Celebrating new leaders

Shannon LeClair 

Times Reporter   

 

A celebration was held at the town council chambers on Feb. 4 to mark the successful completion of the ‘Becoming a Community Builder’ lighthouse initiative. Even though the first 15 weeks are done, it doesn’t mean new people can’t sign up for the program. Facilitator and creator of the program Ian Hill spoke to celebration attendees and stakeholders about the program and the success. Hill and his wife started the initiative to solve the problem of how to keep rural communities relevant and thriving in the 21 century. They wanted to figure out how to get people off their couches and engaged. 

“The point (of the program) was what if you made an all out commitment to developing every citizen and that commitment was barrier free, and if the people that raised their hand and said I want to be a leader would get the comprehensive training that they needed, what could happen?,” said Hill. 

“We (all of the sponsors) paid for you to go to school and you better do something with that. The program will be a complete failure if six months from now Strathmore and Wheatland are exactly the same.”

Because Strathmore and Wheatland County was a lighthouse community, other rural communities across the country will be looking to see what happens here. 

‘Becoming a Community Builder’ is a comprehensive leadership training program that doesn’t cost the participants. It gives them the skills and tools, to be able to go out and make a difference and improve the community in some way, whether its with friends, family or the community as a whole. 

Hill believes that the people closest to the problem solve their own problems, and when there is pride in the community, it helps promote a safer community because people will care more and pay more attention to make sure it remains something to be prideful of. 

The program will always be available in this area free of charge. There are five competencies to be completed, which can be done at the participant’s own pace. All you need to join up is a username and password, everything else can be found on the portal. For more information, or to sign up go to www.register.becomingacommunitybuilder.ca.