AMO is pleased to announce that the 2026 AMO Conference keynote address will be delivered by the panel from the Curse of Politics podcast.
With Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, Kory Teneycke, and host David Herle, the Curse of Politics is the political podcast you secretly hate to love – but love anyway – for their unfiltered, unscripted, and unmuzzled take on the current state of political affairs.
Get ready for a commotion of insights, arguments, opinions and an impossibly loud laugh or two. Meet the speakers.
*Below is a program outline for your reference and is subject to change. This will be updated as details are confirmed.
Sunday, August 16
|
9:00am – 7:00pm |
Registration Open |
| 2:00pm – 7:00pm | Trade Show Open |
|
1:00pm – 2:30pm |
Conference Workshops
Want more money without increasing taxes and user fees? This workshop will help you to understand the channel of commercial sponsorship and naming rights to put more revenue on your bottom line.
In this realistic flooding exercise and workshop, municipal leaders and staff will navigate escalating impacts on critical infrastructure, public safety, municipal services, and community recovery while working through the decisions local leaders face during a flooding event. Participants will experience how municipal exercises encourage discussing mutual aid, prioritizing resources, and collaborating with provincial and community partners. Participants will also get hands on experience working with the provincial supports available to municipalities before, during, and after an emergency. No emergency management experience is required. |
|
1:00pm – 5:00pm |
Harmony in Leadership, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association Great leadership begins before you ever enter the room; it starts with how you show up. Through the BIKE module, this course invites you to lead with greater intentionality, civility, kindness, and emotional intelligence. You'll explore how your thoughts, emotions, and actions shape your influence and the people around you. Whether you're rebuilding trust, deepening connection, or striving to lead with more heart, this course will equip you to lead harmoniously, creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow together. |
|
2:30pm – 4:00pm |
Conference Workshops
A municipal council is ultimately responsible for setting service levels. This is achievable through your municipal asset management program, which provides the information needed to make confident, evidence-based decisions about infrastructure investments, service levels, risks, and long-term financial sustainability. This engaging workshop will introduce the toolkit, and showcase how asset management supports informed, prioritized decision-making. Come ready to participate, share your experiences, and swap ideas with peers who are navigating the same challenges.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is planning a second deep geological repository (DGR) to safely manage Canada’s intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste over the long term. This initiative is separate from NWMO’s first DGR for used nuclear fuel. The proposed approach to site selection will place the highest priority on safety, will be consent-based, principles-led, flexible, adaptive, aligned with international best practices and will be grounded in Reconciliation. During this workshop, participants will be asked to share their views on our proposed approach with an external facilitator. This is your opportunity to confirm and refine the site selection process for Canada’s second DGR. If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please click here. Please note seating is limited for this session. Reviewing this document in advance of the workshop would be sincerely appreciated. |
|
4:00pm - 5:00pm |
The Astronaut, the Thermostat and the Hidden Work of Reliable Energy This panel discussion brings Chris Hadfield’s space-tested perspective to reframe how municipal leaders think about reliability on Earth. In space, every watt is planned, protected and tied to survival. In Ontario, energy is so reliable that it often feels invisible. When extreme weather, outages, cold snaps or rapid growth put our systems to the test, we’re reminded how much daily life depends on it. In a dynamic conversation with Commander Chris Hadfield, Enbridge Gas President Michele Harradence, and Ottawa Councilor and Federation of Canadian Municipalities President Tim Tierney, this panel will explore the hidden work behind reliable energy systems, why infrastructure must be planned and built for extremes, and how bold leadership supports the long-term planning needed to keep residents safe, businesses operating and economies growing. |
| 5:00pm – 7:00pm | Opening Reception |
| 7:00pm – 10:00pm | City of Ottawa Welcome Reception |
Monday, August 17
| 7:00am – 5:00pm | Registration Open |
| 7:15am – 8:00am |
Youth Networking Breakfast Spend your breakfast with AMO’s 2026 Youth Fellows: Akbar, Allan, and Rebecca, as they lead an inspiring conversation about how their communities unlocked their passion for local government. Their diverse experiences from across Ontario will demonstrate how this election campaign can set you up to do the same for youth in your municipality. |
| 7:30am – 6:00pm | Trade Show Open |
|
8:15am – 10:05am |
Plenary Program:
|
| 10:05am – 10:30am | Coffee Break, sponsored by MNP |
| 10:10am - 10:30am |
Demo Stage:
Konek is Canada's new way to pay online, offering Canadians the choice to pay directly from their chequing or savings account, or credit card. Powered by Interac, and backed by Canada's leading banks, Konek makes it easy for municipalities to accept payments for services like summer camp registration, utility bills, or parking permits—giving residents more choice, convenience, and control in how they pay. |
|
10:30am – 11:45am |
Plenary Program:
|
| 12:00pm – 1:15pm | Caucus Lunches |
| 1:15pm – 1:35pm |
Demo Stage:
Ontario municipalities lose staff time and resident goodwill to fragmented, vendor-by-vendor payment systems, a hidden cost that adds up across property tax, utilities, and permits. This session shows what changes when every payment channel is consolidated onto one Canadian-hosted platform, cutting the operational overhead of managing multiple vendors, manual reconciliation, and disconnected support lines. Attendees will learn how municipalities like Brampton, Oakville, and Dufferin County have reduced back-office costs and freed up staff time by moving to a single unified platform. |
| 1:15pm – 1:45pm | Dessert with Exhibitors |
|
1:45pm – 2:30pm |
Plenary Program:
|
| 2:30pm – 3:15pm |
Women's Networking Event: hosted by The Hon. Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Coffee Break with Exhibitors, sponsored by Bell Canada |
| 2:30pm – 3:20pm |
Demo Stage:
Join the teams from AMO and the Institute on Governance for a preview of Local Leadership Foundations, a new education program for municipal elected officials launching after the election. Learn more about this exciting and modern program focused on helping new and returning councillors excel in their roles and get the upcoming term off to a great start. Hear from the developers, preview the material, and ask us questions about how to join in!
What if your website could answer residents the way your best front-desk staff would? Watch a live demo of municiPal AI, Canadian-built AI technology that embeds directly in your existing site. It instantly answers resident questions, cuts call volume, and works around the clock. See how Ontario municipalities are already turning hard-to-search sites into instant answers and seeing real returns on staff time and resident satisfaction. |
|
3:30pm – 4:45pm |
Concurrent Sessions:
This panel explores how municipalities are addressing mental health challenges for first responders, including WSIB pressures and evolving obligations. Experts will share practical strategies, innovative service models, and lessons learned to strengthen supports, reduce risks, and drive organizational change while highlighting the significant costs of inaction.
Recent changes to provincial procurement policy now require municipalities to prioritize Ontario and Canadian vendors during construction procurement. Learn about how municipalities can navigate this changing landscape to support Canadian businesses while balancing infrastructure project costs and timelines. Brief introductory remarks will be provided by Minister Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP).
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” This quote from 130 years ago still captures the challenge that elected representatives and municipal staff face today when explaining to their constituents the need for a tax increase or the billion price tag to repair aging infrastructure. Businesses that sell expensive goods or services have time-tested marketing playbooks on how to shift consumers’ focus from cost to value. This session will provide practical insights on how to communicate and sell the value of expensive goods and services to rate and taxpayers.
The provincial government is working to connect every Ontarian to primary care, regardless of where they live. This session will bring together health sector experts to break down what this actually means, how primary care helps support the health of your communities, and what municipalities can do to help. |
| 4:45pm – 6:00pm | Power Down Reception |
Tuesday, August 18
| 7:00am – 3:00pm | Registration Open |
|
7:30am – 8:15am |
Insight Breakfasts
Join the LAS-AMO Business Services team for an interactive breakfast workshop and help shape future programs that respond to your needs. Discover opportunities to save over 200 hours on procurement processes, reduce costs through collaborative municipal solutions, and redirect valuable staff time and cost savings toward high-impact community priorities.
Join Andria Leigh, Chair of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and Director of Planning & Growth for the Town of Innisfil, for an overview of the Councillor’s role in planning within Ontario’s municipal planning framework. Learn how Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) support informed decision-making on local planning matters and gain insight into OPPI’s recent and upcoming initiatives to streamline development approvals, reducing costs and timelines. Andria will explain why these reforms were critical in supporting Ontario’s housing goals, and what they mean for municipalities and communities as they work to meet future growth and development demands. |
|
8:30am – 9:45am |
Concurrent Sessions:
Join MPAC for an annual update on how our evolving strategy is delivering greater value to municipalities and the residents you serve. Discover how our data, tools, and services – current and emerging – can strengthen financial planning, support informed decisions, and unlock new opportunities for your community. Learn how a stronger partnership with MPAC can help you serve your constituents and plan with confidence for the challenges ahead.
Municipalities need to invest over $250 billion in public infrastructure over the next decade, and innovation will be essential to meeting this challenge. This session will explore case studies that highlight the opportunities and challenges of moving innovative infrastructure solutions from pilot stage to implementation.
Permanent supportive housing with wraparound supports and medical care can help reduce chronic homelessness. Learn through case studies about what cross-sector partnerships can accomplish and how relationship building with health and housing providers can produce benefits for people, communities and municipal governments.
Urban Indigenous organizations play a critical role in meeting the needs of the growing Indigenous population in municipalities. This panel will explore how municipal leaders can work in partnership with urban Indigenous organizations to deliver on local priorities and advance Indigenous rights. Bringing together representatives from municipalities, local Friendship Centres, and Indigenous women’s organizations, this session will deliver insights, lessons for municipal leadership, and real-world examples for successful and impactful relationships between municipalities and local urban Indigenous organizations that advance reconciliation in practical ways. |
| 9:45am – 10:00am | Coffee Break |
|
10:00am – 11:45am |
Plenary Program:
A vibrant municipal democracy empowers local leadership and diverse voices to build a resilient, self-determined future for every community in Ontario. There is concern centralizing local governance could undermine the transparency and collaboration that is foundational to local government. Learn how municipalities can navigate changing governance structure and ensure that local democracy continues to work.
|
|
11:45am – 12:45pm |
Learning Lunches
Large infrastructure projects benefit from early and ongoing dialogue with municipal governments. This session will highlight how Bruce Power has worked with municipalities across the Clean Energy Frontier (Bruce, Grey and Huron) region to support readiness planning, share information, and create opportunities for meaningful participation in the Bruce C Impact Assessment process. Participants will learn about the benefits of having municipalities are engaged as informed local partners, helping to identify community priorities, infrastructure considerations, and growth-related opportunities while maintaining clear roles within regulatory and planning processes.
Collaboration is essential to a reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity system. Join the Independent Electricity System Operator for an engaging session on the accomplishments communities and the electricity sector have achieved together to advance the infrastructure needed to support economic development and local growth plans, enhance reliability, and create lasting benefits for future generations.
Join us for a timely discussion on how health care is influencing priorities in communities across Ontario and why it matters in the upcoming municipal elections. Concerns about access to care, wait times, and pressure on local health services continue, and municipal leaders are increasingly engaging with these issues. This session will explore the connection between health care and local economic well-being, how health care is showing up in municipal election conversations, and the practical ways local governments can support and advocate for better access to care. As elections approach, this discussion will help participants better understand the municipal perspective on health care and how local action can contribute to stronger, more connected communities.
|
|
1:00pm – 2:15pm |
Concurrent Sessions:
As municipalities adopt AI and automated decision-making for local services, they face scrutiny regarding public trust, data privacy, and civil liberties. Learn to decode exactly what municipal governments must know, and do, to harness AI for the public good without compromising fundamental human rights and privacy.
Economic uncertainty of the last several years has acted as a catalyst for municipal innovation. Leaders from each corner of the province will discuss their playbook for creating resilient communities – from taking a people first strategy to revitalizing downtowns to working across political divides and ideology to buffer local industries and businesses to shifts in consumer preferences and geopolitics.
This session examines how municipalities are adapting to growing emergency preparedness challenges driven by climate risks, staffing shortages, and rising expectations. Panelists will discuss “reasonable preparedness,” share lessons from recent disasters, and identify where provincial support is effective and where critical gaps remain.
Municipal governments across Ontario are at the forefront of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. This session will provide practical insights on how to effectively make the case for green infrastructure investment to support climate adaption and resilience. |
|
2:15pm – 4:50pm |
Plenary Program:
We know the status quo is changing, but how much room do we actually have to innovate? This mainstage session unveils new AMO research on the cost of maintaining and growing municipal assets. We are cutting through the noise to provide clear insights on debt-carrying capacity, the limits of reserve reliance, and the true financial scale of Ontario’s infrastructure challenge.
|
| 4:50pm – 5:45pm | Provincial Reception |
| 6:30pm – 8:00pm | Ticketed Social Event at the National Arts Centre |
Wednesday, August 19
|
7:00am – 10:00am 7:30am – 8:15am |
Registration Open Insight Breakfasts
The Community stream provides flexible and predictable funding that best enables strategic investments in infrastructure ensuring healthier, more connected, and more resilient communities. Join us as we explore how the fund is effectively delivering results by supporting the growth and livability of Ontario communities.
|
|
8:30am – 11:00am |
Plenary Program:
Building on AMO’s work through the Healthy Democracy Project and respect in local leadership, join Peter McLeod, Founder and Principal of MASS LBP and Freddie Broome, Director of Membership Services, Georgia Municipal Association, in conversation with TVO host Nam Kiwanuka as they explore civility and respect in this new ear of governance. The conversation will focus on the role and importance of civility and respect in municipal political leadership, recognizing in many cases these are no where to be found. Explore cross jurisdictional experiences, strategies and important things to think about for everyone looking to run in 2026.
Addressing Ontario's affordable housing crisis requires a coordinated, multi-level government approach working with the non-profit, co-operative, and private sectors. The launch of Build Canada Homes and the next iteration of the National Housing Strategy provide the opportunity to leverage inter-governmental partnerships to accelerate affordable housing supply at a new scale. This panel will discuss what is needed to ensure they succeed.
|