CELEBRATING YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WISHING YOU A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

As the year comes to a close, on behalf of the CAMA Board of Directors an staff, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of you for your dedication and contributions to municipal government. Your leadership, perseverance, and vision have helped guide your communities through both challenges and opportunities.

The holidays are a time to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with loved ones. Whether you’re celebrating new milestones or simply taking a well-deserved pause, I hope this season brings joy, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose for the year ahead.

We look forward to supporting you in 2025 and beyond as we continue to grow, learn, and lead together.

Warm wishes for a happy holiday season and a successful New Year!

Tony Kulbisky

CAMA President

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW CLIMATE TOOLKIT FOR HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

LE GOUVERNEMENT FÉDÉRAL LANCE UNE NOUVELLE TROUSSE SUR LE CLIMAT POUR LE LOGEMENT ET LES INFRASTRUCTURES

Are you ready to consider climate change in your infrastructure?

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) has launched a new initiative to empower communities across Canada in building resilient, low-carbon housing and infrastructure. The Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure (CTHI) offers important support for various infrastructure assets, including water, buildings, transportation, and waste.

The CTHI provides a suite of open-access tools and support services designed to assist infrastructure owners and decision-makers in developing projects that build resilience and contribute to Canada's path to net-zero emissions. CTHI services include a Climate Help Desk, the ClimateInsight.ca platform, and a Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts.

These services can benefit CAMA members in their local efforts to respond to climate change. They can help your community identify climate hazards and assess potential infrastructure risks, consider resilience and emissions reduction options specific to infrastructure and housing, access up-to-date standards, guidelines, and sector best practices, and respond to climate requirements from HICC programs.

Visit the CTHI web page to see how the initiative can support your community’s housing and infrastructure projects or reach them by email at Climate-Infra-Climat@infc.gc.ca. 

Êtes-vous prêt à intégrer les considérations climatiques dans vos infrastructures?

Logement, Infrastructures et Collectivités Canada (LICC) a lancé une nouvelle initiative visant à soutenir les communautés à travers le Canada dans la construction de logements et d’infrastructures résilients et à faibles émissions de carbone. La Trousse sur le climat pour le logement et les infrastructures (TCLI) offre un soutien pour divers actifs d’infrastructure, notamment l’eau, les bâtiments, le transport et les déchets.

La TCLI propose une gamme d’outils en libre accès et de services d’appui conçus pour aider les propriétaires d’infrastructures et les décideurs à développer des projets qui renforcent la résilience et contribuent à l’objectif du Canada d’atteindre la carboneutralité. Les services de la TCLI incluent un Centre de soutien climatique, la plateforme PerspectivesClimatiques.ca, ainsi qu’une Liste d’experts en matière de climat et d’infrastructures.

Ces services peuvent être utiles aux membres de l’ACAM dans leurs efforts locaux de lutte contre les changements climatiques. Ils peuvent aider votre communauté à : identifier les enjeux climatiques et évaluer les risques potentiels sur les infrastructures; explorer des options spécifiques pour renforcer la résilience et réduire les émissions liées aux infrastructures et au logement; accéder aux normes, lignes directrices et pratiques exemplaires les plus récentes du secteur, et; répondre aux exigences climatiques des programmes de LICC.

Visitez la page web de la TCLI pour découvrir comment cette initiative peut appuyer vos projets de logement et d’infrastructure, ou prenez contact par courriel à Climate-Infra-Climat@infc.gc.ca.

ATTENTION ALL MUNICIPAL INDUSTRY LEADERS

AND INNOVATORS

2025 EXHIBITOR TRADESHOW

Registration is now OPEN for the Exhibitor Tradeshow at the 2025 CAMA Conference in Mont-Tremblant, taking place from May 26-28, 2025. Do you know of a municipal leader or innnovator that would like to showcase their products and services? Direct them to our Exhibitor Prospectus.  Only 3 regular booths and 15 micro booths remain available!

SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION: ENTER CAMA'S AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

CAMA’s Awards of Excellence celebrate the best in local government. They recognize the professional municipal administration needed to deliver creative and successful programs, projects or services.

One of the award categories is the Willis Award for Innovation. It applauds new approaches to program delivery that result in positive changes to local government practices and bring benefits to the organization and community.

Join past winners like Lloydminster, AB/SK and Vaughan, ON, who were recognized for their innovative wastewater treatment and forestry service request efforts last year. Learn more about their wins here.

Got a great story to tell? Share your achievements and you could win! Start preparing your submission today. The deadline to apply is 4:30 pm PST on February 10, 2025. Get all the details here.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BUSINESS PARTNERS

At Ridgeback Security, we believe that security is never a one-size-fits-all solution. We take a personalized approach, tailoring our services to meet the unique risks and operational needs of each client. Whether it’s conducting physical security assessments or delivering specialized training such as Verbal De-escalation or Mental Resilience, our solutions are customized to safeguard your business and ensure operational continuity. To learn more about Ridgeback Security visit the CAMA website.only" or "only 7 remaining!"

ClearPoint Strategy is a trusted partner for Canadian local governments, offering an innovative platform to streamline strategic planning and performance management. Simplify goal alignment, track real-time progress, and foster collaboration with a single source of truth for strategy execution. ClearPoint’s AI-powered insights enhance decision-making, while tailored solutions ensure your unique needs are met. Embrace transparency, efficiency, and growth with ClearPoint Strategy—your catalyst for achieving strategic success in today’s complex municipal landscape. To learn more about ClearPoint Strategy visit the CAMA website.

CAN YOU SHOW YOUR TRUE SELF AT WORK?

Article by ICMA / Dr. Frank Benest

Navigating the delicate balance between authenticity and professionalism can feel daunting, especially in structured organizational cultures. In Career Compass No. 112, Dr. Frank Benest explores the challenges and rewards of revealing your true self in the workplace. From the stress of fitting into a rigid environment to the empowering benefits of being genuine, this article provides practical tips for leaders to embrace authenticity while fostering inclusivity. Dive into this insightful piece to discover how authenticity can enhance your well-being, strengthen teams, and redefine leadership. Read the full article here.

2024 CAMA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE NOMINATIONS

Willis Award for Innovation

Population Between 20,001 & 100,000

Wonders of Welland, an Illustrated Children’s Book for the Community

Fueled by imaginative innovation and daring creativity, the City of Welland is embarking on an inspiring adventure to extend a genuinely heartfelt welcome to its newest members. Through the release of Wonders of Welland, an enchanting, illustrated children’s book, the City has crafted an original narrative that goes far beyond colourful pages, weaving a charming tale of warmth and inclusion for families and kids alike.

With a population poised to surge from 56,652 to more than 81,000 by 2031, and surpass 100K by 2041, this publication becomes more than a simple story – it serves as a beacon of comfort for those who find themselves in the embrace of Welland’s vibrant community. The book chronicles the journey of a recently relocated child and his family and is intentionally designed to alleviate the anxieties of change, dissolve pangs of loneliness, and entice newcomers to experience the captivating features of their new home.

This groundbreaking initiative was made possible thanks to the steadfast support of our community. With generous financial contributions from businesses in the building and development sector, combined with the invaluable collaboration of local partners, the City proudly brought this special welcoming to life.

To view the entire awards submission visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for "City of Welland").

Willis Award for Innovation

Population Over 100,000

Peel Region Robotic Process Automation Project

Peel Region's digital landscape has evolved significantly, spurred by ongoing advancements and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. AI is reshaping how governments interact with their citizens, offering predictive analytics, enhanced decision-making, and personalized experiences. This innovation, coupled with the adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), is streamlining operations by automating repetitive tasks, enabling Peel Region employees to focus on value-added activities.

In 2023, Peel Region introduced UiPath a RPA technology platform. It leveraged innovations in design thinking, computer vision, machine learning, and OCR to automate repetitive, mundane, and error-prone business processes and employee tasks. Peel's IT division collaborated with Peel Regional Paramedic Services to identify areas for improvement and challenge traditional processes, looking for business process efficiencies and service enhancements. IT and Paramedics identified the business process improvement of expediting the receipt and review of Paramedic Driver’s Abstracts from the Ministry of Transportation to ensure compliance after changes in driving status. RPA reduced the processing time for reviewing paramedic drivers records by 80%!

To view the entire awards submission visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for "Robotic Process").

Selina Williams, Chief Administrative Officer, District of Oak Bay, BC

Steve England, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Iqaluit, NU

Tara Baker, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Guelph, ON

Michael Dewar, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Smithers, BC

Renee Mask, Chief Administrative Officer, Township of Greater Madawaska, ON

Jennifer Wakegijig, Chief Administrative Officer, Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, NU