Events

Now in its 20th edition, our annual civic governance forum continues to inspire, inform, and connect progressive electeds (mayors, councilors, regional directors, and school trustees) from B.C. and across Canada around inspiring policies and practices, informed research, and transformative actions. Better known as “High Ground,” the theme of this year’s event, “Tipping Points: Navigating Turbulent Times,” explores the question of whether things are really falling apart or if it just feels that way.

The 2025 forum will take place from 1:00 PM on Friday, March 7th to 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 8th.

Do you know a local elected who would be interested in participating in the forum? Please share this invitation with them or send us their name and contact information and we’ll reach out. By bringing a new local elected to the event, you’re encouraging all of us to continue the critical work we do, especially at this crucial moment in time. 

For any questions regarding the venue, hotel booking, childcare, and bursaries, please email Amor Verdeflor-Alvarado at averdeflor@columbiainstitute.eco.

Date: Friday March 7 to Saturday, March 8, 2025
Location: Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel,
1180 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4R5

Testimonials from local electeds from High Ground 2024:
“This is my first time as an elected official and have been to my local government association and UBCM conferences. Those two days at High Ground were more worthwhile than the days I have spent at UBCM and SILGA combined”. 

“I really enjoy and appreciate High Ground and have taken lots of benefit back to my community over the years attending”.

“Thanks for holding High Ground. I walked away with a renewed commitment to the work”.

“As a progressive minority in my community, the pressure to represent so many marginalized voices can feel intense. I look forward to High Ground each year as a place where I can connect with values-aligned peers, a place where I can put those pressures aside and feel grounded in myself again. I leave feeling refreshed and ready to re-open my to-do list!”

Revisit our past civic governance forums here.

Join us for our virtual winter programming for local electeds. Start your year informed and connected with timely lunch & learn discussions. We’ve partnered with an inspiring line-up of organizers, experts, thinkers, and local electeds who are doing transformative work on the issues effecting your communities.

Leaving A Legacy
With the Feminist Campaign School

January 22, 2025 | 12:00PM – 1:00PM PST | Via zoom

This workshop is developed directly from the findings of Phase one of The Barrier Report: Retaining Progressive Women and Gender Minorities in Local Government. Join us to talk about how to be a good ancestor in your elected roles, what the legacy workshop is about and how to book it, and what’s happening in Phase 2 of The Barrier Project and how you can help!

Facilitated by Nadine Nakagawa and Trudi Goels, Co-Founders of The Feminist Campaign School and leads on The Barrier Project.

Climate Change and Insurance in B.C. Municipalities
With Investors for Paris Compliance

February 6, 2025 | 11am – 12pm PST | Via zoom

This webinar will explore how climate change is driving rising insurance costs, uninsurability, and increased risks for municipalities and people living in British Columbia. Attendees will gain insights into the role of municipalities and insurers for climate risks, and solutions for policy and insurance reform.

The Future of Civility in B.C.: Equity-Centered Governance Online and Offline
With Foundation For a Path Forward

February 10th | 11:00AM – 12:30PM PST | Via zoom

The INSPIRE Project (Inclusive Networking & Support for Public Officials in Rural Environments) is a collaborative initiative led by the Foundation for a Path Forward and the Columbia Institute, with support from the Law Foundation of BC. Designed to empower local electeds in British Columbia, the project addresses the systemic barriers and identity-based challenges that impact leadership, including the far-reaching effects of online harms. By fostering equity, resilience, and innovation, the INSPIRE Project seeks to create more inclusive and effective governance practices. This webinar is a space for meaningful and forward-looking conversations about navigating the complexities of modern leadership. Through open dialogue and collaborative exploration, participants will engage with practical strategies and shared insights to support inclusive practices, enhance resilience, and build stronger connections within their communities.

Local Climate Governance in a Shifting Political Landscape
With Climate Caucus 

What do the recent (and future) elections in Canada and the United States mean for local climate governance? Drawing on lessons learned from local climate action during the first Trump presidency, as well as insights from local electeds from Ontario and BC, we’ll unpack what local governments can do to advance progressive climate policy despite a shifting and radicalized political landscape.

If you are having difficulties registering, or if you have any questions, please contact Melissa at mgregerson@columbiainstitute.eco.

A free, engaging webinar on school board budgeting for School Board trustees across the province. This interactive workshop will provide an overview on how to read budgets as political documents and include guidance on the challenges and opportunities that arise during budget time. 

Please join us for this free event on Thursday, February 22 from 6:30PM to 7:30PM by zoom! 

Brought to you by The Trustee Project, a joint initiative of the Institute for Public Education and the Columbia Institute to support school trustees in their advocacy.

Thursday, February 22, 2024 6:30PM – 7:30PM PDT
Via Zoom
Register Now

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco.

We look forward to seeing you there!

We have two great events in partnership with The Feminist Campaign School. First, on October 26th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm PST via Zoom, for a look into the research project Retention of Progressive Women in Municipal Elected Offices, with insights into the barriers that women face in office, and the reasons why they don’t run again.

Following the webinar, on November 9th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm PST via Zoom, we invite women and non-binary folks to join us for a dialogue for Progressive Women in Municipal Elected Offices and a discussion on how better to support these individuals and what can be done to change the trend of women leaving elected office.

Date and Location
Webinar: October 26, 2023 from 4:00pm to 5:00pm PST
Via Zoom
Register Now

Dialogue: November 9, 2023 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm PST
Via Zoom
Register Now

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a deep dive into the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative with Curran Crawford, Executive Director of ACET, and Tamara Krawchenko, University of Victoria via zoom on Thursday, October 12 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm PST.

The Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) Initiative, led by the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) at the University of Victoria (UVic) together with four partner institutions, is being formed to help communities rapidly move from planning to action.

This talk with give an overview of ACET’s mission and vision, and examples of how academic research can provide tangible benefits to communities in implementing low carbon solutions from technology to policy. We’ll then present the opportunities and mechanisms for interested communities to partner with ACET. This will be followed by a Q&A session to hear from communities themselves their needs for support capacity in actually implementing their action plans.

Date and Location
October 12, 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Via Zoom
Register Now

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a post-UBCM debrief conversation via zoom on Friday, September 29 from 10:00am to 12:00pm PST.

The post-UBCM webinar is a space to debrief and reflect after the convention. Facilitated by Amy Lubik, Port Moody City Councillor, this discussion will focus on ideas and possible next steps stemming from UBCM 2023 – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Date and Location
September 29, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Via Zoom
Register Now

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Columbia Institute Reception is a space for local electeds to come together for lively conversation with colleagues. For more information, email averdeflor@columbiainstitute.eco,

Date and Location
September 19, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Vancouver, BC

The Civic Governance Dialogue is a space for local electeds to come together to examine critical issues up for discussion at UBCM. For more information, email averdeflor@columbiainstitute.eco.

Date and Location
September 19
Vancouver, BC

We’re offering a great opportunity for local electeds to brush up on their media skills prior to UBCM this year. In partnership with The Feminist Campaign School, we’re hosting a Media Training session via Zoom on September 13 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm!

Please note registration for this event is now full.

Media training offers valuable skills to help you get your message across to the audiences you want to reach. Whether doing a live or recorded interview, motivating a motion at UBCM, or speaking up at a council meeting, the skills provided in this workshop will improve your ability to be clear, concise, and avoid misspeaking at a critical moment.

This online workshop includes learning about the media landscape, the role of key messages, and a practice session to hone your skills. Unlike traditional media training, Ablaze Services focuses on approaching any media or public speaking opportunities from the perspective of intentionality, personal agency, and diverse representation.

Date and Location
September 13, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco. Please note, spaces are limited so registration may not guarantee a spot in the session.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Building on momentum from our 2023 civic governance forum (High Ground), we are excited to present the first installment of our fourth Conversation Series – Decarbonization and the Zero Carbon Step Code – taking place on September 7th from 10:00am – 11:00am PST via Zoom.

At this virtual event, we will deep dive into the Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) and existing building retrofit strategies for local governments. The webinar will educate local electeds across BC on options for local governments to incentivize and support retrofits, heat pump installations, clean energy, and other products that can support decarbonization.

Our speakers: Karen Tam Wu – Policy Advocate – will outline the ZCSC in detail, with Maggie Baynham – Senior Sustainability Planner, District of Saanich – discussing retrofits, decarbonization, and best practices for other municipalities. Finally, Robyn Webb – Program Manager, Local Government Conservation and Climate Action at BC Hydro – will address electricity supply and debated costs associated with the ZCSC.

This conversation will be facilitated by Tiffany Ottohal – Vancity – and will include an open Q&A session.

Date and Location
September 7, 10:00am to 11:00am
Via Zoom
Register Now

Important Resources:
– Building Retrofit Strategy – District of Saanich
– Zero Carbon Step Code – Help Cities Lead

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please email Isabella Johnson at ijohnson@columbiainstitute.eco.

We look forward to seeing you there!

SAVE THE DATE: High Ground 2024 will be held at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. from Friday, March 22 to Saturday, March 23, 2024! 

High Ground 2023

This year, our annual civic governance forum will be held from 1:00pm Friday, March 24 to 4:00pm on Saturday, March 25, 2023 in Harrison Hot Springs.

The theme for this year is Home — exploring all aspects of “Home”, such as the need for everyone to have a home that is safe, secure and affordable, the health of our planetary home, the impact of the climate crisis on local government and infrastructure, collaborations between First Nations and neighbouring local governments, how we think about the lands that we live on, and what all aspects of home actually entails, both today and tomorrow.

Held for 18 years now, our forums are a time where we bring together local electeds (Mayors, Councillors, School Trustees, and Regional Directors) to share ideas, discuss prominent issues and solutions, deepen connections, and take away inspiration.

Childcare and shuttle service from Vancouver are available.

With the deadline for our special rate passed, rooms at Harrison are subject to availability. Please email Amor at averdeflor@columbiainstitute.eco with room requests.

*NEW* We are offering a virtual option! Please select “Virtual Option” when registering. Your registration includes participation in our four plenaries and access to their recordings post-event.

Some topics that we’ll be covering under the theme of Home include:

• UNDRIP
• Collaboration between First Nations and local governments
• Watersheds
• Lessons learned from the last municipal elections
• Mental health and policing
• Tenant rights
• Barriers to green technology
• School boards and childcare
• Equity guide for cities
• Youth engagement in local government
• K-12 leaders

Stay tuned at this page as we continue to update speakers and sessions. Program remains subject to change.