Municipal Clerks Forum

Agenda

• 8:30am - Welcome/Morning Moderator Introduction

  Welcoming Remarks:
  Danielle Manton,  AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
  General Manager, Corporate Services, City of Cambridge
  AMCTO President

  Morning Moderator:
  Chantal Guillemette, AOMC
  Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Kapuskasing
  AMCTO Board Director, Zone 8

• 8:45am - Keynote Presentation: Everyone Needs Their Own Justice League

  This keynote presentation will introduce you to the remarkable story of a group of women in Northwestern Ontario known as the Justice League—a circle built on authenticity, deep friendship, and the ability to find joy even in the most challenging of days. Their journey highlights the strength that comes from showing up for one another, celebrating the good, and holding steady through the hard.

  At its heart, this is a reflection on the roles we each play in our friendships and the impact those connections have on our well‑being, our resilience, and our sense of belonging. It’s a reminder that the relationships we nurture can become some of the most meaningful and transformative forces in our lives.

  Presented by:
  Krista Power
  Director of Legislative Services & City Clerk, City of Thunder Bay

• 9:50am - Build Trust Through Effective Engagement and Communications

  Effective communications and engagement are about building trust. Never has that been more important for municipalities than now. Join this session to learn what’s working and how municipalities are adapting to changing media and empowered voices. Gather practical strategies to better tell the municipal story, create a respectful environment, and offer ways to gather community input that lowers the temperature. You’ll walk away with ideas you can apply tomorrow to help build confidence in local government.

  Presented by:
  Andrea Montgomery
  Vice President - Red Brick Communications

• 11:00am - Let’s Talk ABCs — And We’re Not Talking About the Alphabet

  In this session, we’ll chat about modernizing municipal advisory boards and committees (ABCs) in a way that’s practical, realistic, and focused on what works.

  We’ll dig into a challenge many municipalities are facing right now: finding the right balance between legislated (or required) ABCs and the ad-hoc ‘nice to have’ committees that often grow over time. With a look at relevant legislation and best practices, we’ll ask the big question: what’s the real purpose of each committee, and is it still set up to meet that purpose today?

  We’ll also touch on recruitment and terms of reference, including how clear mandates, well-defined roles, and a thoughtful approach to administration can make committees more effective and easier for residents to participate in. Join us to come away with practical tips and tricks you can use right away to help refresh and strengthen your municipality’s ABCs.

  Presented by:
  Devanne Kripp 
  Deputy Clerk, Municipality of Port Hope
  
  Kristina Lepik
  Deputy Clerk/Manager, Legislative Services, Town of Cobourg

• 12:00pm - Lunch Break
• 12:50pm - Afternoon Moderator Introduction

  Afternoon Moderator
  Kelli Campeau, CMO,  AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
  General Manager of Corporate Services/Clerk, Township of South Glengarry
  AMCTO Director at Large

• 12:55pm - Everything You Need to Know About Compliance Audit Committees (CACs)

  The election results are in, a new council has been inaugurated, and your candidates have filed their financial statements. Now you must prepare your compliance audit committee (CAC). This session will take a detailed look at the role of compliance audit committees and provide practical advice to help you organize your CACs to perform to the best of their abilities as an accountability mechanism in relation to municipal elections.

  Presented by:
  Andrea Coyne 
  Manager, Elections, Policy, Print Services, Town of Oakville

  Evan Read 
  Manager, Election, Registration and Protocol Services, City of Vaughan

• 2:05pm - Key Findings from the 2026 State of the Clerk's Office Survey

  Join eScribe for an inside look at the results of the 2026 State of the Clerk’s Office Survey. This session will unpack current sector-wide trends, operational realities, and the shifting expectations placed on municipal clerks and their teams. From governance pressures to technology transformation, learn what your peers are experiencing and how these findings can inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and council support moving forward.

  Presented by:
   Tara Astbury
   Senior Director, Customer Experience, eScribe

• 3:05pm - #MakeAPlanToVote

  Amidst changing voting technology and historically low voter turnout, Sault Ste. Marie attempted to find new and innovative ways to promote the 2022 municipal election. This case study style session explores the highs and lows of election planning and reflects on what worked and what didn’t in 2022. Join us for a discussion on lessons learned and to discover new ways you can apply similar ideas and communication tools to promote the upcoming 2026 election in your own municipality. How will you encourage residents to #MakeAPlanToVote?

  Presented by:
  Madison Zuppa
  Deputy City Clerk, City of Sault Ste. Marie

• 3:35pm - Closing Remarks & Adjournment

  David Arbuckle, MPA
  Executive Director, AMCTO