800 STRONG: CELEBRATING A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT IN CAMA MEMBERSHIP

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) - we have now reached a membership of 800 strong! This achivement comes on the heels of our announcement of 700 members just six months ago at the June 2023 Deerhurst Conference. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member of our growing CAMA community for contributing to our success and making CAMA the vibrant and supportive network that it is today. Together, we look forward to continued collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and empowering municipal leaders across the country. Thank you for being an integral part of the CAMA family!

New members receive a 50% discount on our already fantastic membership fees for the first year! The primary member's fee is tailored to your municipality's population, while additional members can join for just $160.00 each. Extend the advantage to your direct reports and enhance your team's professional network. Explore all membership details on our website.

"CAMARADERIE: EMBRACING CHANGE"

CAMA 2024 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Registrations are now being accepted for CAMA’s 50^th Annual Conference being held in Banff, Alberta from Monday, June 3, 2024 to Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel which is the host hotel.  The Golf Tournament and other Pre-Conference activities will begin on Monday morning and the Conference Program will end after the President’s Dinner on Wednesday evening. To view the full 2024 Conference Program click here. All other information can be found on the Conference website. If you register for the Conference by April 1st, 2024 and will you will receive the Early Bird rate.

The Monday "Lakeside Bliss: Afternoon Extravaganze at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake" and the Wednesday Study Tour "Wapakwanis Plant Walk, Make and Take – An Afternoon of Discovery and Connection" are SOLD OUT. While there are still a variety of options available, they are selling quickly. Act now to secure your preferred choice!

Please note that regular CAMA members who are attending their first CAMA Conference are eligible for a $150.00 discount off the registration fee.  If you would like some of your senior managers to attend the Conference and they are not CAMA members they can sign up for $160.00 (50% off the first year) and also attend the Conference for $600.00 as a First Time Delegate.

While CAMA has successfully secured a negotiated Conference rate at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (the host hotel) and the Rimrock Hotel (the overflow hotel), we regret to inform you that both properties are currently SOLD OUT. Alternative accommodations are available at various Banff Lodging properties at a 20% discount for all CAMA delegates using the promo code CAMA. All information is available on the CAMA website.

If you are not sure at the time of registration what Pre-Conference Activity or Study Tour you would like to attend, if your Companion will be attending, or if you want to play golf or need to add clubs, etc.? No problem. Individual Delegate portals will give you the chance to add these things at a later date.  When you receive your delegate registration receipt you will be assigned a portal username which is your e-mail address, a password and a link to the delegate portal. You will be able to go in and click on this link at any time and register for other activities. 

Don't miss out on the chance to connect, learn, and advance your professional journey. Spaces are filling up fast, so secure your spot now before it's too late!

CAMA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EARNS PRESTIGIOUS COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD FROM THE NUNAVUT ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES

Congratulations to CAMA Executive Director, Jennifer Goodine, who was recently honoured with the prestigious Community Builder Award by the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM).

The award recognizes individuals and organizations making waves in enhancing the well-being of member municipalities. Her dedication to excellence and her significant contributions have truly made a positive impact.

Marla Limousin, Executive Director of NAM, praises Goodine’s dedication, saying, "Jennifer's generosity is beyond any that we have seen since we have started to rebuild the organization, and we are so thankful. We do not have to reinvent the wheel with respect to the training of senior administrators."

NAM’s mission is to inspire the next generation of local government administrators, and Goodine's collaboration is a shining example of how generosity transforms communities. Along with CAMA’s Board, she has paved the way for young talents to consider rewarding careers in local government administration in Canadian northern communities.

Under Goodine’s leadership, CAMA sets new standards for stewardship and excellence. A toast to her and the CAMA team for their unwavering commitment to building a brighter future for municipal/local government administration.

THE URGENT NEED FOR SUCCESSION STRATEGIES IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Discover the crucial role of effective succession planning in ensuring the stability and reliability of local governments. This article sheds light on the significant disruptions caused by unplanned leadership transitions and offers a comprehensive six-step guide for local governments to develop their next generation of leaders. Understand the unique challenges faced by municipalities and how to overcome them, ensuring a future of well-prepared leaders, reliable governance, and ongoing talent development.

CAMA POST WEBINAR RECAP AND NEXT STEPS

Cyber Resilience for Municipalities: Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure and Municipal Cyber Attack Simulation

Last week’s webinar hosted by Optimus SBR and Optimus Tech Solutions was popular among CAMA members and reached over 200 registrations. The impressive turnout underscores the shared concern and urgency municipalities feel towards cyber threats. The webinar highlighted the extent to which cyber attacks can disrupt municipalities and demonstrated the imperative for comprehensive cyber security strategies, advanced threat detection, and robust incident response plans designed to shield digital infrastructure.

View Webinar Recording Here.

How to Increase Your Cyber Resilience

To mitigate cyber risk, the first step is to assess the vulnerabilities within your municipal network. To help you get started, Optimus is offering all CAMA members a no fee Summary Scorecard through Security Scorecard.

Security Scorecard analyzes publicly available risk factors for municipalities including a check for high-risk or open areas within your municipality’s network.

This assessment is non-intrusive and can be performed in conjunction with your IT team or independently. The assessment will not disrupt any IT operations.

For questions or more information, please contact:

Philip Tetlow

Philip.Tetlow@optimussbr.com

Head of Relationship Management,

Industries and Government Practice

Optimus SBR

No Fee Summary Security Scorecard:

For anyone who is interested in booking this no cost session, please contact Philip Tetlow.

Philip.Tetlow@optimussbr.com

Here is a sample of the report you will receive.

WELCOME TO CAMA'S NEW BUSINESS PARTNER

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society, and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. Learn more about EY on the CAMA website.

NEW CITY/COUNTY MANAGER? FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS!

An Article by Jan Perkins, ICMA-CM and Rod Gould, ICMA-CM / PM Magazine

In the face of community stresses, actively lead and manage for the 90% of your local government’s services that are largely invisible but that people count on most. Read the Full Article Here.

Sherbaz Muhammad, Senior Administrative Officer, Community Government of Gameti, NT

Alice Takatak, Finance Officer, Municipality of Sanikiluaq, NU

Dawn Ostrem, Strategic Planning Specialist, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT

Leann Graham, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Stettler, AB

Kirk Dolphus, Director, Deline Gotine Government, Deline, NT

Mallory Luey, Chief Administrative Officer, Township of Wainfleet, ON

Esther Armchuk, Commissioner of Corporate Services, Corporation of the Town of Newmarket, ON

Sean Morton, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Municipal District of St. Stephen, NB

Renee Sigurdson, Director of Legislative Services/City Clerk, City of Brandon, MB

Linda Cloney, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Oxford, NS

Craig Douglas, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Rimbey, AB

Maryse LeBlanc, Director of Community Life and Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Memramcook, NB

Bethany Ryan, Chief Administrative Officer, Nashwaak Rural Community, NB

Dennis Egert, Managing Director of Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer, City of Medicine Hat, AB

Rochelle Pancoast, Managing Director, Energy, Land & Environment, City of Medicine Hat, AB

Patrick Bohan, Managing Director, Development & Infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat, AB

Jeff O'Farrell, City Manager, City of Whitehorse, YT

Kim Isaak, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Blackfalds, AB

Colin McClure, Chief Adminitrative Officer/Chief Financial Officer, City of Trail, BC

Manon Cloutier, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Campbellton, NB

Amy McIntosh, Director of Corporate Affairs, District of Carleton North, NB

Donna DeFilippis, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Township of West Lincoln, ON

Christopher Ethier, Director of Municipal Transition and Integration, City of Brampton, ON

Reginald Hammond, Deputy Director of Corporate Services, Foothills County, AB