Become more involved in your community and learn new skills through Local Champions

>>Gary Pemberton

 

Local Champions is a community-based leadership development program for Victoria residents to gain foundational skills, confidence and relationships to become more active and engaged in their community. Through developing collaborative grassroots leadership skills, local champions can apply their learnings to initiate community-building activities or projects and become “connectors” in their neighbourhoods.

Passionate about addressing the climate crisis?
This year, the City’s Climate Action Program will sponsor five Neighbourhood Champions to participate in the program and undertake a project focused on reducing community greenhouse gas emissions through home energy retrofits. There has never been a better time to learn the skills needed to mobilize community climate action!

The City of Victoria’s Neighbourhood Team has partnered with Building Resilient Neighbourhoods and other guest presenters to deliver this six-part training series that runs from March to September and will support residents to become active civic leaders in our community.

Local Champions come from all different backgrounds. We welcome any Victoria resident with energy, passion and an interest in collaborating with others to make their community a better place.

Local Champions could be a great fit if you want to:

  • become more involved in your community
  • apply for any type of community grant
  • become more involved in decisions that impact your neighbourhood
  • facilitate a community project
  • become a better facilitator and communicator
  • develop new, employable skills.

Participants will gain on-the-ground experience in community organizing and facilitation. The sessions will focus on building practical skills, confidence and relationships so that participants can act as project leaders for a variety of community-based initiatives. After they graduate, Local Champions will be able to engage more fully in civic life through participation in local projects or associations.

The program consists of six sessions starting on March 15, 2024. All session dates are available at victoria.ca/neighbourhoods.

Cost:
-The program fee is $250.
-If cost is a barrier, a limited number of sponsored spaces are available, as well as transportation subsidies.
-If you are excited about working on a climate related project, apply for one of five sponsored climate spaces.

Upon completion, participants will be recognized as Local Champions by the City of Victoria and will have a strong knowledge of local governance and community development.

Residents of Victoria can apply for one of 24 seats in this program. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2024.

For more information and to apply, please visit victoria.ca/neighbourhoods.