1. Canadian Association of School Business Leadership Group
“We are Canadians”
The Evolution of the Canadian School Business Officials’ Leadership Group
By Roy Seidler, Executive Director MASBO
On September 4, 2012, the President of the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta,
Jeanne Fontaine, sent an important email to her school business official counterparts in the
other Canadian Provinces. She invited her colleagues to come together to “explore the
potential of a national initiative and to share in some commonalities that could be of interest to
all present.” While the main focus initially was to examine the potential and possible benefits
of developing a national certification program for
school business officials, the agenda at that
meeting and subsequent meetings has
grown to include a wide range of topics and
networking opportunities.
The first meeting of this group of school
business officials was held October 26-27,
2012 in Regina and hosted by the
Saskatchewan Association of School Business
Officials.
While the topic of a national certification
program for school business officials was
discussed, that inaugural meeting also had a professional development component and round
table discussions on a number of topics such as provincial association governance models,
membership structures and programs offered, committee structures and annual conference
formats.
That initial networking experience was so positive the group decided to meet again in Toronto
in March of 2013 to map out an operational terms of reference for the group.
Another key item of the Toronto meeting agenda was a facilitated visioning activity that asked
each participant “to list three dreams, hopes or aspirations you would have for a Canadian
Association of School Business Officials as an organization five years from now.”
Regina Delegates October 26-27, 2012
tivity

2. Participants agreed that:
“The CANASBO Leadership Group will be seen as an over-arching body that focuses the work of
the provincial organizations:
 Standard/common education programs for members;
 Provide opportunities for partnerships;
 Provides value for membership in leadership development;
 Increase mobility due to national standards.”
While the vision of increased mobility due to national standards has a ways to go yet before
being realized, the participants in the seven meetings held so far would agree that we have
shared practices, developed relationships and provided for member leadership development.
As well as sharing information regarding provincial association functioning the group routinely
conducts a round table session in which representatives share an overview of some of the
larger issue events that are occurring in their respective provinces. Through this sharing we are
able to discern, understand and adapt to trends, such as the “lean” movements that have been
introduced in one form or another in most provinces.
In the seven meetings held so far we have had professional development presentations on
topics such as:
 Communication;
 Organizational Restructuring Trends;
 Education for Sustainable Development;
 Presentations from the staff of ASBO International which has been very supportive of
our CANASBO Leadership Group;
 Succession Planning.
Six provinces have been attending our meetings: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick.
Each provincial association’s Executive
Director and President attend.
Back Row:Phil Benson (SK), Sue Lang(AB), BillBlackie
(ONT), Joan Axford(BC), DeborahSchlag (AB), RoySeidler
(MB), SiobhanMcMahon(ASBO Int.), Gaylene Schroeder-
Nishimura (MB), Front:Lynel Martinuk(SK), JocelynSivret-
Ferguson (NB), Lisa Palmarin(AB) – MissingPaul McMahon
(ONT) – Had to catch a flight!

3. Summary of meeting dates and locations:
DATES LOCATIONS
October 2012 Regina, Saskatchewan
March 2013 Toronto, Ontario
November 2013 Vancouver, British Columbia
March 2014 Winnipeg, Manitoba
November 2014 Edmonton, Alberta
March 2015 Moncton, New Brunswick
January 2016 Calgary, Alberta (hosted by Saskatchewan)
The success of the Leadership Group rests on four cornerstones:
Low Structure/High Engagement
Unlike other National Leadership Groups, the
CANASBO Leadership Group does not have
elected officials or paid staff. Through a
distributed leadership model, each province takes
the lead on a rotational basis to organize, host and
chair the national meetings. Operational issues
are minimal; all the meeting time is dedicated to
full engagement and discussion.
Low Cost/High Value
Because there are no membership fees or expenses for paid staff, participants in the CANASBO
Leadership Group realize great value for a minimal cost. Meeting room expenses and food are
shared equally among the participants. Thus far, there have been no speaking fees for our
professional development speakers, one of whom was Dr. Gerald Farthing, the Deputy Minister
of Education in Manitoba. Since the meetings are held Sunday and Monday, most participants
need spend no more than one day away from work.

4. You may remember the humorous yet emotionally stirring Molson beer commercial a number
of years ago that portrayed a young man on a stage with a panoramic video of Canadian
scenery playing in the background. He mentioned in his monologue that he is not a lumberjack
or a fur trader and does not live in an igloo or own a dog sled. But, he did believe that the
beaver is a proud and noble animal, a toque is a hat and Canada is the first nation in Ice Hockey.
He concludes with a hardy proclamation, “I am Joe and I am Canadian!”
Like Joe, the CANASBO Leadership Group is proud to be uniquely Canadian! Even though public
education falls under provincial jurisdiction, as Canadian business officials we share a common
culture that is supportive of an education systemled by locally elected school boards.
Regardless of the future format and timing of meetings of the CANASBO Leadership Group, the
diversity of experience and knowledge that participating members bring will continue to be of
great value to everyone.