High Ground 2021: Be Bold!
We’re gearing up for our annual civic governance forum, to be held online next month. The conference will span 3 days, with sessions on Wednesday, March 24 (morning), Friday, March 26 (afternoon & early-evening), and Saturday, March 27 (morning).
Who:
High Ground participants include Mayors, Councillors, Regional Directors, and School Board Trustees.
When:
Wednesday, March 24 (morning) (9:00am to 12:30pm)
Friday, March 26 (afternoon & early-evening) (1:00 to 4:30pm / 5:00 to 6:30pm)
Saturday, March 27 (morning) (9:00am to 12:30pm)
Where:
Whova (follow link to register)
Register now
Schedule
Detailed schedule to be posted soon.
Testimonials from High Ground 2019
- “It was a fantastic opportunity to share and build relationships.”
- “I met so many interesting people and had such great conversations about issues that concern all of us.”
- “Very informative and perspective-changing.”
- “Brilliant and essential conversation.”
- “Great diversity of speakers and topics.”
- “A must attend annual event.”
- “After every High Ground forum, I’m involved in interactions with participants. There’s learning and exchange during each forum and that tends to continue after the forum. High Ground 2019 was fantastic.”
Alison Brewin
Executive Director, Vantage Point
Alison is responsible for executing the Vantage Point’s mission and vision. Alison graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Victoria in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. Through her business Alison Brewin Consulting, she supported a broad range of organizations to be the best they can be. Her clients included Vancity, BC Housing, BC Civil Liberties Association, and many more. Additionally, Alison designed and teaches “Canadian Approaches to Non-Profit Management” in SFU’s Non-Profit Management Certificate Program.
Anastasia French
Campaigns and Operations Organiser, Living Wage For Families
Anastasia is a passionate campaigner with over 10 years experience campaigning on social justice issues in Canada and the UK. She previously worked for The Children’s Society, one of Britain’s leading children’s charities. At The Children’s Society, she ran several successful campaigns on issues around debt, child poverty and support for refugee and migrant children. Her role is split between the Living Wage for Families campaign and supporting First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition.
Arzeena Hamir
Area B Director, Comox Valley Regional District
Arzeena Hamir is Area B Director on the Comox Valley Regional District and runs Amara Farm, a certified organic farm the Comox Valley. She obtained her BSc in Crop Science from the University of Guelph and her Master’s Degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of London, England. She helped to launch the Richmond Farm School, Mid Island Farmer’s Institute, and the Merville Organics Grower Co-op to support the farming and food sector.
Ben Geselbracht
Councillor, City of Nanaimo
Ben is a councillor for the City of Nanaimo and Regional District Director. Ben has a background in biology and has been a long-time zero-waste advocate. Before his time as an elected official, he helped as a volunteer set the ambitious target of diverting 90% of the community’s waste from landfill in the update of the regional district’s solid waste management plan. Now as an elected official, he is working hard to steward the implementation of this plan to reach those targets.
Ben West
Executive Director, eDemocracy Solutions
Ben is the Executive Director of eDemocracy Solutions, a nonprofit organization that helps local governments facilitate fair, interesting and meaningful public engagement processes online. Ben has more than two decades of experience working on climate change and other social and environmental issues across the government and nonprofit sector. Ben worked as the Healthy Communities Campaigner and Communications Director at the Wilderness Committee, a Campaigner Director at Forest Ethics (Stand), he was the co-Founder of The Great Climate Race, the Executive Director of Tanker Free BC and a Communication Coordinator for Tsleil-Waututh Nation as well as a project lead for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust Initiative.
Cheeying Ho (Moderator)
Executive Director, Whistler Centre for Sustainability
Cheeying is the Executive Director of the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, and has over 20 years of experience in community planning, engagement, and sustainability. She provides strategy, creative process design, facilitation, and engagement for local and band governments, and non-profit organizations. She created and launched the Social Venture Challenge program, and the Indigenous Tourism Startup Program, designed to inspire and support entrepreneurs with the development of new social enterprises. Prior to her role at the Centre, Cheeying was the Executive Director of Smart Growth BC.
Christine Boyle
Councillor, City of Vancouver
Christine is a Councillor with OneCity Vancouver. She is a community organizer, a climate justice activist, and an ordained United Church Minister. She previously did national climate justice organizing among diverse faith communities, including at COP21 and at the Vatican. She also previously led Strategic Communications at the Columbia Institute. She has two kids.
Chuka Ejeckam
Director, Research and Policy, BC Federation of Labour
Chuka is the Director of Research and Policy at the BC Federation of Labour, as well as a Research Associate with the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. His work focuses on inequity and inequality, reparative drug policy, structural racism, and labour. He also sits on the advisory committee for SFU’s Labour Studies Program, and serves in the expert reference group of a Canadian Public Health Association project advancing public health approaches to substance use.
Elvezio Del Bianco
Cooperative Portfolio Manager, Vancity
Elvezio (“Elvy”) is a cooperative enterprise educator, developer, financier and advocate. He coordinates Vancity’s support for new and established cooperatives, founded and organizes the Cooperate Now co-op business boot camp, and co-authored the “Seven Ways to Grow BC’s Co-op Sector” policy document. Elvezio works to build out the infrastructure to support the development of new cooperative enterprises, guest lectures at post-secondary business classes, and gets into the trenches to support community development and incorporate cooperatives.
Gaetan Royer
CEO, CityState Consulting
Gaetan is the CEO of CityState Consulting. His love of everything urban has brought him to hundreds of cities in 30 countries. An urban planner originally from Québec City, he received a Governor General’s Medal for his humanitarian work in Sarajevo. During his time as City Manager in Port Moody, the city received numerous awards including the International Livable Communities Award. The author of Time for Cities, a book about getting a better deal for cities, he is also a Research Associate with the Columbia Institute, most recently on bringing services back in-house to municipalities.
George Heyman
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
George was elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in 2013, and re-elected in 2017. He is the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. George Heyman previously served as the Executive Director of Sierra Club of BC, one of the province’s oldest environmental advocacy and education organizations. He also served three terms as president of the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU). George is a passionate advocate for issues facing his constituents including education, health care, the arts, childcare, workers’ rights, transit, affordable housing and environmental responsibility.
Iglika Ivanova
Senior Economist and Public Interest Researcher, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Iglika is a Senior Economist and Public Interest Researcher at the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. She brings over a decade of experience in social and economic policy research on the key challenges of our time, and is particularly interested in exploring the potential for governments at all levels to actively foster a more just, inclusive and sustainable economy. Iglika’s community involvement on boards, in coalitions and in other advisory roles is often in service of promoting equity and empowering women and other marginalized people.
Janine Anzalota
Organizational Health & Development Manager, King County Metro, Washington
Janine leads the Organizational Health & Development team and focuses on advancing effective and consistent leadership practices across Metro, evolving health and wellbeing programming, and working to create a culture of inclusion and belonging. Prior to this, Janine served as the Equity & Civil Rights Program Manager, in the Office of Equity and Social Justice under the King County Executive. Janine also worked for the City of Boston for over eleven years, where she was the Executive Director of the City’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity, advising on equitable housing policy and discrimination investigations and enforcement.
Jennifer Reddy
Trustee, Board of Education, School District 39 (Vancouver)
Jennifer is working towards an inclusive community where people are engaged as valuable and deserving individuals, who can use their agency to lead the changes they wish to see. Jennifer holds a Masters in Social Policy and Development, a Bachelors in Development Studies, and a Certificate in Curriculum Development and Instructional Design. From SFU, EdMeCo, and the VSB to Kuru Kuru Training Centre in Guyana, Jennifer has been inspired by global leadership in education and social change.
Jennifer Whiteside
Minister of Education
Jennifer was elected MLA for New Westminster in 2020. As the chief spokesperson and lead negotiator for the Hospital Employees’ Union, she has fought for better public healthcare and the rights of healthcare workers and has dedicated her career to advocating for working people. While leading B.C.’s first campaign for a living wage, she fought to ensure that work lifts people out of poverty and allows them to support their families and fully participate in their communities. She has championed a wide range of social justice issues from accessible post-secondary education and affordable public childcare, to Medicare and health equity.
Josie Osborne
Minister of Municipal Affairs
Josie was elected as MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim in 2020. She is the Minister of Municipal Affairs and is a member of the Planning and Priorities Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Social Initiatives. She was the Mayor of Tofino from 2013-2020 and served as Chair and Vice-Chair for the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District. During her time in local government, Josie chaired the Tofino Housing Corporation and was a strong proponent for active transportation and regional transit.
Karen Elliott
Mayor, District of Squamish
Karen was elected as Mayor of the District of Squamish in 2018 after serving one term as a member of Council. She moved to Squamish in 2012 and ran for elected office because she quickly realized the significant opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for the fast-growing community. Karen is deeply committed to climate action, Reconciliation and community building. Prior to serving as Mayor, Karen ran her own consulting firm focused on strategic planning, organizational effectiveness and leadership development.
Karen Ward
Drug Policy Advocate
Karen is a drug policy advocate and advisor to the City of Vancouver. A long-time resident of the Downtown Eastside, she advises on drug policy, overdose prevention, drug-supply safety and poverty reduction.
Kevin Huang
Executive Director, Hua Foundation
Kevin Huang 黃儀軒 (he/him) is Executive Director of hua foundation. His work has ranged from scaling culturally sensitive consumer-based conservation strategies through a project called Shark Truth, advancing municipal food policy to address inclusion and racial equity, to providing supports for youth from ethnocultural communities to reclaim their cultural identity on their own terms. Kevin organizes in Vancouver’s Chinatown and serves on committees with Vancity Credit Union, Vancouver Foundation, the City of Vancouver, and the Province of British Columbia. Most recently, Kevin has been spending his time directing community based COVID-19 response projects that address language and cultural gaps.
Kristyn Wong-Tam
City Councillor, Ward 13 – Toronto Centre
Kristyn was elected to Toronto City Council in 2010 and has an extensive career in investing in the city through both the public and private sectors. Her contributions have led to the development and support of improved social planning programs, new affordable housing, innovative economic development programs, community art projects, and investments in diverse, family-friendly neighbourhood planning. She has led efforts to defend the rights of tenants to obtain affordable and decent standards of rental housing and helped create a neighbourhood association to preserve and protect heritage buildings and historical landscapes in the ward.
Leona Humchitt
Climate Action Coordinator, Haiłzaqv Nation
Leona is the Climate Action Coordinator for the Haiłzaqv nation of Bella Bella, BC. She works with a peer network of Climate Action Coordinators through the Coastal First Nations. Their goal is to collaborate on efforts to decarbonize our coast, to transition off diesel generation and reduce transportation of fossil fuels through our ecologically and culturally significant territories. Leona also collaborates nationally with 14 other FN across Canada to support ambitious community-led planning to get off diesel. The Heiltsuk Climate Action Team supports this heart work ‘by the Haiłzaqv, for the Haiłzaqv’ to protect and preserve the future of our children’s tomorrows.
Naia Lee
Organizer, Youth Climate Lab
Naia was drawn to climate work through shared visions of a more just world. As an organizer with the local and national climate movement, she has trained young people and mobilized thousands to the streets – while continually witnessing the power held in relationships and community. Currently on a gap year and working with Youth Climate Lab, Naia uses her passions for sharing stories and scaling local action to contextualize the need for climate justice.
Niki Sharma
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits
Elected as an MLA in 2020, Niki Sharma’s prior roles focused on representing Indigenous people, including residential school survivors, as a lawyer, and as an advocate on climate policy. She has also been recognized for her work on combatting racism. Niki was elected to the Board of Vancity Credit Union and served as Chair of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. Raised in Sparwood B.C., Niki is a mother of two and has lived in East Vancouver for over 15 years.
Nikki Hill
Principal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group
Nikki is a public engagement and campaign expert with over 20 years of experience in politics, strategic communications and government relations. Currently a Principal and Partner at Earnscliffe Strategy Group, Nikki’s previous roles include Director of Labour Participation at United Way of the Lower Mainland and Director of Organization for the BC NDP. Nikki is the volunteer Co-Chair of the United Way Period Promise campaign.
Patti Bacchus
Education Columnist, Georgia Straight
Patti was elected to the Vancouver School Board in 2008, 2011 and 2014, topping the polls each time. She was also the longest-serving chair of the VSB, and has played a key role in getting B.C.’s seismically high-risk schools upgraded or replaced, first as a parent advocate, and later as a trustee. Since leaving the VSB, Patti has been writing a weekly education column for the Georgia Straight, and she continues to be a passionate advocate for public education.
Ravi Kahlon
Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
Ravi was elected as the MLA for Delta North in 2017. Born and raised in Victoria, Ravi was introduced to Field Hockey by his father and grandfather. He is a two time Olympian in the sport for Team Canada and has been inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame. Prior to his election as an MLA, Ravi spent seven years in banking, and another six years working with the New Democrat Caucus as Director of Stakeholder Relations.
Rhiannon Bennett
Co-Founder, Hummingbirds Rising
Rhiannon (she/her) is Musqueam and a much-sought-after speaker who is well known for asking tough questions in a manner that encourages engagement and dialogue. She is actively working to create a more equitable world for all. She has been working with children, youth, and families for over 20 years in a variety of roles. Professionally, she has worked with Indigenous youth and families, with overarching themes of her work being Decolonization and Reconciliation. In 2014, she was the first Indigenous person elected to the Delta Board of Education. While not successfully re-elected, she was inspired to launch a consulting firm with her running-mate, Andrea Hilder, to continue to do the important work.
Rik Logtenberg
Councillor, City of Nelson
Rik is a Nelson, BC city councillor and the founder of the Climate Caucus, a network of 240+ councillors and mayors from across Canada focussed on climate change. He’s also a member of the BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council and the UBCM Climate Action Committee, where he works on municipal and provincial climate policy. Rik is a software developer and entrepreneur with patents in community organizing technology and is the creator of Nudj, a software platform for building high-impact social networks.
Sussanne Skidmore
Secretary-Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour
Sussanne chairs the Columbia Institute’s board of directors and is a well-known social justice advocate and queer-and-human-rights activist. She was elected as the BC Federation of Labour’s Secretary-Treasurer in 2018 and has been a member of the BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) since 1997, serving in nearly every elected position—from steward to executive vice president. By profession, Sussanne is a training analyst in the Court Services Branch of the Ministry of Justice where she worked for more than a decade. She is also the Treasurer of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) and Vice President of the BC NDP. She represents a generation of labour leaders working to grow the labour movement to meet today’s most pressing challenges.
