CAMA HOLDS QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING IN VANCOUVER, BC

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) held its quarterly Board meeting in Vancouver, BC from February 15-17, 2023. As part of that visit, they took a tour of the Surrey Biofuel Facility, which uses anaerobic digestion to process 100K tonnes of waste every year, diverting it from the landfill and helping to fuel their City with energy, all in support of the municipality’s net-zero goals. Thanks to CAMA Board member, Vincent Lalonde, City Manager of the City of Surrey, for hosting. 

The Board discussed several topics at their meeting, but what follows are the highlights of those discussions:

Financial Statements. Brenda Orchard, Treasurer reported that the Association is planning for a balanced budget by year end March 31, 2023.

2023 Annual Conference. CAMA is currently preparing for its in-person Conference being held at the Deerhurst Resort from May 29-31, 2023 which will include special celebrations for our 50th Anniversary at the President's Dinner with a black and gold theme, a photo booth, and the ABBA Band - just to name a few.

Vacant Board Positions. In accordance with the requirements of the CAMA By-law, two positions have opened up on the CAMA Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 year: the position for Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories & Nunavut, and the position for Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island.  All details on the nomination process can be found on the CAMA website.

FCM Booth. CAMA is excited to have a booth at the FCM Conference taking place in Toronto from May 25-27, 2023, to promote the CAO Performance Evaluation Toolkit, membership and our other resources. If you are attending FCM and would like to help at the booth, please contact the CAMA National Office at admin@camacam.ca.

Strong Mayor's White Paper. The Board approved the White Paper entitled "The Role and Significance of the CAO Position in Canadian Municipal Government: A CAMA 'White Paper' on Ontario's Strong Mayor Legislation and the Pivotal Role of the CAO in Providing Good Governance." A Communications Plan is being developed and will be rolled out soon.

Membership Committee. Our current membership stands at 670 members which is the largest in CAMA's history. We continue to seek new members, and Board members are also undertaking personal campaigns in their own Provinces/Territories. Continue to encourage your colleagues and staff to join CAMA with a 50% off discount for the first year. Additional members for each municipality can join for only $155.00.

Financial Stability Plan. The Board approved a new Financial Stability Plan which lays out strategic recommendations for membership services, current and new Non-Dues Revenue Programs, and the Annual Conference.

What is CAMA's Next Toolkit? The Toolkit Taskforce reviewed and updated CAMA's eight toolkits this past year including a new version of the CAO Performance Evaluation Toolkit with a Guide for the CAO and a Guide for the Mayor & Council. The Leadership Guide for CAO-Council Relations will be launched in April 2023, and the Toolkit for the Effective Executive Assistant to the CAO at the 2023 CAMA Conference. Some questions will be included on the Post-Conference Survey to determine what resources our members are seeking.

"CAMARADERIE: TOGETHER AGAIN"

CAMA 2023 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

ADDITIONAL ROOM BLOCK OPEN AT HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT

WITH SHUTTLE SERVICE PROVIDED

Registrations are now being accepted for CAMA's 49th Annual Conference being held in Huntsville, Ontario from May 29-31, 2023 at the Deerhurst Resort.

Conference Program and On-Line Registration.

To view the full 2023 Conference Program click here. All other information can be found on the Conference website. 

Hotel Accommodations.

The regular rooms are SOLD OUT at the Deerhurst Resort for those wanting to stay the entire Conference (Sunday through Thursday), however there are two and three bedroom condos available. You can also call the hotel regularly to determine if any rooms have opened up.

Due to high demand, a CAMA room block has also been negotiated with The Hidden Valley Resort (1755 Valley Road) which is the closest hotel to the Deerhurst Resort, and a fifteen minute walk.  A shuttle service will be provided from the Hidden Valley Resort to the Deerhurst Resort during peak times.

Don't Wait - Secure Your Spot Today with the Early Bird Rate Prior to April 1st!

CAMA PARTNERS TO HOST WEBINAR ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

EMBRACING EQUITY: A CONVERSATION WITH CAO'S

MARCH 8, 2023 AT 10:00 A.M. PST

Raffaelle Di Stasio

CAO

City of Montreal-West, QC

Caroline Blair-Smith

Deputy CAO

Halifax Regional Municipality, NS

Sheila Bassi-Kellett

CAO

City of Yellowknife, NWT

CAMA has partnered with Alberta Municipalities, CivicInfo BC, Local Government Administration Association of Alberta, and the Society of Local Government Managers to form the Women in Local Government Administration working group (WILGA). The overarching goal of this cross Canada partnership is to bring women in local government together from across Canada and create opportunities for awareness, education, and networking. In support of this goal, we are proud to present our first online event.

On March 8^th we will bring together women in municipal leadership, featuring CAMA member panelists from across Canada. Through this event, we will host a conversation that will focus on the challenges and successes our panelists have experienced, and their approach to embracing equity.

Event details:

• Embracing Equity: A Conversation with CAOs
• Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. PST.
• Click here and register today. Everyone is welcome to attend.
• Follow us on LinkedIn for more information.

We encourage you to attend on March 8th & join us as we engage municipal leaders in this important conversation. 

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC IS EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH A NEW MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION SPECIALTY

Goal of New Business Diploma Specialty to Prepare Graduates for Careers in Local and Rural Government

February 9, 2023 – Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Business is excited to launch its new municipal administration specialty for the Business diploma program. Graduates with the new specialty will be trained to successfully manage the day-to-day operations of a town or municipality as a government manager or official. This specialty is offered virtually, making it more accessible to students. 

This specialty has been developed in partnership with the following organizations: Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), Saskatchewan Association for Rural Municipalities (SARM), Urban Municipal Administrators' Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS), Rural Municipal Administrators' Association (RMAA), Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA), New North - Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities (SANC), Northern Administrators Association; and Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BUSINESS PARTNER

CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. We are a leader in Standards Development and in Testing, Inspection and Certification. The mission of CSA Group’s Standard Development organization is to enhance the lives of Canadians through the advancement of standards in the public and private sectors. As such, CSA Group continues to be at the forefront of standards research, development, education, and advocacy. Learn more on the CAMA website.

WELCOME NEW CAMA MEMBERS

Barbara Kulyk, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Consort, AB

Jason MacDonald, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Amherst, NS

Alicia Jones, Director General/Chief Administrative Officer, Municipalité de L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, QC

Michelle Dickinson, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Grand Lake, NB

Dana Spurrell, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Mount Pearl, NL

Rebekah Msuya-Collison, Municipality of South Huron, ON

Reegan McCullough, Chief Administrative Officer, Sturgeon County, AB

Travis Peter, General Manager of Development and Strategic Services, AB

Amy Vickery, City Manager, City of Temiskaming Shores, ON