About BLC

Our Story

Board Leadership Calgary (BLC) is a learning collaborative that was formed in 2013 to organize affordable and accessible learning opportunities for board members and staff of smaller not-for-profits. Based on a successful model out of Edmonton, numerous Calgary based organizations partnered to present the first Board Leadership Event in Calgary in April 2014 called “Board Governance Basics for Board Members”. After a successful event with over 200 in attendance, it was clearly a need in the non-profit and voluntary sector community.

Our next event is Board Leadership Calgary 2024 to be held on May 25, 2024! It will feature a great line up of exciting sessions and speakers in a day-long program.

There are similar Board Leadership events throughout the province in Edmonton, Southeast Alberta (Medicine Hat) and now Lethbridge. Check out their websites for more information.

Purpose

Board Leadership Calgary is a voluntary, non-profit learning collaborative that organizes affordable, accessible learning opportunities for volunteer board members of non-profit organizations to support board leadership and development and build the overall capacity of the non-profit voluntary sector in Calgary and area.

Low Cost & Local Representation

The BLC learning collaborative aims to keep costs low so that small non-profits have access to high quality training and learning opportunities. All events aim to keep registration costs low and has often included catered lunch and refreshments. Supportive sponsorship has allowed some events to offer bursaries to organizations that may have challenges with cost. The low registration fee and bursaries are made possible through the generous donations of time by presenters and support of local sponsors.

Unlike some conferences that target well-know speakers or “TedTalk alumni” that travel the conference circuit, BLC learning events focus on local speakers and presenters that can relate to topics within the local context. This increases the access participants have to presenters, as well as create a greater sense of knowledge about the resources available to in their community.