Municipal Leaders Forum

Agenda

• 8:30am - Welcome/Morning Moderator Introduction

  Welcoming Remarks:

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

  Morning Moderator:

  Annette C. Gilchrist, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.M. 
  Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk/Treasurer, Township of Bonnechere Valley 
  AMCTO Director at Large 

• 8:45am - Keynote Presentation: Threats Are Changing, Security Must Too

  Municipal leaders today face an unprecedented challenge: protecting communities against a rapidly evolving mix of physical, cyber, and insider threats—while keeping public spaces open, accessible, and welcoming. Drawing on real-world experience from years in Canadian intelligence and security, this session will reveal how the threat landscape is shifting, what adversaries are targeting, and why municipalities are increasingly caught in the crosshairs. Participants will learn practical, proactive strategies to safeguard people, critical infrastructure, and sensitive information without compromising public trust, services, or transparency. Through compelling stories and actionable insights, discover how to lead with both vigilance, openness, and confidence in an era where the risks have never been higher.

  Presented by:
  Andrew Kirsch 
  CEO, Kirsch Consulting Group

• 9:50am - Beyond the Breaking Point: Finding Balance in Leadership

  Municipal leaders face unique pressures that can push even the most resilient individuals to burnout. In this candid session, two leaders share their personal experiences and the lessons they learned about stress, council-staff relations, and career navigation. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for cultivating resilience, spotting burnout early, and creating healthier workplace cultures that support both leaders and staff. Walk away with real-world insights and tools to sustain yourself and your teams, while continuing to commit to providing excellence in public service.

  Presented by:
  Kelli Campeau, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A., Dipl.M.M.
  General Manager of Corporate Services/Clerk, Township of South Glengarry
  
  Robert Tremblay, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
  Program Manager, Council & Committee Services

• 11:00am - Optimizing Municipal Operations: Process Improvements for Small to Medium-Sized Municipalities

  The session aims to debunk prevalent misconceptions about continuous improvement in small to medium-sized municipalities. Leveraging the presenters' vast experiences with small to medium-sized municipalities, this session highlights typical problems encountered in municipal processes and offers insights that municipalities can use to independently tackle these issues head-on. Merging theory with practical experience, this session encourages participants to view their processes from a fresh perspective. 

  In this session, we will also look at a real-life case study to incorporate lessons from the Town of Blind River, a municipality with a population of 3,400, in their pursuit of process improvements. Discover how this community developed its improvement plans and how it continues to reap the benefits and efficiencies from these changes.

  Presented by:
  Chas Anselmo
  Executive Director, KPMG 
  
  Kathryn Scott
  Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk, Town of Blind River  

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

  Joey Anderson, AMP
  Legal Services Operations Analyst, City of Ottawa
  AMCTO Director at Large

• 12:55pm - A Dissolved Council: The Failure of Section 266 of the Municipal Act

  This session will present a compelling case study on the governance crisis in the Township of Black River-Matheson, offering vital lessons for municipalities across Ontario. The narrative begins with the resignation of a council member on February 20, 2024, which led to an unprecedented situation where three councillors refused to attend meetings, neglecting their duties under the Municipal Act. This culminated in a historic decision on April 27, 2024, when the Minister of Municipal Affairs dissolved the council, marking the first use of Section 266 of the Municipal Act to disband a council.

  The dissolution mandated an unforeseen byelection for the mayor and six council members, sparking debates and discussions that many are unaware of. This session will shed light on the opaque decision-making that often takes place in 'smoke-filled' rooms, revealing decisions that may not align with the best interests of the municipal sector. Together, we will explore the pitfalls of the Minister’s decision, the conditional nature of the Oath of Office in Ontario, and the consequences that followed, including the impact on the Municipal Elections Act during the Township's byelection.

  Presented by:
  Chris Wray, AMCT
  Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Cochrane
  
  Cassandra Child, AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
  Clerk, Town of Cochrane 

• 2:00pm - Getting to Yes: Building an Effective Government Relations Strategy in Any Municipality

  This session explores how to build strategic and effective government relations and advocacy for your municipality. Together, we'll explore:

  • The structure of government advocacy within a municipality 
  • The development of an effective strategy
  • Who does what between staff, mayor, and council when it comes to government relations and advocacy
  • How and when to involve the public in your municipality's advocacy efforts
  • Setting priorities and how to advance them

  Presented by:
  Rob Trewartha
  Director of Strategic Communications and Initiatives, City of Mississauga

• 2:55pm - Free To Be Me: Gender Identity & Expression in the Workplace

  Societal understanding and legal protections for transgender and gender-diverse individuals have evolved significantly. Since 2012, gender identity and gender expression have been protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Employers, including municipalities, are legally obligated to foster workplaces that are inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination and harassment.

  This forward-thinking and interactive session explores the intersection of law, policy, and practice to help participants better understand their responsibilities and opportunities to support gender-diverse and transgender employees. Drawing on legal decisions, best practices, and protocols, the session offers practical guidance to municipal leaders for creating inclusive environments that go beyond compliance.

  In this session, we will:

  • Explore relevant legal decisions and their implications for municipal workplaces 
  • Deepen our understanding of gender identity and gender expression, including nonbinary and gender non-conforming experiences 
  • Examine the impact of toxic masculinity in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as policing and fire services
  • Learn how to design and implement gender-neutral spaces, including washrooms 
  • Understand the importance of pronouns and inclusive language as a legal and ethical obligation
  • Discover practical tools for supporting transitioning employees, including individualized accommodation plans
  • Review key policies and practices municipalities should adopt to achieve inclusiveness and meet their obligations under the Human Rights Code

  Presented by:
  Natasha Savoline
  Partner/Lawyer, Bernardi Human Resource Law LLP

• 3:40pm - Closing Remarks & Adjournment

  David Arbuckle, MPA
  Executive Director, AMCTO