SUDBURY, ON – A group of individuals from Greater Sudbury have completed training in the Northern Leadership Project – a year-long professional development program. The pilot project for this model was launched in March 2013 by four partners; Science North, Laurentian University, the City of Greater Sudbury and Health Sciences North.
Spearheaded by Science North, the aim of this initiative was to develop a strong network of leaders committed to building the North and its leadership capabilities. The Northern Leadership Project was a one-year experience that combined leadership training, community engagement and mentoring, with action learning-based projects. Each of the four participating organizations nominated five participants, or fellows. Each person worked on one of 4 strategic projects – one for each partner. The projects have generated innovative solutions that have the potential to significantly advance major initiatives.
“We see the Northern Leadership Project as a solid investment in the emerging leaders of Northern Ontario,” stated Guy Labine, Science North CEO. “Strong leaders are important for our community and for our respective organizations. Through this program we are taking concrete steps to accelerate leadership development and better position our organizations, for success over coming years.”
According to Nadim Kara, Director of Organizational Development at Science North, the Northern Leadership Project is a unique experience designed to strengthen all aspects of a strong leader. “Participants learned about their strengths and development through a series of diagnostic tools such as 360 degree feedback, EQi Emotional Intelligence testing, and more. They also benefited from the expertise of speakers, mentors and executive coaches, in addition to ongoing world-class content delivered in Northern Ontario.”
“We owe it to future generations to build capacity in leadership in this community and beyond,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “The Northern Leadership Program is helping us and our partner institutions to lay the foundation for the development of community leaders in the decades to come, while also strengthening each of our institutions and building collaborative relationships along the way.”
“This initiative aligns with a key priority of the City to develop future leaders for our corporation and our community,” stated Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Greater Sudbury. “The program benefits not only our organization but the whole community. We are proud of all the graduates from each of the organizations and we are looking forward to continuing our contribution towards a stronger community in the future through continued participation in this program.”
“You cannot have success without strong leadership, and some of the greatest achievements in Sudbury’s history have occurred because of visionary leaders, “ said Dr. Denis Roy, HSN President and CEO. “The Northern Leadership Project is helping develop the next generation of leaders who will guide our city and our key public institutions in the future, and HSN is proud to have been a part of this initiative.”
The first cohort of the Northern Leadership Project graduated and presented their final projects during a Showcase event held on March 28, 2014 at Science North. The second cohort is currently being selected, with the program set to commence in May 2014.
