Subject:
19 Community leaders graduate from StFX Extension Department’s six-month Rural Leadership Development pilot program
Summary:
Group is committed to continuing the work they’ve begun in the region
Date Created:
02/16/2010
Last Modified
03/25/2010
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|  |  PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2010
19 Community leaders graduate from StFX Extension Department’s six-month Rural Leadership Development pilot program
Group is committed to continuing the work they’ve begun in the region
Antigonish, NS - Nineteen community leaders from Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness, Pictou and Richmond counties graduated on Saturday from StFX Extension Department’s six-month pilot program in Rural Leadership Development. At the weekend ceremony, participants affirmed their intention to continue to work together as a group on issues of common interest throughout the region.
“The participants have spent six months focusing on developing their leadership skills and identifying local and regional community development opportunities,” says Phil Davison, Interim Director, Extension Department. “The program supports the idea that it is important for people to look beyond their own community and work together regionally.”
The group, which conducted an analysis of the region’s strengths during the program (referred to as an “Asset Map”), has developed a list of action items for the region, and has chosen one of these which they plan to pursue immediately, as a group.
The Rural Leadership Development program is part of a province-wide initiative: “Rural communities leading: strengthening rural Nova Scotia through community leadership and learning.” This initiative aims to help emerging and experienced leaders to make a difference in their community while developing and documenting their personal leadership skills and accomplishments through the program’s series of interactive seminars, self-directed learning activities, and group tasks. It is offered by the StFX Extension Department in partnership with Nova Scotia’s departments of Economic and Rural Development and Health Promotion and Protection, the Nova Scotia Community College, the Authentic Leadership in Action (ALIA) Institute, and the Coady International Institute.
“We plan to offer subsequent programs, especially now that we’ve seen first hand the transformation of this group of participants,” says Dr. Davison. “All of the communities from which these leaders hail, as well as the region as a whole, will benefit from the knowledge, experience, skills and networking they have gained during this program. (* Please see below for comments from Cape Breton participants/graduates.)
“Being a leader does not mean you have to be a CEO or someone in an executive position,” he adds. “Every person has inherent leadership ability. People need time and space to reflect upon their leadership skills, and this course provides that.
The graduation ceremony was held on Saturday at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. Graduates include:
Tracy Russell
We’koqma’q First Nation, NS
Suzanne Sawler
Mabou, NS
Lucille Timmons
Cheticamp, NS
Julie Watson
Inverness, NS
Gloria Hill
Arichat, NS
Amanda Mombourquette
St. Peter's, NS | Shannon MacDougall
Port Hood, NS
Dwayne MacEachern
Judique, NS
Richard McIntosh
St. Peter’s, NS
Kelly McVicar
Merigomish, NS
Shannon Long
Antigonish, NS
Katy MacDonald
New Glasgow, NS
Jennifer Leuschner
Antigonish, NS | Viola Baker
Antigonish, NS
John Beaton
Antigonish, NS
Angie Cleary
Guysborough, NS
Jim Fitt
New Glasgow, NS
Alisha Grant
Antigonish, NS
Kathy Hannigan
Inverness, NS
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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Beverly Hemlow at the StFX Extension Department at 902-867-2433 or bhemlow@stfx.ca.
The Mission of the StFX Extension Department, in accordance with the principles of the Antigonish Movement, is to promote and advance the economic self-reliance and social well-being of the people of Eastern Canada through community-based cooperation and education. |