Original article: Fast Forward to Flourishing: Collectively stewarding the conditions for our community to thrive
Education News Canada (release from Foothills School Division No. 38), October 23, 2026
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Foothills School Division convened 80 people from across its Alberta region on October 15 to explore how a whole community can steward the conditions for young people to flourish. The gathering, part of the Fast Forward to a Flourishing CommUNITY project, was facilitated by Dr. Jessica Riddell of the Hope Circuits Institute and hosted in space provided by the Town of Okotoks. Its central question was not about outcomes alone, but about the conditions from which strong outcomes emerge.

What happened in Okotoks

The division reports that the session:

• Brought together educators, parents, municipal representatives, public safety professionals, business leaders, non-profits and post-secondary partners.
• Asked participants to look for “glimmers”, moments when young people experience belonging, purpose and connection.
• Had each person map three spheres: what they can control, what they can influence through relationships, and what they care about but cannot carry alone.

Why this matters for Human Flourishing

Superintendent Dr. Chris Fuzessy shifted the question from results to the conditions that produce them. That is the core move of Human Flourishing work: belonging, purpose and connection are conditions to cultivate, not targets to demand. The Foothills approach treats flourishing as a shared responsibility that emerges through relationships.

Leadership and coaching: how this applies

For leaders, the lesson is to ask what conditions their team's best results grow from, then protect and expand them. The article notes that hope requires trust and vulnerability. Starting with what is already working is a practical way to build that trust before tackling what is not.

Coaches and managers can borrow both tools directly. In a one-on-one, ask a team member to name a recent glimmer at work and what made it possible. In a team session or leadership program, have people sort a shared challenge into what they control, what they can influence, and what they need others to carry with them.

Frequently asked questions

What are the three spheres used in the Foothills session?

Participants considered what they can control, what they can influence through relationships, and what they care deeply about but cannot carry alone. The exercise helped people see their individual and collective roles in a flourishing community.

What is a glimmer in leadership and coaching?

In the session, glimmers were moments that are already working, such as a young person experiencing belonging or purpose. Naming them helps a group see which conditions to strengthen.

Who is Dr. Jessica Riddell?

Dr. Jessica Riddell facilitated the Foothills gathering and brought the Hope Circuits approach to a K-12 setting. The division points readers to her website, jessicariddell.com, to learn more about Hope Circuits.