Cochrane Town Hall

Local Government Week - October 15-21, 2023

Commemoration •

Local Government Week is an opportunity to educate students on the important role of municipal government and its potential to create positive, lasting change in Ontario communities.

Municipal governments provide important public services that people depend on every day and are the government closest to the people. Local governments have tremendous ability to impact the issues that youth are most concerned with today including housing, homelessness, climate change, equity, and economic opportunity.

AMO is excited to have launched a Healthy Democracy Project - learn about its objectives and find resources, articles, and videos related to our three streams of work. AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project champions respect for democracy, diverse municipal councils, and greater access to inspiring civic education..


Local Government Week Resources

AMO is working with a variety of partners to promote the importance of local government and healthier democracy.

  • The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) has created resources for Local Government Week that you can use within your own organizations and municipalities to encourage engagement and initiate conversations about the various roles and opportunities that exist, and the value of working in local government.
  • The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association has a variety of resources about local government week and the important role of school board trustees. They have created and shared resources to facilitate in-person and virtual sessions with students in Grade 5 or 10 classrooms.
  • Learn more about local government on AMO's Municipal 101 pages.
  • Civix - A national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
    • Student Vote - Student Vote uses the election as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. Student Vote is a program of CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.

AMO’s Youth Fellowship Program

A centerpiece of AMO’s approach to youth engagement is AMO’s Youth Fellowship Program. This work-integrated learning opportunity provides three young people from across Ontario who are interested in municipal politics, with an opportunity to connect with Ontario’s most influential municipal advocacy organization.

Participants will engage with AMO’s governing Board of Directors, receive mentorship from an AMO Board member, have firsthand insight into the critical municipal issues of the day and the policy development process that supports Ontario’s municipalities. AMO Youth Fellows will also have front row seats as AMO engages important advocacy mechanisms and approaches in supporting their membership.  

The 2024 Youth Fellows application period is now open. A Youth Fellowship program information session is being offered on Tuesday, October 19 from 5-6:00 p.m. The deadline for applications is Monday, November 14 at 10 p.m. Please find all the information you need to apply on this information sheet.

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