News Archive

Member Spotlight on Heather Nelson-Smith

2023 Educational Scholarship Recipients LGMA is proud to provide ongoing support for professional development of our members and individuals aspiring to careers in local government and public service. Supporting the next generation of local government leaders is part of the important work the LGMA undergoes daily. Last year, the LGMA awarded $38,000 to 22 LGMA Educational Scholarship Recipients. Today, we are pleased to announce the individuals who have been selected as educational scholarship recipients for 2023. We would like to congratulate these exceptional students and wish them the best in their efforts to support building capacity within local government. Thank you to all the applicants who applied for the scholarships and we know you will continue to strive for excellence. Grant Anderson Commemorative Scholarship Reyhan Cuming – University of British Columbia Emily Burkholer – Simon Fraser University Emma Hender – University of Victoria Distinguished Members Legacy Fund Scholarship Recipients Sarah Dynneson – Capilano University Christopher Hutton – University of Victoria Aaron Li – University of British Columbia Sheldon McKinlay – University of Victoria Mirai Molina – University of Victoria Daniela Murphy – Capilano University Donna Petrie – Royal Roads University Karendeep Saini – University of Victoria Flynn Saunderson – Vancouver Island University Sydney Stoltz – University of Victoria Eva Yip – University of Victoria Ken Dobell Scholarship Recipients Sierra Leung – University of British Columbia Laura Taylor – University of Victoria Taylor Tucci – University of British Columbia Kate O’Connell – Royal Roads University Alysha Saville – University of Victoria Chelsea Smirle – Capilano University Shawnda Bundac – University of Victoria

BC First Nations Public Service Scholarship Now Open This year, the LGMA is opening applications for the 2025 BC First Nations Public Service Scholarship early!  Review our webpage for more information on eligibility and how to apply. Applications must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2025 , with notification to the successful candidate being given by the Local Government Management Association by December 12, 2025 at the latest.

LGMA Membership Renewal Draw LGMA 2025 membership renewal is now underway! As an additional incentive to renew early, we’re once again giving away $150 towards program fees to up to five members of three lucky organizations! At the end of each month until March 31, we will randomly select an organization that has renewed membership to win $150 each towards program fees for up to five members. For an additional entry, post a photo of your organization’s 2025 LGMA members to social media and tag us to double your chances of winning! Contact your primary contact today to ensure your organization has renewed for the year. Unsure who your primary contact is? Log into your LGMA MyAccount to find out!

Corporate Officers Fundamentals 7 week online course, every Tuesday from 10 - 11:30 a.m. PST January 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18, 25 March 4 Are you a newly appointed or aspiring Corporate Officer? Are you a newly appointed CAO responsible for corporate administration? Are you an administrative assistant who provides support to elected officials or works closely with the Corporate Officer? If you said yes to any of the above, then this Fundamentals program is for you! Join knowledgeable experts Lisa Zwarn and Sonia Santarossa for this online seven-week course that will help build your fundamental skills as a Corporate Officer. You will also hear from other experienced Corporate Officers during the course to provide you with an opportunity to tap into their knowledge, ask questions, and learn from their experiences. At the end of this course you will be able to describe the key roles and responsibilities of the Corporate Officer; refer to and articulate the relevant sections of the legislation that apply to the role; prepare meeting agendas and minutes; apply a procedure bylaw, and so much more! Review the course brochure and register online before January 7, 2025. Cost: $1,320 + GST LGMA Member*, $1,650 + GST Non-Member *Please be sure to renew your LGMA membership for 2025 before registering to receive the LGMA member rate. Textbook: This course will be using the Clerks and Corporate Officers Handbook (new edition coming in 2025) and this can be purchased at the time of registration if not already owned by your local government. Cancellations: are accepted without penalty before January 7. No refunds will be provided after January 7.

LGMA 2025 Lunch Connect Series In addition to the LGMA’s extensive list of professional development courses, this year we are continuing to offer our series of virtual complimentary connect lunch events! This is your chance to connect with fellow professionals, build meaningful relationships, and discover new opportunities within the LGMA community. Whether you're a seasoned member or new to your role, this casual gathering is the perfect way to expand your network. We currently offer lunch connect events for the following cohorts: Chief Administrative Officers , Corporate Officers , and Human Resource Practitioners These connect events are held virtually and provide a casual, supportive atmosphere for like-minded professionals to share ideas and discover new opportunities. Registering for one connect lunch event conveniently means you will be notified for all your cohort events throughout the year!

Renewing your organization’s LGMA membership Quick renewal Steps: For a quick renewal guide, follow these steps. As the primary contact of your organization: 1. Log into your LGMA MyAccount 2. Go to your organization’s Membership Tab 3. Renew or add people to your membership for 2025 4. Click "Submit Membership Purchase" and receive your membership invoice For more detailed instructions and information, please follow the steps below. Step 1: Log In Log into your LGMA MyAccount page using this link . Step 2: Go to the Membership Tab Once you're logged in, go to the Membership tab. Step 3: Renew or add people to your membership for 2025: Under the "Employees currently not included" tab is a list of members within your organization that are up for renewal. You can add any or all employees from the list.

Corporate Officer Connect Lunch Series Quarterly on Wednesdays 2025 Dates: April 16 and September 17 Noon - 1 p.m. PST Are you a local government Corporate Officer (CO) or Deputy CO in British Columbia who wants more networking opportunities with your peers, advice about the challenges you face in your increasingly complex role while building meaningful connections, without travelling or a significant time commitment? Join your colleagues quarterly for a complimentary LGMA-hosted lunch hour discussion inspired and led by COs. You and your peers can submit suggested discussion topics in advance. Take advantage of the knowledge and experience of your peers while you strengthen your professional networks, and access mentoring opportunities in a safe, supportive environment. The CO Advisory Committee, with the support of the LGMA, has identified the need for additional educational support for new and experienced COs to connect with their peers and engage in collaborative learning and problem solving. The Committee noted in their positions, COs are faced with an increasingly complex environment within which they must perform various roles, and they would benefit from a virtually accessible peer discussion network to share current issues and problem solve. Submit your suggested discussion topics, questions, or challenging scenarios in advance on the CO Lunch Hour Connect Series SUBMISSION FORM or by emailing Liz Cornwell, Advisor, Corporate Officer Advisory Committee at lcornwell@lgma.ca Registration is complimentary and is open to Corporate Officers and Deputy Corporate Officers only. You only need to register once for the entire series. Please note, registration will close 5 business days prior to the scheduled lunch series date. For more information review the CO Connect Lunch Series brochure or contact Liz Cornwell at lcornwell@lgma.ca

LGMA 2025 Learning Calendar It’s never too early to start planning your professional development! The 2025 LGMA Learning Calendar is now available. Our training options range from on-demand, online courses to in-person events and provide a wide range of key competencies to enhance your skill set. Select from programs that benefit your career and watch our weekly newsletter for registration announcements. Please keep in mind that program dates are subject to change. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can stay up to date, and watch for registration announcements through our weekly newsletter to confirm final dates.