About the Conference

AMCTO is excited to welcome back together our community of municipal experts for four days of learning, networking and ultimately, advancing the municipal profession. This year's conference focuses on the spirit of what we can achieve when we work together as a sector. Join us to reconnect with colleagues, to build new and collaborative partnerships, to feel inspired by new ideas and reinvigorated to better serve your community!

Date: Sunday, June 12 - Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Location: The Niagara Hilton Fallsview Resort & Casino
6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 7X5

Online registration for the in-person conference is now closed. For more information or to find out if spots are still available to attend, please contact us at conference@amcto.com.

(See below for details regarding this year's virtual offering)

Need additional support?
Check out our sample letter to attend and our 2022 Conference Registration Guide.

#WelcomeBackTogether

KEYNOTES

Dr. David Williams

Record-breaking Astronaut, Aquanaut & Leadership Expert

A true Canadian hero, Dr. Dave Williams is an emergency room specialist, former hospital CEO, aquanaut, astronaut – and the only non-American to hold a directorship at NASA. He has extensive experience leading organizations where uncontrolled risks can have significant consequences; those lessons are captured in his unique keynote and workshop presentations he shares to inspire today's professionals. In his presentations, Dave addresses topics such as risk management, leadership, resilience, team building and team work, motivation, health and well-being. Discover 'the NASA way' and how you can apply these principles to support your own internal teams, boost creativity and ultimately, serve and inspire those in your municipality!

Dr. Rumeet Billan

Leadership, Emotional Resilience and Mental Health Expert

Dr. Rumeet Billan helps people optimize their potential by building resilience and emotional intelligence. She provides strategies on how to manage mental health challenges in the workplace and at home. Through her interactive, engaging, and informative presentations, Dr. Billan effectively illustrates how companies and organizations can unlock the potential of their teams. The result? Increased productivity and profitability, and healthier workplace and organizational cultures. Dr. Billan earned her PhD from the University of Toronto and is an award-winning learning architect and humanitarian. She led the ground-breaking national research study, The Tallest Poppy, focused on women in the workplace. This survey of 1,500 professionals across Canada found that a shocking 87% of respondents were cut down, attacked, and/or resented by co-workers for their success. Dr. Billan also co-led the Canadian Happiness at Work Study in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association and in 2020, was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Power Women.

Event Details

Online registration for the in-person conference is now closed. For more information or to find out if spots are still available to attend, please contact us at conference@amcto.com.

Explore the tabs below to learn more about this year’s event including various conference activities, networking and professional development opportunities.

For details and FAQs, please see our 2022 Conference Registration Guide.

Travel & Accommodations

Book Your Stay:
Call 1-866-873-9829 and mention the group booking code AMCTO2 or book online.

Hotel Address:
Hilton Fallsview, Niagara Falls
6361 Fallsview Blvd.
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 3V9

Driving Directions:
Take 403 South bound to the QEW Hamilton. Follow the QEW signs to Niagara. Once in Niagara Falls merge left onto Hwy #420. You will come to the main intersection of Hwy #420 and Stanley Ave. Make a right turn onto Stanley Ave. and follow for approx. 5 minutes. Turn left onto Murray St. At the next intersection, turn right onto Fallsview Boulevard.

Conference Show Floor Address (across the street from hotel):
Fallsview Resort & Casino
6380 Fallsview Blvd.
Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7X5

Event Schedule & Speakers

Event schedule subject to change

Time	Activity	Speaker(s)
Sunday, June 12
7:30 AM - 2:30 PM	Golf Tournament
8:45 AM - 5:00 PM	Conference Registration Open
2:00-2:30 PM / 3:00-3:30 PM	Venue Walk-through
5:00-5:45 PM	First-Time Conference Attendees & Scholarship Recipients Reception
5:00 - 6:00 PM	AMCTO Volunteer Appreciation Mixer	Sandra MacDonald, CMO, AOMC 2021-2022 AMCTO President Robert Tremblay, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Township of Whitewater Region Dean Sauriol Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Town of Laurentian Valley
6:00 - 6:30 PM	Group Icebreaker Session
6:00 - 6:30 PM	AMCTO Board & Zone Executive Reception
6:30 PM	Exhibit Hall Open
7:15 - 11:00 PM	Place your Bets! Viva Niagara Falls Conference Kick-Off Party
Monday, June 13
7:00 - 7:30 AM	Morning Yoga
7:15 AM - 4:15 PM	Quiet Room Open
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Conference Registration Open
8:00 - 9:00 AM	Breakfast Session - MPAC: Supporting our Municipal Partners and 2022 Enumeration Update	Jason Hagan Regional Manager, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations MPAC Shannon Long Account Manager, Enumeration MPAC Carmelo Lipsi VP and Chief Operating Officer MPAC
8:00 - 9:00 AM	Breakfast Session - Municipal Resilience: Modernizing Operations With Automation and Security In Mind	Richard Freeman Portfolio Manager, Bursiness Process Services RICOH Canada Inc. Epsit Jajal Virtual CIO - Ricoh IT Services RICOH Canada Inc.
8:45 - 9:00 AM / 10:15 - 10:30 AM	Coffee Break with Exhibitors
9:00 - 9:20 AM	Municipal Trivia
9:30 - 10:15 AM	Conference Opening Ceremonies	David Arbuckle, MPA Executive Director, AMCTO Sandra MacDonald, CMO, AOMC 2021-2022 AMCTO President
10:30 - 11:30 AM	The Nasa Way: Keynote Presentation	Dr. David Williams Record-breaking Astronaut, Aquanaut & Leadership Expert
11:30 AM - 1:15 PM	Exhibitor Bingo Challenge
12:00 - 1:15 PM	Lunch
12:00 - 1:15 PM	Breaking the Glass Cieling: Every Female Leader Needs a Plan - Women's Networking Lunch	Debi Wilcox, MPA, PRP, CMO, CMIII Life + Leadership Coach CEO/Founder - Meetings Solutions Group
1:15 - 2:45 PM	CAO/Council Relationships	Ann Mitchell Owner Mitchell's Consulting
	Citizen Advisory Committees: The Engagement Tool of Yesteryear?	Tyler Cox, CMO, Dipl.M.A. Manager, Legislative Services City of Ottawa Aren Plante, MPA Committee Coordinator Norfolk County
	Talking Finance with your New Council	Heather Brown Manager of Accounting & Corporate Services Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario (MFOA) Donna Herridge Executive Director Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario (MFOA) Suzanna Dieleman Manager of Policy Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario (MFOA)
	Preparing your Presiding Officer	Denise Labelle Gélinas Consultant
2:45 - 3:00 PM	Exhibitor Bingo Challenge Winners Announced
3:00 - 3:45 PM	Role-based Networking Sessions (Clerks, Treasurers, CAOs, Municipal staff)
3:45 - 4:15 PM	Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors
3:55 - 4:35 PM	Municipal Elections Drop-In Discussion Session
4:00 - 4:35 PM	Level-Up with AMCTO Education Programs	Ya-Yin Ko Manager, Education AMCTO
4:30 - 5:30 PM	AMCTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Launch Party
5:20 - 11:00 PM	A Night Out on the Falls: Evening Excursion
Tuesday, June 14
7:30 - 8:30 AM	Breakfast Session - The ‘Royal Flush’ in Digital Accessibility	Adam Spencer President & CEO AbleDocs Inc.
7:30 - 8:30 AM	Breakfast Session - Kick-starting an Effective Election Comms Strategy	Ben Fagg VP, Business Development & Global Alliances Scytl Kimberley Kitteringham City Clerk & Director of Legislative Services, Corporate Communications and Community Engagement City of Markham Michael Blackburn Manager, Election Communications & Community Engagement City of Markham Rob Herold Director of Partnerships Scytl
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Conference Registration Open
8:15 - 8:45 AM	Exhibit Hall Open
8:45 - 10:15 AM	The Albatross: Proceedings to Govern Procedural Bylaws	Denise Labelle Gélinas Consultant
	Effective Indigenous-Municipal Partnerships	Ann Mitchell Owner Mitchell's Consulting
	Beyond the Usual Suspects: How to Ensure Public Appointees Reflect the Communities We Serve	Aretha Phillip Chief of Protocol City of Toronto Dylan McMahon Manager, Legislative Services / Deputy Clerk City of Guelph Isabel Leung Deputy City Clerk & Manager, Administrative Services City of Vaughan
	Council-Staff Relations: Secrets to Success	Rob Adams, MPA Chief Administrative Officer Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Kyle Pratt, MPA, CMM III, CHRL, CMO Chief Administrative Officer Town of Tillsonburg
10:15 - 10:30 AM	Coffee Break with Exhibitors
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM	Leading in Rural Ontario: The Role of the CAO in Smaller Places	Robert Tremblay, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Township of Whitewater Region Annette Gilchrist, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.M., Dipl. M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Township of Bonnechere Valley Paul Shipway, CMO Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Municipality of Central Elgin
	Clerks Rule: Bringing Joy and Humour to the Clerks Office	Krista Power City Clerk City of Thunder Bay
	Process and Performance for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism	Melinda Munro Consultant Munro Strategic Perspective Sarah Mushtaq Consultant Kindness, Justice and Inclusion Initiative Julie Fraser Kindness, Justice and Inclusion Initiative Justin Christie HR Analyst Town of Whitby
	Investing in Your Community’s Future with Green Initiatives	Noémie De Vuyst Advisor, Programs Outreach Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Jean-Pierre Ouellette Advisor, Programs Outreach Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM	Exhibitor Scavenger Hunt Challenge
12:00 - 2:30 PM	Past Presidents Luncheon
12:00 - 1:15 PM	Lunch
	How to Win, Change and Influence Policy - AMCTO's Policy and Government Relations Program	Alana Del Greco Manager, Policy and Government Relations AMCTO Charlotte Caza Policy Advisor AMCTO
	Municipal Elections Drop-In Discussion Session
1:15 - 2:45 PM	2022 Municipal Case Law Update	John Mascarin Partner Aird & Berlis LLP
	The Power is in the Policy: Managing and Addressing Unreasonable Behaviour at the Local Level	Laura Pettigrew General Counsel Ontario Ombudsman Joanna Bull Senior Counsel Ontario Ombudsman
	How Investing Can be Alternative Sources of Revenue for Municipalities	Wardah Mir Client Service Representative ONE Investment Keith Taylor Chief Investment Officer ONE Investment Colin MacDonald Manager, Investment Services Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA)
	The Future Ain't What it Used to Be: Yoggi Berra - Embracing Technology and Change	Rob Adams, MPA Chief Administrative Officer Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
2:45 - 3:00 PM	Exhibitor Scavenger Hunt Winners Announced
3:00 - 4:30 PM	Navigating Organizational Change: The Story of How we Developed a Digital Strategy	Carrie Martin Lead, Corporate Digital Strategy York Region Chris Raynor Regional Clerk York Region Karen Antonio-Hadcock Director, Integrated Business Service York Region
	Managing Inter-Governmental Relationships	John Matheson Principal StrategyCorp Inc. Michael Fenn, AMCT Senior Advisor StrategyCorp Inc. Stacy Husion Manager StrategyCorp Inc. Aiden Grove-White Director StrategyCorp Inc.
	Working Hard or Hardly Working? Exploring New Models of Working and Managing in the Public Sector	Zachary Spicer Associate Professor York University David Fulford Chief Executive Officer Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Joseph Silva Director, Community and Health Services Dept. York Region
	Driving the Transition to a Lower Carbon Economy: How to Develop a Successful Organizational Plan	Noel Cheeseman, P. Eng Director, Strategic Energy Solutions Jupiter Energy Advisors Inc.
4:30 - 5:00 PM	Roadmap to AMCTO Accreditation: Achieving Municipal Excellence	Robert Tremblay, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Township of Whitewater Region Elana Arthurs, CMO, AOMC Chief Administrative Officer Township of Duoro-Dummer
6:00 - 6:45 PM	AMCTO Board of Directors & Past Presidents Pre-Gala Reception
6:45 - 7:30 PM	Pre-Gala Reception
7:30 PM - Midnight	2022 Awards & Gala Dinner
Wednesday, June 15
8:00 - 8:45 AM	Breakfast & AGM
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Redefining Resilience and the Science of Trust: Keynote Presentation	Dr. Rumeet Billan Leadership, Emotional Resilience and Mental Health Expert
10:00 - 11:00	2022-2023 AMCTO Board Meeting
10:20 - 11:50 AM	Sustainable Finance and ESG Investing: An Integration Guide for Ontario Municipalities	Nick Poulias, MBA Investment Advisor CIBC Wood Gundy James Hobson Senior Investment Advisor & Portfolio Manager CIBC Wood Gundy Charet Chahal Senior Investment Advisor & Portfolio Manager CIBC Wood Gundy
	Best Practices for Managing an IPC Appeal	Diane Hall Privacy Professional
	Effective and Efficient Natural Gas Price Risk Management	John Voss, P. Eng Principal Jupiter Energy Advisors Inc.
	Transformational & Collaborative Leadership: We Can Do It!	Robert Tremblay, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Township of Whitewater Region
12:00 - 12:20 PM	Conference Closing Ceremonies	David Arbuckle, MPA Executive Director, AMCTO Sandra MacDonald, CMO, AOMC 2021-2022 AMCTO President Elana Arthurs, CMO, AOMC 2022-2023 AMCTO President-Elect Township of Duoro-Dummer

Networking Opportunities

Meet & Greet Activities
Take part in different structured icebreaker activities and networking receptions (Zone, new professionals, role-specific) to get to know your peers in the sector.

Opening Kick-Off Party
Join us in the evening on Sunday, June 12^th at our conferece kick-off party! Have fun and unwind with friends and exhibitors before the conference professional development sessions begin.

Municipal Elections 'Ask-Me-Anything' Drop-in Sessions
Throughout the conference, the AMCTO Elections Working Group has developed a series of mini ask-me-anything (AMA) style drop-in sessions to help you prepare for the upcoming elections!

AMCTO Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AMCTO AGM will take place on Wednesday, June 15^th. Have your voice heard as an AMCTO member, celebrate our 2021-2022 successes, and learn more about upcoming Association programs and services.

AMCTO Strategic Plan Launch Event
You’re invited to celebrate the launch of our new AMCTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Hear from members of the AMCTO Board and Executive Director, David Arbuckle, on what the future holds for AMCTO and how you can get involved in shaping your municipal professional association over the next three years!

AMCTO Information Sessions
We encourage you to join us for important information sessions throughout the conference - these sessions will include topics such as how to earn your AMCTO Accreditation, how to take advantage of AMCTO education opportunities, and how to get involved in our advocacy efforts.

Conference App
Connect with your fellow delegates virtually through our conference app! Download the app to access important conference updates and information all in one place! Create your own unique user profile, build out your own personalized conference schedule, see who’s attending, send one-to-one or group messages, check-in to sessions, learn about conference sponsors and exhibitors, and more! Stay tuned for further details TBA!

Other Fun Activities

Golf Tournament
Join us at our annual AMCTO Golf Tournament at the stunning Legends of Niagara, Battlefield Course. This tournament includes fun golf challenges and activities followed by a seated, catered lunch on the beautiful clubhouse outdoor terrace overlooking the course!

Awards & Gala Dinner
Join us for a formal night of fun celebrating your peers in the sector! Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a plated dinner followed by our annual awards ceremony, and then dance the night away to live entertainment from The Dave Murphy Band!

Evening Excursion
Enjoy a four-course dinner directly overlooking Niagara Falls followed by a private tour of the Niagara Parks Power Station Museum light show! This excursion has limited space and includes transportation to and from the venues.

Trivia Challenge
Test your municipal (and general) knowledge in our conference trivia sessions! Participate for your chance to win some great prizes!

Quiet Room
Get away from the noise and bright lights of the conference floor in a quiet, safe space. Drop-in to take a break, unwind, rest and recharge. Yoga mats, comfortable chairs and other amenities will be available for all conference delegates to use at their leisure throughout the event.

Scholarship Opportunities

We are proud to offer conference scholarships to be awarded to eligible AMCTO Student and New Professional members to attend our 2022 conference. The conference is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights, practical skills and knowledge on the latest municipal best practices, trends, research and more.

What's Covered:

One (1) Silver level conference package
Three-night hotel stay (Sunday - Wednesday) at the Niagara Hilton
Invitation to private scholarship recipient welcome reception

Eligibility & Application Requirements:

Must be a current AMCTO New Professional Member or a 2021 or 2022 AMCTO Student Member
Must have never attended an AMCTO conference
Application must demonstrate how attending this year’s conference will be a valuable experience for continued learning and professional development
Application must include a copy of your résumé along with a letter of recommendation from a professional contact (either a current or former supervisor or colleague)

AMCTO is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and values the voices, lived experiences and perspectives of individuals of all backgrounds. It is important that our Association reflects the diverse communities we serve. We are committed to providing support to the next generation of leaders within the municipal sector and this includes encouraging diversity within municipalities of all sizes across the province - we strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Applicant diversity will be considered as part of the evaluation process.

We thank everyone who applied for our 2022 conference scholarship program. Applications for this year are now closed - stay tuned for this year's recipients TBA!

Virtual Offering

We are proud to offer a virtual option where you can access conference professional development sessions at a reduced rate OR as an optional add-on to help you make the most of your in-person event experience!

The AMCTO Conference Lite package provides participants with access to virtual professional development opportunities and networking through our AMCTO Connect online learning management system. Take part in this year’s conference from the comfort of your own home or office and access sessions at your convenience for up to four months!

Please note that this option is not ‘live-streamed’ and will only be available beginning the week of July 4^th following the in-person event. Content will include recorded video sessions of conference professional development programming as well as access to engaging topical online discussion forums. This package is ideal for those who may not be able to travel, those who may not feel comfortable attending or who are not able to attend the in-person event.

Planning to attend the event in-person but want to make the most out of your experience?
For an additional $40 + HST (AMCTO member rate), those registered for the in-person event can purchase the Conference Lite package for the opportunity to re-watch sessions and continue building connections through our virtual conference community!

See our 2022 Conference Registration Guide for details.

Health & Saftey

Your health and safety is our top priority! We are working hard with all our venue and event partners to ensure all proper COVID-19 health and safety procedures are adhered to. This includes meeting or exceeding current provincial and municipal public health guidelines.

What does this look like?

Requiring proof of vaccination for all event participants (delegates, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, staff)
COVID-19 rapid testing kits provided on-site
Encouraging everyone to wear masks and use hand sanitizer (available on-site)
Health care professional on-site throughout the event
Operating at a reduced capacity and limiting per-day capacity
Encouraging social distancing
Ribbons to let others know your comfort level in social situations
Hosting all conference workshop sessions in larger rooms
Going paperless – providing access to information through our AMCTO conference app, digital signage and QR scanning

We will be sure to keep all event partners and participants informed on any changes as updates become available. This includes providing a detailed notice of health and safety information to all registered delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, and event partners prior to the start of the event.

See our 2022 Conference Registration Guide for details.

Registration Information

We are pleased to offer a variety of conference packages to suit your needs and budget!

Package	What’s Included	Retired Member		Member Rate	Non-Member Rate
IN-PERSON EVENT
GOLD Includes Gala, Excursion, and Full Conference Pass	Sunday night opening party ticket Monday evening excursion ticket Tuesday evening Awards Gala Dinner ticket Access to all conference materials, plenary, workshop, networking sessions All conference meals (Monday-Wednesday breakfasts, Monday-Tuesday lunches, Monday night excursion dinner, Tuesday Awards Gala Dinner), snacks and refreshments Access to conference exhibitor trade show			$875 + HST	$1,032.50 + HST
SILVER Includes Gala and Full Conference Pass	Awards Gala Dinner ticket Sunday night opening party ticket Access to all conference materials, plenary, workshop, networking sessions Conference meals (Monday-Wednesday breakfasts, Monday-Tuesday lunches, Tuesday Awards Gala Dinner), snacks and refreshments Access to conference exhibitor trade show			$765 + HST	$902 + HST
BRONZE Includes Full Conference Pass	Sunday night opening party ticket Access to all conference materials, plenary, workshop, networking sessions Conference meals (Monday-Wednesday breakfasts, Monday-Tuesday lunches), snacks and refreshments Access to conference exhibitor trade show			$690 + HST	$814 + HST
Retired Member Exclusive to AMCTO retired members	Sunday night opening party ticket Awards Gala Dinner ticket Access to all conference materials, plenary, workshop sessions Access to select networking sessions Conference meals (Monday-Wednesday breakfasts, Monday-Tuesday lunches), snacks and refreshments Access to conference exhibitor trade show	$370 + HST
One-Day Conference Pass Select conference activities included	Access to all conference materials, plenary, workshop, networking sessions on chosen day (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday) All conference meals snacks and refreshments on chosen day (with the exception of Monday night excursion and Tuesday Awards Gala Dinner events) Access to exhibitor tradeshow (for those who select Monday or Tuesday)			$320 + HST	$377.60 + HST
VIRTUAL OPTION
Virtual Conference Lite Does not include access to any in-person events, does not include any livestreamed sessions	Access to all workshop and plenary live session recordings and materials within AMCTO Connect available the week of July 4^th Access to virtual networking chat forums and discussion boards Access to select live sessions Can be purchased as an add-on option for registered in-person delegates (see details in table below)			$225 + HST	$266 + HST
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
Package	What’s Included		Rate
Golf Tournament Sunday, June 12 LIMITED SPOTS	Enjoy a day of golf at the famous Legends Golf Course. After your round, join us on the clubhouse patio for lunch, drinks and awards! 18 holes Power cart Access to 360 driving range Lunch on the beautiful clubhouse terrace overlooking the course Awards, games & prizes throughout the tournament			$116 + HST
Excursion *A Night out on the Falls* Monday, June 13 LIMITED SPOTS	Enjoy a world class dinner overlooking one of the natural wonders of the world! Round-trip transportation from conference hotel Locally prepared four-course dinner at Table Rock Restaurant (private dining experience) Private museum tour and light show at the historic Niagara Power Plant Group photo opportunity in front of the Falls lit up in AMCTO colours!			$110 + HST	$130 + HST
Awards Gala Dinner Ticket Tuesday, June 14	Pre-dinner mocktails and hors d'oeuvre Formal, plated dinner and drinks Opportunity to celebrate your peers in the sector and network with our 2022 award recipients and distinguished guests Enjoy live music from The Dave Murphy Band Purchase an additional ticket for your spouse, friend or colleague to enjoy the evening with! You will receive your additional ticket upon check-in at the conference!			$100 + HST	$118 + HST
Virtual Conference-Lite Only available as an add-on for delegates who have registered for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze in-person event package	Access to all workshop and plenary live session recordings and materials within AMCTO Connect available the week of July 4^th Access to virtual networking chat forums and discussion boards Access to select live sessions Available for up to six months to re-visit at your convenience			$40 + HST	$47.20 + HST

Please see our 2022 Conference Registration Guide for more information and to review FAQs.

For all registration inquiries please email conference@amcto.com