Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast From Our Vantage Point

Next Steps for Listeners

1. Get your house in order
   1. Review and update internal policies on political activity, expense tracking, and staff and board conduct during election periods.
   2. Check current CRA guidelines on Public Policy Dialogue and Development Activities, as the rules have changed.
   3. Review Elections BC’s guidelines on election advertising and third-party advertising sponsors for both the provincial and local elections.
   4. Look at the Non-Profit Power Up Toolkit (search it on Google) for updated guidance on local election engagement.
   5. If you plan to spend money on election-related communications, register as a third-party advertising sponsor with Elections BC and set up a system to track those expenses.
2. Prepare your message and your people
   1. Write down one to three priority policy issues in plain-language bullets.
   2. Brief staff, board members, and volunteers on election-period rules, including the difference between personal political activity and speaking for the organization.
   3. Prepare talking points and impact stories for supporters or board members who may speak with candidates.
3. Engage candidates
   1. Keep outreach hyper-local: send introductory letters to candidates in your relevant geographies, sharing your story and key issues without making direct asks.
   2. Treat every candidate fairly and equally, with no favoritism in communications or scorecards.
4. After the election
   1. Between October 24th and the cabinet swearing-in (mid-to-late November), engage government bureaucrats and decision makers to reinsert your priorities and budget asks before cabinet is formed.
   2. Congratulate newly elected MLAs, prepare briefs for those in your ridings or relevant ministries, and request meetings to build relationships.
5. When in doubt
   1. Contact Elections BC or the BC Lobby Registry directly. Both want organizations to get it right and offer guidance.

For further guidance or training on government relations and election engagement, reach out to Nikki at Hilltop Public Affairs: info@hilltoppublicaffairs.ca

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

The RBC team will be available at the conference on June 5th where attendees can connect with RBC, all our sponsors and partners who specialize in supporting non-profit sector leaders.

🎫Last call to get your tickets at bcnonprofitconference.ca

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Vantage Point CEO, Zahra Esmail also highlights what to expect from the two-day conference which takes place across a virtual conference day on June 4 and an in-person gathering on June 5 at the Anvil Center in New Westminster. Learn more and get your tickets at [www.bcnonprofitconference.ca].

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Tune in for thoughtful insights and inspiration on how the sector can leverage digital fundraising tools. Then register for the 2026 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference here.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This conversation underscores a key message: climate resilience isn’t a side project, it needs to be woven into everyday operations, governance, and decision-making. Tune in for thoughtful insights and inspiration on how the sector can work together to meet the climate challenge. Then register for the 2026 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference here.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

In this conversation, Brad Offman of Greater Purpose and Zahra Esmail explore how purpose-driven businesses and non-profit leaders can come together to strengthen impact. They discuss the upcoming Greater Purpose West conference and the BC Non-profit Leadership Conference, highlighting themes of sector capacity building, collaboration, digital resilience, and the future of the nonprofit and care economies—offering listeners insight into why these gatherings matter and what participants can expect to gain.

REGISTER FOR GREATER PURPOSE WEST CONFERENCE

USE DISCOUNT CODE: GPC20 for a 20% discount

Don't Miss the British Columbia Non-Profit Leadership Conference 2026 (BCNPLC)!

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Correction: At approximately 50:12 in this episode, Mita intended to say “Rest is Resistance” instead of “Rest is Revolutionary.” 

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Collaboration Lab: Bridging People, Organizations, and Sectors: https://thevantagepoint.ca/training/all-labs/collaboration-lab/

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Resources

🎥🎞️ Watch the From our Vantage Point episode and presentation on Vimeo here:  

🎧 🎙️Listen to the episode on the From our Vantage Point podcast here: https://from-our-vantage-point.simplecast.com/episodes

️🖥️📚 The presentation used in the episode, can be found and downloaded separately here: Misconceptions about Rules of Order, Governance, and Minute Taking .pdf

🎁The full episode resource pack can be found here: Misconceptions about Non-Profit Governance - Resource Package - Vantage Point.pdf

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon | University of British Columbia
Kevin McCort | Vancouver Foundation
Walter Pela | Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

Host:

Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point’s Chief Executive Director

Resources:

Vantage Point State of the Sector Reports
BC Non-Profit Network
Vancouver Foundation
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade AI Adoption Program
University of British Columbia
UBC Community Engagement
BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference
Humanity Financial

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Chrissy Bennett | Kidney Foundation of Canada

Host:

Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point’s Associate Executive Director

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Hildy Gottlieb | Creating the Future

Host:

Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point’s Associate Executive Director

Editor:

Paul Wang

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Gordon Holley | Humanity Financial

Host:

Rafik Karwa | Vantage Point’s Director of Finance

Editor:

Paul Wang

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guest:

Alex Wilson | Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland and the Association of Fundraising Professionals

Host:

Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point's Chief Executive Officer

Editor:

Paul Wang

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Watch this podcast with closed captions here.

Guests:

Christopher T. Sutton | Wavefront Centre for Community Accessibility
Shelagh Levangie | Harbour West Consulting

Host:

Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point's Associate Executive Director

Editor:

Elijah Walsh

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Megan Dykeman | British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary 
Prairie Chiu | Vantage Point's Director of Engagement and Advocacy

Host:

Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point's Chief Executive Officer

Editor:

Paul Wang

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Guests:

Dr. Delbar Niroushak | Dr. Delbar's LinkedIn | Coaching for Change Enterprise
Hassan Pardawalla | Hassan's LinkedIn

Host:

Rachelle Smalldon | Vantage Point

Editor:

Elijah Walsh

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Resources:

2023 State of the Sector Report: thevantagepoint.ca/sector-reports/

Guests:

Christoph Cloudius | The Discovery Group
Carol Hall | Victoria Foundation
Lynette Milkashen | YMCA – Northern BC

Host:

Cherie Payne | Vantage Point

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Resources:

Tamarack Institute’s Resources: Collaboration Spectrum Tool and A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Collaboration

Adrienne Mare Brown’s Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation

Sustained Collaboration Network tools for non-profits: https://www.sustainedcollab.org/for-nonprofits/

Resource on effective mergers and amalgamations: Merging for Good 

Resources on co-location/shared space: https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/documents/PDF/Non-profit-SharedSpace-Toolkit.pdf

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

• Warrior Life Podcast
• Squeaky Wheel Podcast
• Bryce, P.H. (1922). The Story of a National Crime. James Hope & Sons Ltd, Ottawa.
• The Gift Of Sacred Being. In L.B. Brown, "Two Spirit People: American Indian Lesbian Women And Gay Men by: D. Champagne
• Daschuk, James. (2013). Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics or Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal life. University of Regina Press, Regina.
• Geddes, Gary (2007). Medicine Unbundled. Heritage House, Victoria.  
• Joseph, Bob. (2018). 21 Things you May not Know about the Indian Act. Indigenous Relations Press, British Columbia.
• Manuel, Arthur & Derrickson, Ronald. (2017). The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land, Rebuilding the Economy. James Lorimer and Company Ltd, Toronto.
• Palmater, Pamela. (2015). Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens. Fernwood Publishing, Nova Scotia.
• Reynolds, Jim. (2018). Aboriginal Peoples and the Law. Purich Publishers, UBC Press, Vancouver.
• Teillet, Jean. (2019). The Northwest is our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, The Metis Nation: HarperCollins Publisher’s Limited, Toronto.
• Out Saskatoon, Two Spirit 
• Missing and murdered indigenous womens report 

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Timestamps 

00:08 | Intro
01:36 | Hello, Darrell!
05:46 | What is coaching?
10:19 | Why is coaching an essential leadership skill?
16:14 | Coaching stories
23:26 | Ad
24:21 | Choosing your timing
29:36 | Ethical concerns & common mistakes
35:07 | Final suggestions & resources
36:24 | Outro & BOSS Conference Info

Resources

• Organizational Coaching Certificate (UBC)
• Introduction to Coaching (Vantage Point)
  • See next available in our events calendar
• Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham
• Oak Management Consulting
• Essential Impact

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

The Community Engagement office at UBC supports university and community partners to work together, bringing the full force of combined experiences, expertise, and knowledge to advance a more just and sustainable society. This episode features Kat Cureton, Advisor at Community Engagement, and Katie McCallum, who is the Manager of the Community Engagement office. It was great to talk to them both about where possible opportunities lie for not-for-profits and universities to work together towards their common goals. Before we jump into the conversation, I’d like to introduce you to our guests.

Timestamps

00:00 | Intro 

03:00 | Self introductions: Kat & Katie                           

05:51 | What part can universities play?

10:07 | Navigating the university system

 14:29 | Stories from the Help Desk

17:43 | Funding opportunities & hiring students

23:12 | Resource re-cap

23:35 | Humanity Financial Ad

24:28 | Making the ask

28:14 | How can universities listen?

33:12 | Reciprocity

35:28 | Accessible learning opportunities

38:45 | Closing reflections

40:40 | Outro 

Resources

• Community Partner Help Desk
• Contact email: community.engagement@ubc.ca
• Twitter: @ubcCommEngage
• Funding for community partners:
  • Partnership Recognition Fund
  • Community University Engagement Support Fund
• Mitacs
• UBC Arts Amplifier
• UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning
• Social Impact Lab
• UBC CareersOnline
• Community Scholars Program
• EdX
• UBC Extended Learning
• events.ubc.ca 

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Timestamps

00:00 | Intro 

01:37 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 1

04:07 | Warning Signs of Stage 1

04:35 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 2

07:47 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 3

08:48 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 4

11:54 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 5

16:30 | Most Common Barriers to Financial Liberation

19:20 | Outro

Resources

https://humanityfinancial.ca/

https://www.charitydata.ca/

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Timestamps

00:00 | Intro
01:52 | How it all began
04:28 | How boards can make a difference
06:39 | Who is Our Kids Climate for?
07:43 | What action looks like
11:37 | Does keeping up mean “going green”?
12:30 | Mitigation and Adaptation
16:06 | Ad
17:01 | Exploring Our Kids Climate Sessions
20:06 | Strategic planning for climate justice
21:23 | Scoping sector interest in climate action
26:26 | Getting started
27:56 | Expecting the unexpected
31:25 | Outro

-----------------------

Resources

ourkidsclimate.ca

Ep. 63: Democracy, Equity, and Climate Change - oh my!

------------------------

Summary

Not-for-profit leaders are uniquely situated in the fight against the climate crisis – regardless of their organizational mission. Michael Davis of Our Kids Climate joins for our third episode of the year to discuss how boards can integrate meaningful environmental sustainability dialogue into their work and act towards climate justice within their own organizations. We also talk about how a focus on climate is a matter of keeping up with social innovation and being a leader in inevitable public policy changes.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Leah Coss of Build a Biz Kids joins the podcast this month to talk about the benefits of engaging skilled volunteers. Rowan and Leah discuss what it can look like to take the leap and re-envision volunteerism in your organization, and how organizational leaders can get creative with volunteer engagement.

Resources

Build a Biz Kids
bit.ly/3vfkN8Y

Episode 55: “A For-Profit Lens in Not-for-Profit Organizations”
bit.ly/3vdtHUq

Book: The Lean Startup
bit.ly/3JSvwdD

Book: Lean Impact
bit.ly/3IiuB5L

Engaging Skilled Volunteers Workshop
bit.ly/34YKpwo

Customized Training at Vantage Point
bit.ly/3JSYAlq

Timestamps

00:00 | Intro
02:10 | A for-profit lens
06:37 | Volunteerism at Build a Biz Kids
19:12 | Why volunteer?
24:52 | Ad
25:33 | Volunteer recognition
29:45 | A closer look at group interviews
37:08 | Re-evaluating your volunteer program
41:50 | Outro

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Jennifer Walowic of SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue returns to From Our Vantage Point to expand on democratic engagement and introduce her new workbook, Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts. This is a sequel to our February 2020 podcast, The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement.

Resources:

Podcast – The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement
https://bit.ly/3H6PvV1

Workbook: Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts
https://bit.ly/3rUYTVo

Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
https://bit.ly/3KZYB8u

Participedia
https://participedia.net/

Time stamps:

00:00 | Intro
02:40 | About the Workbook
04:36 | Five Principles Re-Cap
08:22 | Unpacking Dialogue
11:00 | “Yes, And...”
12:00 | Ad
12:42 | Choose Your Own Adventure
15:07 | Step 1
17:17 | Step 2
21:08 | Step 5
23:37 | Humanity in Research
26:08 | Wrap-up & Outro

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Celebrate the end of 2021 with us Vantage Point staff members as Rowan interviews fellow colleagues Cherie Payne, Maria Turnbull, and Shagun Bhanot. After what was a turbulent year for many of us in BC and the not-for-profit sector, we thought it would be nice to come together, enjoy each other’s conversation, and celebrate the challenges we surpassed in 2021 as well as look ahead to the future. We also had a great discussion on where Vantage Point is at and what our most recent changes might mean for you, our community members.

We hope you enjoy our farewell to 2021 and we’re looking forward to the work to come in the new year.

Episode moments:

00:00 | Intro
01:06 | Guest intros
01:52 | A Vantage Point memory from 2021
03:45 | A sector memory from 2021
06:15 | Looking ahead with Vantage Point’s new leadership
10:26 | Reflections on the AGM
16:28 | -------- Ad ---------
17:19 | Reflecting on a year of change in the sector
22:20 | What keeps us motivated
27:50 | 2021 inspirations for 2022
30:33 | Online shopping or online meetings?
33:44 | Thank you’s and farewells

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month’s podcast features Mark Friesen, a familiar face at Vantage Point for his work on the team as a consultant for many years. Mark was instrumental in the development of our Capacity Lab, a series of learning opportunities designed for not-for-profit leaders to apply the Lifecycles Model. It allows them to take a step back from the day-to-day to identify where their organization’s growing pains exist and strategize how to move forward. In this episode, Mark explains the Lifecycles Model and how Capacity Lab came to be out of a need for this overarching self-evaluation, and a space where leaders can convene to support each other in their assessments and strategic planning.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month’s podcast shines a light on fat employees and how leaders can build safe working environments for employees of any size!

Sasha Burden joins From Our Vantage Point for a great discussion on what inclusion in the not-for-profit (and for-profit) workplace looks like when it comes to employees of size: What are some things to consider when planning team building activities? How do we account for fat employees’ needs in HR policies? We even discuss healthy ways to talk about health.

We hope this episode answers some of your “taboo” questions relating to culture and policy planning.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

In a special edition podcast, Director of Government Relations and Sector Development Cherie Payne guest hosts a conversation with Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development and Non-Profits, Niki Sharma. Niki was appointed her role as a first for BC’s provincial government in 2020 and has lots to say about her work bridging the connection between not-for-profits and government.

Together, Cherie and Niki cover an array of topics, from emerging gender inequality trends and insights in the work force since the start of Covid-19, childcare funding allocation and unique community needs, and how decisions around funding the not-for-profit sector are made in government at all levels.

We hope you enjoy!

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

We centre food insecurity in the Lower Mainland with Zahra Esmail, Executive Director of South Van Neighbourhood House, and Upkar Singh Tatlay, Executive Director of Engaged Communities Canada Society in this very special podcast.

While food insecurity is the theme, Zahra, Upkar, and podcast host Rowan discuss how racial biases impact the lives of immigrants, refugees, and street-entrenched individuals and how ECCS and Neighbourhood House support the work to meet their needs.

Meet Our Sponsor: Humanity Financial [https://humanityfinancial.ca]

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Anna Whelan, Executive Director of the HiVE, and Board Member Juliana Craig, join us to introduce Vancouver’s only not-for-profit coworking space. Here we discuss what the HiVE’s pandemic recovery looks like and how collaboration and community have bolstered and uplifted staff, members, and the sector in general throughout times of change.

HiVE Vancouver is a not-for-profit social enterprise serving the social venture community. Their space is a unique coworking space located in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC. They are home to change makers, social enterprises, environmental sustainability groups, and other creative class individuals that support social and environmental sustainability. With over 100 desks, three board rooms and 9,000 square feet of space, there’s a home for just about everyone at the HiVE.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This week, Nav joins the podcast from the other side of the From Our Vantage Point table and discusses her work at Vantage Point, her vision for the podcast, and what’s next. Nav is the new Marketing & Communications Manager at Take a Hike Foundation, although many know her as the voice of the Vantage Point podcast. Listen in on this brief chat to mark the end of an era and join Rowan as he picks up where Nav leaves off as the third host of From Our Vantage Point.

Take a Hike Foundation engages vulnerable youth in a full-time program of intensive and continuous clinical counselling, outdoor adventure, academics, and community. They partner with public school districts who provide a high-quality education, and together empower youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, and navigate their own path to success.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Our April podcast brings an in-depth conversation with Elodie Jacquet, Manager of Knowledge and Practice at SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. We chat about democracy, equity, climate change, and how they come together to form many intersections within the sector. We chat about what must change, how systems can be addressed, and building the future.

The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
The Centre uses dialogue and engagement to facilitate transformative conversations and create real-world impact for society’s most pressing challenges. They strengthen Canadian democracy by promoting democratic values and innovation, spread best practices by providing dialogue training and tools, and help governments to engage citizens and stakeholders through our consulting services.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

In this in-depth conversation with Kris Archie, Chief Executive Officer of The Circle, we discuss the colonial nature of philanthropy and how it upholds white supremacy in the not-for-profit sector and affected communities. Then, we imagine how a decolonized philanthropy model could look and explore the necessary steps to reach an equitable funding system.

The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada (The Circle) transforms philanthropy and contributes to positive change between Philanthropy and Indigenous communities by creating spaces of learning, innovation, relationship-building, co-creation, and activation. The Circle works alongside Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous informed organizations, organizations with Indigenous beneficiaries, our members, and philanthropic signatories of The Declaration of Action to encourage individuals and organizations to learn, acknowledge, and understand more about reconciliation and the decolonization of wealth.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Dorla Tune, Organizational Consultant at Vantage Point, joins us to chat about philanthropic narratives and the impacts they can have on our communities, how funds are allocated, and who works within those narratives. We have a frank and honest discussion about what needs to change and why philanthropic narratives matter.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Hildy Gottlieb, co-founder of Creating the Future, and Omar Dominguez, Director of Government Relations and Sector Development at Vantage Point, join us to chat about catalytic thinking and how it can be used to create the future through uncertainty. We will use our upcoming revamped BOSS conference as a case study as we dive into an innovative new way of thinking.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month we are joined by Sam Bradd, Principle of Drawing Change, to chat about Graphic Recording. We go into depth about what Graphic Recording is, how to utilize it within an organization, and how it acts as a tool for inclusion in meetings and convening sessions.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month we are joined by Jennifer Wolowic from SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and Alisha Masongsong from Exchange Inner City. Together, we dive into SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue’s “Five Principles of Democratic Engagement” and chat about how these principles can function well within an organization.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Mark Friesen, Executive Director of the Columbia College Society, joins us to chat about public policy and how an organization can begin this work and what it means to get into advocacy work. We also chat about how Vantage Point is taking on public policy and what we hope will come from it.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Margaret Mason, a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright joins us this month to chat about why you shouldn’t start that charity you’ve been mulling over. We talk about partnership opportunities, how to cultivate collaboration for your mission, and much more.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month we are joined by Bob Wang, senior advisor at Deloitte, to find out how using a corporate lens can help further the impact of your organization. We chat about programs, services, and financials - and how assessing them differently can elevate the way we do our work.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Ruby Ng, Executive Director for the Disability Foundation and Vantage Point board member, joins us this month to discuss the impact a branding strategy can have on an organization. We explore how to approach branding, what to do when getting started, and how often organizations should reassess their strategies.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Gordon Holley, Vantage Point board member and Humanity Financial’s CEO joins us this month to explore how to leverage financial systems to maximize organizational impact. We discuss how efficient and effective financial systems can make all the difference when considering the impact of an organization both internally and externally.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This month we sit down with Vantage Point’s Consulting Manager, Lisa Torreggiani to chat about why client relations matters and what can happen when organizations take on client relations management thoughtfully and what can happen when they don’t. Lisa takes from her experience not only at Vantage Point and other not-for-profit organizations but also from her work in private sector sales and management.

Presented by Humanity Financial Management

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.