Join ACSI Western Canada for the Administrator / Board Conference 2025, held in stunning Banff, Alberta. Situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant atmosphere. This year, the conference will center around the Flourishing School Culture Model focus on Relationships.
Traveling to Banff
Banff Park Lodge
The ACSI Western Canada Administrator/Board Conference will be held at the Banff Park Lodge. By making your reservation here, you can take advantage of a special preferred rate! *Please note to utilize the preferred rate, your booking must be made by October 17th, 2025.
Banff Airporter
The easiest way to get to Banff Park Lodge - no rental car needed!
Banff is best experienced on foot! As such, we’re excited to partner with Banff Airporter, our preferred travel partner, to make your journey from the Calgary International Airport directly to the hotel as smooth as possible.
Exclusive Offer for Attendees:
Enjoy 15% off Banff Airporter's scheduled shuttle service, operating 11x times daily between the airport and Banff.
To guarantee your seat, please book at least 2-3 weeks in advance. We hope you take up on this wonderful offer!
Keynote Speaker—Paul Campey
Paul Campey has over 30 years experience in the governance, leadership, management and consulting to Christian Schools in Australia and internationally. He has assisted hundreds of schools with consulting assignments, recruitment of leaders and Board training. He has co-authored and contributed to many books and journal articles as well as speaking at conferences all over the world. Paul specializes in the areas of Governance, Strategic Leadership and Financial Management of Christian organizations. He is a Chartered Accountant by background and is currently completing a PhD related to School Governance. He is married to Lynne, has two married daughters and one grand-daughter.
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In amongst the busyness of leading and governing a Christian School with packed agendas and issues to deal with it is sometimes easy to forget that the decisions we make need to be ones where we seek God’s will on an issue rather than just rely on ourselves. This session is based on Doctoral research that examines the nature and role of Christian Spiritual Discernment in decision making by Christian School Boards.
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Ever considered the why, who, what and how of Christian organizations and the way in which relational sustainers between stakeholders can be key to your school having clarity and achieving its Purpose, Vision and Values? This session uses the proven Community Governance Framework to assist you in the development and maintenance of a healthy Christian School.
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So often as organizations we utilize a lengthy, complex and very business-based Strategic Planning process. The result is more work for a few, more goals than we know how to handle and sometimes less clarity and more complexity as we seek to chart a path forward. This session will explore a new approach to Strategic Planning that is more agile, God directed, less complicated and engages governors, managers and the broader staff alike.
Breakout Speakers
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What is Christian about your Leadership? — As board and leaders, there are often checks and balances in place: doctrinal and membership statements to sign, a pastoral reference to complete. We pray at the start of a board meeting, perhaps even lead out with a devotion in our staff meeting. Is that what makes leadership Christian? I know that Jesus describes us as salt . . . but is a sprinkling of prayer and a dash of bible study what makes our leadership different? In this session, we will explore practices and postures of kingdom leadership that make us truly distinct and centered for kingdom impact.
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Leading Spiritual Formation: Shaping the Desires of Students’ Hearts — We all know students whose faith thrived in our schools but who have since “deconstructed.” How can school leaders cultivate a culture of Spiritual Formation that prepares students for the challenges of life after Grade 12? AJ will explore effective approaches to shaping the desires of students’ hearts, drawing on insights from ACSI Western Canada schools. Attendees will look at various ACSI resources that can help lead spiritual formation in your School.
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1 : Understanding the Social Brain of Teenagers — The brain learns through social interaction, feedback, correction and observation...with all of the social media/peer influences that exist today, how can classroom teachers and leaders position themselves as respected influencers in students’ lives? The 3 R’s: Relentless relationship reinforcement.
2: Let’s Talk: How Social Cognition Creates Better Leaders and Teachers — Part of my dissertation research focused on relational learning of teachers/leaders. Even though it can be difficult to humble oneself and be a vulnerable to learn from others’ feedback and collective decision-making, research has shown that collective efficacy is enhanced through learning relationships.
3: Helping Our Teachers with ADHD, Autism, Learning Differences and Other Neurodivergent Profiles Thrive — Many of our teachers have the same neurodivergent profiles that our students have: ADHD, Autism, Learning Disorders, Emotional and Behaviour Disorders, and more. We talk all the time about differentiating our instruction to help our students thrive, but do we spend the same amount of time thinking about how to help our teachers with these neurodivergent profiles thrive? What do neurodivergent teachers need from their administrators and colleagues to thrive and be the best educators they can be? That’s what this session is all about.
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Living & Leading in an Age of Anxiety — In Mark Sayer’s new book, A Non-Anxious Presence, How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders, he suggests that anxiety is the dominant theme in our world and our leadership. This anxiety is generated by what he calls the ‘gray zone’ in which we now live and lead. This is a time of confusion and chaos for many as one era passes away, and the next is yet to be defined. We are experiencing the deconstruction of the foundations of a culture we once knew while a host of competing and conflicting ideologies vie to shape the meta-narrative of the new era. It is a messy, disturbing, and contradictory time. And thus, the age of anxiety. In this interactive session, Dr. Balik will unpack these realities in more detail while at the same time facilitating discussion along with opportunities for Q&A.
Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will…
Have a better understanding of anxiety and how it can be leveraged for good.
Think more critically about how often times a crisis can be disguised as an opportunity.
Remember that the history of the church tells us that crisis always precedes renewal, and the framework of renewal offers us new ways forward.
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The Soft Skills for the Hardest Times — In this session, we will look at prevention, process, and purging to ensure our staff have the best opportunity to be successful. Specifically, we will explore ways to engage with the unable, unwilling, unhappy, or toxic staff member. Time will be given for discussion, support, and collaboration.
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Relationship-Based Advocacy — is a workshop designed for school leaders who want to move beyond reactionary engagement and become trusted voices that politicians, community leaders, and stakeholders call upon for wisdom and insight. This session explores the unique role that educational leaders play in shaping dialogue with government and community. Participants will learn how to identify the “work only you can do,” leverage their position and expertise, and steward their influence with clarity, integrity, and purpose. Through practical strategies—storytelling, community mobilization, and proactive relationship-building—you will discover how to frame issues effectively, communicate with credibility, and engage your school community in meaningful advocacy
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The Paradox of Modern Happiness — In an age of endless digital connection, people are lonelier than ever—this workshop reveals why screen time and isolation fuel anxiety, and how rediscovering real community and face-to-face relationships can restore joy and resilience. Come and discover why our students and their families are struggle to build thick resilient relationships and learn how to help them achieve this live affirmed outcome.
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Details Coming Soon
Opens: September 1, 2025
Deadline: October 30, 2025