Local Champions Program

Local Champions training focuses on four areas:
Personal Leadership: building self- awareness and alignment between personal beliefs, values and action
Collaboration: developing interpersonal skills, including collaboration with others and working across differences
Community Development: understanding community systems and tools for community building
Innovation & Change: being an effective change agent by building inspiration, shared vision and supporting others to lead change

This program is about equipping you with skills to make your community a better place. 
You will:
•    Develop practical skills, confidence and relationships to put your community ideas into action
•    Connect with mentors and learn from other local champions
•    Gain on-the-ground experience in community organizing 
•    Take away skills and credentials that can be used in career and volunteer opportunities
•    Access resources and grants to undertake neighbourhood projects

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

Local Champions could be a great fit for you 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
•    become a better facilitator and communicator 
•    develop your employment skills
 

Local Champions consists of ten sessions, including a kick-off and celebration event. The eight training sessions, include three full Saturdays  (9 a.m.to 3:30 p.m.) and five Wednesday evening sessions (6p.m. to 9 p.m.) The celebration event in September, is an opportunity for  participants to showcase their final group projects..

You won’t want to miss any of it, but to be eligible for the program, participants should be able to commit to attending at least six of the eight training sessions.  

2026 Local Champions Schedule

Welcome Social
Friday, April 10, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Session One
Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
-Program Orientation and Team Building  
-ABCD basics

Session Two 
Wednesday, April 15, 6 to 9 p.m.
-Consensus Building
-Large Group Project Exercise

Session Three
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
-Effective Meetings and Facilitation  
-Building Social Capital 

Session Four
Wednesday, April 29, 6 to 9 p.m.
-How to Fill out a Grant Application with Gusto  
-How to Plan and Implement a Public Project

Session Five
Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
-City Hall 101
-Power Diffusion
-Group Project Planning

Session Six
Wednesday, May 13, 6 to 9 p.m.
-Collaborative Conflict Resolution

Session Seven
Wednesday, May 20, 6 to 9 p.m.
-Mentor/Alumni presentations
-Group Project Planning

Session Eight
Wednesday, May 27, 6 to 9 p.m.
-Group Project Planning
-Public Speaking  

Celebration Event
Wednesday, September 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
-Group presentations on practicum projects 

Please note: The order of these sessions may change.

To make the program as accessible as possible, the program is offered at a highly subsidized cost of $250 per participant. The market value is over $2,500.  

The $250 includes course supplies, lunch and refreshments.

If the course fee is a barrier, a limited number of fully sponsored spaces are available, along with support for transportation costs.

Community organizations (businesses or not-for-profits) can also choose to fully or partially sponsor community members. 

The sessions will be based out of the City of Victoria's NeighbourSpace. This new location at 708 Douglas, adjacent to the Douglas entrance to the Victoria Conference Centre.