Below is a high-level overview of the agenda for this year’s event. Stay tuned for a full detailed agenda to become available within our AMCTO conference app (launching in May).
Please note: agenda subject to change.
*Indicates activities that require an additional ticket to be purchased.
12:00pm - 9:00pm Conference Registration Open 3:00pm - 5:30pm Sunday Fun-Day Activities* Brews & Views* City Scenes & Creative Streets* Take a Hike* 5:45pm - 6:45pm New Conference Attendees & Scholarship Recipients Networking Session 5:45pm - 6:45pm AMCTO Board, Zone Executive & Volunteer Appreciation Mixer (Private Event) 6:30pm - 10:00pm Exhibitor Tradeshow Reception & Opening Night Party 7:00am - 7:30am Morning Yoga Guided Canoe Tour 7:15am - 4:00pm Registration/Help Desk Open 7:30am - 4:30pm Exhibit Hall Open 8:00am - 9:00am Sponsored Breakfast Workshop 9:00am - 9:30am Break 9:30am - 11:00am AMCTO 2026 Conference Opening Ceremonies 11:00am - 12:00pm Opening Keynote Presentation - Showing Up Wholeheartedly - Peter Katz 12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch Break & Exhibitor Challenge - Battleship 12:00pm - 1:00pm Municipal Association Heads Meet & Greet (Private Event) 1:00pm - 2:00pm The State of Municipal Accountability in Ontario 2026 - Laura Dean & John Mascarin The Challenges & Opportunities of AI Governance - Alfred Fung & Christopher Parsons Digital Debt for Municipal Borrowing - Jason Reynar Unlocking Potential: The Power of Transferable Skills in Municipal Recruitment - Aaron Gullins & Lesley Sterling 2:00pm - 2:15pm Break 2:15pm - 3:00pm AMCTO Zone Networking Sessions 3:00pm - 3:15pm Break Exhibitor Challenge - Battleship Winner Announcement 3:15pm - 4:15pm They're Ba-a-a-a-ck: Charter Challenges & Council - Rick O'Connor When Harassment Comes from the Community: Protecting Staff & Council - Natasha Savoline Strengthening Indigenous-Municipal Relations: A Case Study of the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table - Tina Kilbourne The Future is Aging: Planning for 80+ in Community Development - Devan Lobo 6:00pm - 8:00pm Dinner with Friends & Colleagues* 6:30pm - 10:00pm Evening Excursion: Beach Bonfire Bash*
Presented by the Hobson Chahal Advisory Group at CIBC Wood Gundy7:00am - 7:30am Morning Yoga Guided Canoe Tour 7:15am - 4:00pm Registration/Help Desk Open 7:30am - 1:00pm Exhibit Hall Open 8:00am - 9:00am Sponsored Breakfast Workshops 7:00am - 4:00pm Professional Headshots Charity Photo Studio Open 9:00am - 9:15am Break 9:10am - 10:10am Hot Topics in Intergovernmental Affairs - Stacy Hushion & Sabine Matheson Is this Really My Job? The Many Roles of Rural Clerks - Jennifer Lawrie & Jennifer White Turning Theory into Impact: A Case Study in Municipal Budget Engagement - Marina Fung Experience The Rainforest Game - Gary MacDonald 10:15am - 10:30am Break 10:15am - 10:45am AMCTO Accreditation: Journey to Achieving Municipal Excellence AMCTO Policy & Government Relations: New Developments in Municipal Accountability AMCTO Education: Education Programs & Career Development Packages Drop-in AMCTO Professional Development: Elections Over, Now What? Staff-Council Relations Training 10:45am - 11:00am Break 11:00am - 12:00pm 2026 Municipal Case Law Update - Tom Halinski & John Mascarin Tackling Burnout in Public Service: Strategies for Municipal Teams - Sally Litchfield Managing Frivolous & Vexatious or Voluminous Access Requests - Stephanie Haly, Suzy Hodge, & Stephan Luciw The Politics of Property Tax: Strategies for Briefing Candidates, Councils, and Stakeholders - Peter Frise 12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch Break & Exhibitor Challenge - Scavenger Hunt Municipal Elections: Worst Case Scenarios Aren't that Scary 12:00pm - 1:15pm AMCTO Past Presidents Luncheon & Social (Private Event) 1:00pm - 2:00pm New Procedural Bylaw, Who Dis? - Krista Power Navigating and Managing Conflict in a Diverse Workplace - Maureen Brown How to Execute Your Asset Management Plan - Brian Kavanagh Confronting Incivility & Thriving Through Uncertainty - Ken Chan 2:00pm - 2:15pm Break 2:15pm - 3:00pm 2026 Municipal Elections Networking & Activity Session 3:00pm - 3:15pm Break Exhibitor Challenge - Scavenger Hunt Winner Announcement 3:10pm - 4:10pm Gravenhurst: A Case Study for Emergency Response & Partnership - Teresa Alonzi, Todd Clapp, Diane Ploss & Kayla Thibeault Organizational Culture in Practice: Leading with Intention - Jamie Boyle Case Closed? Not Yet: Using KPIs, Service Standards & Customer Satisfaction Data to Unlock Organizational Performance - Nicole Cooper & Jaclyn Grossi Naming Rights as a Funding Solution for Municipal Projects - Jody Haber 6:30pm - 7:30pm AMCTO Board of Directors & Past Presidents Pre-Gala Reception (Private Event) 6:30pm - 7:30pm Pre-Gala Cocktail Reception 7:00pm - 7:30pm Award Recipients' Walk-through Session (Private Event) 7:30pm - 12:00am AMCTO 2026 Awards Gala Dinner & AMCTO After Dark* 7:15am - 11:30am Registration/Help Desk Open 7:30am - 9:15am Breakfast & AMCTO Annual General Meeting (AGM) 9:30am - 10:30am Closing Keynote Presentation: Life is a Series of U-Turns - Hal Johnson & Joanne McLeod 10:30am - 10:45am Exhibitor Multi-Day Challenge & Zone Challenge Prize Announcements 10:45am - 11:00am AMCTO 2026 Conference Closing Ceremonies
Workshop Sessions & Speakers
Our 2026 conference features 24 professional development workshop sessions on several key topics important to municipal staff across the province. Presented from a wide range of perspectives and expertise, you won't want to miss out on these valuable learning opportunities! To learn more, visit our Sessions & Speakers page.
