LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT CAMA

CAMA President, Bev Hendry recently retired from her position as Chief Administrative Officer of the Township of West Lincoln, Ontario. As per CAMA’s Constitution, she has also resigned as CAMA President.

As a result, Tony Kulbisky, CAMA’s First Vice-President, and Chief Administrative Officer for Westlock County, AB, became CAMA President, effective February 15, 2024. He will complete Hendry’s term, ending June 2024, and continue as President for the 2024-2025 Board term.

A sincere thank you to Jack Benzaquen who concludes his term as CAMA Past President, after a remarkable decade-long tenure on the CAMA National Board. Hendry will assume the role of Past President.

Read the Full News Release Here.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 CAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with the requirements of the CAMA by-laws, five positions are available on the CAMA Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 year:

•   Member-At-Large for Municipalities with a Population Under 100,000

•   Representative for Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island

•   Representative for Manitoba & Saskatchewan

•   Representative for British Columbia

•   Representative for Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory & Nunavut

The Nominating Committee invites all Regular CAMA members to express their interest in letting their name stand for the election of the above noted positions by completing the nomination form (including the names and signatures of two nominators who are Regular members of the Association), accompanied by a photo, and a one-page bio (with a maximum of 500 words) including a paragraph on why you are interested in this Board position. Photos and bios will be posted to the CAMA website. 

Please note only Regular Members residing in Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island, Manitoba & Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories & Nunavut are eligible for election in their respective regions. If you are from a municipality with a population under 100,000, you are eligible for election for the Member-At-Large position. Additionally, note that you may only be nominated for one position.

For more details on the Board of Director’s responsibilities and time commitment please see our Frequently Asked Questions document.  All information can be found on the CAMA website.

Nominations should be sent to Ms. Jennifer Goodine, CAMA Executive Director (and Returning Officer), via e-mail (admin@camacam.ca) by 4:30 p.m. PST on Friday, March 8th, 2024. 

Further information regarding the procedures for voting will be distributed electronically to all CAMA members eligible to vote, prior to the commencement of the voting period. Please also note that only CAMA Members in good standing with membership fees paid for the current fiscal year (April 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025) will be eligible to vote. 

Bev Hendry

CAMA Past President /

Chair of Nominating Committee

ACT NOW: SECURE EARLY BIRD RATES FOR THE 2024 CAMA CONFERENCE

Ensure you secure your spot for the 2024 CAMA Conference happening at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from June 3-5, 2024. All details can be found on the Conference website. Be mindful that registration rates will increase after April 1st, 2024.

CAMA HOLDS QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING

IN OTTAWA, ONTARIO

2023-2024 CAMA Board of Directors

Left to Right: Gary Kent, Mike Dolter, Tony Kulbisky, Vincent Lalonde, Bev Hendry, Brenda Orchard, Sheila Bassi-Kellett, Jack Benzaquen, Marc Melanson, Raffaelle Di Stasio,

Rodney Cumby

Not Pictured: Jamie Nagy

The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting in Ottawa, Ontario from February 14^th to 16th, 2024. The Board had the opportunity to meet with Gerard Peets (Assistant Deputy Minister) and Lindsay Boldt (Executive Director) from Infrastructure and Housing Canada for a discussion covering infrastructure, funding, housing affordability, and homelessness. Mathieu Bélanger, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, also joined the meeting to provide an update on FCM’s activities and advocacy efforts.

DETAILS OF BOARD MEETING

The Board discussed various topics, but what follows are the highlights:

Board Vacancies and Elections. The following five positions are available on the Board for the 2024-2025 year:

·    Member-At-Large for Municipalities with a Population Under 100,000

·        Representative for Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island

·        Representative for Manitoba & Saskatchewan

·        Representative for British Columbia

·        Representative for Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory & Nunavut

The nominations will close on March 8^th, 2024 and detailed information is available on the website.

CAMA Executive Leadership Program. The January 2024 Program received positive feedback, with the next session scheduled for January 28-31, 2025 at the Kingbridge Centre (near Toronto). Applications will open on April 25th, 2024 at 12:00 Noon EST, with two scholarships to be awarded (more details will be announced soon).

Support to the ICMA Conference. The Board opted not to host the Canadian Dinner at the upcoming ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh but initiated a Scholarship Program to aid first time attendees at this event, and other professional development opportunities throughout the year. Details of two $2500 scholarships will be released shortly.

Future Conference Updates. Discussions on potential conference venues and dates for 2026-2028 took place, with the Request for Proposal process commencing soon and final decisions expected by Fall 2024.

2024 Awards of Excellence. The 2024 CAMA Awards of Excellence received 45 applications, showcasing increased interest, especially in the new Municipal Inspiring Workplace Award. Winners will be chosen by March 15, 2024 and announced at the Annual Conference in Banff.

Communications & Membership Committee Update. Membership growth continues, with 810 members.  Although a proposal for a new membership category for municipalities under 1,500 was considered, the current categories were deemed sufficient. The Masterminds Forums received positive feedback, leading to their continuation from September to December 2024.

Toolkit Taskforce Progress. Work on the Succession Planning and Crisis Management toolkits is ongoing, with completion expected by the end of April 2024.

Review of Strategic Plan Workplan. Updates on the 2023-2024 Workplan and recommendations for 2024-2025 aligning with CAMA's Five-Year Strategic Plan were presented, with positive outcomes from new programs introduced this year.

Board Meetings. Scheduled meetings are set for June 2, 2024, in Banff, AB, and October 1-4, 2024, in Yellowknife, NWT.

Additionally, the Board expressed gratitude to Bev Hendry for her leadership and congratulated her on her recent retirement. Per CAMA's Constitution, she resigned as CAMA President, with Tony Kulbisky, CAMA’s First Vice-President, assuming the role until the 2025 Annual General Meeting. Sincere appreciation was also extended to Jack Benzaquen, the outgoing Past President, for his decade-long service on the CAMA Board.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: "A WOMAN AS CITY MANAGER? IT WILL NEVER WORK"

by Ann M. Mitchell, CAO for City of Medicine Hat/CAMA Member

 Feb 01, 2024 | PM MAGAZINE - ARTICLE

At a forum in 2017, a panel asked a female CAO the question, “Why is it an issue that women are underrepresented in local government?” She responded, “Females have a unique perspective. Females are under more scrutiny, especially in senior government roles. We need to equal out the balance in government and all workplaces.” The panel was made up of CAOs, councillors, and department heads—all women.

Read the Full Article Here.

ASSISTANTS AND DEPUTIES: HEARTFELT LEADERSHIP

Cultivating a Culture of Encouragement in the Workplace

by Emily Lewis | Feb 01, 2024 | PM MAGAZINE - ARTICLE

In the realm of leadership, where strategies are devised, decisions are made, and teams are guided, there exists a transformative approach that transcends conventional methods—leading from the heart. While our responsibilities are diverse and challenges are constant, the ability to inspire and uplift those working under our guidance is the true reward of the job. As a deputy or assistant, encouraging from the heart is a profound and impactful approach that can exponentially and positively shape the culture of your organization. This form of encouragement surpasses traditional management techniques, tapping into the emotional and motivational core of individuals.

Read the Full Article Here.

2023 CAMA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE NOMINATIONS

COLLABORATION AWARD WITH MUNICIPALITIES

Rural Municipality of Corman Park, City of Martensville, Town of Osler, City of Saskatoon, City of Warman

P4G Regional Plan & New Planning District

The Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) partnering municipalities include:

Rural Municipality of Corman Park, City of Martensville, Town of Osler, City of Saskatoon, and the City of Warman.

Given the unprecedented growth rates over the past two decades, the partnering municipalities wanted to ensure the P4G region was prepared for growth and economic prosperity for all. This reinforced the need for a coordinated approach to regional planning and servicing through the creation of a Regional Plan. The partnering municipalities agreed that they needed to develop and adopt a long-term view and plan for land use and servicing that was regional in scope to a population of 1 million people.

The establishment of the new P4G Planning District occurred on January 1, 2022, after a regional planning process that began in 2014 by the partnering municipalities. The approved P4G Planning District bylaws, and the P4G Regional Plan process that led to them, can easily be considered one of the most, if not the most, extensive and collaborative regional planning exercise to occur in the province of Saskatchewan.

To view the entire awards submission visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for "P4G").