MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

KEY CAMA EVENTS FOR 2024 AND 2025

Below is a calendar of confirmed dates we have so far (with additional dates to be announced) for both virtual and in-person events, as well as current program deadlines for the remainder of 2024 and the first half of 2025. For any inquiries or further information, please feel free to reach out to the CAMA National Office.

CAO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT CHEAT SHEET

CAMA's CAO Employment Contract Toolkit offers valuable guidance for members negotiating their employment contracts. While the full Toolkit is available in the CAMA Member's Section, you can quickly review key contract terms with our Cheat Sheet. It's crucial to understand your personal values and priorities before entering negotiations. When negotiating for a new position, keep these essentials in mind:

-Know Your Worth

-Assess the Community and the Organizational Culture

-Understand the Politics of the Position

-Get Legal Advice

-Remember to Always Stay True to Your Values

STRATEGYCORP: ONTARIO MUNICIPAL CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER SURVEY 2024

The job of a CAO has never been easy, but it seems harder than ever in 2024. The challenges are more urgent. The tools are out of reach. Resources are stretched to the max, be they financial or human.

This year, CAOs laid it all on the line, telling us about the top issues facing their municipalities and the ways they’re stepping up to respond to growing community needs…but for how long and at what cost?

Download the full 2024 Report.

Since 2016, StrategyCorp has conducted a wide-ranging survey of municipal Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) from across Ontario to hear their views on the most pressing issues facing local governments today.

MEET YVES LEGER, CAO/CITY CLERK

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MAPLE HILLS, NB

CAMA BOARD MEMBER-AT-LARGE FOR MUNICIPALITIES WITH A POPULATION UNDER 100,000

RENCONTRE AVEC YVES LEGER

DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL/GREFFIER

MUNICIPALITÉ RURALE DE MAPLE HILLS, N.-B.

MEMBRE DU CONSEIL D'ADMINISTRATION DE L'ACAM POUR LES MUNICIPALITÉS DE MOINS DE 100 000 HABITANTS

Depuis combien de temps êtes-vous membre de l’ACAM? 10 ans.

Qu’est-ce qui vous plaît le plus dans votre adhésion à l’ACAM? Participer à la conférence annuelle et nouer des contacts avec des collègues de tout le Canada.

Quel conseil de carrière vous a le plus marqué? Si vous aimez ce que vous faites, vous ne travaillez pas un seul jour de votre vie. Qui vous l’a donné? Mon père.

Quelle est votre destination de voyage préférée? Miami (Floride du Sud) parce que j'aime les Dolphins, pas le mammifère, l'équipe de football ! Allez les Dolphins !

Quelle serait la chanson thème de votre vie en ce moment? Don't Stop Believin' par Journey

Quels conseils donneriez-vous à quelqu’un qui envisage une carrière de DG ou de direction supérieure dans une administration locale? Il n'est jamais mauvais de faire ce qui est juste et de ne jamais sacrifier son intégrité personnelle à l'ambition politique de quelqu'un d'autre. 

Quelles sont les expériences et les fonctions antérieures qui vous ont conduit là où vous êtes aujourd’hui?

 J'ai grandi au contact de la politique municipale, mon père ayant été maire de ma ville natale pendant 15 ans. Tout le monde pense que je deviendrai un jour un homme politique, mais je n'aspire pas du tout à figurer sur une affiche de campagne. Ce qui m'amuse vraiment, c'est de travailler dans les coulisses. 

Si vous pouviez collaborer avec une personne de votre choix, qui nommeriez-vous? Terry Fox. Pourquoi? Parce qu'il a incarné des valeurs de compassion, d'engagement et de persévérance dans sa quête de financement de la recherche sur le cancer. Comment ne pas vouloir collaborer avec quelqu'un qui présente ces qualités ? C'est exactement ce que je recherche lorsque j'ajoute des membres à une équipe.

À quoi ressemblerait pour vous une journée parfaite en dehors de votre travail? Une journée sur le terrain de golf suivie d'un bon barbecue au bord de la piscine avec les amis et la famille. 

How long have you been a CAMA member? 10 years

What do you like most about being a member? Going to the Annual Conference and networking with colleagues from across Canada.

What career advice do you live by? If you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.  Who gave it to you? My father.

What is the favourite place you’ve travelled? Miami (South Florida) because I love the Dolphins..not the mammal, the football team! Go Dolphins!

What would be the theme song of your life right now? Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a CAO or senior manager in local government? It’s never wrong to do the right thing, and never sacrifice your personal integrity for someone else’s political ambition.

What experiences and past roles have led you to where you are today? ,I grew up around municipal politics as my father was Mayor of my hometown for 15 years. Everyone thinks I’ll eventually become a politician but I have zero aspirations of ever being on a campaign poster. The real fun is working behind the scenes.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? Terry Fox Why? Because he embodied values of compassion, commitment, and perseverance in his pursuit to fund Cancer research. How could you not want to collaborate with someone that exhibits those qualities? I look for those exact qualities when adding members to any team.

Describe what a perfect day outside of work would look like for you? A day on the golf course followed by a great BBQ next to the pool with friends and family. 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BUSINESS PARTNER

Placemaking 4G was founded to help evolve the workplace into a more socially conscious and inclusive environment. We help organizations build thoughtful teams through values-based recruiting, leading human dynamics practices and equity, diversity and inclusion education. Why? Because when people are aligned with an organization and can bring their full selves to their work, they thrive. And when people thrive, so do our workplaces and so do our communities. Visit the CAMA website for more information.

The City of Fredericton, recognizing the importance of inclusivity in its rapidly growing and diversifying community, partnered with Placemaking 4G (P4G) to revolutionize its hiring practices. This collaboration, facilitated through the City's Office of Community Inclusion (OCI), led to the recruitment of a Community Inclusion Program Manager using a human-centric approach that emphasizes understanding candidates beyond their resumes. P4G’s expertise in fostering workplace culture through equitable hiring practices extended across the City, engaging over 80 staff members in workshops, and helping to build a more inclusive municipal environment.  Through this partnership, Fredericton has set a precedent for embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of municipal operations. To read the full article click here.

MASTERING YOUR ROLE AS A CAO: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Don't miss out on one of CAMA's most valued resources: the "Toolkit for Effective Chief Administrative Officers: The Right Questions to Ask," available in the Member’s Section of the CAMA website.

Whether you're just beginning your journey as a CAO or senior administrator or have been in the role for years, this Toolkit is designed to support you. It’s a valuable resource for building strong relationships with your staff and Council, regardless of your experience level or the community you serve.

Being an effective CAO isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking the right questions and knowing when to challenge appropriately. This Toolkit guides you through the process, offering sample questions for engaging with your Council, each Division, and Department. It's also a powerful resource for your Senior Leadership Team.

Explore this essential Toolkit today and empower your leadership journey!

Jamie Doyle, General Manager of Sustainable Growth and Development Services, City of Spruce Grove, AB

Krista Brandon, Treasurer, Town of Quispamsis, NB

Cheryl Emmerson, Human Resources Manager, Town of Quispamsis, NB

Kristoffer Shiloff, Accountant, Price & Comin LLP Chartered Professional Accountants, AB

Jennifer Stover, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Information Officer/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Peterborough County, ON

Emily Colucci, Director of Community Services, Town of Fort Smith, NWT

Stephen Van Dine, City Manager, City of Yellowknife, NWT

Kari Stevenson, Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, Peterborough County, ON