Testimonials

Clients have described Sheila’s work as: insightful, creative, practical and a sound investment that produces superior results.  Read more about some of Sheila’s work for:
The BC Federation of Community Social Services
BC Hydro, Site C Team – Supporting Work With First Nations

You can view a list of the organizations Sheila has assisted.

Fostering Collaborative Dialogue

The Assignment

The Federation of Community Social Services BC represents over 140 community-based agencies who provide support to individuals and communities throughout BC.

As part of its mandate, the Federation provides a strong, representative voice at the provincial level – working to bring forward issues and concerns and to collaboratively develop solutions on behalf the community services sector.

In the summer of 2018, the Federation sought to engage with the Ministry of Children and Families to strengthen connections between ministry staff and practitioners in the field.  This meeting represented a potential new beginning for direct dialogue between ministry policy makers and those working directly in the community care system.

Services Used

Facilitation   Strategic Communication

Results

A Forum was designed to discuss issues that impact children and youth in the community social care system – whether those children are in the care of a contracted service provider or are in care under the provincial system.

Through a series of table discussions, participants developed a collective appreciation of the most pressing concerns facing the delivery of residential care services.  These issues served as focal points to deepen understanding by hearing stories from practitioners and engaging in dialogue to explore meaning.

Often emotional, the stories provided an opportunity for ministry policy makers to hear about the on-the-ground challenges within the community care system.  Participants concluded the day by identifying where the greatest opportunities exist to enhance the system.   One of those opportunities was the desire to forge stronger collaboration between community agencies and the ministry – this has resulted in the facilitation of several additional workshops and forums, and the development of a Sector Advisory Committee.

Feedback on Sheila’s Services

 Sheila is the first person we think of when we need a facilitator! From planning to debrief she brings clarify, confidence and calm to our gatherings. In the planning stages I have appreciated Sheila’s good, focused questions that have helped us be clear about our intention and goals for our gatherings. As a facilitator Sheila is highly skilled at keeping the group on track, but is also flexible in changing things up if needed. She is an excellent communicator and this helps to make the whole process feel stress-free and effective. Following an event Shelia is always timely in submitting any documentation from the event in a professional and easy to use format.

Rebecca Ataya Lang MSW, Director of Programs and Services

Strategic Planning can be fun!

The Assignment

In the fall of 2015, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria began a review of its existing Strategic Plan to position itself for the next 3-year planning cycle.  The organization had an existing plan that needed additional clarity, and that better reflected the changing environment within which the Club operated.

Services Used

Strategic Planning Facilitation

Results

A planning process was designed to draw on the operational knowledge of the senior leadership team and allow the Board to focus updating the strategic focus of the organization.  A series of workshops were held that guided senior staff, supervisors and Board members to:

  • Understand the current situation by reviewing appropriate background materials;
  • Clarify its goals and amend its vision for the future;
  • Identify specific objectives to measure progress; and;
  • Develop and prioritize strategies to achieve goals.

Smaller working groups fine-tuned an emerging rolling draft plan that was presented to the Board for approval – the whole process took less than 3 months to complete and involved approximately 6 meetings.

Feedback on Sheila’s Services

 

“Sheila provides objectivity and insight while paving the way for both critical and big-picture thinking—helping to develop a unique framework for our vision, mission, and values.  She facilitates the ability to understand today, set strategies ,and take action all in a fun and authentic manner where staff look forward to our annual strategic planning day.”

Dalyce Dixon, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria  

Sheila’s Client List

Sheila has had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients since 2004 – many of these multiple times:

Provinical Government

Ministry of Children and Family Development

  • Strategic Initiatives Branch
  • Strategic Framework Integration Branch

Ministry of Health

  • Health Human Resource Planning Branch
  • Population and Public Health Branch

Emergency Health Services Commission

  • BC Ambulance Service

Ministry of Finance

  • Crown Agency Secretariat
  • Debt Management Branch
  • Risk Management Branch

Office of Housing and Construction Standards

  • ADMs Office
  • Building Safety Standards Branch

Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

Ministry of Environment

  • Environmental Protection Division
  • Environmental Stewardship Division
  • BC Parks
  • Corporate Services Division
  • Finance and Administration
  • Conservation Officer Service

Public Service Agency

Emergency Management BC

Environmental Assessment Office

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

  • Sport Branch
  • Integrated Policy, Legislation and Operations

Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources

  • Timber Tenures Branch
  • Resource Tenures & Engineering Branch
  • Fish and Wildlife Branch

Corporate Services for the Natural Resources Sector

Climate Action Secretariat

Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

  • Policy and Research
  • Corporate Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

  • Tourism Strategy
  • Recreation Sites and Trails

Crown Agencies

Columbia Basin Trust

BC Hydro

  • Aboriginal Relations and Negotiations
  • Site C Project Team

First Peoples’ Heritage, Language & Culture Council

Municipal Pension Board Secretariat

Local Government

Union of BC Municipalities

Capital Regional District

Not for Profit

First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Foundation

Community Living Victoria

Coast Opportunity Funds

Inclusion BC

BC CEO Network

United Way of Greater Victoria

Eldercare Foundation

Independent Living Housing Society

Community Action Initiative

Boys and Girls Club of Victoria

Victoria Fish and Game Protective Association

Community Options for Children and Families

Pennisula Estates Housing Society

The Semiahmoo Foundation

Semiahmoo House Society

Federation of Community Social Services BC

Aspect BC

Family Support Institute

Penticton and District Community Resources Society

Threshold Housing Society

Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society

Phoenix Human Services Association

Private Sector

Chevron Canada Ltd.

Harbord Insurance

Royal Colwood Golf Course

Canadian Paint and Coatings Association