Last June I and my company, Cambridge Strategies Inc., was part of the organization a of a symposium and a public meeting entitled Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta held in Edmonton and Calgary.
It was a very popular event with over 700 of active Alberta citizens coming together to become more informed about what we may be facing as Albertans between now and 2030. We had a number of great speakers about the implications of external, natural and internal events, trends and pressures on Alberta. Gwynne Dyer presented a most provocative scenario for the future of Alberta.
Dyer was well informed about Alberta, as always, he considers himself as an "honourary Albertan/" But he was very pointed about what we face and what adaptations we Albertans will have to make to respond to the changes we are in and can anticipate. We taped his comments just over 30 minutes of information and some implications.
Some salient points include that Dyer is an optimist about Alberta but climate change is the variable. Alberta has had it easy because we have had the stuff the world wanted and we became rich as a province. But change is in the air with the coming shift away from fossil fuels and the realities of peak oil we can't presume our tomorrows will simply be a reflection and continuation of our yesterdays, economically, ecologically, socially and politically.
We can't go back to try and relive or perfect our past either. We have to design and learn new creative ways of living that are flexible, deliberative, innovative, imaginative and yes - prudent if we are to continue to enjoy a superior quality of life.
Dyer muses about what Alberta must do to adapt to face the eventual and inevitable decline of interest in fossil fuels and the shift to alternative energies. He says one of the major blessing of Alberta are two big cities both with water and a that will be a big asset in the future. He said we need to immediately build a high speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary and create a utility corridor spine as well. That will attract the creative economy based on research and development which he believes is the ultimate future forward reality for a sustainable Alberta. We have attractive countryside, a great deal of room, social cohesion and a diverse dynamic culture with a high quality education and health care...yes we have quality health care - just crappy access!
All this adds to presenting a platform of providing a future of well being and happiness as the self-sustaining quality of life capacity will be the magnet for the best and brightest to want to come to Alberta for opportunity and challenge. Dyer says we need to spend more money on culture to add to the attractiveness of the place and he said do not think spending money on culture is an indulgence. I could not agree more.
He observes that there is nowhere else in Canada or between the Mississippi and the Rockies in the USA that can do it like Alberta can if they can do it at all. But we Albertans are way to complacent and compliant and comfortable in the old way of living and thinking. We need to get on with the adaptations that are necessary to design, capitalize and optimize our magnificent advantages and with the new narrative for the next Alberta on a vision of possibilities and aspirations, not contentment with a past that is not our future.
That involves some new thinking and engaging by Albertans in citizenship but getting involved in the politics and issues of the day. It is about stewardship from ecological to the legacy we leave future generations of Albertans. And it is about servant-leadership in politics but in other key aspects of our society and economy. But is also demands imagination, creativity and innovation. We are not overly blessed with those attributes but we can create them and hone them if we wanted to. We must want to do that and live up to the promise of this place. We can't presume the future will take care of itself. The planet will survive climate change and do just fine but there is no guarantee that our species is part of that future.
We are planning another public event next year, building on the Learning Our Way theme. We are planning another symposium with Alberta and Finland as the highest performing public education systems in the world. We will have another public event in advance of the symposium too and will build on the consciousness that the presentation of Sir Ken Robinson will make in Red Deer in early February. More to come on this NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT.
You can keep up to date on progress on Twitter via #abfuture, this blog and the www.learningourway.ca website. The website is being redesigned to focus on the next Learning Our Way event. The original material from the first event is still there and recording of the other speakers if you want to give them a listen.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership Revisited in Real Life
Every now and then you run across an example of action and insight that restores your faith that we may have people with the right ideas, the integrity to do something and the capacity to deliver on what they say they want to achieve.
I have come across just such an example of Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership all integrated in the efforts of students, teachers and Trustees in the Canadian Rockies Public School in the Bow Valley. It has all come together in a blog post by Esme Comfort, a district School Board Trustee entitled "Trust, Learning and Innovation." Initiatives like these do not seek permission and should never need forgiveness either. It is this kind of taking on personal responsibility for a greater good that we need more of - in all aspects of life in Alberta. We know the Alberta Advantage but now we need to look at the Alberta Aspirations is we are to realize our potential as a province and as a people.
I think the democratic deficit we face in Canada and Alberta will only be overcome by informed engaged citizenship, who have a value set based on stewardship, including the protection and empowerment of students, and leadership that is dynamic, service oriented and based on character and capacity, not power and position.
It is most gratifying when we see all this coming together at the local level in public education. The emerging change in policy and governance culture that Minister Dave Hancock has been enabling in his efforts at transforming public education in Alberta for that past two years is is paying off. Inspiring Education and Inspiring Action on Education have traction and are now gaining momentum.
When these elements of Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership can integrate in real time and real life we get the kind of life affirming and creative innovation Esme speaks of in her blog post. I hope I have made you curious enough to click on the link and read her post. Congratulations to the students, teachers, Trustees and administrators involved in enhancing Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership in the CRPS public school district. Keep up the good work.
I have come across just such an example of Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership all integrated in the efforts of students, teachers and Trustees in the Canadian Rockies Public School in the Bow Valley. It has all come together in a blog post by Esme Comfort, a district School Board Trustee entitled "Trust, Learning and Innovation." Initiatives like these do not seek permission and should never need forgiveness either. It is this kind of taking on personal responsibility for a greater good that we need more of - in all aspects of life in Alberta. We know the Alberta Advantage but now we need to look at the Alberta Aspirations is we are to realize our potential as a province and as a people.
I think the democratic deficit we face in Canada and Alberta will only be overcome by informed engaged citizenship, who have a value set based on stewardship, including the protection and empowerment of students, and leadership that is dynamic, service oriented and based on character and capacity, not power and position.
It is most gratifying when we see all this coming together at the local level in public education. The emerging change in policy and governance culture that Minister Dave Hancock has been enabling in his efforts at transforming public education in Alberta for that past two years is is paying off. Inspiring Education and Inspiring Action on Education have traction and are now gaining momentum.
When these elements of Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership can integrate in real time and real life we get the kind of life affirming and creative innovation Esme speaks of in her blog post. I hope I have made you curious enough to click on the link and read her post. Congratulations to the students, teachers, Trustees and administrators involved in enhancing Citizenship, Stewardship and Leadership in the CRPS public school district. Keep up the good work.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
What Kind of Leadership is Needed to Meet Alberta's Aspirations
I am thinking about the next stage coming in the development and growth of the Alberta Party and Alberta the province. While there are many constituency organizations forming, new members joining and people coming out to learn more because they are curious about the Alberta Party, the next big thing is the leadership of this progressive political movement. That is about to start getting going in the new year.
It caused me to think about the kind of leadership we need in a 21st century society and economy. I had breakfast last week with an academic friend from Ontario who specializes in leadership and found out her most recent thinking. Alberta has a great potential but we are not even close to realizing it with all the blessings and benefits we have. One major reason for such under performance is the kind of political leaders we select. We can't blame the leaders for this alone, after all we select and elect them as citizens and once the are chosen we belittle and bemoan them relentlessly instead of supporting them and making them clearly accountable. That attitude of citizens has to change completely if we are going to improve the quality, character, scope and capacity of our political leaders.
I am involved with a group called Leadership Edmonton that has a counterpart called Leadership Calgary that takes a more adaptive holistic and systems approach to leadership training and development. I think the kind of political leadership we need now is not the charismatic, or the business icon or the celebrity models. They are simply not suited to the challenges we face. To get a sense of what qualities, capacities and perspectives I will be looking for in the leader of the Alberta Party - and for any political party or other areas where leadership is critical is captured in the 10 minute video done by Leadership Calgary. I have also added the short video by Leadership Edmonton that will give you further perspective on what pioneering leadership we need these days to go forward...not left or right.
The kind of leaders we need now have foresight and wide sight, can integrate ideas, be honest, accountable and transparent, be fiscally responsible and accept the duties and obligations of stewardship in many aspects of being human and our deep co-dependent relationship with nature and our natural capital.
As you rush to get the work done before Christmas, this 10 minutes of video will be an intriguing cultural creative break that will be worth your time. It will raise your consciousness about leadership. It will focus your attention on what we need in competent skilled leaders. I hope is will trigger your imagination and give you a meaningful framework to consider your choices for the leader of the Alberta Party in the next few months.
I hope it will assists you as you contemplate the strengths, opportunities, threats and barriers we will need in 21st century political leadership. We need to look beyond the old rush to the bottom ideas of the Alberta Advantage. We need to look a wealth to move beyond conspicuous consumption and towards a greater well being and happiness. We need leaders who can inspire and assist us to define and deliver a new sense of integrity as we get on with a cultural change towards achieving our Alberta Aspirations. It is not enough to target Alberta as being the best in the world. We need to aspire to being the best for the world.
It caused me to think about the kind of leadership we need in a 21st century society and economy. I had breakfast last week with an academic friend from Ontario who specializes in leadership and found out her most recent thinking. Alberta has a great potential but we are not even close to realizing it with all the blessings and benefits we have. One major reason for such under performance is the kind of political leaders we select. We can't blame the leaders for this alone, after all we select and elect them as citizens and once the are chosen we belittle and bemoan them relentlessly instead of supporting them and making them clearly accountable. That attitude of citizens has to change completely if we are going to improve the quality, character, scope and capacity of our political leaders.
I am involved with a group called Leadership Edmonton that has a counterpart called Leadership Calgary that takes a more adaptive holistic and systems approach to leadership training and development. I think the kind of political leadership we need now is not the charismatic, or the business icon or the celebrity models. They are simply not suited to the challenges we face. To get a sense of what qualities, capacities and perspectives I will be looking for in the leader of the Alberta Party - and for any political party or other areas where leadership is critical is captured in the 10 minute video done by Leadership Calgary. I have also added the short video by Leadership Edmonton that will give you further perspective on what pioneering leadership we need these days to go forward...not left or right.
The kind of leaders we need now have foresight and wide sight, can integrate ideas, be honest, accountable and transparent, be fiscally responsible and accept the duties and obligations of stewardship in many aspects of being human and our deep co-dependent relationship with nature and our natural capital.
As you rush to get the work done before Christmas, this 10 minutes of video will be an intriguing cultural creative break that will be worth your time. It will raise your consciousness about leadership. It will focus your attention on what we need in competent skilled leaders. I hope is will trigger your imagination and give you a meaningful framework to consider your choices for the leader of the Alberta Party in the next few months.
I hope it will assists you as you contemplate the strengths, opportunities, threats and barriers we will need in 21st century political leadership. We need to look beyond the old rush to the bottom ideas of the Alberta Advantage. We need to look a wealth to move beyond conspicuous consumption and towards a greater well being and happiness. We need leaders who can inspire and assist us to define and deliver a new sense of integrity as we get on with a cultural change towards achieving our Alberta Aspirations. It is not enough to target Alberta as being the best in the world. We need to aspire to being the best for the world.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Merry Christmas
I am just now getting into the Christmas spirit. We will spend some time tonight with friends and family are our house partying as a way to start the "serious" celebration of the season.
To help you get into the spirit as we shop, bake, warp, bustle and hustle in preparation for Christmas, we will undoubtedly find ourselves in a shopping mall at some time between now and December 25.
I wish for a Merry Christmas and hope as you shop 'til you drop that you have an opportunity to experience this or something equally as endearing or whimsical to help you enjoy this great holiday time.
Enjoy and - turn up your speakers:
To help you get into the spirit as we shop, bake, warp, bustle and hustle in preparation for Christmas, we will undoubtedly find ourselves in a shopping mall at some time between now and December 25.
I wish for a Merry Christmas and hope as you shop 'til you drop that you have an opportunity to experience this or something equally as endearing or whimsical to help you enjoy this great holiday time.
Enjoy and - turn up your speakers:
Creativity as a Key to High Performance Public Education
This link is to a comment by my friend and some-times mentor, Senator Tom Banks. It is an insightful comment that arts education is core to competence - not a frill. Senator Banks frames the role of the arts in a high performance public education system very well. The need for the arts and creativity is especially true as we move through the Information Age into the Conceptual Age.
We need a critically-thinking engaged citizenship that is concurrently global and local in perspective and that means culture matters, especially as part of our public education system. Budget pressures and restraints, standardized testings of narrow and shallow education outcomes plus market driven models creating private competition for public education has driven creativity and arts out of the systems.
Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA - follow them on Twitter and track them at #sofab) is a citizen's based group focused on restoring and restating arts education as core to curriculum in our public education in Alberta. This is lead by a group of citizens with energy and enthusiasm and the leadership of Bill Campbell
Alberta's public education system is one a recognized high performance system all around the world. But like any local prophet, it is too often taken for granted. The seeds of our failure are often planted in the times of our success because we rest on laurels. I sometimes fear for this in Alberta's public education system.
There are however some significant inspiring actions and ideas coming out of Minister Dave Hancock's transformation initiative "Inspiring Education." There is lots of meat in that effort but it is not gong to achieve its potential as a top down authority driven command and control government program. It is going to be successful if it comes from the community, citizens, employers, teachers, parents, and especially students.
SOFA is a perfect example of this kind of community based efforts to help advance the transformation of public education for a 21st century reality. Another citizen's based group that is setting out to help transform public education is Creative Alberta lead by Dr. Haley Simons. She has been organizing and conceptualizing abouts arts in education and looking at positioning our province as a center of creativity and innovation. She is getting us linked to other high performance communities and regions around the world who are on the same journey.
Please visit SOFA and join them in their quest. Keep tracking them and #creativealberta on Twitter and share the information and insights with you friends. Our province is positioned to move beyond the Alberta Advantage and into the Alberta Aspiration. It is no longer game of pushing a society of consumptive competition with a slogan of being the best in the world. Success for the next Alberta narrative has to inspire our aspirations to be the best for the world. We are up to that goal and I think it is an idea who's time has come...let me know your thoughts on what we can do to be the best for the world given all our blessings and benefits.
We need a critically-thinking engaged citizenship that is concurrently global and local in perspective and that means culture matters, especially as part of our public education system. Budget pressures and restraints, standardized testings of narrow and shallow education outcomes plus market driven models creating private competition for public education has driven creativity and arts out of the systems.
Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA - follow them on Twitter and track them at #sofab) is a citizen's based group focused on restoring and restating arts education as core to curriculum in our public education in Alberta. This is lead by a group of citizens with energy and enthusiasm and the leadership of Bill Campbell
Alberta's public education system is one a recognized high performance system all around the world. But like any local prophet, it is too often taken for granted. The seeds of our failure are often planted in the times of our success because we rest on laurels. I sometimes fear for this in Alberta's public education system.
There are however some significant inspiring actions and ideas coming out of Minister Dave Hancock's transformation initiative "Inspiring Education." There is lots of meat in that effort but it is not gong to achieve its potential as a top down authority driven command and control government program. It is going to be successful if it comes from the community, citizens, employers, teachers, parents, and especially students.
SOFA is a perfect example of this kind of community based efforts to help advance the transformation of public education for a 21st century reality. Another citizen's based group that is setting out to help transform public education is Creative Alberta lead by Dr. Haley Simons. She has been organizing and conceptualizing abouts arts in education and looking at positioning our province as a center of creativity and innovation. She is getting us linked to other high performance communities and regions around the world who are on the same journey.
Please visit SOFA and join them in their quest. Keep tracking them and #creativealberta on Twitter and share the information and insights with you friends. Our province is positioned to move beyond the Alberta Advantage and into the Alberta Aspiration. It is no longer game of pushing a society of consumptive competition with a slogan of being the best in the world. Success for the next Alberta narrative has to inspire our aspirations to be the best for the world. We are up to that goal and I think it is an idea who's time has come...let me know your thoughts on what we can do to be the best for the world given all our blessings and benefits.
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