Voices at the table
Growing up, dinner at my house involved a few constants.
First was the skill to act quickly when food was set on the table. As an ever-growing family of seven – with a father who worked at the local mill, and where work was sometimes plentiful and sometimes scarce – “elbows up” was a crucial life skill. Second, the table was always set with extra spaces, ready to welcome whoever might show up. We always seemed to have extra people living with us: children from Belfast whose families sent them to a safer place, children who could not live in their own homes for awhile, international students from all over, and my mom's family who would often “stop in” enroute to or from Ireland, England, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Australia.
When it wasn’t central to a meal, our dinner table was perpetually covered with books, papers, and projects. It was the space for homework, puzzles, crafts, and conversations — the place where we tried to solve life’s small and large problems. It was the place where family friends sat and shared their appreciation for my “very amazing cello playing skills”. It was, and still is, the central gathering place in our family home. Even now when I visit, I sometimes think my parents could get a smaller table, and then dismiss the thought just as quickly. The table remains the right size for every season of our lives, ready to welcome whoever arrives and a gathering place to share memories of who has passed.
When I think about the work of our Association, I often picture a similar table, one that is vast, circular, and ever-growing to welcome the many voices of leaders across our province. Our BCPVPA table is one that continues to expand as people take their seats and bring their perspectives and ideas. Each voice carries a history or herstory, a question, a challenge, or a solution, and shapes the way we engage with members, walk alongside one another, and lead with grace, gratitude, and humility.
As leaders, we know that the power of voice extends far beyond speech; it is about listening.
Some of my favourite moments when I visit home are at the table: the kettle is on, my dad is snoozing by the fire, and my mom is working on her never-ending crafts for the church bazaar. My siblings and our neighbours come and go from the house, and it is a time for me to listen, and to understand what is happening for these people, in this place.
It is the same at our provincial table. Visiting each of your districts, and listening to you, has created the space for our work to be collaborative in nature, to ensure everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, and to be sure that our strength remains in our collective wisdom.
This past month, I have been inspired and humbled by the many voices at our BCPVPA table, including our Advisory Committees: the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, grounding us in our REDI Champion goal; the Indigenous Leadership Advisory Committee, which deepens our understanding of the diversity of leadership across the province; the Professional Learning & Development Advisory Committee, which is shaping our future pathways to learning; and the Member Well-Being Advisory Committee, which continues to highlight the importance of balance and care in leadership.
Each of these committees represents the beating heart of our Association. As advisory bodies, they are the collective voice of our members, ensuring that those of us who sit at the Board table make decisions that reflect what matters most to you in your schools, districts, and communities. These voices serve to support your work, and ultimately serve the greatest good: improving outcomes for kids.
Our table ensures that member voice is more than a guiding principle; it is the foundation of all of the work that happens in our Association. Whether through our recent Connecting Leaders Conference, our new pilot Compass Leadership Academy, or the many different member learning and leadership sessions throughout the year, your insights and participation continue to inform the design and direction of our work.
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, we move more deeply into fall, a season that invites reflection and connection. We encourage you to share your perspectives, through surveys, Chapter Council discussions, committee work, or even a simple text, email, or phone call. Every contribution adds shape and depth to our collective purpose and ensures that BCPVPA remains a community led by the very people we represent.
Thank you to each of you who lend your time, thought, and energy to these conversations. Your voice matters — not just in the decisions made around the table, but in the culture you help to create. Together, we are cultivating a professional community defined by respect, reflection, hope, and connection.
In the midst of the work, I always look forward to the next trip home, where the fire is set, the kettle is on, and there is always a seat for me at the table.
And onwards we grow.