Leadership Development
Residency Program
Apply transformative leadership to a complex park leadership issues and co-create a supportive pan-Canadian leadership community across jurisdictions.
This seven-month transformative leadership program begins with a one-week eResidency (half-days, online) with guest presenters, breakout workshops, and service-learning panels mixed with nature breaks and opportunities to connect to local issues. Participants complete pre- and post-tasks, present cases from their organization, and develop a team capstone project aimed at advancing parks leadership. The program wraps up with a three day face-to-face Capstone Residency to share project work and apply skills to real-world cases. Each program focuses on core leadership themes with different sub-themes.
Who is it for?
Ideal participants in the Leaders Development eResidency Program tend to be experienced leaders in decision-making roles in parks and protected areas. Diverse personal and professional perspectives enrich this transformative learning experience and are sincerely welcomed.
While each eResidency offers a specific sub-theme of parkanomics, climate change, connecting as nature, collaboration, and inclusion, overarching themes of Indigenous relations, conservation, connecting people to nature, systems thinking, and leadership are woven throughout the program and have relevance to all disciplines and work areas.
This program is delivered in English with one bilingual capstone team when possible. Tasks can be completed in your language of preference.
Program Timeline and Commitments
Three Weeks pre-Residency tasks (~ 2 hours per week): Participants will post an introduction on the online forum, record an informal short video (~2 minute) to share their landscape, and work one-on-one with the facilitator to develop a presentation for the eResidency on a current issue they face related to the CPCIL parks leadership knowledge framework or to the sub-theme of the year.
eResidency (~23 hours, virtual with local activities):
Participants must attend the eResidency, which runs part-time for one week between 11:15am and 3:45pm Eastern time. The eResidency comprises presentation (and workshopping) of participant issues, expert panels, breakout and team sessions, and independent tasks. Screen time is balanced by offline nature breaks and reflective tasks. We strongly recommend participants attend sessions from home or arrange acting coverage.
Five Monthly Workshops, Capstone Projects and Tasks (~2 hours per week, virtual with local tasks):
Participants will meet once per month with the entire team for a half-day online workshop and be placed in a cross-jurisdictional Capstone team that meets online weekly as a small group to develop a project that advances parks and protected areas leadership. Participants will also work with the facilitator to further develop the issue they presented at the eResidency through a series of independent, locally-based tasks.
Capstone Residency (20 hours over three days, face-to-face)
Public health restrictions allowing, participants will meet in person with the entire team for a three day workshop to present capstone team projects, experience local landscapes and case studies, and connect with colleagues. Accommodations, food, and filed trip costs are included in registration.
Participants require internet and webcam access and must commit to avoiding distractions during sessions, participating fully in independent tasks, and should try to have reasonable access to a nearby outdoor space for activities. Program resource material will be shipped in advance.
Registration Information
Calendar of Programs and Themes
For programs prior to 2018 visit the Leadership Alumni Page
| Program | Sub Theme | Start | Residency | Host | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall 2018 | Parkanomics | Oct. 15 | Nov. 11 to 17 | Mount Royal University | Rocky Mountains |
Spring 2019 | Partnerships and Collaboration | Mar. 15 | May 5 to 10 | York University | Great Lakes |
Fall 2019 | Inclusion and Equity | Oct. 10 | Nov. 12 to 17 | Royal Roads University | West Coast |
Fall 2020 | Connecting as Nature | Sept. 8 | Sept. 21 to Oct. 1 | n/a | Maritimes |
Winter 2021 | Climate Change | Feb. 1 | Feb. 22 to Mar. 5 (half-days) | Mount Royal University | Rockies |
Fall 2021 | Parkanomics | Oct. 1 | Oct. 18 to 29 (half-days) | York University | All |
Fall 2022 | Partnerships and Collaboration | Oct. 1 | Program One-on-Ones Oct. 1-10 eResidency (half days) Oct. 17 to 21 eWorkshops (half day) Nov 18 Dec 16 Jan 20 Feb 17 Face-to-Face Residency Mar 7-9 | York University | Great Lakes |
Since the global pandemic began, CPCIL shifted to an online-only delivery model. We are pleased to resume blended online and face-to-face Leadership Development Programs Residencies when interprovincial travel restrictions are relaxed, provided public health directives can be met safely. Program registration fees have increased to $3000 in order to cover face-to-face accommodation, food, and field experiences.