Leadership Thunder Bay has evolved over the last decade with the city.
The leadership development program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and president Kristen Oliver said the program has changed over the past 10 years with the ebb and flow of Thunder Bay.
“What we do is focus on the challenges and strengths and some of the issues we have throughout the city. Some of those issues start to resolve and the challenges sort of shift,” she said.
“We’ve seen our economy diversify. We’re seeing new things coming on board all the time. As a result of that, we recognize we need to update our program,” she added.
When the latest class graduates this June, 206 people from a wide range of sectors in the city will have completed the program.
Investors Group regional director Herpreet Lamba has put an employee through Leadership Thunder Bay every year and said the program is valuable.
“I’ve seen my people develop in ways that I’ve never seen them develop in,” he said, noting participants can focus on any skill they want to improve upon in the course, including public speaking.
The program also has value to the community, Lamba added.
“When you have a group of leaders developing, they tend to bring a lot of other people along with them. When they get confident and engaged, it’s not just in isolation,” he said.
“I think it’s exactly what the community needs.”
Oliver said they have already been celebrating the milestone anniversary this year and they have a breakfast scheduled for May 1.
The direction of Leadership Thunder Bay will take in the future is yet to be seen, said Oliver.
But it will follow the city’s lead.
“Thunder Bay is on the cusp of many booms on a number of different fronts,” she said, citing mining and research and development as examples.
“Even when we look back to what Thunder Bay looked like 10 years ago, it’s completely different.”
