Monterra Golf Course is an inclusive course designed for golfers to exceed their own expectations from tee-off forward. Monterra Golf features rolling bent grass fairways, 86 bunkers, ravines, creeks, lakes, and elevated tee shots in an inspiring mountain setting that makes for memorable rounds. We take care of the little details like GPS tracking on all carts so that you can focus on the big picture.

 

A great networking and team building activity that’s lots of fun. Participants will be split into teams, and each team will be required to work together navigating through the resort looking for check points. At each check point, teams will be required to either answer a brain teasing question, or perform a team challenge. The challenge incorporates high octane activities such as the Ridge Runner Roller Coaster that rockets down the mountainside through the trees; and the 3 parallel Zip lines, which let you soar through the sky at speeds up to 50 km/h. Facilitators will help you find out just how much mental and physical endurance your group has.....along with a sense of humor!

 

This event is a great opportunity to uncover and develop the skills needed to effectively build relationships and network with colleagues and peers. This is a great chance to get to know other members and is ideal for first timers who wish to network with peers and fuel the rest of your conference experience.

Are you an AMCTO member who holds an AMCTO accreditation (CMO, AMCT, AOMC, AMP)? Join us for our AMCTO accreditation session for holders that will provide a brief accreditation update and a special presentation by guest speaker Dr. Gerard Seijts from the Ivey School of Business. This session will look to help you challenge your notions of leadership and inspire change in yourself.

 

Combine the opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones with the chance to conduct a bit of business in a casual atmosphere. The Opening Reception and Trade Show will provide good food and a chance to win some valuable prizes, while exploring great new resources and services to make your job easier!

 

 

How to Boost Your Efficiency as a Clerk: 5 Of The Biggest Challenges Facing Clerks In An Increasingly Digital World

The idea of Clerks “doing more with less” has been around since the days when council agendas were nailed to the front door of City Hall. But with technology moving at a frantic pace, it’s harder and harder to keep up with the different tools needed to do the job unless you have a proper strategy in place.

In this session, we’ll look at 5 of the biggest challenges facing clerks today - and for each one, provide different digital approaches to boost efficiency and deliver the level of online transparency the public expects.

In this session you’ll learn:

• 5 of the biggest challenges facing Clerks and Local Government professionals
• Easy-to-implement digital strategies to save time throughout your agenda, meeting, records and board appointment processes
• Strategies to improve transparency and accessibility - ensuring online content is available and accessible by people with disabilities
• Keeping your records secure - without becoming a computer programmer or IT expert

Location: Nipissing Room

 

 

You and the group will be guided on a 1 hour leisurely paddle of the Beaver River. This section of the river is remote and breath taking with lots of opportunity to see birds and other wild life. From here we'll drive to
Georgian Hills Vineyard where you'll get to try 4 different wines with a cheese and charcuterie  plate.

* Busing to and from Blue Mountain Resort, Guide, and Boat Rental Included
 

Chris Temple
Co-Founder of Living on One | Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker
From living in a tent in a Syrian refugee camp to working as radish farmers and surviving on $1 a day in Guatemala, Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci are award-winning humanitarians, activists, and filmmakers., Chris demystifies some of the world’s most complex situations, leaving audiences feeling more connected and empowered to make a difference.
 

A. Leveraging Diverse Thinking Styles for Success 
This highly interactive and practical 90-minute workshop explores how to leverage diverse thinking styles in order to understand and develop self and others, defuse tensions, engage in meaningful dialogue, foster collaboration, achieve desired business outcomes

• Jill Schichter, President, Forte Leadership Group

B. Developing a Wellness Plan for Your Municipality – Making it Real
This session will provide an overview of the key steps and factors in developing a successful workplace wellness program. Frameworks and tools will be shared as well as real examples and tips. Learn how you can overcome challenges and barriers to developing a program and make a difference.

• Judy Kerling, RN, MBA, PMP, Manager, Employee Health Services ,The City of Mississauga

C. Is Records Management Still Relevant?
What is records management in today’s environment and where does it fit in your organization? How does it align with business vision, goals and objectives? Is it a project, a program, a business service, a legislated requirement or some combination of all of these? What are the options for a strategy that meets legal requirements and complies with best practices? This session will examine “traditional” records management requirements and practices and contrast those with the realities of today’s working environment. Participants will be challenged to examine their own beliefs about records management, how they currently approach records management in their organizations and how to take records management beyond legal compliance.

•  Helen Kennedy, AMCT, Supervisor of Information Services, County of Brant
• Anne Hepplewhite, CRM, Senior Manager, Records and Information Management, The Niagara Parks Commission

D. Recent Developments in Property Assessment & Municipal Taxation 
Recent developments in property assessment and municipal taxation; Assessment Review Board’s new Rules of Procedure – one year later; vacancy rebates; new apartments tax class; MPAC initiatives and accountability 

• Jeff Cowan, Partner, WeirFoulds LLP
• Andre Morin, Regional Manager, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations, MPAC

A. HR Law Update 
This session will be a fast-paced journey through the most recent labour and employment cases relevant to municipalities, including wrongful dismissal, human rights, and labour arbitration cases – with tips as to how to avoid or at least minimize employment risk and liability. 

• D. Alan Whyte, Partner - Labour and Employment, Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP

B. Hiring & Managing an Integrity Commissioner 

The session will explore the considerations that go into establishing a relationship with an independent integrity commissioner. These include:

Core Competencies; Recruitment/Procurement Approaches, Contract Expectations, Protocols for Training, Advice and Investigations, and finally the Integrity Commissioner’s Role in helping your municipality develop Codes of Conduct and other policies governing ethical behaviour of members of Council and Local Boards.

• Jeffrey A. Abrams, B.A., LL.B, Co-Principal of Principles Integrity

C. Managing in the Maelstrom
Using a case study approach of communities, and private enterprises, across the country that have managed through such adversity, Karen Lewis, Director of Corporate Strategic Services and John S. Hannam, City Clerk, both from The City of Thunder Bay, will examine the good the bad and the ugly of responses. What are the best practices to be learned from and the pitfalls to avoid, to not only weather the maelstrom but work through it and come out with a strong, positive direction to lead your community on?

• John Hannam, CMO, City Clerk, City of Thunder Bay
• Karen Lewis,  Director - Corporate Strategic Services, City of Thunder Bay

D. Asset Management, Linking Levels of Service and Lifecycle Management
As the science and art of municipal asset management evolve in Ontario, two areas of the asset management process that are rapidly advancing are levels of service (LoS) and lifecycle management strategies (LMS). This workshop will provide an overview of approaches to defining levels of service and how to ensure that a logical linkage exists between these and the lifecycle management strategy. The workshop will draw on practical experience in developing asset management plans for municipalities. 
It is recommended that delegates attending this session would also benefit by attending a the session on Asset Management Financing Strategy – Infrastructure Deficit on June 12th (1:45 -3:15 pm).

• Andrew Grunda, MBA, CPA, CMA – Principal, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd
• Peter Simcisko, MBE, BA (Hons.) – Senior Consultant, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd

Place your written questions regarding current municipal issues into the ‘Question Box’ at the AMCTO registration desk, to be answered by our panel of experts. Or bring your questions directly to the session on Monday, June 11^th from 5:40 pm to 6:45 pm. The Question Box was a well-received part of the Association’s early conferences. So as a special treat to mark the 80^th Annual AMCTO Conference, we are bringing back this interactive and engaging event. 

Panelists:

• Jody Johnson, LL.B., M.P.A., AMCT,(Partner in the Municipal and Land Use Planning Law Group) Aird & Berlis LLP

• Chris Wray, AMCT, CAO/Clerk-Treasurer, Municipality of Wawa

• Barb Koopmans, CMO, RPP, Commissioner, Planning & Development, Town of Milton

• John Daly, CMO, Director of Legislative Services/ Clerk, Simcoe County

• Colleen Hickey, Human Resources Manager, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

 

A. Oxygen Poker - Find out what matters most to you!

We have driving needs that feel as vital and urgent as our need for oxygen. When these needs are met, we are highly energized and able to step into high performance. When they’re unmet, depletion and interference are introduced constricting our executive function. 
In this fun, insightful and interactive workshop you will learn about the powerful concept of getting to what matters most. You will walk away with a greater ability to engage individuals or teams in a manner that will unlock deliberate intention and better business results and relationships. 

• Brady Wilson Co-founder, Juice Inc. 

B. Secrets to Building Great Staff-Council Relationships 
Strong partnerships between Council and staff is a requirement to effective municipal management. Often the lack of harmonization is caused by lack of understanding and agreement on roles for both Council and staff. Both Council and staff members have a responsibility to recognize these issues and work to resolve them. This interactive session will discuss roles and responsibilities, the changing dynamics of council, sources of conflict and practical approaches. 

• Tony Haddad, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Tecumseh
• Kyle Pratt, Chief Administrative Officer, MPA, CMM III, CHRL, CMO, Municipality of Bluewater
• Rob Adams, Hons. BA, MPA, Chief Administrative Officer /Acting Clerk and Treasurer

C. Municipal Digital Transformation
AMO is releasing in August 2017 its White Paper on Municipal Digital Transformation. Why and how is digital transformation important to municipal clerks and treasurers and what can it do for them? In this session, the following key points would be covered:

• Operational, Legal and Technology Contexts to Municipal Digital Transformation
• Ontario Digital Transformation Trends and Examples (municipal & provincial)
• Roadmap to municipal digital transformation 
  • Patrick Cormier, VP Digital Transformation, Notarius
  • Sid Soil, Partner, DOCUdavit

D. Risk Management
Risk management is the process of making and carrying out decisions that will minimize the adverse effects of accidental losses upon an organization. This session will discuss:

1. The positive benefits of risk management
2. The five steps in the process
3. How to incorporate risk management into your daily operations 

The session will provide real claim examples that show how municipalities who have adopted good risk management practices have been able to successfully deny or defend claims thereby saving their municipality valuable dollars. 

• Len Bennett, Risk Management Assessment & Solutions Manager, Frank Cowan Company

Enjoy a 1 hour trail ride with Mountain View Stables, Collingwood’s premier location for trail rides. The one-hour, guide-led trail ride goes through beautiful country side including meadows, forested areas and across streams with beautiful views of the escarpment. The ride can be tailored to suit the ability of the riders, from beginner to expert. Please note that the trail rides go through forested trails so you need to wear long pants and appropriate closed-toe shoes or boots. For the AMCTO Companion’s Tour, riders will go out in groups of 10 riders, at a time. A group lunch will be included, following completion of the trail rides, upon return of all groups to Blue Mountain Resort..

*Busing to and from Blue Mountain Resort and Lunch are Included

 

A. Enhancing Diversity Competency
In an introduction to diversity competency staff begin to understand the value and business case for diversity. A self reflection exercise allows participants to examine personal bias and consider how their perspectives have been impacting how they interact on their teams and best serve the constituents. Examining leading edge theories and important concepts, participants learn the value of diversity in the workplace and how to help their staff understand their personal roles and obligations around workplace inclusivity and human rights.
Topics include: 

• Define Diversity and clearly understand the points of difference
• Examine personal bias and find ways to improve that bias
• Enhance sensitivity to the various points of diversity including items that cannot be seen and different variables
• Grasp concepts such as bias and ethnocentrism that will help them enhance diversity competency 
• Clearly understand how diversity affects the organization including the business case for diversity
• Ensure staff understand their personal responsibility and workplace rights 
  • Andrea Moffat, President, Divercity Consultants, Effective Diversity & Marketing Solutions

B. Marijuana in the Workplace
The workshop will provide employers with a summary of the legal landscape that is expected to result in legalization of cannabis and its potential implications in the workplace together with suggested guidance for addressing potential health and safety and employee relations issues . 

• Stéphane Thiffeault, General Manager, Corporate Services, Clerk and Solicitor, Corporation of the County of Lambton.

C. City of Brampton: Change Management Case Study of Major Technology Change
Within a 18-month timeframe, the City of Brampton underwent a significant technology change that affected all 6000 employees across the City, and saw the simultaneous implementation of several technologies, including:

• Office365;
• SharePoint Online;
• OneDrive for Business; and
• An Electronic Document and Records Management System. 

The proposed presentation will identify the successes, challenges and lessons learned, as well as highlight efforts made with regard to data migration, change management and communication 

• .Chris Rallo, Program Manager, Web Technologies, City of Brampton
• Janice Adshead, Deputy Clerk, Records and Information Services, City of Brampton

D. Obligations Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act – focusing on workplace safety and on workplace violence and harassment.  
Jody and David will deliver a session focused on the obligations that a municipality owes its workers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act – focusing on workplace safety (i.e. provisions of the construction and industrial regulations) and on workplace violence and harassment. The presentation will review the internal responsibility system and how it creates overlapping responsibility for safety at the workplace, how the Act works (both with respect to Orders and Offences) and the responsibilities that a municipality has to address workplace harassment proactively and reactively. The presentation will included references to personal experiences and case law. 

• Jody E. Johnson, LL.B., M.P.A., AMCT,(Partner in the Municipal and Land Use Planning Law Group) Aird & Berlis LLP, Barristers and Solicitors
• David S. Reiter LL.B., (Partner in the Litigation Group), Aird & Berlis LLP, Barristers and Solicitors

MPAC - Supporting our Municipal Stakeholders and 2018 Enumeration Update

Join MPAC for an overview/update of our enumeration process related to the 2018 municipal and school board elections. We will also provide updates on key MPAC initiatives that are helping strengthen the municipal experience, and which may be of interest as you plan for the orientation of your new municipal councils. Time will be dedicated for Q+A and discussion related to these topics.
Location: Georgian Bay I & II

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO)  Lunch Information Session

Join the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario for an update on:

• Ontario’s Accessibility Standards
• Working with Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees
• The Design of Public Spaces Standard

Attendees will hear new trends and best practices from across the province, and receive information about the ongoing development of Ontario’s accessibility laws as they impact municipalities.
Location: Georgian Bay III & IV

CMO & (Certified Municipal Officer) & AMP (Accredited Municipal Professional) Accreditation Lunch Information Session

This session will walk you through the process of completing your CMO or AMP submission and the things that reviewers look for when they are evaluating your Submission.
Presentation from Michael Wildman, CMO

Presentation from David Stewart, CMO
Location: Nipissing Room

AOMC Accreditation Lunch Information Session

This session will introduce you to AMCTO’s new clerk-specific designation and its point-based scoring system. Participants will gain tangible insights on what to consider when completing the Application.
Location: Reflections Room

 

A. Leading Strong Teams
This workshop helps all levels of staff lead their teams to enhance service effectiveness and facilitate better project processes. A crash course in the Tuckmans’ model participants learn how to identify which stage of team development their team is in and which interventions need to be applied to effectively help the team progress. Knowing when to apply the correct interventions safes resources, builds relationships, decreases conflict and enhances productivity. 
Topics include:

• What are the characteristics of an effective team
• The four stages of the team (Tuckmans’ Model)
• The characteristics of the four stages and how to identify what stage a team is in
• The interventions that need to be applied to each stage to help the team progress.
  • Andrea Moffat, President, Divercity Consultants, Effective Diversity & Marketing Solutions

B. Council Orientation Overview
Course Overview: Tired of those boring Council Orientation programs? Want some tips and tricks to make this an enjoyable experience for Council members and staff? In 2014 Debi and Shrishma ran a ‘Departmental Speed Dating” Council Orientation program, with keynote presentations on Privacy and the Role of Council, along with a Roberts Rules Made Simple® training program. By working collaboratively, using innovative tools and having FUN, the Orientation Program was considered a tremendous success by staff and Council members, and served as a basis and brainstorming session for Council’s goals. This course will also present formats for a number of successful Council Orientation programs and the tools needed to make Council Orientation a success in your municipality.
Key points to be covered: 

• Formats to utilize for Council Orientation programs
• What needs to be included in a Council Orientation program
• How to get buy-in from senior management when you want to ‘go outside the box’ and have fun
• How to actively engage Council members to share their vision about the municipality
• Tips for facilitating the free exchange of innovative ideas
• Tools to have the confidence to drive a change in the Council Orientation program
• Implementing proper feedback tools to keep dialogue channels open. 
  • Debi Wilcox, President,  Meeting Solutions Group (retired member of AMCTO)
  • Shrishma Davé, Legislative Coordinator,  Office of the Town Clerk, Town of Whitby

C. Creative Approaches to Public Consultation & Community Engagement
Active public consultation is fundamental to transparency and good governance. However, finding new and creative ways to engage the public in a meaningful way has become increasingly difficult. The City of Stratford has begun exploring new and creative approaches to community engagement with several high profile projects, including the redevelopment of our Market Square, the creation of a master plan for an underutilized 18-acre site in our downtown core, a youth retention strategy, and for our animal control bylaw review. Upcoming community engagement opportunities include new online voting practices and public parking consultations.
 
Some of the creative consultation methodologies we have used include the creation of take home “kitchen table kits,” installing “taking wall” chalkboards on redevelopment sites, partnering with community groups and stakeholders to collect data and draft strategies, leveraging social media, and reviewing bylaws as a community roundtable. We plan to partner with local software company Powernoodle to host digital feedback engagement sessions in autumn 2017. Other examples from municipalities around the world would also be included in our presentation. 

• Stephanie Potter, PhD, Policy and Research Associate, City of Stratford
• Tatiana Dafoe, Deputy Clerk,  City of Stratford

D. Asset Management Financing Strategy - Infrastructure Deficit - You’re Not Alone
All right, you know the condition of your assets, their lifecycle costs and now you’re working on level of service. There is a big BUT coming…. your municipality does not have enough money to fund all your needs. What do you do?
With the new Asset Management (AM) regulation, all municipalities will be required to prepare an AM financing strategy. This interactive session will:

• provide an overview of AM financing strategies and the requirements in the regulation,
• examine different decision-making models, and
• look at practical ways to manage your infrastructure deficit. 
  • Donna Herridge, Manager of Accounting and Corporate Services / AMP IT UP 1.0 Project Manager, MFOA

Join us at the annual AMCTO Gala Dinner, where we salute our outgoing AMCTO President and this year’s Prestige Award honouree. Enjoy an amazing plated dinner followed by exceptional entertainment.

Gala Evening Entertainment

Cirque has been thrilling audiences internationally with performances since 1997. This theme follows in the footsteps of the magical circus style of Cirque de Soleil. This dramatic after dinner show features unique circus performers combined with a state of the art light show. Unique Cirque style lighted drape décor is present in the room and the stage. The artists of Cirque will present a signature event turning the AMCTO Gala into an extraordinary spectacle.

Right after the Gala Dinner & Entertainment, join us for a Rocking Birthday Bash, with zany DJ Robert McIsaac, back by popular demand to keep you dancing until 1 a.m.

A. Managing Mental Health in the Workplace, "Getting Started"
When you are finished this workshop you will know how to make Mental Health and Mental Illness Education a priority in your municipality. You will also learn easy cost effective ways to accomplish this. 

• Geraldine Cole, CHRL, Labour Relations Officer, County of Grey

B. Post Elections – What You Need to Prepare
As most election preparation processes will be well underway, this session will focus on post-election matters like candidate financial filing, compliance audit committee considerations, recounts, election wrap-up reporting and Council inaugurals. This practical and interactive session will look at post-election requirements, work to be completed and considerations needed for several scenarios. 

• Stephen O’ Brien, City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office, Corporate Services, City of Guelph
• Tyler Cox, Dipl.M.A. Manager, Legislative Services at the City of Ottawa
• Michael Di Lullo AOMC , City Clerk/Director of Council and Administrative Services, city of  Cambridge

C. Bill 68 & the Tax Sale Forum

PIPS—Prescribed Information for the Purposes of Section 5.0.1 of the Land Transfer Tax Act
Purchasers of qualifying tax sale properties must submit the prescribed information to the Ministry of Finance, or they will be guilty of an offence. We'll be discussing municipality's obligations in this regard.

NRST—Non Resident Speculation Tax

When a qualifying property is purchased by a non-resident, 15% tax must be pre-paid to the Ministry of Finance. This could cause problems with your tax sales, as it slows down the registration of a tax deed, when time is of the essence. Tax deeds must now include statements regarding the residency of the purchaser.

Bill 68

Numerous important changes to tax registrations and tax sales have come in to effect because of Bill 68. Our presentation will look at what problems these changes have solved and what problems they have caused. 

Tax Sale Forum

Here's where attendees, and the Realtax team, can share their unique experiences, and the lessons they learned, with everyone in the room. And with all the key changes to legislation in the past year, no doubt there will be many unique experiences to share, so that we can all learn from one another.

• Mary MacCallum, Tax Sale Consultant, Realtax Inc.
• Jeff Oberman, President, Realtax Inc.

D. Preparing for the Development Charge Process

In Ontario there are over 200 municipalities with Development Charge by-laws. During 2018 and 2019, approximately 66% of these by-laws will expire resulting in the need to undertake the mandatory process to implement new by-laws. In January, 2016, the Province introduced changes to the Development Charges Act (Bill 73) which will modify the process and study requirements from previous studies. 

This presentation will inform attendees of various aspects of the Development Charges Act methodology and process including:  

• Changes to the Act resulting from Bill 73
• Calculation approach
• Statutory process
• Communicating with the development community
• Emerging Issues and Appeal matters
• Residential and Non-Residential Charges in effect across Ontario 

• Gary Scandlan Director and Managing Partner with Watson & Associates

Kate Davis
Humour in the Workplace | Work–Life Balance
Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and offer creative solutions to defuse frustrations in both the workplace and at home. A five-time nominee for the Canadian Comedy Awards who has opened for the likes of Bill Clinton and Barbara Walters, as well as the star of many television comedy specials, Kate’s generous insight and hilarious presence is a powerful combination in helping organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

AMCTO 2019 Conference Promotion and prize draws
 

Revitalize your body, clear your mind and reduce stress in a yoga session while enjoying the extraordinary view along the Niagara Escarpment, from atop The Blue Mountain. The session is conducted by a certified instructor. Access keys will be provided to all Yoga participants which will provide them access to the pool, gym, sauna and showers in any of the Village buildings or Mosaic should they choose to use the facilities following their activity. The keys and access wrist bands for the gondola to go up and down the mountain for the Mountaintop Yoga session, will be distributed to participants at the AMCTO registration desk upon check in at the Conference.

*Yoga mats will be provided.