2011 CAMA Conference

CAMA 2011 Conference Attracts Record Number of Delegates
The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrator’s (CAMA’s) national conference, held in Halifax, NS from May 30-June 2, attracted a record number of delegates.  In total, 250 municipal administrators registered for the event.  Adding in companions and exhibitors, 400 people attended the SAP President’s Dinner.  In addition to the education and hospitality sessions, ten national awards of excellence were presented and two new board members were elected.

Nine municipalities and one municipal organization from across the country received awards of excellence in the categories of innovation, education and the environment.  CAMA extends its sincere appreciation to Citi Canada who signed on this year as awards gold sponsor in the categories of education and environment.  For more on each the award winning programs click (http://www.camacam.ca/en/awards/2011CAMAAwards.asp)

Jim Toye, City Manager for North Battleford, SK, was elected CAMA president at the association’s annual general meeting.  He is joined on the board by two new members:  Keith Arns, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Conception Bay South, NL and CAMA Representative for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Marie-Hélène Lajoie, Deputy City Manager, Gatineau, QC and CAMA Director-at-Large.  For more on the 2011-12 board, click http://www.camacam.ca/en/about/boardofdirectors.asp

Golf Tourney Starts Conference
The conference got underway on Monday morning, May 30 with the annual CAMA golf tournament, held this year at the Avon Valley Golf Course.  Congratulations to the winning team of Matt Dawe, Dave Chandler and Robert Cotterill.  A sold out wine tour to the Annapolis Valley was also offered.  The afternoon was devoted to an interprovincial association meeting.  Following the first-time delegates reception, all CAMA delegates gathered for the opening reception in the Trade Show and Exhibitors hall.  Our thanks to co-sponsor, the Rick Hansen Foundation for their participation in the evening festivities.

Annual Meeting and Down East Entertainment
Tuesday, May 31, brought the CAMA annual general meeting and conference opening ceremonies.  Following this, keynote speaker, Dr. Nick Bontis, a 3M National Teaching Fellow with McMaster University, spoke about “leadershift” and how municipal administrators can transform themselves into new levels of performance.  Our appreciation to RBC Royal Bank for their sponsorship of this entertaining speaker.

This was followed by an international panel session moderated by CAMA board member, Kelly Daniels and featuring Kim Ryley, President, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE); Robert J. O’Neill Jr., Executive Director, International City/County Management Association (ICMA); Clare Hadley, President, Society of Local Government Managers SOLGM; and, Neil Hartley, Past President, Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA).

Following lunch, which featured a presentation about Halifax’s hosting of the 2011 Canada Winter Games, delegates attended another panel session where former CAOs imparted some wise advice from their municipal management careers.  The session featured George McLellan, Harry Gaudet and Terry Totten.  It was moderated by Paul Stapleton, City Administrator for Fredericton, NB.

The final session for the day featured David Siegel, a political science professor at Brock University, who spoke about the leadership qualities that make municipal CAOs successful.  The day ended with a lobster supper and entertainment by East Coast precision drummers, Squid.  What else would you expect in a Maritime seacoast city!

Awards, Study Tours and President’s Dinner
The first conference speaker on Wednesday, June 1, was Peter MacLeod, Principal with MASS LBP, an innovative firm reinventing public consultation.  He spoke about how visionary governments and corporations are using new ways to engage and consult with the public.  The second session of the morning featured Robert Carlyle and Karen Hall, vice-presidents with Aon Hewitt.  They spoke about how an aging workforce will affect municipal operations.

The morning ended with a keynote speech from Glen Hodgson, senior vice president and chief economist with the Conference Board of Canada.  He spoke about the role cities play in sustainable economic performance during turbulent times.  The noon luncheon featured the presentation of the 2011 CAMA Awards of Excellence, followed by the conference closing ceremonies and trade show draws. 

Study tours filled the afternoon.  Delegates headed out into the community to find out more about downtown development, harbour stewardship and how a community responds when a hurricane devastates two beloved historic parks.  Outgoing CAMA president Jacques Des Ormeaux hosted a reception and dinner to end the CAMA 2011 Conference.  Dinner entertainment featured musical comedian, Tony Quinn.  CAMA extends its gratitude to SAP Canada for their continuing partnership as sponsor of the President’s Dinner.

Next Conference
The CAMA 2012 national conference will be held in Saskatoon, SK at the Hilton Garden Inn and TCU Place from May 28-30, 2012.  


FUTURE CONFERENCE DATES AND LOCATIONS

  • 2012 Saskatoon, Hilton Garden Inn and TCU Place, May 28-30, 2012
  • 2013 Victoria, May 27-29, 2013
  • 2014 Niagara Falls Area, May 26-28, 2014
  • 2015 Jasper, AB, June 1-3, 2015