! 2014-15 Edition, Report on progress
21Leaders Program History!
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! In 2003, Dr. John McLaughlin (President Emeritus, University of New Brunswick) launched Next NB designed to ask New Brunswickers a simple, yet complex question: what do we want of New Brunswick? As part of this initiative, 21 young leaders were identified. They hopped on a bus and went to see the province firsthand. What they saw is that all great companies, businesses, and organizations had one thing in common: great leadership. Together, these 21 leaders formed what now has become 21inc.!
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! 21inc was founded to accelerate the leadership of youth in Atlantic Canada to give our region a competitive advantage and fully utilize our interconnectedness. The 2014-15 edition of 21inc’s 21Leaders program - our flagship program - ran from September 2014 through to June 2015. It was the 5th edition in New Brunswick, 2nd edition in Nova Scotia, and 1st edition in Prince Edward Island. The program goal was to bring together cross-sectoral, empathetic leaders to break down barriers and disconfirm their perceptions of their province of residence. 21Leaders 2014-15 brought together 51 high-potential young leaders from across the Maritimes (NB = 21, NS = 20, PE = 10) representing all sectors. Each provincial cohort met for 4 accelerators and 1 study tour over the course of 10 months (September 2014 - June 2015). Outreach in Newfoundland was conducted to build a pipeline of high-potential young leaders for a future edition in that province.!
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4 x Provincial Accelerators = 12 accelerators across the Maritimes in 12 unique communities
Provincial Study Tours: 2,750 km travelled in 27 unique communities across the Maritimes
! ! ! Over 150 sessions in over 470 hours of direct programming throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were offered where delegates met with community leaders in various sectors - from public servants, elected officials, business leaders, and social sector representatives.!
! Thanks to all of our partners for investing in leadership development in Atlantic Canada. ! This opportunity would not have been possible without their support.
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2014-15 Edition,
What delegates had to say about the experience: “The 21 Leaders program changed my life. As a direct result of my experience, I was connected to an incredible group of passionate young leaders from diverse communities and cultures. We traveled around Nova Scotia exploring the challenges and opportunities in our region, worked together to develop as leaders, and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. 21inc catalyzed transformational change in both my personal and professional life. Since my experience began, I have changed careers and joined a network of people working to make the world a better place. I am now living my dream job, working to help individuals and organizations across Atlantic Canada to improve, innovate, and grow”. !
“For me, 21inc has been an incredible learning experience. I have always been a proud Atlantic Canadian, but after meeting so many diverse yet like-minded people making a difference in their community, I have a new perspective. Everywhere I look, I now see tremendous opportunity and new ways of doing things. This is exactly the type of initiative that Atlantic Canada needs more of.”!
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Matt Campbell, 21Leaders PE 2014-15!
My experience with 21 Inc was life changing. Being a graduate of the ELP Program with the Wallace McCain Institute, I already had my feet wet with peer groups. However, this experience specifically moved me to think bigger from NOT just an entrepreneurial space, but also from a community minded space. I was quickly challenged to reflect on my own personal worldviews, as I was captivated by the passions of my fellow cohorts within their respective careers. Being surrounded by NOT just entrepreneurs, but not-for-profits, government, farmers, corporate, etc pushed me to think differently as a leader and I will be forever changed due to this.!
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Terri-Ann Cormier, 21Leaders NB 2014-15!
Ian MacDonald, 21Leaders NS 2014-15!
21Leaders completed a community project as part of the program. Here are a few examples: Christina MacLeod (PEI) launched Fusion Charlottetown. Fusion Charlottetown is an organization that provides a voice and vehicle for professionals aged 20-40 to inspire the development of Charlottetown. Fusion Charlottetown is now part of the larger Fusion network that has organizations in Saint John, Halifax, Fredericton and Bangor.! ! The launch of Fusion Charlottetown occurred at the PEI Brewing Company on June 4th and had more than 300 attend to provide their dreams for Charlottetown and Fusion Charlottetown. Fusion Charlottetown will now start to take concrete action to make our great city awesome and a welcoming location for young professionals to develop their careers, live and play.
! Sarah MacDonald (NS) shook things up by creating Galifax Girls Camp! This week-long day camp celebrates less than traditional leadership styles and promotes creative messaging in our youth to encourage selfesteem and project-based learning. Galifax also empowered young women as counsellors and workshop hosts, showcasing their skills and allowing them to be leaders for a new generation of strong women. With 23 campers in its first year, over 20 young women volunteers, and 7 young women Board members the camp was a great success.
Matt Campbell’s (PEI) community project focused on kick-starting a public dialogue on electoral reform in Prince Edward Island. In June, he organized a public forum titled, ‘Heads or Tails: Is it time for electoral reform in P.E.I.?’ which saw more than 100 Islanders take part, including 3 of 4 provincial Party leaders and many more participating online.!
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After an engaging discussion on the merits of ranked ballots, proportional representation and the current first-past-thepost system, more than 93 per cent attendees left the event in support of reform. In the weeks following, the Government released a White Paper which would see P.E.I. become the first province to move toward a ranked ballot system. A referendum will be held on the subject next year.
Kate Wallace’s (NB) community project was a collaboration with IGNITE Saint John to fuel ideas and inspiration. If you had five minutes, one mic, and 20 slides, what would you say? IGNITE SJ is a grassroots speaker series fuelled by ideas and inspiration. Held quarterly, it invites a diverse mix of local speakers to share their perspectives and projects. IGNITE SJ celebrates big ideas by everyday people. It is based on the premise that connected, stimulated communities are more successful, and an active rebuttal to the pervasive perception that Saint John is dull, dirty, and best departed.
21Leaders delegates were asked: Were the skills acquired through the 21Leaders program relevant to helping the startup or survival / growth of a business? (rate out of 5, with 5 being the highest = 'a resounding yes', and with no stars = 'not at all’)!
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71% of delegates responded, with an average score of 4 out of 5
! Thanks to all of our partners for investing in leadership development in Atlantic Canada. ! This opportunity would not have been possible without their support.