Have you ever thought about running for public office? Do you wonder what it would be like to serve as a legislator? If you have political aspirations, but want to know more about what being a legislator means and how to be effective in that role, you should apply to UBC’s Summer Institute for Future Legislators. The Institute provides intensive hands-on mentoring and training for anyone who seeks the experience and knowledge necessary to make a difference—whether at the local, provincial, or federal level.
The UBC Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions is soliciting applications from a diverse and cross-partisan group of people of all ages and backgrounds. The only prerequisite is legislative aspirations and a readiness to learn from highly experienced practitioners.
With local elections in October, many people are thinking about running for municipal office. This year’s program will have an added focus on local democracy and gender in politics.
Past practitioners include: George Abbott, Dawn Black, Larry Campbell, Ujjal Dosanjh, Mike Harcourt, Joy MacPhail, Preston Manning, Anne McLellan, Chuck Strahl, Carole Taylor & many others.
Topics include:
- Legislatures & Legislative Life
- Parliamentary Relationships
- Political Ethics & Judgement
- Working in the House
- Municipal Politics
- Gender in Politics
- Communications
- Representation
- Constituency Service
PROGRAM DATES
July 14th& 15th, July 28th & 39th (held at UBC Point Grey Campus)
August 10th – 13th (parliamentary simulation held in Victoria, BC).
PROGRAM FEE*: $1200 CAD
Apply for a scholarship! Thanks to the Vancouver Foundation, a limited number of scholarships are available.
APPLY online: https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/summer-institute/
Application deadline: April 16, 2018
For information on how to apply, contact:
Rebecca Alegría Monnerat,
Program Manager
Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions
School of Public Policy & Global Affairs
University of British Columbia
6476 NW Marine Drive
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z2
Email: rebecca.monnerat@ubc.ca
Tel: (604)827-4390
*Current undergraduate UBC students wanting to take the program for course credit (registering for POLI 308b, a 3-credit course), visit our website or contact rebecca.monnerat@ubc.ca for information on the program fee, tuition fees and details on the five extra seminar dates.
Backgrounder
Past Summer Institutes for Future Legislators have featured such speakers as Preston Manning, former Leader of the Official Opposition, former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt, former federal deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, and former BC Minister of Finance, Carole Taylor.
The Institute is the first step toward a proposed permanent Institute for Future Legislators at UBC. To reside in UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, the proposed academic program is being envisioned as one the world’s first comprehensive training programs for aspiring legislators.
Watch the brief video summary on the program:
Comments from participants in previous years:
“I can’t recommend this program enough! Had a great experience last year; it’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to get a sense of what working in politics might be like…and develop ideas for how we might practice politics in a better way!”
– Chris Gorczynski (IFL 2017)
Learn more at http://www.democracy.arts.ubc.ca.