by Foothills School Division - Coming Together presented by Medicine Hat Public Schools
- Leading Change: Working Towards Racial equity in Canadian Classrooms presented by the University of Regina
- Leveraging Game-Based Learning and Community Connection presented by Calgary Board of Education
Impact in Action
“The keynote sessions were invigorating and very much relevant to the specific role of school board trustees. The organizers did a great job of connecting speakers and presenters with governance.”
“The opening ceremony was wonderful. The speaker list was first rate and 100% enjoyable and informative! Kudos to the committee!”
“Kudos to ASBA for putting on an excellent conference. I met many people from different provinces and got to know what challenges they are facing. I thought the Indigenous dancers were particularly good and the closing ceremonies with everybody doing the Round Dance was a lot of fun and a very good way to end the conference.”
Acknowledgements
ASBA extends thanks to the Canadian School Boards Association for the opportunity to host the 2023 event!
This event would not have been possible without the work of ASBA’s CSBA Congress Task Force, entire Board of Directors and staff.
ASBA Trustee Governance Program
ASBA’s Trustee Governance Program is a unique program tailored to Alberta school boards, exclusively available through the Association’s partnership with the University of Calgary Continuing Education. This program is the first of its kind offered in Canada.
The program empowers trustees as leaders in the education system and allows them to further their professional development through a university certificate program.
Integrating theory and practice of leadership and effective governance, trustees learn how to apply meaningful strategies to different tasks and scenarios in their role as a trustee.
Courses are curated into one program from various streams of Continuing Education fields, resulting in a certificate. ASBA extends thanks to the University of Calgary for their partnership in this program, the 2023 graduates for their enthusiastic participation in the inaugural program and to our members for their continued support.
Congratulations
Upon completion of all program modules, 30 trustee participants received a certificate from ASBA at the 2023 Spring General Meeting.
Impact in Action
“I highly recommend the Governance program. In my experience, it was an excellent use of my time. I particularly enjoyed connecting and strategizing with Trustees from all over the province, applying the skills we were learning to solve practical problems.”
« Le Programme de gouvernance pour les conseillers scolaires de l’ASBA en partenariat avec l’Université de Calgary est un programme tout inclus bonifié tant pour les nouveaux conseillers que ceux avec plusieurs années d’expériences.
J’ai grandement apprécié les conversations et échanges avec mes confrères, le temps et la disponibilité des professeurs et leur capacité à répondre aux questions difficiles. Les compétences acquises ont déjà un impact sur notre gouvernance locale! »
Consulting Services
ASBA is dedicated to empowering member school boards with the tools and expertise they need to excel in school board governance with professional services, professional development and leadership services specifically designed to support exceptional governance.
ASBA consultants work with member school boards to develop customized plans for evaluations, reviews, recruitments and workshops with select services available in both English and French.
Education Consultant, Dr. Cindi Vaselenak
Education Consultant,
Terry Gunderson
Education Consultant,
Dr. Norman Yanitski
These seasoned experts have a unique advantage through industry expertise, process understanding, reputation and networking advantage. ASBA absorbs travel, meals, accommodations and administrative expenses, which is intended to provide equity of access to member boards regardless of their location.
services completed
