Strong Mayor Powers, Weak Support for Staff - David Arbuckle
011.19.24 | David Arbuckle, executive director of AMCTO, joins us to share highlights from the organization’s research on the implementation of ‘strong mayor’ powers across ...
Insight to go
MW Shares is devoted to sharing the stories of communities from coast to coast to coast. We cover the issues that matter most: council-staff relations, diversity and inclusion, climate change, placemaking, innovation, economic development, civic engagement, human resources, and more.
MW Shares takes listeners deep into the civic issues that municipal governments must tackle every day, highlighting new and emerging next practices, and sharing stories intended to shape and elevate conversations about community.
These are the stories of local government – the celebrations of success, the sharing of lessons learned, the cautionary tales, and the keen insights into what lies ahead for municipalities.
We invite you to join our conversation – and to perhaps share your story here on MW Shares.
Group benefits - Jeff Nichol
011.18.24 | Jeff Nichol, president of Canoe Benefits, joins us to talk about how municipalities working together are better placed to provide group benefit programs ...
Executive leadership - Darren Young
011.18.24 | Darren Young, program facilitator with Keldar Leadership and a certified executive coach, joins us to talk about how municipal organizations can equip their ...
Leadership development - Maureen Parker and Ian Howatt
011.18.24 | Maureen Parker and Ian Howatt, partners in Elevate the Path consulting, join us to talk about how municipal organizations can take concrete action ...
Workforce development strategies - MacDonald Oguike
011.18.24 | MacDonald Oguike, director of corporate training and workforce development at the University of Calgary, joins us to talk about workforce development strategies municipalities ...
Intergenerational teams - Bailey Parnell
011.18.24 | Bailey Parnell, founder and CEO of SkillsCamp, a soft skills development company, joins us to talk about how municipal organizations can recognize intergenerational ...
Microaggression - Joanne Kinya Baker
011.18.24 | Joanne Kinya Baker, a registered social worker founder of Shades of Humanity Consulting, joins us to talk about strategies to identify and minimize ...
How to meet municipal green development standards - Venoth Jeganmohan
09.12.24 | Venoth Jeganmohan, an energy solutions advisor with Enbridge Gas, joins us to discuss how municipalities can meet their green development standards using Enbridge ...
Using Artificial Intelligence to manage water and wastewater - André Pepin
08.28.24 | André Pepin, the Town of Midland’s Water and Wastewater Services Manager, joins us to talk about using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help manage ...
Municipal financial stability - Stephen Rettie
08.28.24 | Stephen Rettie, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Bracebridge, joins us to talk about municipal financial stability and using tools like ...
Municipal codes of conduct - Lynn Dollin
08.28.24 | Lynn Dollin, Mayor of Innisfil, joins us to talk about AMO’s efforts to improve municipal codes of conduct.
Improving accountability for municipal leaders - Jeff Burch
08.28.24 Jeff Burch, NDP Municipal Affairs Critic and MPP for Niagara Centre, joins us to talk about his proposed private member’s bill aimed at improving ...
Affordable housing and homelessness - Lindsay Jones
08.28.24 | Lindsay Jones, AMO’s Director of Policy and Government Relations, joins us to talk about how the Ontario and municipal governments can work together ...
Barriers to running for municipal council - Velma Morgan
08.28.24 | Velma Morgan, Chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, joins us to talk about AMO’s Healthy Democracy project and barriers to running for municipal ...
AMO’s Social and Economic Prosperity Review - Brian Rosborough
08.28.24 |Brian Rosborough, Executive Director of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO), joins us to discuss AMO’s proposal for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review, ...
New path for municipal recruitment with Helen Hale Tomasik
07.17.24 | Helen Hale Tomasik, director of business development at ProspectHR MMI, joins us to discuss why traditional interviewing processes don’t always work, the long-term ...
Municipal finance decision making with Darren Liviniuk
07.05.24 | Darren Liviniuk, Partner, Deloite Canada joins us to talk about helping municipal finance leaders make the best decisions possible.
Workforce, payroll, and HR solutions with Derek Lutz
07.05.24 | Derek Lutz, Account Executive, UKG joins us to talk about enhancing workforce, payroll, and HR solutions in the municipal sector.
Enhancing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with Bonnie Agnew
07.05.24 | Bonnie Agnew, Account Executive, Sylogist joins us to talk about enhancing municipal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
Futureproofing your municipality with Sarah Hobbs
07.05.24 | Sarah Hobbs, Director of Sales and Marketing, TownSuite Municipal Software joins us talking about how to futureproof your municipality.
Emotional Intelligence with Carolyn Stern
07.05.24 | Carolyn Stern, an Emotional Intelligence (EI) expert, author, and CEO of EI Experience, joins us to talk about how improved EI benefits municipal ...
GFOA priorities with Alvin Allim
07.05.24 | Alvin Allim, GFOA Alberta president, joins us to talk about priorities of the organization.
Infrastructure and housing in a large rural ward with Patty Cuttell
07.03.24 | Patty Cuttell, a Halifax councillor, joins us to talk about serving the housing and infrastructure needs of a large, largely rural ward that ...
Behind the scenes of the Volkswagen battery plant investment with Joe Preston
07.03.24 | Joe Preston, mayor of St. Thomas, joins us to give a behind the scenes glimpse into what it took to land the $14-billion ...
Reforming land use planning with Mairin Loewen
07.03.24 | Mairin Loewen, a Saskatoon councillor, joins us to talk about her city’s efforts to reform land use planning in order to become eligible ...
Building momentum for new municipal funding with Carole Saab
07.03.24 | Carole Saab, chief executive officer of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), joins us to talk about the effort to bring the federal, ...
Expanding public transit with Karen Redman
07.03.24 | Karen Redman, chair of Waterloo Region, joins us to talk about how the success of her community’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system has ...
Public safety with Patrick Brown
07.03.24 | Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, joins us to talk about how he is exerting pressure on the federal government to increase public safety.
Municipal Biogas - Manage the waste, capture the energy with Sarah Stadnyk
04.10.24 | Sarah Stadnyk, Director of Policy and Communications with the Canadian Biogas Association, joins us for a special, sponsored edition of MW Shares to ...
A Designation for that - Municipal Infrastructure with Cam Johnston and Kealy Dedman
04.03.24 | Cam Johnston and Kealy Dedman, of Peel Region Public Works, join us to discuss how significant investments are being made across Ontario in ...
Recruiting first responder staff with Cindy Moretti
12.05.23 | Cindy Moretti, founder and CEO of Prepared for Duty Recruitment Service Inc., joins us to talk about the challenges and rewards of recruiting ...
Next level success with Darel Baker
12.05.23 | Darel Baker, president and co-founder of Keldar Leadership, joins us to talk about how municipal leaders can create high-performance teams in order to ...
Importance of mental health with Karolina Tatarenkova
11.29.23 | Karolina Tatarenkova, account executive with Homewood Health Group, talks about how municipalities can better take care of their staff by offering assistance with ...
Planning for unplanned work with Dawn McCoy
Sponsored by Western Cities HR Conference 11.20.23 | Dawn McCoy, HR consultant and coach, joins us to talk about the top trending issues facing municipal ...
Thriving in an age of acceleration with Dr. Matthew Chow
Sponsored by Western Cities HR Conference 11.15.23 | Dr. Matthew Chow, Chief Mental Health Officer for Telus Health, joins us to talk about how municipal ...
Perks for municipal staff with Anita Opoku
Sponsored by Western Cities HR Conference 11.08.23 | Anita Opoku, account manager with Perkopolis, joins us to talk about how municipalities can reward their staff ...
Supporting municipalities in achieving climate goals with Mark Wilson
Sponsored by Enbridge Gas 10.25.23 | Mark Wilson, Senior Advisor for Municipal Affairs at Enbridge Gas, joins us to talk about municipalities and the challenges ...
Building municipal communication and collaboration with David Arbuckle
10.18.23 | David Arbuckle, AMCTO executive director, joins us to talk about how new legislative changes are affecting municipal operations. We also discuss the importance ...
Helping municipalities design sustainable, energy-efficient buildings with Alex Colvin and Venoth Jeganmohan
Sponsored by Enbridge Gas 09.27.23 | With more municipalities implementing green development standards, Venoth Jeganmohan and Alex Colvin of Enbridge Gas join us to talk ...
Municipal infrastructure, net zero, and the all-at-once challenge with Ehren Cory
08.23.23 | Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, joins us to talk about “sustainable financing and investing” in Canada’s municipal infrastructure.
Sneak Peek: Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference 2023 with Brian Rosborough
08.16.23 | Brian Rosborough, executive director of AMO, joins us for a sneak peak of the upcoming conference, happening Aug. 20-23 in London, Ont.
Cross-Canada municipal issues and politics (July 2023) with Richard Brennan
08.09.23 | Returning to the podcast is journalist and former parliamentary press gallery president Richard Brennan, as we talk about cross-Canada municipal issues, politics, and ...
The power of parks with David Harvey
07.26.23 | Dave Harvey, founder and co-executive director of Park People, joins us to talk about “activating the power of parks” to build strong, healthy, ...
Cross-Canada municipal issues and politics (June 2023) with Richard Brennan
07.12.23 | Returning to the podcast is journalist and former parliamentary press gallery president Richard Brennan, as we talk about cross-Canada municipal issues, politics, and ...
De-amalgamation of Peel Region with Jeff Bowman
06.28.23 | Former Brampton councillor Jeff Bowman walks us through the breakup of Peel Region recently announced by the Ontario government and the politics around ...
FCM Special Edition: Rural public transit and affordable housing with Dawn Peters
06.14.23 | Dawn Peters, Deputy Mayor of the Town of New Glasgow, N.S., joins us to talk about her municipality’s effort to offer public transit ...
FCM Special Edition: Climate adaptation with Duane Nicol
06.14.23 | Duane Nicol, CAO of the City of Selkirk, Man., joins us to talk about the innovative approach his municipality is taking to climate ...
FCM special edition: Public transit in a rural municipality with Sarrah Storey
06.07.23 | Fraser Lake Mayor Sarrah Storey joins us to talk about her municipality’s effort to bring public transit to rural residents.
FCM special edition: Climate adaptation in the north with Ted Laking
06.07.23 | City of Whitehorse Coun. Ted Laking joins us to talk about how his municipality is adapting to climate change by using an environmental ...
FCM special edition: Fiscal framework and affordable housing with Frank Scarpitti
05.31.23 | Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti joins us to talk about the municipal fiscal framework, affordable housing, and the tech revolution happening in Markham, Ontario.
FCM special edition: Fiscal framework and affordable housing with Jyoti Gondek
05.31.23 | Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek joins us to talk about the municipal fiscal framework, affordable housing, and Calgary’s innovative approach to downtown renewal.
Diversity and Inclusion with Trish Mandewo
05.24.23 | Diversity and inclusion expert Trish Mandewo, a City of Coquitlam councillor and co-founder and CEO of Synergy on Boards Consulting Group, joins us to ...
How COVID changed the municipal workforce with Evert Akkerman
05.17.23 | The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, recruit, and retain talent. HR expert Evert Akkerman joins us to discuss how the pandemic ...
Cross-Canada municipal issues and politics (May 2023) with Richard Brennan
05.10.23 | Returning to the podcast is journalist Richard Brennan, former press gallery president, as we talk about cross-Canada municipal issues, politics, and more.
Council orientation and strategic planning with Kane Faucher
05.03.23 | Orientation sessions for municipal council members are more important than ever before. Western University local government professor Kane Faucher joins us to talk ...
Replacing historical place names with Tim Lowman
04.26.23 | Canadian municipalities are under increasing pressure to rename places and remove memorials. Joining us is Toronto lawyer Tim Lowman, who has delved into ...
Cross-Canada municipal issues and politics (April 2023) with Richard Brennan
04.19.23 | Joining us is journalist Richard Brennan, former press gallery president, as we talk about cross-Canada municipal issues, politics, and more.
Ensuring hybrid workplaces are productive with Rob Cooke
04.11.23 | Hybrid workplaces can be productive, but they are evolving and present challenges for leaders. Leadership strategist Rob Cooke joins us to talk about ...
Ending misuse of 911 emergency calls with Nancy Polsinelli
04.05.23 | Frivolous or vexatious use of the 911 emergency system is a growing problem that costs money and puts lives at risk. Nancy Polsinelli, ...
Truth and Reconciliation with Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson
03.29.23 | Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson join us to talk about Truth and Reconciliation and the book they co-authored, “Valley of the Birdtail: ...
Strong mayor powers: A preliminary assessment with Kate Graham
03.22.23 | Kate Graham, a professor and local government expert, joins us to offer a preliminary assessment of strong mayor powers, which we briefly saw ...
From city staff to city council with Tammy Hwang
03.14.23 | Tammy Hwang, who went from being a staffer at the City of Hamilton to a councillor in the last municipal election, joins us ...
Gender parity, increased diversity on municipal councils with Taneen Rudyck
03.08.23 | Taneen Rudyk, councillor in Vegreville, Alta. and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joins us on International Women’s Day to discuss measures ...
Taking care of constituents and key stakeholders with Bernadette Curtis
03.01.23 | Veteran political advisor Bernadette Curtis joins us to talk about having a good relationship with constituents and key stakeholders and how doing this ...
Tory resignation offers case study on crisis management with Jim Maclean
02.22.23 | Strategic communications expert Jim Maclean joins us to discuss the resignation of former Toronto mayor John Tory, using it as a case study ...
Mayor's office year one: Setting yourself up for success - Drina Omazic
02.15.23 | Political veteran Drina Omazic joins us to talk about what every newly elected mayor or councillor should consider when setting up their office, ...
Homelessness: A new approach with Alex Polgar
02.08.23 | Clinician and author Alex Polgar joins us to talk about how a new approach is needed to get at the root causes of ...
Increasing equity and diversity - Tyjondah Kerr
02.01.23 | Tyjondah Kerr, from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, joins us to discuss ways to boost equity and inclusion in your organization, while ...
Indigenous women in municipal politics - Cheryl Fort
Cheryl Fort, mayor of the Township of Hornepayne, joins us to discuss what it is like being an Indigenous woman in municipal politics, her work ...
How HR can help lead organizations into the future - Sean Fitzpatrick
Sean Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of TalentMap talks about lessons learned from the pandemic and how HR professionals can help lead organizations into the future.
Mental health support for municipal staff - Ruthann Weeks
Cultural strategist Ruthann Weeks discusses lessons learned from the pandemic and how important it is to support the mental health of municipal staff.
COVID-19 means municipalities need to be more adaptable - Michael O'Mara and Sydney Pigeon
Michael O'Mara and Sydney Pigeon from Alberta Municipalities discuss lessons learned from the pandemic and how important it is to get regular input from their ...
Getting back to work in a pandemic - Kimberly Armstrong and Dr. Raeleen Manjak
Kimberly Armstrong, Deputy City Manager for Edmonton, and Dr Raeleen Manjak, Director of Human Resources for the City of Vernon, discuss lessons learned from the ...
How municipalities can embrace empowered change - Mark DeVolder
Change management specialist Dr. Mark DeVolder talks about his opening keynote at the 2022 Western Cities HR conference, Empowered Change: From Fear to Confidence, and ...
Mental health in a pandemic world - Matthew Chow
Dr. Matthew Chow, senior mental health officer at Telus Health, talks about the importance of health care in and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future of HR in a pandemic world - Dawn McCoy
HR expert Dawn McCoy talks about the recent Western Cities HR conference and some of the pandemic-related challenges facing organizations.
How to create more child-friendly cities - Sara Candiracci
Sara Candiracci, Associate Director at Arup International Development, talks about her work developing child-friendly cities and the importance of play in modern urban environments.
The benefits of a near real-time electricity market - John Avdoulos
Essex Power CEO John Avdoulos talks about efforts to create a real-time local electricity market in southwestern Ontario and how other municipalities can benefit.
Manitoba's municipal elections - Denys Volkov
Denys Volkov, executive director of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, talks about the province's upcoming municipal elections and some key races to watch.
Getting back to business in a post-COVID world - Janice Otremba
Certified Executive Coach Janice Otremba talks about shifts in the post-COVID workplace, what managers need to know, and her five lenses on humanistic leadership.
Red Deer's Period Pilot program - Barb McKee
Barb McKee, Recreation Superintendent for the City of Red Deer, talks about the city's new Period Promise pilot project and how it ensures all residents ...
Why doesn't anyone want to run for city council - Steve Lafleur
Steve Lafleur, a former senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute, talks about his recent article on the challenges of running for city council.
Ending homelessness requires novel solutions - Mayor Mike Savage
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage talks about the challenges of homelessness in Halifax and the city's efforts to resolve the issues and create affordable housing.
Taking on climate change with Passive House - Chris Ballard
Passive House CEO, Chris Ballard, explains how passive house buildings are cheaper and greener to operate and how municipalities can spur their growth.
Moving up in North Bay - Mayor Al McDonald
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald joins us to discuss the city's very successful Move Up campaign plus this year's upcoming municipal elections.
Ontario's 'strong mayors bill' will not help communities - Elana Arthurs
Elana Arthurs, President of AMCTO and CAO for the Township of Douro-Dummer, joins us to talk about Ontario's proposed Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, and ...
Talking local politics in BC - Justin McElroy
Justin McElroy, Municipal Affairs Reporter at CBC Vancouver, talks about BC municipal politics, his passion for making lists, and a unique welcome sign in the ...
Ottawa Chinatown Night Market draws big crowds - Yukang Li
Yukang Li from Ottawa Chinatown BIA talks about holding the city's first-ever Night Market and offers some advice for hosting large public events.
Helping municipalities make the right investments - Judy Dezell
Judy Dezell, Director of Local Authority Services and ONE Investment, talks about her work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and investment options that ...
Highway 413 is bad for Ontario - Sean Galbraith
Sean Galbraith, President of Galbraith and Associates, talks about Ontario's proposed Highway 413, why he's opposed to the project, and a video he shot showing ...
Local climate action in Oak Bay - Kevin Murdoch
Mayor Kevin Murdoch talks about Oak Bay's recent ban on gas-powered lawn gear and the city's future climate action plans.
Fostering innovation in our cities - Shauna Brail
Professor Shauna Brail from the University of Toronto's Institute for Management and Innovation discusses the economic challenges facing municipalities today and how cities can continue ...
How measuring happiness can create better communities - Chris Barrington-Leigh
Professor Chris Barrington-Leigh from McGill University's Institute for Health and Social Policy talks about his research on happiness and ways local governments can assess the ...
Organizing Canada's local governments - Zac Spicer
Professor Zac Spicer from York University's School of Public Policy and Administration talks about his new paper on organizing Canadian local government and the relative ...
What makes a great municipal leader? - Ian McCormack
Ian McCormack talks about his new book, The DNA of Great Leaders: Key Attributes of the Best Mayors and Board Chairs, and shares some of the ...
Fixing Toronto's housing crisis - Eric Lombardi
Eric Lombardi, a founder of More Neighbours Toronto, talks about the social and environmental consequences of housing policy in the GTA and how municipalities can ...
Setting realistic priorities in local government - Dr Gordon McIntosh
Dr Gordon McIntosh talks about his latest book, What’s on First Base? Priority Setting in Local Government, as well as some of the common challenges municipal ...
Preventing damage to critical infrastructure - Chris Vandaele
Chris Vandaele, a Supervisor in Distribution Protection at Enbridge Gas, talks about some of the most common dangers to utility lines and an innovative new ...
Creating roads that work for everyone - Angie Schmitt
Renowned speaker, author, and planner, Angie Schmitt talks about the growing trends in pedestrian fatalities, the obstacles to change, and how municipalities can create more ...
Ending chronic homelessness - Marie Morrison
Marie Morrison, Director of Built for Zero, talks about the campaign to end chronic homelessness, what it means to get to functional zero, and how ...
Public libraries adapting to changing times - Michael Ciccone
London Public Library's Chief Librarian, Michael Ciccone, talks about how libraries have adapted in recent years, the impact of COVID-19 on services, and the evolving ...
Getting ready for the upcoming Ontario municipal elections - David Arbuckle
David Arbuckle, Executive Director of AMCTO, joins us to talk about Ontario's upcoming municipal elections and AMCTO's policy recommendations for the next provincial government.
Islamic design in our public spaces - Mehedi Khan
Mehedi Khan, Founder of Muslims in Public Space, discusses Muslim identities in public spaces, the role of geometric shapes in Islamic architecture, and how growing ...
Getting to grips with municipal asset management - MNP
Brian Peach, CAO for the Town of Pouch Cove, and Gord Chalk from MNP talk about municipal asset management, what it means, and what municipalities ...
Municipal authority under threat - Cathy Heron
President of Alberta Municipalities and Mayor of St. Albert, Cathy Heron, joins Municipal World's Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about how policy proposals from ...
A sustainable future means building better today - Tim Coldwell
Tim Coldwell, President of Chandos Construction, joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about a new partnership that brings together architecture, construction, and ...
Digitally transforming municipalities - Wendy Gnenz
Wendy Gnenz, a partner at MNP Digital, joins us to discuss how to develop and implement digital strategies and how municipalities can manage their digital ...
Time for the four-day workweek - Joe Lyons
Professor Joseph Lyons, Director of the Local Government Program at Western University, joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about the four-day workweek ...
Municipalities are key partners to affordable housing - Mayor Tom Mrakas
Town of Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about Ontario's recent housing taskforce report and Aurora's advocacy for more autonomy ...
Building pet friendly spaces - Kristi Carlen
Kristi Carlen, Strategic Business Leader for the Town of Newmarket, joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about the Newmarket Dog Park, what ...
Getting kids moving on public transit - Laurie Stratton
Laurie Stratton, Transit Manager for the City of Peterborough, joins Municipal World's Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about the city's new Transit Pilot Program ...
Canada's Best Municipal Flag Contest
This week's podcast provides an overview of Municipal World's Best Municipal Flag Contest plus a brief introduction to our editorial team. Our team has selected ...
Increasing diversity in our local governments - Velma Morgan
Velma Morgan, Chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to discuss the organization's advocacy work and what municipalities can ...
Is hate on the rise in Canada? - Peter Smith
Peter Smith, an investigative journalist and researcher with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, joins Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey to talk about recent convoy protests ...
Putting "social" back in social media - Julie Rogers
Julie Rogers, Communications Manager for the City of Prince George, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss the city's social media strategy and how ...
Going virtual has increased participation and enhanced accessibility- Bruce Macgregor
York region CAO Bruce Macgregor and Municipal World Executive Editor Scott Vokey discuss the effectiveness of virtual council meetings plus the challenges and benefits of ...
Making roads safe for all users - Corrie DiManno
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno talks to Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey about the town's decision to lower speed limits and allow non-vehicle commuters to use ...
Are municipalities locked in a feudal relationship with their provincial overlords? - Sen. Paula Simons
Senator Paula Simons speaks to Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey about her advocacy for Canadian municipalities and a recently launched Senate inquiry into the challenges ...
Helping Canadian municipalities meet their energy needs - Johnson Controls
Stuart Galloway from the Energy Services Association of Canada and Ashley Jones from Johnson Controls join us to discuss how Canadian municipalities can meet their ...
Provincial-Local Equalization in Canada: Time for a Change? - Dr Enid Slack
Dr Enid Slack from the University of Toronto's Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to talk about her latest ...
Collingwood: lessons learned from the Marrocco Inquiry
Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey speaks with Collingwood Mayor Brian Saunderson and CAO Sonya Skinner about the 2020 judicial inquiry into the sale of town ...
Making our cities more equitable for everyone - Amanda O'Rourke
This week, Amanda O’Rourke, Executive Director of 8 80 Cities, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to call for a human rights and trauma-informed approach ...
Do development charges make new housing more affordable? - Adam Found
Adam Found, Manager of Corporate Assets at the City of Kawartha Lakes and IMFG researcher, challenges the narrative on municipal development charges and their impact ...
Taking care of business during a pandemic - Bonnie Brown
Bonnie Brown, Director of Economic Development for the City of Mississauga, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to talk about how the city's economic development ...
How cities can reach net-zero faster - Luis Aguirre-Torres
Dr. Luis Aguirre-Torres, Director of Sustainability for Ithaca, NY, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to explain how the city is going to achieve its ...
Municipal implementation of geo-exchange systems – John Rathbone & Adam Alaica
Nov 18, 2021 John Rathbone, President at Rathco ENG, and Adam Alaica, Director, Engineering & Development at Geosource Energy Inc., join us to discuss the ...
Rethinking sustainable asset management - Chris Chen
Chris Chen, Executive Director at Asset Management Ontario, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to talk about sustainable municipal asset management and the role of ...
Reforming municipal government in New Brunswick - Dan Murphy
Dan Murphy, Executive Director of the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic's impacts, ...
Improving diversity in municipal government - Brian Rosborough
Brian Rosborough, Executive Director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, talks to Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey about AMO's "We All Win" initiative and ...
Putting the civil back in society - Jaime Watt
In today's episode, Jaime Watt, Executive Chairman of Navigator Ltd, speaks to Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey about his recent op-ed on the "pandemic of ...
Doing away with development charges - Andrew Sancton
This week Andrew Sancton, professor emeritus at Western University, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss his new paper critiquing development charges and the ...
Running municipal elections in a Pandemic – Gerald Rhodes
Gerald Rhodes, Executive Director of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey discuss the province’s upcoming municipal elections plus some of ...
Addressing racial inequities in Peel - Janice Baker
Janice Baker, Peel Region CAO, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss the efforts of regional staff to get the community through the pandemic, ...
Local government challenges in urban Saskatchewan – Jean-Marc Nadeau
Jean-Marc Nadeau, CEO of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss how the organization advocates for its urban communities, ...
Natural gas incentives for affordable housing – Michael Afrousheh
Michael Afrousheh, Energy Solutions Advisor at Enbridge Gas, joins us to discuss Enbridge Gas’ affordable multi-family housing program, the incentives to help housing providers complete ...
Dealing with a tornado in a pandemic
City of Barrie CAO Michael Prowse joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss how the community responded when a tornado swept through the municipality ...
Bringing energy efficiency to affordable housing – Jeff Blunt
In recent years there has been a growing push to upgrade existing HVAC systems to the latest energy efficient natural gas technology. Jeff Blunt, from ...
Leading the way for Manitoba municipalities
Denys Volkov, Executive Director of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss how AMM works, the key issues ...
Voter and candidate engagement tools in Newfoundland and Labrador
Craig Pollett, CEO of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL), joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss elections, specifically the province’s upcoming municipal election in ...
Environmental racism and a Hollywood celebrity
Author and activist Dr. Ingrid Waldron joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss working with actor Elliot Page on the documentary There’s Something in ...
Mental health in the municipal sector - Chris Wray
Chris Wray, Black River-Matheson CAO, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss the state of mental health in the municipal sector, how to recognize ...
Opportunities to advance municipal climate action - Gabriella Kalapos
Gabriella Kalapos, executive director of the Clean Air Partnership, joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss a variety of topics, including why the municipal ...
Strategy execution through objective and key results - City of Vaughan
The City of Vaughan is among the first municipalities in Canada to have implemented the Objective and Key Result (OKR) management methodology. Kathy Kestides and Christina ...
Lessons learned through a municipal pandemic response - Carole Saab
Federation of Canadian Municipalities CEO Carole Saab joins Municipal World Editor Scott Vokey to discuss not only how FCM has responded to the challenges of ...
Introduction to Municipal World Editor and Publisher - Scott Vokey
As Susan Gardner passes the MW Shares mic over to new Municipal World Editor and Publisher Scott Vokey, the two share a conversation on a ...
Swapcast: Reflections on an “accidental career” – Susan Gardner
The tables are turned! As Susan Gardner prepares to wind down her time at the MW Shares mic, she reflects her time with Municipal World ...
Buzz, Meet Woody: Hybrid teams and the new work reality, Part 2 – Brady Wilson
Integrative Partnering will be a critical skill for leaders as we move beyond the pandemic. The conversation continues with HR thought-leader Brady Wilson, taking a ...
Growth of e-permitting accelerates across Canada – Jarkko Turtiainen
The use of e-permitting systems is quickly expanding across Canada. Jarkko Turtiainen, Vice President of Cloudpermit, North America, joins us to discuss his thoughts on ...
Buzz, Meet Woody: Hybrid teams and the new work reality, Part 1 – Brady Wilson
The hybrid work model is here to stay! HR thought-leader Brady Wilson discusses his upcoming article, and how leaders can integrate hybrid teams to boost ...
Municipal strategies to assist homeowners with private service line issues - John Savoia & Jeff Olson
Private service line failures can be costly and inconvenient for homeowners when they occur. Find out how one municipality combines both a city sponsored solution ...
Mental health and the pandemic, Part 2 - Dr. Raeleen Manjak
The conversation continues with Dr. Raeleen Manjak, Director of HR for the City of Vernon, BC and Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner as they discuss ...
Shifting municipal transit fleets to natural gas - Joey Cyples
There is a bold, made-in-Canada opportunity to fight climate change and replace municipal diesel bus fleets with renewable natural gas. Joey Cyples, from Enbridge Gas, ...
Mental health and the pandemic, Part 1 - Dr. Raeleen Manjak
Let’s focus on mental wellness in the workplace. Dr. Raeleen Manjak, Director of HR for the City of Vernon, BC joins Municipal World CEO Susan ...
The future of sustainability for our ice rinks - Tim McRae & Ian Storey
What is the best approach to achieving sustainability in our community ice rinks? Chemours’ Tim McRae of Chemours and engineering consultant Ian Storey have the ...
Lessons learned from the private sector, Part 2 - Rob Adams
The conversation continues as Rob expands on hot topics such as cybersecurity, the need for better digital services, and much, much more! Sharing keen insights ...
Investing in municipal staff growth and development - David Arbuckle
Now more than ever, municipal staff need to be planning for the future. David Arbuckle from AMCTO talks about an opportunity for municipalities to learn ...
Lessons learned from the private sector, Part 1 - Rob Adams
Whitchurch-Stouffville CAO Rob Adams joins us to share lessons learned from his experiences in the private sector that can be seamlessly applied to local government. ...
Municipal HR Matters - Dawn McCoy
HR expert Dawn McCoy joins us to talk about her new column that premiers in the May issue of Municipal World. Plus, a look at ...
The Strategy Field - Mark Mullaly
Where does strategy lie in a time of quick reaction to ongoing crisis? Strategic planning expert Mark Mullaly joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to ...
Property tax payments at Canada Post - PaySimply
In this fast-paced digital era sometimes it’s nice to get things done in person. Now, through PaySimply, municipalities can accept cash and debit card payments ...
Organics recycling in Canada - Susan Antler
It’s International Compost Awareness Week! Susan Antler, Executive Director of The Compost Council of Canada chats with Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner about the state ...
Communications and COVID-19 - Brian Lambie & Dr. Zain Chagla
Sincerity and transparency in our discourse about the pandemic. Now more than ever local leaders need to keep their communities focused on priorities during the ...
Canada’s most notorious city - Fraser Tolmie
In this episode we escape to Moose Jaw: Canada’s most notorious city. Mayor Fraser Tolmie joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to give us a ...
Understanding gender pronouns - and why they matter - Loren Bornstein
An open dialogue on gender pronouns. Loren Bornstein, a diversity consultant and customer success specialist, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to unpack the topic ...
NYC parks: A tale of two cities, Part 2 - Mitchell Silver
Planning for equity and inclusion. The conversation continues with New York City Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Mitchell Silver as he shares his thoughts on ...
NYC parks: A tale of two cities, Part 1 - Mitchell Silver
Adding dignity to our parks. New York City Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Mitchell Silver shares NYC's "tale of two cities" and his mission over ...
AI teams up with local government - Zoran Postic, City of Vaughan
Artificial intelligence is going local. The City of Vaughan is working smarter to bring cutting edge, innovative solutions to their municipality. Deputy City Manager of ...
Cybersecurity and local government, Part 2 - Henry Awere
Beef up your digital security! In Part 1 Public policy consultant Henry Awere joined Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share his thoughts on how ...
Cybersecurity and local government, Part 1 - Henry Awere
Don’t let your systems get taken hostage! Cybersecurity is a topic that’s top of mind for every municipality across the country. Public policy consultant Henry ...
Bringing local government to kids, Part 2 - George Cuff
The conversation continues with local government guru George Cuff and his new children’s book Tucker Goes to City Hall. In this episode George shares his ...
Bringing local government to kids, Part 1 - George Cuff
George Cuff, local government guru, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss his new kid's book: Tucker Goes to City Hall. A departure from ...
Psychological safety in the municipal workplace, Part 2 - Christina Benty
How do we know when our organization is slipping into a culture of toxicity? Leadership expert Christina Benty is back with Municipal World CEO Susan ...
Psychological safety in the municipal workplace, Part 1 - Christina Benty
How can we upgrade the personality of our organizations to benefit staff and improve outcomes? Christina Benty joins Susan Gardner to discuss psychological safety: what ...
The permanent work-from-home-model, Part 2 - Brian Hutchings & Lise Sordo
Half of Brantford’s admin team is working from home permanently. What are the challenges and, more importantly, will it pay off? Brantford CAO Brian Hutchings ...
The permanent work from home model, Part 1 - Brian Hutchings & Lise Sordo
The short story: Brantford plans to keep 50% of its admin team working from home permanently. What are the benefits? Brantford CAO Brian Hutchings and ...
What Schitt’s Creek can teach us about the pandemic, Part 2 - Ashleigh Weeden
The conversation continues on the wisdom of Schitt’s Creek. No kidding! Rural futurist Ashleigh Weeden shares more insights from the hit Canadian sitcom with Municipal ...
What Schitt's Creek can teach us about the pandemic, Part 1 - Ashleigh Weeden
We can learn a thing or two from Schitt's Creek during these turbulent times. Seriously? Oh yeah. Rural futurist Ashleigh Weeden joins Municipal World CEO ...
The digital solution to tax payment woes - PaySimply
Online property tax payments are now possible - at no added cost to municipalities. PaySimply, Payment Source's secure, alternative payment platform removes the headache. And, ...
Impacts of urban design on women, Part 2 - David Feehan
How can we make downtowns safer and more appealing to women? The conversation continues with author and consultant David Feehan and Municipal World CEO Susan ...
Sustainability and community ice rinks - Chuck Allgood & Omar Mitchell
Sustainable refrigeration has a big role in keeping community ice rinks cost effective. And Chemours is working with the NHL to help make that goal ...
Impacts of urban design on women, Part 1 - David Feehan
Why are women such an important demographic for downtowns? How does urban planning impact women in unintended ways? Author and consultant David Feehan joins Municipal ...
Wrapping up 2020 and saying hello to 2021 - Mark Mullaly
Looking back on 2020, what a doozy. Lessons learned, what we can do better and how municipalities are in for a busy 2021. Project management ...
Holiday special: a fireside chat with Santa
Who’s on Santa’s naughty and nice list? His lips are sealed! But you can find out what's on this year’s CAO wish list in this ...
States of emergency during COVID-19, Part 2 - Hana Syed
What will be the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 as cities tackle climate change, inclusion, and other complex municipal issues? Hana Syed, Research Assistant at Windsor ...
States of emergency during COVID-19, Part 1 - Anneke Smit
Quick decision-making and action has been essential during the pandemic. But unilateral decisions , without consultation, can often have unintended consequences. Anneke Smit, Director of ...
Stop doing stupid stuff, Part 2 - Ian McCormack
Everything has a demand from somewhere, so how can you choose what to stop doing? The conversation continues with Ian McCormack, author of Who’s Driving ...
Transparency and accountability for the future with TELUS IoT - Michael Cihra & Dave Wood
Bringing real-time visibility solutions to businesses. The internet of things is here to stay and TELUS IoT is keeping their focus on innovation. Michael Cihra ...
Stop doing stupid stuff, Part 1 - Ian McCormack
Avoid the patterns and pitfalls that land your organization in hot water. Ian McCormack – author of Who’s Driving the Grader? – joins Municipal World ...
OMAA survey: what’s happening for the holidays - David Calder
A glimpse at what’s ahead in the coming winter months. The results from the OMAA survey are in and Cambridge CAO David Calder joins Municipal ...
Survey on the State of Canadian Municipalities & COVID-19 Part 2 - Kent Waugh
Learn the successful trends born out of the crisis. The conversation continues with Kent Waugh and Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner as they delve deeper ...
Survey on the State of Canadian Municipalities & COVID-19 - Part 1 - Kent Waugh
You’ve had to act fast, making many changes as a result of the pandemic. Some of the changes are short-term. But which ones are here ...
Digital streamlining and e-permits with Cloudpermit - Jarkko Turtiainen
E-permitting is the future. But how exactly does this streamlined process look for Canada? Vice-President of Cloudpermit Jarkko Turtiainen joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner ...
Equity: Beyond Diversity & Inclusion, Part 2 - Kike Ojo-Thompson
Continuing the conversation about equity. Kojo Institute founder Kike Ojo-Thompson is back with Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss inclusion. Kike shares her thoughts ...
Funding your Smart City - Wendy Gnenz
Access funding to build your Smart City. The march of progress carries on as a new frontier of digital connection finds its way to urban ...
Equity: Beyond Diversity & Inclusion, Part 1 - Kike Ojo-Thompson
Look beyond traditional inclusion strategies. Equity expert Kike Ojo-Thompson joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss equity. She reveals how local government can look ...
Future Focused Leadership, Part 2 - Brenda Herchmer
Prepare your community for change. Discover the tools to help your community brace for what’s to come! Plus gain insight on the different kinds of ...
Future Focused Leadership, Part 1 - Brenda Herchmer
Maximize your leadership growth using these strategies! Community builder Brenda Herchmer joins MW CEO Susan Gardner to discuss ways for leaders to leave a lasting ...
The Path to Reconciliation, Part 4 - Ava Hill
Our 4-part series conclusion has arrived! Ava Hill, former Chief of the Six Nations Elected Council, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss the ...
The Path to Reconciliation, Part 3 - Ava Hill
The conversation continues in part 3 as Ava Hill, former Chief of the Six Nations Elected Council, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss ...
The Path to Reconciliation, Part 2
The conversation continues as Ava Hill, former Chief of the Six Nations Elected Council, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share her thoughts on ...
The Path to Reconciliation – Part 1
Ava Hill, former Chief of the Six Nations Elected Council, joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to discuss the intergenerational trauma experienced by many Indigenous ...
Moving the mark on racism in local government, Part 2 - Arielle Kayabaga
The conversation continues as City of London Councillor Arielle Kayabaga joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share her thoughts on the June rallies for ...
Moving the mark on racism in local government, Part 1 - Arielle Kayabaga
City of London Councillor Arielle Kayabaga joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share her personal experiences as a young Black woman in elected office, ...
Advice for the accidental project manager, Part 2 - Mark Mullaly
The conversation continues, as project management pro Mark Mullaly joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share advice for the "accidental project manager” – and ...
Advice for the accidental project manager, Part 1 - Mark Mullaly
Project management pro Mark Mullaly joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to talk about the challenges of managing municipal projects, and why it can sometimes ...
Triumphs & failures of evidence-based policy making, Part 2 - Ashleigh Weeden
In Part 1 rural futurist Ashleigh Weeden joined us to share her thoughts on why evidence-based policy making is so important for local governments. Today ...
Triumphs & failures of evidence-based policy making, Part 1 - Ashleigh Weeden
Award-winning community engagement practitioner Ashleigh Weeden joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to explore why evidence-based policy making is so important for local governments, especially during a time like this ...
Economic recovery and the municipal finance crisis - Carole Saab
Federation of Canadian Municipalities CEO Carole Saab joins Susan Gardner to discuss the recent announcement of the safe economic restart plan - and the financial ...
Building a secure, remote government workforce for today and the future - David De Abreu
COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we work. David De Abreu from Cisco joins Susan Gardner to highlight important considerations for local governments now and ...
Advice for local leaders as they wrestle with the pandemic - George Cuff
Here is Part 3 of our conversation with local government guru George Cuff! George joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to share his best advice ...
Organizational reviews and the continued challenge of council-staff relations - George Cuff
New episode! Local government guru George Cuff joins Susan Gardner for a deep dive on municipal organizational reviews, highlighting early warning signs of trouble. Plus ...
Off the Cuff and on the air - George Cuff
You don’t want to miss this one! Local government guru George Cuff joins Susan Gardner to share reflections on what he learned from his earliest ...
A step into smart cities with TELUS IoT and Miovision - Kurtis Mcbride
Understanding traffic is fundamental to managing the evolution of our cities. But, when Kurtis McBride looked at how cities were measuring traffic, he saw methods ...
Municipal challenges that lie ahead - Brock Carlton
In Part 1 CEO of FCM Brock Carlton joined us to discuss leading his team at FCM through his final months as CEO in these ...
A legacy of leadership - Brock Carlton
As he prepares to retire, Brock Carlton joins Municipal World CEO Susan Gardner to talk about passing the torch at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities ...
Masks and the role of Canadian municipalities - Rob Shirkey
Last week lawyer Rob Shirkey joined us to discuss the importance of masks, the evidence for them, and the state of mask use in Canada. ...
Is wearing a mask really necessary? - Rob Shirkey
How helpful are masks really? Lawyer Rob Shirkey joins us to shed some light on the importance of mask use and the evidence that backs ...
Launching an economic development strategy during a pandemic - David Arbuckle
New episode of MWShares! David Arbuckle joins us to talk about the work the Town of Caledon has done to create a 10-year economic development ...
Domestic violence and the remote workspace - Darcy Michaud
Now that the lines between workplace and home are blurred, employers need to be aware of their obligations in addressing the sensitive issue of domestic ...
Managing health and safety for a work-for-home workforce - Darcy Michaud
How do obligations for health and safety change when many employees are working from home? HR expert Darcy Michaud joins us to discuss workplace rights ...
Victory gardens: building community during times of crisis - Susan Antler
Today, we're talking with Compost Canada's Susan Antler about victory gardens, community gardening, and composting. Plus a unique made-in-Canada program to help support your gardening ...
Supporting each other through community - Dawn Chaplin
Being a community is more important than simply being a town, says Torbay CAO Dawn Chaplin. In this episode, Dawn chats with Municipal World CEO ...
Artificial Intelligence in the workplace - Terry Hickey
Terry Hickey, Chief Analytics Officer at CIBC, joins us to discuss how AI will disrupt our organizations, people, and jobs over the coming years – ...
Nuclear waste, public engagement and bats - Michael Borrelli
Michael Borrelli from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization pops in to discuss myths about nuclear waste, the importance of authentic community engagement, and bats! Find ...
Tales of municipal challenges and leadership - James Ridge
Excited to have James Ridge joining us for this new episode! We discuss what makes a successful CAO and council relationship – plus the challenges ...
Moving Beyond #MeToo in the Workplace - Jennifer Heath
In the aftershocks following #MeToo, some questions remain for employers. Jennifer Heath, a lawyer with Piccolo Heath LLP, joined us at the 2020 HRPA conference ...
COVID-19: A Time for Innovation - Dana Clarke & Joel Carnes
We were excited to have Dana Clarke, founder of the Municipal Innovators Community and Joel Carnes, President of the Alliance for Innovation. Join us for ...
COVID-19 & emergency measures for council meetings - Jody Johnson
Jody Johnson Director of Legal Services for Halton Region joins us for the first in a series of weekly episodes to provide an update on what ...
Preserving a mid-century modern oasis - Flinn Fagg
There are always challenges to balancing historic preservation with the need for change - especially in a dynamic community like Palm Springs, California, renowned the ...
Special Episode - Organizational questions about COVID-19 and social distancing
Special Episode! Change strategist and Municipal World columnist Peter De Jager joins us to discuss communicating the implications of social distancing to your organization and ...
Special Episode - Coronavirus
Joining us for this SPECIAL EPISODE of MW Shares is Joe Preston, former member of Parliament and currently the Mayor of the City of St. ...
Episode 12 - Todd Hirsch
Chief economist for ATB Financial Todd Hirsch joins us to discuss the economic impact of social poverty and ways your community can tackle this head ...
Episode 11 - Pam Davis
CivicPRIDE leader and local government evangelist Pam Davis joins us to discuss incorporating your authentic self into work life, leadership and how local government touches ...
Episode 10 - David Smith
CAO of Saugeen Shores David Smith drops by the studio to discuss recognizing the value of public service, strategies to attracting skilled labourers to your ...
Episode 9 - Lital Marom
Business leader and polymath Lital Marom joins host Susan Gardner to discuss the future of work – and what every organization needs to do to ...
Episode 8 - Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of the compelling book “Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders” joins host Susan Gardner to explore how gender plays ...
Episode 7 - Dr. Gordon McIntosh
This week we are joined by consultant and educator Dr. Gordon McIntosh. Pop those earbuds in and be treated to Gordon's thoughts on how strategic ...
Episode 6 - Ashleigh Weeden
We were very pleased to have Ashleigh Weeden drop by to share an enriching conversation with us today at the MW Shares studio. Ashleigh is ...
Episode 5 - Peter de Jager
We were very pleased to have Peter de Jager drop by to share an enlightening conversation with us today at the MW Shares studio. Peter ...
Episode 4 - Zoran Postic & Ryan Walter
Deputy City Manager for the City of Vaughan Zoran Postic sits down with Susan Gardner to discuss how innovators invite staff ideas while building trust. ...
Episode 3 - Jeff Renaud & Delia Reiche
Town of St. Stephen, NB, CAO Jeff Renaud sits down with Susan Gardner to discuss the future of his town and community revitalization. Next a ...
Episode 2 - Naheed Nenshi
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi sits down with Susan Gardner to discuss the challenges he sees for his city, social media, leadership insights, and more.
Episode 1 - Jesse Hirsh & Craig Scott
Futurist speaker, researcher and internet strategist Jesse Hirsh sits down with Susan Gardner to talk about what he means by "the future is rural." Followed ...