Dear members,
As Ontario’s largest member-based association for municipal professionals, we always look forward to celebrating Local Government Week during the third full week in October each year. This year, Local Government Week is taking place from October 19-25, 2025, and we want to ensure you have the resources and support you need to plan ahead and celebrate #LocalGovWeek within your own municipal organizations and communities.
I encourage you to explore our revised member toolkit – in addition to social media assets and a one-page information sheet on career opportunities in local government, the toolkit includes the following tools and resources exclusively for members:
- Local government 101 presentation you can use to educate students, newcomers, or those interested in learning more about Ontario local governments
- One-pagers on ways you can celebrate #LocalGovWeek within your organization and ways to engage the public and those in your community
- A template council resolution available in both English and French for recognizing Local Government Week in your municipality
- Resources for current and aspiring municipal clerks and treasurers outlining key legislated duties, complexities, and statutory responsibilities
Local Government Week is your organization’s opportunity to promote the amazing work being done by talented staff on residents’ behalf, an opportunity to promote meaningful career opportunities in the sector, and an opportunity to encourage residents to get involved in and have a deeper appreciation of and connection to their local government.
Please join us in continuing to spread the word about the importance of local government, celebrating our collective impact and successes as a sector and as proud municipal staff.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be adding to this toolkit to include other shareable content and resources from our partner associations, developing more advocacy tools to support you, our members, and municipal staff, and advocating to advance a better municipal-provincial relationship.
In thinking about Local Government Week, I am also reminded that today is International Day of Democracy – and local governments play an important role in not only shaping our communities, but in shaping the future of democracy at all levels. Now more than ever, we need to ensure that democracy continues to thrive, and that starts with recommitting to our values. As an Association, we will continue to champion the work of our members and municipal staff, promoting and encouraging democratic principles of accountability, transparency, and active participation in Ontario's local governments. I hope that today and during Local Government Week, you take time to reflect on your values and accomplishments, including ways we can continue to work together to advance the profession and local democracy.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I would like to thank you for your dedication and ongoing commitment to the sector, as well as your support of our Association. Thank you for all you do to serve our communities!
Sincerely,
Danielle Manton, AOMC, Dipl.M.M.
President, AMCTO
General Manager, Corporate Services, City of Cambridge