PROGRAM

Registration 

Conference Office

The Importance of Succession Planning for Municipalities presented by MC Advisory in partnership with AMANB (Simultaneous Interpretation available) 

Succession planning for a municipal government isn’t just a matter of administrative convenience—it is an imperative! By ensuring that there are clear plans in place for leadership and key personnel transitions, municipalities can safeguard against operational disruptions, legal risks, and financial losses. It also maintains public confidence in government institutions and helps uphold the integrity and smooth functioning of critical public services.

Register for this pre-session: HERE 

Governor’s Ballroom

1:00 – 2:00 pm

Collaborative Investing in Community Sport and Recreation for Quality of Life in NB Communities (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

This session will give delegates frameworks to rethink how their communities/regions invest in sport, recreation, and physical activity provisions, emphasizing broader quality-of-life indicators that can support NB communities’ well-being. By focusing on how municipalities and Regional Service Commissions (RSCs) can better serve all residents, including those facing barriers such as low income, disability, racism, and discrimination, the session highlights the role of community sport and recreation provisions (public and not for profit) in improving overall community well-being. The discussion will explore how local governments can adopt policies and investments that foster health, social connection, and belonging—critical components of quality of life. The discussion will offer valuable insights applicable to rural and urban communities, supporting the development of vibrant NB communities.

Presenter: Dr. Jackie Oncescu, Recreation & Sport Studies, University of New Brunswick

Governor’s Ballroom

Renewing Community Housing in New Brunswick Municipalities (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Join us for an insightful session on renewing non-profit housing boards in municipalities. As communities face increasing demands for affordable housing, the role of non-profit housing boards has never been more crucial. This session will explore strategies for revitalizing these boards and preserving and developing affordable housing in communities.

Presenter: Peter Corbyn, Executive Director, New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing  Association

                    Kevin Nicklin, Mayor of Grand Lake

Grand Ballroom D+E

PARTNER SESSION: Center of Excellence with Department of Education   

This presentation will explore innovative strategies for connecting communities and businesses with students in the public education system to foster partnerships that support life-long, experiential learning in the French language. By highlighting successful examples and collaborative models through the Centres of Excellence at EECD, the session aims to inspire stakeholders to create enriching opportunities that enhance language acquisition and cultural engagement for students.

Presenter: Ginny Steeves, Center of Excellence with Department of Education

                     Ransford Lockhart, Center of Excellence with Department of Education

Victoria, second floor

Leveraging FCM and GMF for Municipal Success (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Municipal leaders play a critical role in driving sustainable development and community growth. The Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation is a new $530-million initiative managed by the Green Municipal Fund provides funding and skills development support to local governments to adapt and build long-term resiliency to the impacts of climate change. This workshop will guide you through the resources and funding opportunities available through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), helping you to leverage these tools for your municipality’s benefit.

Presenter: Jordan Ruest, Outreach Officer, FCM Programs Outreach

Governor’s Ballroom

CASE STUDY: Shape – New approaches to engaging community on affordable housing (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Supported by CMHC, the Town of Stratford developed Shape, an innovative online platform customizable for other municipalities to facilitate community conversations on housing diversity, challenges, and solutions for safe and affordable housing. This session will explore the project’s public education campaign, the platform’s interactive modelling, Planning 101 eLearning modules, and engagement tool, and the resulting community dialogue. It will also explore the intermunicipal collaboration prompted by the project. 

Presenters: Wendy Watts, Community & Business Engagement Manager, Town of Stratford

                       Michelle MacDonald, Co-owner of AOR 360

Grand Ballroom D+E

PARTNER SESSION: Building Child-Friendly Communities: A Pathway to Sustainable Development and Community Engagement presented by the New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate

Municipal authorities are pivotal in shaping the well-being of children within their communities. Their close connection with local residents allows them to understand and address the unique needs of children, fostering environments where young people can thrive. This session, led by the New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate, will explore the transformative potential of municipalities committed to becoming Child-Friendly Communities (CFCs).

A Child-Friendly Community is more than just a place where children are cared for—it’s a commitment to embedding children’s rights and voices into municipal governance. From public safety and accessibility to health and recreational access, the child friendly communities ensures that young people are not just considered but are active participants in shaping the policies and services that affect them.

In this session, we will introduce the Child Friendly Community Toolkit, which empowers municipalities to take actionable steps towards prioritizing children in local governance. Real-life success stories will illustrate the impact of Child-Friendly Community initiatives on the lives of young people and their families.

Presenter: Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate

Victoria, second floor

3:15 – 3:30 pm

NETWORKING BREAK presented by Bronze Sponsors 

Conference Foyer

Building Infrastructure Asset Management and Climate Adaptation Capacity in New Brunswick (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

This session will highlight the New Brunswick Infrastructure Institute’s (NBII) focus on asset management practices to sustainable infrastructure development and management in municipalities. Through their partnership with the University of New Brunswick, Universite de Moncton, Government of New Brunswick, and industry stakeholders, NBII is working on innovative capacity building programs to strengthen municipal asset management and climate adaptation practices.

In this presentation, the NBII will share the outcomes of a province-wide survey on municipal asset management practices and share details about new training programs that will be delivered to municipalities across the province. Attendees will be asked to share their thoughts and concerns regarding new asset management reporting requirements, and identify key focus areas to ensure sustainable infrastructure management practices.

Presenters: Mike Benson, Director of Innovation at the University of New Brunswick’s Department of Civil Engineering

                 Serge Dupuis, Université de Moncton

Governor’s Ballroom

Mastering Public Relations and Social Media as Municipal Leaders (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

In today’s digital age, effective communication is vital for municipal leaders and staff to engage with the community, manage public perception, and convey important information. This workshop will provide you with the tools and strategies needed to enhance your public relations efforts and leverage social media platforms for maximum impact.

Presenter: Porter O’Brien

Grand Ballroom D+E

PARTNER SESSION: New Brunswick Collaborative Housing Co-operative Ltd.

Join us for an engaging session on the New Brunswick Collaborative Housing Co-operative Ltd (NBCHC), an innovative co-op housing model for sustainable community housing development in New Brunswick.  NBCHC is focused on developing secure, sustainable co-operative housing through land acquisition, asset renewal, and leveraging existing resources. The co-op aims to demonstrate the creation of a scalable community with centalized asset management that maintains ground-level community engagement. 

Presenter: Janet Flowers, Board President of the New Brunswick Collaborative Housing Co-operative

Victoria, second floor

Canoe Insurance and Grand Bay-Westfield: Creating value through partnership

Last year, UMNB unveiled a new partnership for a municipal insurance program for its members. Come learn from the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield about how Canoe Insurance has saved them money, provided added value with new coverages and accessed new risk-management resources to benefit their community. Representatives from Canoe Insurance will also be there to answer your questions about the program!

Presenter: Mallory Gray, Manager of Member Services, Canoe Insurance

                    Jonathan Stone, Insurance and Risk Specialist, Canoe Insurance

                    John Enns-Wind, CAO of Grand Bay-Westfield

                   Brittany Merrifield, Mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield

Governor’s Ballroom

Opening Reception

Gather with municipal colleagues to hear remarks from provincial party leaders and MPs as we officially open the conference. Light refreshments provided. 

Grand Ballroom D+E

Trade Show  

Grand Ballroom and Foyer

Canoe Hospitality Evening

Governor’s Ballroom

Registration

Conference Office

HOT BREAKFAST presented by Porter O’Brien 

Grand Ballroom and Foyer

Workshop presented by Porter O’Brien (Simultaneous Interpretation available)   

Grand Ballroom

Celebrating 30 Years of UMNB: Delegate Welcome (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Join us for welcoming remarks, learn about conference themes, and get ready for an exciting lineup of events. Together, let’s commemorate three decades of UMNB leadership and chart a course for continued excellence in our communities. Welcome, and let’s make this conference a memorable milestone celebration!

Grand Ballroom

Understanding Municipal Fiscal Health: Insights from the UMNB Fiscal Paper (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Join us for a session looking at the fiscal health of municipalities in New Brunswick, presented by Dr. Craig Brett. This session will delve into the findings and recommendations from the latest UMNB Fiscal Paper, providing valuable insights and strategies for municipal leaders as the process of fiscal reform continues.

Presenter: Dr. Craig Brett, Economics Professor, Mount Allison University 

Grand Ballroom

NETWORKING BREAK presented by Silver Sponsors                                 

 Grand Ballroom Foyer

New Brunswick Local Governance Commission (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Discover the essential role of the New Brunswick Local Governance Commission, which has been operating since May 2024. Gain insights into the Commission’s purpose, structure, and functions within the local government landscape. 

Presenter: Giselle Goguen, Chair of the Local Governance Commission 

Grand Ballroom

Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Engagement  (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

The relationship between Municipalities and Regional Service Commissions is critical for local and regional success, and continues to evolve as a result of Local Governance Reform. Discover best practices for building strong relationships between councils and RSCs, as this session highlights the potential for cooperation, capacity building, and constructive communication. Whether you’re a municipal official or a community leader, this session will help you engage your municipality and RSC to work together towards shared goals and sustainable growth.

Panellist: Maxime Bourgeois, Mayor of Memramcook

                      Tom Eagles, Mayor of Tobique Valley

                  Paul Lang, CEO of KRSC

                  Betty-Ann Fortin, CEO of RRSC

Grand Ballroom

LUNCH presented by MC Advisory and McInnes Cooper

Grand Ballroom and Foyer

Fostering a Respectful Workplace in a Municipal Setting presented by MC Advisory and McInnes Cooper (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Join McInnes Cooper’s Chris Pelkey and MC Advisory’s Sally Ripley for a conversation about how to foster a respectful, harassment-free workplace. Chris will focus on your legal obligations to provide a harassment-free workplace, the mandate to investigate harassment complaints, and your liability exposure for failing to do so. Sally will discuss the importance of early intervention and share conflict resolution strategies to mitigate the risks of workplace harassment and maintain a positive organizational culture.

Presenter: Sally Riley, MC Advisory

                     Chris Pelkey, McInnes Cooper

Grand Ballroom

Addressing Harassment: Strategies for Protecting Municipal Council and Staff  (Simultaneous Interpretation available)  

Harassment of municipal council members and staff is a growing concern that can undermine the effectiveness and well-being of people in local government. This panel session will bring together experts and municipal leaders to discuss the challenges, impacts, and strategies for preventing and addressing harassment within municipal settings.

Panellist: Jean-Guy Levesque, Mayor of Campbellton

                 Dawn Arnold, Mayor of Moncton

                 Craig Pollett, Founder and CEO of Pollett Strategic Inc.

Grand Ballroom

NETWORKING BREAK presented Gold Sponsors 

Grand Ballroom Foyer

World Cafe 

Join our World Cafe session for dynamic group discussions on community challenges and solutions. Connect with diverse voices and share ideas in a collaborative environment. This session will have three rounds of discussion with a variety of topics for you to choose from. 

Grand Ballroom

TRANSITION TIME

Grand Ballroom

4:15 – 5:00 pm

Zone Meeting 

UMNB Reception

Grand Ballroom Foyer

UMNB Banquet and Awards presented by Ginger Agency 

Grand Ballroom

UMNB’s 30th Anniversary Celebration: Trivia Throwdown!

Governor’s Ballroom