News Archive

2025 Scholarship applications now open! A wide range of scholarships are available for people pursuing studies in various facets of government and public policy and more. Scholarships include: - BC First Nations Public Service Scholarship - Distinguished Members Legacy Fund Scholarship - Grant Anderson Commemorative Scholarship - Ken Dobell Public Service Education Fund Review the 2025 Scholarship Brochure for information and scholarship criteria. Visit LGMA | Scholarships to access all application forms and submit your applications for all scholarships by October 15, 2025.

LGMA Spotlight on Ana Fuller, Senior Program Manager

Indigenous Consultation & Engagement September 12, 2025 9AM - 12PM Registration is now open. NEW Course! Are you looking for training to help you get beyond awareness in your work with Indigenous Peoples? Are you ready to engage with an Indigenous community but aren't sure where to start? Join us for a half-day webinar designed to provide a guide to fostering sustainable, long-term partnerships between local governments and Indigenous communities. Offered in partnership with Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. , this training will: Review and build on the elements of consultation Understand the difference between consultation and engagement Learn when engagement turns into consultation Review what constitutes accommodation Review ways we can strengthen our consultation practices Prepare for questions your Indigenous counterparts will ask you Review the brochure and register online before August 29, 2025. Eligibility: B.C. local government leaders, managers, and staff who are directly responsible for consultation and engagement with First Nations. To get the most out of this training, it is highly recommended that participants have completed Indigenous Awareness & Indigenous Relations training or training with a similar agenda recently. If you wish to attend but do not meet the criteria or have any questions, please contact us at office@lgma.ca before registering. Cost: $255 + GST LGMA Member, $285 + GST Non-Member Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be provided after the registration deadline of August 29, 2025. Instructor: Norman Doerksen , Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.

LGMA 2025 Pre-Conference Workshops In conjunction with the 2025 LGMA Annual Conference, don’t miss this incredible selection of full and half-day pre-conference workshops taking place on June 10! Workshop registration is separate from general conference registration and you don’t have to attend the full conference to register for these engaging workshops. Building Resilience: Business Continuity Planning for Local Governments (Full Day) Is your local government ready to face unexpected disruptions with confidence? Sign up for this engaging, full-day workshop on business continuity leading practices and program lifecycle, offered in partnership with the Municipal Insurance Association of BC and supported through the Sustaining Education Alliance with the Municipal Finance Authority of BC . Clive Lunn, President of Acredo Consulting, Inc., has worked in business continuity and IT disaster recovery since 1996, and enterprise risk management since 2006. He will lead discussions on implementation opportunities, challenges, and solutions. Participants will use provided resources to create documents tailored for their organization, including: · a draft program framework; · impact metrics; · a strategic Business Impact Analysis (BIA); · a Crisis Management Plan; · a roadmap for operationalizing the business continuity program; · a high-level crisis management plan, and · a Scenario Playbook. This workshop will help you kick start your business continuity journey, move closer to complying with the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA), and is a valuable opportunity to collaborate with other local government professionals, sharing ideas and best practices while developing key continuity resources together. After this session, participants will be able to: Develop a tailored business continuity program for your local government. Learn how to measure impact and plan for a crisis. Create an operational roadmap for continuity. To maximize the workshop’s effectiveness, you will receive advance instructions to gather essential information and materials to bring with you. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 10 local governments to ensure a productive experience. Multiple attendees from each local government are welcome, including staff from Administration/Finance, Public Works/Operations/Engineering, and Emergency Response/Preparedness. Register online before May 27. **Please note that this is the same workshop offered at the Municipal Insurance Association of BC annual conference, and it is not recommended that representatives from the same local government attend more than one workshop. Full-Day Workshop Fee (includes meals): $250 Early Bird; $275 After April 30 Thank you to the Municipal Finance Authority of BC’s Sustaining Education Alliance funding and support that helps make costs accessible for this priority training. Communication and Engagement Professionals Forum (Full Day) This jam-packed day will feature panelists who’ll share challenges, lessons learned and wins in their role as local government communicators. Keep current with best practices in information sharing and connecting with the people we serve. Topics will include practical approaches to crafting inclusive and accessible communications, best practices in supporting elected official communications, how to highlight the work of local government, and more. Take this opportunity to learn from peers, increase the effectiveness of your organization’s communications efforts, and expand your professional communications network. View the detailed agenda and register online . Full-Day Forum Fee (includes meals): $380 Early Bird; $435 After April 30 Modernizing Bylaw Enforcement: Navigating Complexities in a Changing Landscape (Half Day) This interactive workshop examines a local government's journey modernizing bylaw enforcement while navigating complex, simultaneous policy development on homelessness, including sheltering and supportive housing. Participants will explore the creation and implementation of a new Bylaw Compliance Policy, Strategic Plan, and revised Parks and Public Spaces Regulation Bylaw. The session addresses community engagement challenges, particularly with outreach organizations focused on broader unresolved homelessness policy issues. Through case studies, attendees will apply the new policy lens emphasizing trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches, prioritizing community partnerships, and considering mental health in compliance strategies. Participant learning objectives include: 1) Understanding the principles of trauma-informed and culturally sensitive bylaw enforcement within the context of overlapping policies addressing homelessness. 2) Learning strategies to navigate community engagement challenges, particularly when addressing sensitive issues like homelessness amidst evolving policy landscapes. 3) Applying a practical policy lens to real-world bylaw enforcement scenarios, developing appropriate and compassionate responses that consider individual circumstances and community needs. 4) Developing tactics for effectively communicating with and supporting Council members grappling with the complexities of regulating vulnerable populations. Engage in hands-on learning and gain practical tools for effective and compassionate bylaw enforcement in a dynamic environment. Register online before May 27. Half-Day Workshop Fee (includes lunch): $285 Early Bird; $325 After April 30 

Introducing LGMA 2025 Annual Conference Keynote Speakers Announcing the two LGMA 2025 Annual Conference Keynote Speakers ! As part of this year’s program, we are thrilled to announce our two distinguished keynote speakers, each offering unique perspectives and invaluable expertise. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Alfredo C. M. Tan, a visionary leader known for his people-first approach to innovation and transformation, and The Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, a First Nations leader, bridge builder, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Aspiring Leaders, Meet Your Instructors! Supervisor Essentials April 2, 9, and 16

Call for Time Capsule Items The Time is Now…All Systems Go! Submit your item by May 9 Wonder how your local government predecessors commemorated launching the millennium? And what do you think local government will look like in the year 2050? Exciting news - you are invited to look back to the past and into the future! The LGMA is opening up a time capsule from 1999. Come discover what was preserved 25 years ago to commemorate the cornerstone of local government before launching the new millennium. Take part in creating a new time capsule at the 2025 annual conference and leave a piece of your community’s legacy for future generations to discover in 2050. What do you believe represents your community, local government, or the sector during these times? From a photo of the new rec centre, a news article about a recent public engagement session, to a personal item that captures the spirit of your team, we’re excited to gather items for the new time capsule that you find memorable and will give future generations a glimpse into the past while: highlighting organization or sector achievements (e.g. a press release, fact sheet, or other write-up on the achievement or innovation); sharing memories created from interactions with local government peers, communities, or th e Association (e.g. a story, photograph, ball cap, event program, etc.); best representing these times in your organization, community, or the sector; or representing the role you see local government playing within your communities in another 25 years’ time. Your local government is constantly evolving, introducing new innovations and services, and even earning recognition for these efforts. This is your chance to showcase how your community is working to improve the lives of those to come. Items going into capsule will be shared with delegates at the 2025 Conference in June. Your item could take the form of a newspaper article, press release, or fact sheet; photograph; PDF of archival documents; poster montage; or something different. Consider items printed or written with archival ink on archival paper, undamaged metal or fabrics, and glass, stone, ceramic, or uncoated PET, HDPE, or PP plastics as the safest choices to stand up to time. Computer media (discs, memory sticks, etc.) are not requested as the computer device needed to read such files may no longer be available. Please also consider the size...the smaller the item, the more we can fit in! Don’t miss your chance to be part of BC local government history that is showcased to future generations! Apply now and submit your item by May 9. As an extra incentive, there will be three prizes of complimentary registration for the 2025 Annual Conference , with one winner in each of the following categories: Fan favourite Best historical submission Best future thinking submission Terms and Conditions: Multiple submissions are welcome. The deadline to submit is Friday, May 9 using the online form. LGMA cannot accept any submissions with unsecured copyright permissions; consent must be secured from any individuals shown within photographic submissions. By providing a submission you understand that time capsule space is limited and due to capacity, LGMA may limit the quantity of items included. Items must be shipped to the LGMA office to be received no later than Friday, May 30 th , OR may be brought directly to the Conference in Kelowna and submitted to LGMA staff by 3:00 pm, Tuesday, June 10 th . Be sure to attach a label stating your local government alongside a brief explanation of the item and why you feel it best represents your community/organization/the sector etc. Prizes must be accepted as offered. There is no cash or alternative prizes, in whole or part. Thank you for helping to celebrate the local government profession by co-creating a keepsake for future generations!

Member Award Nominations Now Open Submit your nomination before May 2  The LGMA Member Awards are now open for nominations early this year! Do you know of a local government colleague who has exemplified professional leadership, innovation or community and volunteer service recently? You are encouraged to nominate your colleagues who are deserving of such recognition. Additionally, we are continuing to celebrate the many achievements of our members with the two new categories introduced last year, further complementing existing LGMA Member Awards: • Most Impactful New Professional Award, celebrating the accomplishment, dedication, and spirit of a new professional working in local government under 5 years, and • Regional Chapter Award, recognizing excellence in supporting local government professionals within their region. Review the Membership Policy (section 3, Awards for Members) to see all awards categories and submit your nomination before May 2. Award winners will be announced on June 12 at our 2025 Annual Conference Awards Ceremony.

Member Spotlight on Heather Nelson-Smith