The School of Leadership, Equality, and Equity at St. Paul University in Ottawa recently hosted Louise Sproule of Vankleek Hill as one of its guest speakers for a lunchtime discussion series about Being a Leader. On Friday, October 3, Sproule discussed Leadership in Rural Communities with participants in an online session.

Professor Carol Kozmochka said the objective of the Being a Leader Series is to discuss social transformation in a complex world and better appreciate the available resources to act in transformative ways.

Sproule was the Publisher of The Review from 1992 until 2024. Through her ownership of The Review, she was able to lead many initiatives in the community, including the restoration of the Higginson Tower, the creation of the annual Trash n’ Treasure town-wide yard sale, the Christmas Home Tour, Fibre Frolic, fundraising and awareness for organizations and causes, and attracting public attention to local issues.

She explained how it is necessary to be open and listen to people to learn their stories.  

“If people know that you’re open and receptive, they will tell you almost everything.”

“That’s where life’s meaning lies in our stories,” Sproule said.

She believes being the one to step forward and being the one leading the charge are the characteristics that make community leaders.

“They’re not afraid to lead the parade,” was her description.

Sproule said leadership also takes people who can be relied upon and are willing to take risks.

“You have to be a person with credibility; you have to be a person who will put yourself on the line.”

Organizing things for the first time is something Sproule approaches with enthusiasm.

“It’s one of my most favourite things to do,” she said.

She described leading the effort to restore the Higginson Tower between 2006 and 2015 and assisting the Dalkeith Historical Society with acquiring the former church that is now the Robertson-Clark Building as things that took sheer force of will, hard work, and sincerity.

As an example of the strength of the community, Sproule estimated there are currently three dozen not for profit organizations in Vankleek Hill.

She described The Review as an institution that can influence decisions, create a sense of belonging and inclusion for residents, and a driver of economic development.

“People want to belong.”

Sproule said people feel included when they participate in community life in person.

“Nobody’s happier because they’ve spent four hours on Facebook.”

“We’re one hour away from five million people but we still have turkey dinners at the church hall and we have an agricultural fair.”

Sproule believes community leadership should be done with altruism, transparency, and with reliance on existing community leaders.

“If you’re there for the wrong reasons, it will not work out.”

“You can do almost anything if it has a purpose and it has meaning.”

She said Vankleek Hill’s significant artistic community has helped transform local life.

“They stir things up.”

When asked about ensuring community life appeals to younger and diverse residents, Sproule said a certain amount of change has always existed and everyone must come to the centre to find commonalities. She said the community changes every day for both longtime residents and newcomers.

“What do we want our small town to look like?” is the question Sproule asked about the future of the community.

She added that young people always have ideas for change and advancement of community life.

Louise Sproule’s entire Being a Leader; Leadership in Rural Communities presentation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtukJNtGmOk.