This document summarizes the experience of a mayor pursuing their MAL degree at Royal Roads University. While initially seeing the program as an exit from politics, the mayor found that the program profoundly impacted them personally and professionally. Through weekly readings and reflection, the mayor was able to gain perspective on their frustrations with their mayoral role and apply lessons to be a better leader. Their optional learning project on asset management and community engagement allowed them to share research. Completing the program and choosing not to run for a third term as mayor, the mayor felt a sense of calm and that they had finished well, attributing this to their learning through the MAL program.

1. Joel Osteencoinedthe popularphrase “Trustthe timingof yourlife.”
WhenI beganmy journeyinthe MAL program at RRU, I was inmy fifthyearas mayorfor the Townof
Golden.Althoughmytenure inlocal governmentwasmainlysuccessful andgratifying,Ifeltdisillusioned
withmyjob and consideredthe MALas an exitstrategyoutof political life.Iwantedtoobtainsome
academiccredentialstoaugmentmyleadershipcapabilitiesandimprove myjobmarketability.Ihadnot
bankedonthe impact the MAL experiencewouldhave onmypersonal,professional,spiritual,and
emotional wayof beinginthe world.Despitethe soberrealitiesof additional time andfinancial
pressures,thisprogram wasone of the highlightsof mylife.Afteryearsof personal reading,reflection,
and livedexperience,the opportunitytohave itcoalesce inanacademicforum was a dreamcome true.
Weekafterweek,the readingsresonatedwithmyinternal processesandgave me anopportunityto
reflectonideastotackle my leadershipchallenges.Astime wenton,the frustrationanddisappointment
I feltinmyrole as mayor became valuable life lessonsthatinspiredme tobe differentinmyworkand
my life.
As a natural extensionof notonlymyjobbutmy passion,Ichose the topicof assetmanagementand
communityengagementasmyOLP. It wasa timelyprojectsince the infrastructure deficitisthe biggest
issue facingall local governments’ rightacrossthe continent. Because of itsrelevance, Ihave hadthe
opportunitytoshare myresearchfindingsatlocal governmentconferences throughoutBCandAlberta.
It was ironicthatmy life asbothan electedofficial andaMAL student came to an endat roughlythe
same time.WhenI finallydecidednottorun for a thirdtermas mayor,itwas not froma place of
anxiety,stress,oroverwhelm;itwasfroma calm, confident,andclearsense thatIfinishedwell.Ifelt
that I embracedchange andfacedmy challengeswithcourage.Asaresult,Ileftoffice onahighnote.I
attribute thatto the profoundexperience Ihadinthisprogramand the effortI expendedtointegrate
my learningintomydailylife.Iamdeeplymovedandprofoundlygratefulforthe waysthatthis
unprecedentededucationalopportunityhasinfluencedmyinternalandexternal world.Ithasgivenme
a language anda vehicle toanimate whatlaydormantinmysoul.Thisprogram has notonly
transformedmyleadership,ithasalsotransformedmylife.