Project: 3 major projects as part of large-scale strategic renewal in the Department of Co-operative Education & Career Services (CECS) at the University of Waterloo (UW) in Waterloo, Ontario.

Client: The Executive Director, CECS

UW’s CECS, administers the world’s largest co-operative education program, and the oldest in Canada. CECS had embarked on a 3-year program of renewal of its co-op support, a key part of UW’s offering to students and an important part of the University’s overall brand and profile. The goal was to strengthen the co-op program, enhancing UW’s reputation as a leader in co-operative education, and contributing to UW’s strategic priorities through targeted support in areas such as international development, relationships with employers and business partners, and process improvement to increase efficiency and value-add to stakeholders.

Bright Harbour was engaged to support the following 3 projects:

Articulation of the Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles for CECS. The process engaged staff and other key stakeholders to develop and create buy-in and support. A roll-out, communication and change management plan were also key deliverables.

An Employer Relations and Marketing (ERM) Strategy. The deliverables were a list of key marketing priorities for co-op, a description of the required skills and resources to deliver the strategy, and an organization design for the ERM area.

An Organizational Design for all co-op related functions within CECS. The deliverables included a description of the proposed major functions and accountabilities within co-op, including how they should be organized structurally, detailed accountability descriptions and qualifications for the leaders of each unit, and a transition plan to move from current state to the new model.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Facilitated the development of strategic plan, including mission, vision, values and strategic objectives/action plan.

Client: Waterloo-Wellington Brain Injury Association, Waterloo, Ontario.

Project involved working with a core team and other stakeholders, including the Board, clients, and funders, through working sessions, seeking input and engagement from key people, and helping the group focus its efforts to describe a renewed purpose, ideal future, and articulate its values. We then worked with the group to create objectives and action plans aligned with these core principles.

Project: Strategy and action plan

Client: Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA

Designed and facilitated the process that resulted in a new strategy and implementation plan for the YMCA. Process included CEO and senior YMCA leaders.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Design and facilitation of a conference

Client: Ontario Farmland trust

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Design and facilitation of strategic planning process

Client: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Exploratory Merger of two Neighbourhood Associations

Client: Joe-Ann McComb, Director, Christopher Champlain Community Centre, Cambridge, Ontario

Unique project focused on the potential merger of two neighbourhood associations. Work included consultation and coaching of the Director, design and structure of process to evaluate potential merger, inclusion of Board members, development of transparent processes, planning financial and non-financial activities in the future state, communication plan to all stakeholders, facilitated staff sessions, facilitation of Board strategy session, and currently helping develop a new name for combined organization.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Strategic Planning Process with University student organization

Client: Ron Craig, Prof. of Business, Wilfrid Laurier University

Bright Harbour Partners was engaged to lead, in concert with an internal Working Group, the development and documentation of a Strategic Planning process. The project took place over several months and involved University Business Students, Faculty and Alumni working in business and technology. The scope of the work included project planning, meeting design, facilitation and Report writing. Project outcomes included the writing of a Task Force Report, Student presentation of Recommendations to an Advisory Group and Bright Harbour Partner design and facilitation of a Strategic Planning Offsite.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Facilitated Not-for-Profit Merger

Clients: Meals On Wheels of KW, Friendship Group for Seniors, RAISE Home Support, and Meals On Wheels and Community Home Support of Cambridge

Four not-for-profit charitable organizations in the Region of Waterloo – Meals On Wheels of KW, Friendship Group for Seniors, RAISE Home Support, and Meals On Wheels and Community Home Support of Cambridge – committed to merge in April 2007 and develop a new service delivery model in order to further enhance their ability to provide community support services in an efficient and effective manner.

Bright Harbour was engaged to support this innovative merger. Bright Harbour illuminated the path ahead for these energetic organizations, assisting them in shaping their new direction, ensuring that the full spectrum of merger opportunities and challenges were considered, and addressing the nitty-gritty details of implementation.

Specific tasks included:

• Facilitated Mission, Vision and Values development, establishing a beacon for all stakeholders
• Recruited and selected an executive director for the new organization
• Developed an internal organizational structure to fully support the organization’s client-centred service delivery model
• Facilitated process for selection of new organization name
• Developed a merged, information-sharing platform to support the efficient and effective delivery of services
• Integrated the compensation systems and procedures of the four founding agencies
• Communicated with and engaged all stakeholders throughout, including employees, funders, volunteers and clients

Project: Developed a Customized Performance Management Framework and Tools

Client: Desire2Learn Inc.

This collaborative effort between Desire2Learn Inc. and Bright Harbour resulted in the development of a performance management framework as well as a planning tool and education support for both managers and staff. Bright Harbour provided the content and process expertise to support the development of the framework and tools. Desire2Learn managers and staff were involved throughout the development through focus-group meetings and feedback sessions to ensure the tools met the needs of the whole organization.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Customized Sessions for Managers

Client: Desire2Learn Inc.

Bright Harbour designed and facilitated several customized offsite sessions for the Desire2Learn Inc. management team. These interactive sessions focused on strategic and operational planning and direction setting. These meetings provided valuable clarity of direction, alignment of management thinking, and development of the management team. The results: an organizational commitment to annual offsite meetings and engagement sessions.

For a testimonial, please click here.

Project: Developed Strategic Plan

Client: HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre

Bright Harbour structured and facilitated a strategic process that resulted in the completion of a Second Decade Plan for the growth and sustainability of HopeSpring. Under the direction of the Board Chair, key principles were developed to reflect the founding tenets and ongoing culture of this unique organization. The steps included significant engagement of agency members, staff, volunteers, community supporters, government officials, and hospital and educational leaders. Bright Harbour also conducted research on the direction of healthcare policy and health services delivery challenges within the HopeSpring community, as well as gathered interviews and data from similar organizations in other communities, both within Canada and abroad.

For a testimonial, please click here.