Workshop Sessions & Speakers

Monday, June 8 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The provincial government has proposed to 'strengthen municipal accountability' in Ontario with Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act, 2025, to be in place for the new term of council following the 2026 elections.  Bill 9 seeks to implement a province-wide uniform municipal code of conduct, institute mandatory training for councils and local board members as well as integrity commissioners, provide a role for the Ontario Integrity Commissioner in the system, and allow for the removal from office of councillors who exhibit egregiously bad behaviour.  Will any of this actually work?  Will councillors actually become enforcers, or will they remain enablers of bad conduct? Join this session for an overview of municipal accountability in 2026 and an update on where things are headed.

Presented by:

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Laura Dean
Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP

As a member of Aird & Berlis LLP's Municipal & Land Use Planning Group, Laura provides advice and representation to both private and public sector clients on land use planning matters, municipal governance and accountability regimes, and the development and implementation of a wide array of municipal bylaws and policies. Laura is a partner with the firm and was called to the Ontario bar in 2015.

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John Mascarin
Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP

John is a certified specialist by the Law Society of Ontario in Municipal Law: Local Government & Land Use Planning and Development. He is also an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, co-author of the Annotated Municipal Act, Ontario Municipal Act & Commentary (all editions), and three other published texts. John has received the Ontario Bar Association's Award of Excellence in Municipal Law in 2023 and the Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association in 2022.

Monday, June 8 | 3:15pm - 4:15pm

In 2018, the District Municipality of Muskoka embarked on a journey to strengthen relations with Indigenous Nations and established the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT). Membership is comprised of mayors and senior leaders from Muskoka’s six lower-tier municipalities and the upper-tier District Municipality of Muskoka, as well as chiefs and senior leaders from Indigenous Nations that have a traditional tie or ongoing interest in the lands that are now known as Muskoka. This session will look at how the MAILT was established, geographical context and barriers, challenges, the importance of relationship building, lessons learned (there were a lot), key success factors, achievements (both intended and unexpected) and next steps.

Join us to ask questions, discover new strategies for enhancing your own municipality's reconciliation efforts, and for the opportunity to engage with online resources developed through MAILT working groups. Most importantly, learn from long-standing member of MAILT, Chief Ted Williams of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, about the importance of community-building, Truth and Reconciliation. Participants will develop a greater understanding of the importance and benefits of engaging with Indigenous Nations, best practices related to principles of engagement, pitfalls to avoid, and ways to ensure success. Come away with a renewed passion for the rewarding work of Indigenous relations and reconciliation.

Presented by:

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Tina Kilbourne
Manager, Regional Strategic Initiatives, District Municipality of Muskoka

Tina's municipal career spans more than 25 years. Starting as a communications specialist at the Regional Municipality of York, she then moved to Conservation Ontario, where she helped launch Source Water Protection outreach initiatives related to the Clean Water Act.

Since joining the District Municipality of Muskoka in 2011, she has held several roles, including manager of children’s programs and team lead of the Continuous Improvement Unit. In her current role as manager of regional strategic initiatives, she develops strategies and initiatives aimed at strengthening Indigenous relationships and reconciliation, as well as community-based inclusion, equity, diversity, and anti-hate programs. Through this work, she also dabbles in economic development, community safety and well-being.

In her personal time, Tina enjoys cycling, paddling, hot yoga, and writing novels for young adults. Her tenth novel, 40 Days in Hicksville, was the winner of the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading 2025 Red Maple Award.

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Ted Williams
Chief, Chippewas of Rama First Nation

Chief Ted Williams is proudly from the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and, for over 40 years been a noteworthy leader and entrepreneur in the community. You may know him from his popular chainsaw bear carvings or as the current Chief of Rama First Nation, but he is also credited with the successful development of Casino Rama — a $200 million project completed in just 18 months. Ted is a seasoned golfer, a former real estate agent, and a past appointed member of the Ontario Parole Board. He has devoted over 13 years to his consulting/speaking practice, sharing his expertise and wealth of experience in sales, strategic planning, leadership, economics, and personal development. 

Ted is wholeheartedly driven by inspiring others to achieve their best, and above all, his greatest accomplishments are shared with his wife of 46 years, their two wonderful children, who have grown to achieve their own goals today.

Tuesday, June 9 | 9:10am - 10:10am

Join the team at StrategyCorp for a behind-the-scenes look at the forces shaping the intergovernmental landscape and their impact on Ontario municipalities. This presentation will be grounded in findings from the group's ongoing strategic work across Ontario, and in data from a series of municipal surveys. We’ll dive into the most urgent issues for local governments — geopolitical shifts, governance challenges, strong mayor powers, infrastructure and housing pressures, and more. We’ll also consider these issues against the backdrop of the upcoming 2026 municipal elections, reflecting on how the outcomes could reshape priorities for local councils, staff, and communities. Looking ahead to the post-election period, we’ll offer guidance and best practices that can support you in helping your organizations and incoming councils collaboratively identify their advocacy goals and build proactive and practical strategies to deliver on them.

Presented by:

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Stacy Hushion
Vice President, StrategyCorp

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Sabine Matheson
Principal, StrategyCorp

Tuesday, June 9 | 11:00am - 12:00pm

Court decisions play a significant role in shaping how local governments operate and function. To govern responsibly, municipal leaders need a clear understanding of how courts are interpreting and applying municipal authorities and responsibilities. This popular session offers a timely opportunity to hear directly from experts on the latest judicial developments, with clear, concise, and comprehensive explanations of the leading court decisions affecting municipal law.

Presented by:

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Tom Halinski
Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP

Tom’s practice is devoted to administrative law, where he represents public and private sector clients in the areas of municipal law, land use planning and development law, and property tax assessment. Tom frequently appears before various administrative tribunals, including the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Assessment Review Board. He has broad experience in both advising and representing municipalities as well as advocating for clients before councils, committees of adjustment, and conservation authority boards. Tom also appears regularly before the courts in appellate matters and on applications.

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John Mascarin
Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP

John is a certified specialist by the Law Society of Ontario in Municipal Law: Local Government & Land Use Planning and Development. He is also an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, co-author of the Annotated Municipal Act, Ontario Municipal Act & Commentary  (all editions), and three other published texts. John has received the Ontario Bar Association's Award of Excellence in Municipal Law in 2023 and the Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association in 2022.

Tuesday, June 9 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Municipal leaders are working in an environment defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, where increasing pressures and rising incivility threaten staff well-being, organizational culture, and service delivery. This session offers practical tools for participants to strengthen resilience, lead with empathy, and cultivate civility within their organizations.

Participants will explore strategies for constructively addressing incivility, supporting their own well-being through intentional self-care, and maintaining professionalism in challenging situations. Leave with actionable practices to help confront difficulties with confidence while continuing to thrive as leaders and team members in today’s demanding municipal environment.

Presented by:

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Ken Chan
Partner, Optimus SBR

Dr. Ken Chan is a partner and the public sector practice leader at Optimus SBR, Canada’s largest independent management consulting firm.

Before joining Optimus SBR, Dr. Chan held senior leadership roles in both government and academia. He served as an assistant deputy minister in two Ontario provincial ministries and as vice president and chief administrative officer at two universities. His public sector experience also includes municipal and international roles: he was senior advisor for policing in the mayor of London’s office in the United Kingdom and a member of the City of Toronto Licensing Tribunal. He previously served as assistant director for public sector regulatory reform at the UK Department for Business’s Better Regulation Executive and, earlier in his career, was a constable with the Peel Regional Police.

Dr. Chan is an experienced corporate director and currently serves on the boards of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Alterna Savings, Alterna Bank, Open For Business, and the Pathstone Foundation. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor at Brock University, the University of Toronto, and ESCP Business School.

Tuesday, June 9 | 3:10pm - 4:10pm

This session will explore how municipalities can design their technology platforms to deliver rich and useful information on organizational performance and customer satisfaction. Many municipalities are contemplating, or in the early stages of implementing, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, or similar case management tools (i.e., work order systems, asset management systems, bylaw complaint tracking systems, etc.) – but are KPIs, service levels, performance metrics, and customer satisfaction measures being designed into those projects from the outset? Too often, these systems become basic tools for opening and closing tickets. Case management isn’t the endgame – data and insights are – cases and tickets are just the fuel to get there. 

This session will use real project-based examples from the Town of Ajax, including its recent CRM project, to illustrate the importance of having service level standards, performance metrics, and KPIs, and desired reporting as the foundation of any successful customer and case management system project. Participants will learn how to approach these projects with end goals in mind to gain the most value out of their CRM/case management and purpose-building systems (that examine customer interactions at a macro level) to improve overall service quality. 

Presented by:

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Nicole Cooper
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Ajax

Nicole oversees a range of portfolios and service areas, including technology and innovation, legislative services, bylaw enforcement and animal control, legal and real estate, customer service, and human resources. She is a respected leader known for championing innovation in service delivery through technology, particularly in the areas of data dashboarding and mapping, municipal elections, automation, digitization of manual processes, and the provision of self-service options to customers. She has been successful in building credibility and trust within her teams, emphasizing authenticity, effective communication, transparency, and the courage to ask questions.

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Jaclyn Grossi
Municipal Clerk, Town of Ajax

Jaclyn leads the legislative services and corporate customer experience divisions that set policy and standards for customer service throughout the organization. In this role, she provides frontline services to customers (via service counters, email, switchboard, and other digital means). She is also currently leading the delivery of the Town of Ajax’s five-year corporate customer service strategy — moving the needle significantly with a whole-scale plan to update the Town’s customer service standards, including improvements in data collection and reporting, and revised training for staff. Jaclyn and her team implemented the Town's CRM platform— a million-dollar technology project to improve organizational efficiencies, customer experience, data collection, and utilization. 

Jaclyn recently obtained her Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from Western University, and serves as AMCTO's Zone 4 Chair.

Monday, June 8 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Small or remote municipalities face growing pressure to fill critical roles amid shrinking applicant pools, tight budgets, and leadership teams stretched thin. Too often, hiring is limited to candidates with direct municipal experience, excluding skilled professionals from other sectors who bring valuable, transferable expertise and might be a better fit for small-town living. This session challenges that mindset by exploring how private and non-profit sector business experience can successfully translate into the municipal environment. 

We’ll examine common barriers to hiring 'outsiders', how to reframe job descriptions and interviews to focus on core competencies, and how non-traditional hires can bring fresh solutions, innovation, and adaptability to public service roles. Real-world case studies will demonstrate the benefits of broadening your recruitment lens, especially when your team is small and every hire counts. This session is designed to help municipal leaders and HR professionals shift from a narrow qualifications checklist to a skills-based hiring strategy that works.

Presented by:

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Lesley Sterling
Clerk/Treasurer, Township of Ignace

Lesley is a dynamic and innovative business professional who joined the Township of Ignace as clerk/treasurer in April 2025 without any direct municipal experience. She is also a REALTOR® with Real Broker Ontario Ltd., has a background in corporate communications and management consulting, and is working on her first book, The Master Generalist: Recognizing the Power of Transferable Skills.

As former general manager of Northwest Community Futures Development Corporation in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Lesley is passionate about community development and is skilled at establishing partnerships and working collaboratively with individuals, business owners, developers, municipal administrators, and supporting agencies. A small-town girl at heart, Lesley strives to establish genuine relationships and to help entrepreneurs discover the opportunities Northwest Ontario has to offer.

Lesley is enrolled in the AMCTO Executive Diploma in Municipal Management, has completed the RECO Real Estate Salesperson program through Humber College, and is committed to lifelong learning and professional development. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Applied Communications in Public Relations from Mount Royal University, and post-graduate certificates from the McGill Executive Development Course Mini-MBA Cycle I and the University of Saskatchewan's Empowering Women Leaders program. Her academic achievements and volunteer service were recognized with one of seven University of Manitoba Leader of Tomorrow Entrance Scholarships and one of three SAMRC Gold Excellence Awards.

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Aaron Gullins
Chief Administrator, Township of Ignace

Aaron is a municipal executive and professional engineer with extensive experience in civil engineering, construction management, and public sector leadership. Since July 2024, he has served as chief administrative officer for the Township of Ignace, guiding the municipality through significant infrastructure renewal, fiscal restructuring, and community growth. His leadership philosophy emphasizes service excellence, accountability, and practical innovation—values reflected in his oversight of operations, strategic planning, and corporate administration.

Aaron’s career includes 15 years in the construction industry, 13 years in civil engineering, and substantial experience managing multimillion-dollar projects across Ontario and Saskatchewan. Previous roles, such as manager of infrastructure and public works for Sioux Lookout and construction manager for WF Botkin Construction, strengthened his abilities in project execution, contract administration, regulatory compliance, and managing technical teams.

Aaron holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Lakehead University, an Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology from Confederation College, and is completing the Osgoode Certificate in Construction Law. Known for his analytical rigor, collaborative approach, and commitment to continuous improvement, he remains focused on enabling sustainable growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Monday, June 8 | 3:15pm - 4:15pm

Municipal staff and council are increasingly facing harassment and threats from the public. This session takes a critical look at the rise in community-driven hostility and explores how municipalities can respond with effective safety protocols, legal protections, and cultural awareness. Participants will gain tools to support staff well-being and foster inclusive, respectful public engagement.

Participants will:

• Examine the types of community-driven hostility impacting municipal staff, including threats of violence and online abuse;
• Explore the legal responsibilities of municipalities to protect staff under occupational health and safety and human rights legislation;
• Discuss divisive community issues, such as opposition to Pride flags, and their impact on staff safety and inclusion;
• Discover how the Elect Respect initiative provides a strategic approach to fostering respectful behaviour and setting clear expectations;
• Learn strategies for supporting staff targeted by harassment, including trauma-informed approaches and peer support systems;
• Review best practices and policies for implementing safety protocols, incident reporting, and public-facing communication plans; and
• Understand how inclusive policies and cultural competency can help mitigate conflict and foster respectful community relations.

Presented by:

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Natasha Savoline
Partner, Lawyer & Workplace Investigator, Bernardi Human Resource Law LLP

Natasha's passion for fairness and creating positive and respectful workplaces informs her work as an experienced investigator. She is skilled at investigating complex, multi-party, and sensitive issues in union and non-unionized workplaces.

Natasha has provided investigation services for municipalities and their councils, First Nations, provincial crown corporations, police, fire, and paramedic services, hospitals, municipal health units, long-term care homes, resident care facilities, medical professional associations, school boards, universities and colleges, airlines, professional associations, professional services firms, private organizations of all sizes, and not-for-profits. She also trains many organizations about how to conduct sound workplace investigations, including a certificate program specific to police services.

Natasha believes in building on what is working well in addition to understanding what needs to change to shift workplace culture and repair strained workplace relationships. 

Tuesday, June 9 | 9:10am - 10:10am

Collaboration in a municipality involves working together, both internally and with external partners, to achieve shared goals and improve community services. Internally, it means bridging departmental silos to share data and knowledge, enabling better decision-making and more effective addressing of community needs. Externally, it includes partnering with neighbouring municipalities to achieve cost savings and drive innovation, as well as collaborating with community organizations, the private sector, and higher-level governments.

The Rainforest Game is designed to close the knowledge gap by giving individuals an opportunity to experience virtual leadership and cross-boundary collaboration in an insightful, realistic, hands-on simulation. It's active and fun!

Presented by:

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Gary MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer, Clearview Training & Consulting Inc.

Gary began his leadership career over 50 years ago, working with street youth in Toronto through a faith-based organization, focusing on wilderness camping and inter-city clubs. This laid a solid foundation for the value and impact of incorporating experiential learning as the best way to engage people. That journey led him to Belleville, where he served as an executive director to 800 staff for 33 years, before founding Clearview Training & Consulting Inc.

Gary firmly believes that in any organization, you either have the culture you allow or create. He believes in working with municipalities to foster a thriving, resilient culture. Clearview serves over 500 clients and is privileged to lead a team of 17 professional facilitators. Clients include municipalities, the Governments of Ontario and Canada, business, manufacturing, and non-profit sectors.

Gary is a proud father of four and has been a husband to his wife, Denise, for 48 years. They are also foster parents and have three active grandkids. They have a retreat centre/ranch in Stirling and use equine-assisted learning and leadership training with their horses for organizations. He is the Old MacDonald who has a farm (and arctic blonde hair!)

Tuesday, June 9| 11:00am - 12:00pm

“Staff burnout is top of mind – not just as a productivity issue, but as a symptom of a system stretched to its limits” – that statement comes directly from StrategyCorp’s 2025 Ontario Municipal CAO Survey, where the most common themes were health, safety, and physical and mental well-being of municipal employees. In this session, we'll delve into what is (and isn't) burnout, common causes and indicators of burnout in municipal settings, strategies to create a resilient and well-supported workforce and the role of leadership, best practices and lessons learned from real-world examples.

It’s hard to quantify or describe burnout, and acknowledging that your workplace is susceptible can be discouraging. Our approach is to blend facts-based analysis with meaningful discussions and opportunities for dialogue. This session will not present all the answers, but participants will leave asking the right questions and feel better equipped to deal with burnout, whichever side of it they may find themselves on. 

Presented by:

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Sally Litchfield
Executive Coordinator, Township of Centre Wellington

Sally is an executive coordinator with a passion for organization, strategy, and a well-stocked snack drawer. She holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BA from the University of Waterloo. Before joining municipal government in 2023, Sally spent 10+ years in event planning and the non-profit sector, culminating as CEO of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. 

Inspired by her own experiences with burnout (as hard as that is to admit), Sally authored Understanding Burnout in a Municipal Workforce and the Importance of Establishing Mitigation Strategies. Her work reflects a commitment to creating sustainable, people-focused workplaces, noting that hindsight is 20/20 with this project feeling like ‘designing the workplace you wish you had that might have prevented the low-lows of the past 15 years.’

Sally brings authenticity and humour to everything she does, believes it’s okay to laugh at life’s hard things, and has an ability to think at a macro and micro level at the same time without getting dizzy. She is a master at avoiding grocery shopping, annoys IT with how much software she teaches herself, and continues to award herself People’s Choice Funnest Person in the Office of the CAO.  Typically enrolled in multiple continuing education programs, she is currently working towards her Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA) with AMCTO and her economic development certification. In 2025, she earned an AMCTO academic award of excellence for her work in the Municipal Employment Law and Human Resources Program. 

Tuesday, June 9 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Emotional intelligence expert Amy Jacobson notes: “We’re encouraging people to ‘have a voice’, ‘speak up and be heard,’ ‘bring your whole self to work,’ and ‘be vulnerable’…. However, the more ‘voices’ and ‘whole selves’ we have present, the more differences in values (and) beliefs”. The result: increased potential for conflict.

This session explores how diversity impacts team relationships and the difference between general conflict and diversity-related conflict. Participants will learn practical strategies to navigate conflict in ways that help people feel heard, respected, and valued, and will leave with a simple tool to support applying these approaches in their own teams.

Presented by:

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Maureen Brown
Founder & CLO, ROCK Diversity

Maureen is the founder and chief learning officer (CLO) of ROCK Diversity and creator of Divigo. ROCK provides assessment, strategic planning, training, and implementation supports to organizations seeking to become more inclusive of diverse populations. Divigo is an innovative web app that provides continuous equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) learning and support.

Maureen has delivered services in the banking, pharmaceutical, government, HR professional development, retail, post-secondary, and not-for-profit sectors. A former journalist, Maureen has engaged audiences in Canada, the US, and Europe on issues such as unconscious bias, racial equity, inclusive communications, community engagement, and cross-cultural mentoring.

Tuesday, June 9 | 3:10pm - 4:10pm

Organizational culture isn't just a buzzword—it’s the heartbeat of how things get done. In this session, we’ll explore what culture really means in a municipal setting, why it matters at every level, and how to build or shift it with intention. From boosting morale to retaining talent, this session gives you real tools, proven examples, and practical ideas that fit your team’s reality. Expect a high-energy format that blends lecture, discussion, and real-world examples from across the public sector. Whether you’re leading a department or supporting a team, you’ll leave with clear steps and creative strategies to help make your workplace better.

Presented by:

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Jamie Boyle
Chief Positivity Officer, Town of Newmarket

Jamie has been in municipal government for 30 years, with the last 26 years spent at the Town of Newmarket. He has worked in customer service since 2004 as an associate, supervisor, and manager. Jamie has also been a corporate trainer with Newmarket since 2015, specializing in public sector customer service, de-escalation, empathy, and corporate culture training.

Jamie was appointed the Town of Newmarket’s chief positivity officer in 2020, responsible for maintaining and fostering corporate culture across Newmarket. Jamie has also spent the last four years as a part-time college professor for Seneca Polytechnic’s Public Administration (PAD) program.

Monday, June 8 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

This session will lead attendees through an exploration of one of the potentially most disruptive and impactful financial tools in recent memory: municipal digital bonds. This alternative to the traditional municipal bond offering through investment banks is powered by blockchain technology, offering decreased transaction costs and increased transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. In an era of unprecedented capital financing demands to keep up with growth and maintenance of aging infrastructure, this session will guide leaders through the mechanics, benefits, risks, and regulatory considerations of digital bond issuance, preparing municipalities to explore this innovative funding approach.

Presented by:

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Jason Reynar
Partner, Lerners LLP

Jason is a partner with the municipal and public entity law group at Lerners LLP (Toronto). He is an adjunct professor with the School of Public Policy at York University and co-director of the Certificate in Municipal Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Jason has held pivotal public sector roles, including chief administrative officer, municipal solicitor, clerk, utilities board chair, and vice president at a regional health centre. Jason has an LL.B. and LL.M. from Osgoode Hall and an MBA from York University's Schulich School of Business.

Monday, June 8 | 3:15pm - 4:15pm

Municipalities are known for building communities, but there are other organizations that take on that role as well. With Ontario’s senior population (age 80+) set to double by 2040, retirement homes are proactively building communities within communities. This session will help municipal staff get to know Ontario's retirement community sector and prepare for the changing demographics, workforce needs, and fiscal sustainability challenges ahead. Discover how municipalities and retirement homes have collaborated and worked well together, from joint advocacy on development charges affecting the housing crisis to smoother local election administration, and more.

Bringing together representatives from municipalities (rural and urban) and retirement home operators (small and large), presenters will discuss the various touchpoints between the sectors, dive into two case studies, and provide approaches for how groups can work together as partners to navigate future challenges.

Presented by:

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Devan Lobo
Senior Manager of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs, Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)

With nearly 10 years of municipal and government experience, Devan has extensive expertise in presenting to municipal staff, senior leadership, and council, as well as working in government relations and collaborative policy development. She has a strong background in building effective relationships across sectors and previously supported municipal professionals through association work with AMCTO. New to the retirement community sector, Devan has been with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) for nearly 18 months and currently leads projects that engage municipalities, including joint advocacy initiatives related to development charges.

Tuesday, June 9 | 9:10am - 10:10am

In 2024, Marina Fung completed the AMCTO Executive Diploma in Municipal Management (EDMM), producing a research paper on municipal budget engagement. She then turned that research into Stouffville’s first formal budget engagement plan—bringing classroom insights to life. The results were remarkable: a 400% increase in survey responses from the prior year, over 1,000 comments and answers to open-ended questions, and countless meaningful conversations with residents.

In this session, Marina will share how she moved from research to implementation, lessons learned from engaging residents, and strategies for measuring success. Delegates will leave with practical tools and inspiration to strengthen transparency, foster citizen involvement, and make municipal budgets more inclusive and impactful.

Presented by:

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Marina Fung
Manager, Budgets & Financial Planning, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

Marina is a dynamic municipal finance leader passionate about transforming how communities engage with public budgets. As manager of budgets and financial planning at the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, she has spearheaded the implementation of service-based budgeting, driving transparency, strategic resource allocation, and stronger connections between residents and local government.

She holds a bilingual honours degree in Business Economics from York University, a CPA designation, and an AMCTO Executive Diploma in Municipal Management. Beyond her role at the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Marina contributes to the municipal finance community through the Municipal Finance Officers' Association (MFOA) Professional Development Committee and serves on the board of the Scugog Public Library.

Tuesday, June 9 | 11:00am - 12:00pm

With the 2026 municipal elections on the horizon and the first reassessment in a decade expected to occur during the next council term, Ontario municipalities will be navigating a politically sensitive and technically complex environment. Many councils will be comprised of individuals who have never governed through an active reassessment cycle. Further complicating property tax decisions is the combined impact of sustained inflation and increasingly vocal rhetoric about municipal spending restraint, tax fairness, and how the burden should be distributed.

This session will equip municipal professionals with tools and strategies to help ensure that elected officials, candidates, and community stakeholders are grounded in the fundamentals of Ontario’s property tax system. Together, we'll explore:

• Core principles of taxation and the structure of Ontario’s property tax framework
• Practical messaging strategies for briefing new and returning councillors, including how to explain reassessment, tax shifts, and the distinction between assessment and taxation
• Techniques for addressing politically charged misconceptions, including those related to fairness, affordability, and the often-confused relationship between equality and equity
• Guidance on managing pre-election dialogue and post-election orientation, with attention to what staff can and should communicate at different stages
• Tips for responding to emerging narratives and proposals surfacing across Ontario, including calls for freezing tax rates, implementing special levies, using flat fees, or restructuring systems to address perceived regressiveness

Presented by:

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Peter Frise
Municipal Finance & Policy Advisor, Municipal Tax Equity Consultants

Peter is a municipal finance and property tax policy advisor with more than 25 years of experience working with municipalities across Ontario. His work focuses on property taxation, finance, and strategic policy development, with an emphasis on practical, locally grounded solutions.

Peter brings a policy-to-practice perspective shaped by his earlier role as a senior economist with the Ontario Ministry of Finance and more than two decades advising municipal staff and councils. He holds degrees in political science from the University of Toronto and McMaster University.

Tuesday, June 9 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

An asset management plan is only as good as its execution. This session will take municipal leaders from theory to action, focusing on practical steps to implement asset management plans successfully. Participants will explore prioritizing infrastructure investments based on risk and need, aligning budgets, staff, and policies with asset management goals, engaging stakeholders for smoother implementation, and monitoring progress and adjusting strategies in real-time. Join this session to gain hands-on tools to turn your asset management plan from a document on a shelf into a driver of sustainable municipal growth!

Presented by:

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Brian Kavanagh
Director of Infrastructure and Town Engineer, Town of Erin

Brian has more than 25 years of experience in asset management across the private sector, local government, and at the provincial level. Brian has presented at several professional conferences, municipal council meetings, and universities. Drawing on this breadth of experience, he is passionate about sharing practical insights and lessons learned to support informed decision-making and effective asset management practices.

Tuesday, June 9 | 3:10pm - 4:10pm

In this session, we will explore how municipalities can leverage naming rights and corporate sponsorships as a strategic funding tool. Through real-world case studies from the Town of Grimsby, City of Thunder Bay, Town of Bracebridge, King Township, and others, Judy will walk participants through the process of valuing municipal assets, developing sponsorship packages, and securing successful partnerships. Participants will gain practical insights into creating new revenue opportunities while strengthening community and corporate relationships.

Presented by:

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Judy Haber
Founder, Performance Sponsorship Group, Inc.

Judy is a municipal sponsorship and naming rights specialist. Over the past 30 years, she has worked with towns and cities across the country, providing valuation services, packaging, and selling municipal assets.

Monday, June 8 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

This session brings together experts to discuss processes for developing and assessing artificial intelligence (AI) governance practices, with specific attention to privacy and human rights, and a view of implementing responsible and sustainable AI technologies. Panelists will share their perspectives concerning AI governance, guidance, and other materials they have produced to assist institutions, as well as opportunities that assessing AI systems’ operations can have for broader data governance processes. We'll explore the following questions:

• What goes into developing an AI governance process, and how can this advance Ontarians' privacy and human rights?
• What are some of the forthcoming opportunities or challenges associated with the adoption of AI technologies?
• How can organizations proactively develop effective governance processes, and what needs to be done today?

Join us to get a clearer understanding of the impacts of AI and how to plan for your organization's AI governance. 

Presented by:

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Alfred Fung
Senior Policy Analyst, Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)

Alfred co-leads the OHRC's initiatives on artificial intelligence, including an impact assessment tool that helps organizations assess and mitigate human rights impacts in their use of AI systems. Since joining the OHRC in 2010, Alfred has contributed to policy guidance on a range of human rights issues. His work has advanced approaches to human rights-based data collection, addressing discriminatory practices in employment and post-secondary education settings, and policies on displays of commemorations and other names, words, and images.

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Dr. Christopher Parsons
Director, Research & Technology Policy, Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Dr. Parsons leads a team with expertise in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data governance, identity management, privacy-enhancing technologies, technologies used by children and youth, as well as technologies used in the law enforcement and health sectors. Christopher was previously a senior research associate at the Munk School’s Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, where his research focused on third-party access to telecommunications data, data privacy, data security, and national security. He holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Victoria.

Monday, June 8 | 3:15pm - 4:15pm

It's been over four decades since its arrival in Canada (adopted in 1982, and later again in 1985) that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms established the fundamental rights of "freedom of expression" and "freedom of peaceful assembly".  A recent surge of legal challenges, launched by various civil rights organizations and aimed at municipalities, has brought the Charter back to council and into the forefront of local government affairs. These challenges have included objections to sign bylaws and rules of procedure as well as public delegations and flag protocols. This session promises a practical review of the most significant cases and will identify ways for municipal staff to anticipate, appreciate, and ameliorate such potential legal challenges.

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Rick O'Connor
President, MuniverseRO Consulting Inc.

Following a 35-year career in public service during which he held the titles of city clerk and city solicitor, Rick now assists municipalities and local boards with governance challenges, with an aim to achieve greater transparency, accountability, and openness in local government (what he calls the "Muniverse"). A member of numerous municipal and provincial bodies, Rick has participated in various legislative initiatives, including Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario's Municipal Legislation Act, 2017; Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022; and Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. He also helped to develop AMCTO's Code of Ethics and Values in 2014, as well as its update in 2024. Most recently, he developed training materials and serves as a facilitator for the AMCTO 2026 Municipal Elections Training Program.

Rick has testified as an expert witness on ethics and conflict of interest in two judicial inquiries, one in 2005 and one in 2020. He has been honoured for his contributions to the municipal sector with the AMCTO Prestige Award in 2006, Good Roads' Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012, and the Queen's Jubilee Medal for his ongoing efforts in making local government more open, transparent, and accountable. He has also been awarded as a certified specialist in Municipal Law, Local Government by the Law Society of Ontario. Rick was one of the first AMCTO members to receive the designation of Certified Municipal Officer (CMO).

Tuesday, June 9 | 9:10am - 10:10am

Have you ever had to find a pound for a flock of geese, received a bag of beaver tails, confirm if your municipality is wet, dry, or damp, or mediate a dispute regarding line fences? If so, you might be a rural clerk! In this session, we will discuss the various hats that rural municipal clerks wear and some of the more obscure - and yes, dated - legislation that the clerk is required to be involved in. The goal of this session is to help rural clerks understand some of the various roles they may be called upon to play, but also provide clerks with specific support tools and connections when faced with these types of challenges with limited time and resources. By the end of the session, you will have had the chance to network and meet other rural clerks who wear similar hats, so you know who to call when you need help regarding that flock of geese!

Presented by:

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Jennifer Lawrie
Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk, Municipality of Kincardine

Jennifer brings over 15 years of experience in municipal governance, serving as deputy clerk for a decade before stepping into the clerk role. Her career began in licensing and finance administration, which provided a strong foundation for her leadership of legislative services.

As a small town clerk, Jennifer oversees all legislative services duties for the municipality, including records management, licensing, municipal elections, bylaw enforcement, registrar duties, council and committee administration, and secretary for all quasi-judicial committees. She has also embraced a diverse range of responsibilities outside the typical clerk's role, including acting as an emergency information officer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer completed AMCTO's Municipal Administration Program (MAP) and earned her Certified Municipal Officer (CMO) designation in 2018. She is an active mentor with AMCTO and has helped guide others towards achieving their Accredited Municipal Professional (AMP) and CMO designations. Passionate about collaboration, she is a proud member of the Bruce County Clerks group, which she fondly refers to as her 'support group'.

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Jennifer White
Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk, Township of Huron-Kinloss

 Beginning her career with a licensing and clerical role, Jennifer became a deputy clerk while navigating the new realities of virtual meetings shaped by the pandemic, and joined the Township of Huron-Kinloss as a clerk immediately following the 2022 municipal elections. Her career has been shaped by the realities of working in close-knit communities, where municipal roles are rarely confined to a single lane.

Jennifer's experience reflects the reality that rural clerks must be generalists, problem-solvers and trusted institutional knowledge holders. With limited resources and small teams, clerks in rural municipalities often wear many hats, balancing relationship-based service delivery with formal legislative authority. Jennifer values the trust placed in clerks as neutral advisors and connectors between council, staff and the community.

Tuesday, June 9 | 11:00am - 12:00pm

This session brings together experts from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) to share their practical, frontline experience handling complex complaints and appeals. Drawing on extensive interactions with municipalities across Ontario, we will highlight emerging trends, common challenges, and key lessons learned when responding to frivolous, vexatious, or voluminous access requests. Building on a history of engaging with municipal audiences, we will share insights and strategies to support the development of more effective, efficient, and informed municipal responses.

Presented by:

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Stephan Luciw
Assistant Commissioner, Tribunal and Dispute Resolution Division, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Stephan joined the IPC from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG), where he served as legal director for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). In that role, he was responsible for leading and overseeing all practice groups within the branch, including prosecution, hearings, privacy, and access to information.

Before his work with MAG, Stephan served as general counsel at the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, where he provided leadership and oversight of all legal and investigative matters. His career also includes roles as director with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and assistant deputy commissioner with the federal Competition Bureau.

Stephan holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor. He also has a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from York University and is a member of the Law Societies of both Ontario and British Columbia.

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Stephanie Haly
Director of Adjudication, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

In her role, Stephanie oversees a team of two managers, 21 adjudicators, and two adjudication review officers, who conduct inquiries, reviews, and adjudicate to resolve access and correction appeals and complaints under Ontario’s public sector freedom of information legislation, the Personal Health Information and Protection Act, and Part X of the Children, Youth and Family Services Act. Stephanie joined the IPC as an adjudication review officer in 2000. Following a 14-year stint as an IPC adjudicator, Stephanie became adjudication manager. She has served as the director of adjudication for the last two years.

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Suzy Hodge
Acting Director, Mediation, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Suzy leads a team of ten IPC mediators who, by using both rights-based and interest-based approaches, investigate and try to resolve access and correction appeals under Ontario’s Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and its provincial counterpart. Suzy began her career as an Archivist at the Archives of Ontario, then worked at the Ministry of the Environment in access and privacy, before joining the IPC as a mediator in 2009. Suzy holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Information Studies, both from the University of Toronto.

Tuesday, June 9 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

This session will explore the City of Thunder Bay’s recent project to review and reimagine its council governance model. The initiative sought feedback from city council, the public, and key stakeholders on a proposed shift from a committee of the whole structure to standing committees, along with the dissolution of several council advisory committees. Completed in less than a year, this complex undertaking required thoughtful change management at every stage. 

Join city clerk Krista Power as she walks you through the process, sharing what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons learned along the way. Get ready to have some fun—because Clerks Rule, and procedural bylaws can be a whole lot more interesting (and enjoyable) than you might expect!

Presented by:

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Krista Power
City Clerk, City of Thunder Bay

Krista is an experienced manager who has spent her career navigating complex environments. Krista manages the portfolio of city hall operations, marriage, lottery licensing, records, access and privacy, and elections. She has over 25 years of experience working in both the provincial and municipal sectors and studied at Lakehead University and Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Krista is strong in her belief about the important role clerks play in local government and is well known to say on the regular, "clerks rule!"

Tuesday, June 9 | 3:10pm - 4:10pm

Emergencies can occur at any time and impact communities of all sizes. In December 2024, the Town of Gravenhurst received six feet of snow in 24 hours. The snow and icy temperatures closed roadways, including the main highway corridor, stranding hundreds of passengers in their vehicles and people in their homes for days. With no power and generators running low, emergency crews spent a week delivering supplies and rescuing the community while snow removal operations worked 24/7 with support arriving from all over Ontario. But how exactly was the call for help made?

Using The Town of Gravenhurst’s 2024 extreme winter storm event as a case scenario, this session will provide practical information on how Emergency Management Ontario is activated in times of crisis and what types of partnerships and resources are available. Participants will come away with a greater understanding of the workings of Emergency Management Ontario, key policy and partnership needs for community preparedness, organizational continuity, technology investments, and collaboration. Join us to gain a deeper awareness and understanding of how emergencies impact all aspects of municipal organizations and best practices for how and when to respond. 

Presented by:

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Teresa Alonzi
Team Lead, Regional Services, Ministry of Emergency Preparedness & Response

With more than a decade of municipal and provincial experience, Teresa specializes in coordinating support for communities during crises and leads a team of field officers serving central and eastern Ontario. Having responded to a wide range of emergencies, Teresa brings both frontline expertise and a master’s degree in public policy and administration to her work, fostering well-prepared and resilient communities.

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Todd Clapp
Deputy Fire Chief, Town of Gravenhurst

With over 20 years of firefighting experience and a decade in emergency management, Todd leads a team of 50 firefighters as Gravenhurst's deputy fire chief and community emergency management coordinator. He champions community-wide preparedness and has directed responses to a range of major incidents from structure fires and explosions to wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather events. Todd excels at fostering inter-agency coordination, managing resources effectively, and supporting recovery efforts to protect people and infrastructure.

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Diane Ploss
Field Officer, Regional Field Services/Emergency Response Division, Emergency Management Ontario

Diane has built a respected career in the public sector, including 21 years in municipal government as a leader in recreation services and 19 years as a municipal advisor with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH). She currently serves as a field officer with the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response (MEPR), Emergency Management Ontario, covering the lakes sector (Muskoka, Parry Sound, and Nipissing districts). Diane actively deploys support to emergency response efforts across Ontario, including the 2024 severe snow event in Gravenhurst and the 2025 ice storm in Muskoka.

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Kayla Thibeault
Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, Town of Gravenhurst

Kayla oversees the Town of Gravenhurst's legislative processes, council and committee operations, records management, and statutory compliance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance. As a member of the municipality’s emergency management team, Kayla’s responsibilities include emergency and frontline customer service, including coordinating customer service continuity during emergency events, supporting public communications and service delivery, and ensuring residents have timely access to critical information and assistance. In this role, she works closely with internal departments and external partners to maintain operational readiness, aligning emergency response efforts, and providing support to the community before, during, and after emergencies.

Tuesday, June 9 | 10:15am - 10:45am

Are you looking to jumpstart your municipal career or distinguish yourself as a municipal leader? This session will inform you how to plan and prepare for reaching this destination. Our municipal experts will provide an overview of AMCTO accreditation programs and the benefits of earning your professional municipal designation.

Join us to discover the path to progression and find out which accreditation is right for you! Hear from fellow municipal peers who have earned their designations, learn about their accreditation journeys and experiences, and turn your municipal leadership aspirations into reality.

Tuesday, June 9 | 10:15am - 10:45am

Join AMCTO’s policy and government relations team and the Ontario Integrity Commissioner, Cathryn Motherwell, for a discussion on the new role the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario will play in the municipal accountability framework as a result of the Municipal Accountability Act.

Tuesday, June 9 | 10:15am - 10:45am

Drop in to meet our education team and ask any questions you may have about our education programs, which include the:

• Municipal Administration Program (MAP)
• Municipal Accounting and Finance Program (MAFP)
• Employment Law and Human Resources (ELHR)
• Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA)
• Executive Diploma in Municipal Management (EDMM)

...and more!

Learn more about the programs, get advice on where to start or where to go next. Our team can also answer questions about the Early Career, Legislative, and Leadership streams of our Career Development Packages (CDPs). 

Tuesday, June 9 | 10:15am - 10:45am

October will be here before you know it, and a new council term will be upon you! New members, veteran members, and everything in between — are you ready? An effective way to start off a new council term is by hosting a training session that brings staff and council together to learn, set expectations, establish roles, and help foster a positive team environment. 

This session will provide an overview of the completely revamped Staff-Council Relations Training offered through our Corporate Training Program. This training is invaluable and will help to ensure that you start your new council term successfully. The training, which can be brought in-house or provided virtually, will help set the foundations needed to create a unified team of staff and council.