CAMA'S NEW TOOLKITS AND RESOURCES

COMING SOON!

Building on CAMA's national work on Building Civility and Trust in Local Government, we are pleased to announce the release of six new governance and leadership resources to support CAOs, Mayors, Chairs, and Councils across Canada.

These tools reinforce clear roles, respectful debate, procedural fairness, and strong governance practices. Resources will be released incrementally, with the full suite available to members by the end of March 2026.

Council Orientation Toolkit (Updated Edition)

A comprehensive governance guide that strengthens Council–CAO relationships and supports effective decision-making from day one and throughout the Council term.

Designed for practical application, sections can be delivered as structured orientation sessions or used as ongoing governance reference tools.

Your Local Government: A Resident’s Guide to Services, Roles & Good Governance

 A practical, plain-language guide designed to help residents better understand how municipalities function, who makes decisions, and how services are delivered. This resource supports transparency, public education, and trust in local government.

Leading Effective Council Meetings: A Practical Guide for Mayors & Chairs in Canadian Municipalities. A focused, actionable guide to help Mayors and Chairs lead meetings with fairness, clarity, and confidence. This resource reinforces procedural integrity, respectful debate, and the Chair’s critical role in protecting the organization.

Drawing the Line – When CAOs Must Act to Address Incivility and Protect the Organization. A clear and practical framework to help CAOs recognize when behaviour crosses the line and requires action. This resource provides guidance on protecting staff, upholding governance standards, and safeguarding organizational integrity.

Quiet Leadership Tool for CAOs – Using Storytelling& Visuals to Support Good

Governance and Reduce Tension. An innovative tool designed to help CAOs communicate complex governance concepts using visuals and narrative techniques. It supports influence without escalation, helping leaders reduce tension and build understanding at the Council table.



Transparency, Fair Process, and Fair Treatment at the Council Table. A governance-focused resource that outlines the principles and practical application of procedural fairness in municipal decision-making. It reinforces trust, consistency, and ethical leadership in public meetings.

An updated edition of the CAO Employment Contract Toolkit will also be released soon.

WOMEN WHO LEAD: CAMA MEMBERS FEATURED FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

March 8, 2026 marks International Women’s Day and CAMA is pleased to partner with Women in Local Government Administration (WILGA), and invites you to participate in a complimentary webinar on Friday, March 6, 2026 starting at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Entitled “Give to Gain: Advancing Women in Local Government,” this national panel brings together leaders from across Canada to share personal stories, strategies, and actionable insights on overcoming barriers and building inclusion in local government. Panelists include:

🟣Tracey Lorenson, Facilitator

🟠Jody Murray, City Manager, Town of Labrador City, NL

🟣Denise Corry Denise Corry, CAO, Town of Huntsville, ON

🟠Anna Mathewson, CAO, City of Port Moody, BC

🟣Michele Charles Gustafson, Confidence & Success Coach, Image Consultant

A special thanks to CAMA members Jody, Denise, and Anna for sharing their wisdom.

Whether you’re a woman in local government, an ally, or simply interested in fostering inclusive leadership, this webinar offers valuable resources and inspiration to help you “give to gain” in your own sphere of influence. Register below.

MISSED THE EMPLOYMENT LAW WEBINAR? ACCESS THE RECORDING NOW IN THE MEMBERS SECTION

CAMA recently hosted a timely and informative webinar with Lidstone & Company Law Corporation entitled “Navigating Employment Agreements and Employment Law Updates.”

The full webinar recording and PowerPoint presentation are now available in the Members Section of the CAMA website for viewing or download.

This insightful session featured municipal and labour law experts Don Lidstone, K.C., Ale Henao, and Mary Nguyen, who provided practical guidance and updates on current legislation and case law, along with practical legal guidance on employment agreements.

Topics covered included:

• Fixed versus open-term agreements
• Salary and benefit considerations
• Termination provisions, constructive dismissal, severance, and mitigation
• Residency requirements
• Respectful workplace obligations
• Contract mechanisms to protect municipal administrators from bullying, harassment, and defamation

The discussion included real-life examples and practical insights to support CAOs and senior municipal leaders in navigating complex employment matters with confidence.

Members are encouraged to log in and access this valuable professional development Rsource at their convenience.

Look for the updated edition of CAMA's CAO Employment Contract Toolkit, coming within the next month.

SHARE YOUR EXPERT INSIGHTS:

ESCRIBE'S 2026 STATE OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE SURVEY

We invite our members to share this opportunity with their Municipal Clerk (or the individual responsible for legislative services within your organization). If you serve as both CAO and Clerk, we encourage you to participate directly.

eScribe is seeking input from Clerks across Canada to help inform the 2026 State of the Clerk's Office Report. Front-line perspectives are essential to ensuring this national resource reflects the realities, challenges, and evolving responsibilities of municipal governance.

This IIMC-based, profession-wide report supports continuous improvement in operations and public service delivery.

To see how this research informs the profession, you may view the 2025 State of the Clerk’s Office Report, developed from last year's survey findings.

As a thank you, the first 250 respondents to complete the survey will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Take the Survey

(Estimated completion time: 10 minutes)

Thank you for contributing your expertise to this important initiative.

The eScribe Team

Transform inspections and reporting with CityReporter, the cloud-based software built for Canadian municipalities. Streamline workflows, standardize checklists, and capture field data in real time, improving safety, compliance, and service delivery. Powerful dashboards and reports give leadership instant visibility into risk, workload, and performance across departments. Join hundreds of municipalities already modernizing their operations with CityReporter.

Learn more: www.cityreportersoftware.com

PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS:

LEADERSHIP STARTS AT THE TOP

CAMA continues to emphasize the importance of structured performance evaluations between Mayor and Council and the CAO. That same discipline must be mirrored internally.

Just as Councils are responsible for evaluating their CAO, it is equally important that CAOs and Senior Managers conduct formal performance reviews for their direct reports.

Performance evaluations are not administrative exercises — they are governance tools. They clarify expectations, reinforce alignment with Council priorities, support accountability, and strengthen organizational leadership.

An annual performance review, combined with a clear Mandate Letter outlining expectations for the year ahead, ensures Directors and Department Heads understand both corporate priorities and department-specific deliverables.

CAMA Resources

CAMA provides the following member resources:

• Performance Evaluation Review Template – Designed to be completed by both the CAO/City Manager and the employee and reviewed together during the evaluation meeting.
• Mandate Letter Template – A sample annual letter outlining corporate expectations and department-specific priorities (sample provided for Corporate Services).

These tools are available to members on the CAMA website under the Performance Evaluation Toolkit page (located at the bottom of the page).

Strong governance requires consistent leadership practices at every level of the organization.

Ann Laing, General Manager, Corporate Services, Town of Stony Plain, AB

Karrie Bedford, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Arcadia, NB

Julie Stockford, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Hartland, NB