Program
Rural Healthy Democracy Forum Program
*The program information below is subject to change
June 11, 2025
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Robin Jones, AMO President |
| 8:35 a.m. | Christa Lowry, ROMA Chair |
| 8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project: an introduction to the groundbreaking project working to accelerate the health of municipal democracies across Ontario
|
| 9:00 a.m. –10:15 a.m. | Let’s talk social health. Social health isn’t just a personal health issue - it’s a societal one. When people feel disconnected and unseen, it doesn’t just impact their well-being. It fuels broader challenges like incivility, the spread of misinformation, political polarization, and a growing mistrust in institutions and one another. Disconnection breeds division and suspicion, while connection fosters understanding, empathy, and collaboration. Join Pete Bombaci to discover practical strategies for nurturing deep connections and forging a path toward stronger and more connected homes, streets, classrooms, workplaces, communities — and a more cohesive and resilient society. Let’s shape a future where meaningful bonds are the cornerstone of our collective well-being and the antidote to some of the greatest social challenges of our time.
|
| 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. |
How to survive and thrive in the current political environment as a community leader. Municipal leaders are at the forefront of shaping vibrant, thriving communities, but the pressures of public service today—harassment, scrutiny, and unrelenting challenges—are causing many to step away.
|
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Elect Respect Initiative - Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, City of Burlington, AMO Board of Director Join Mayor Marianne Meed Ward as she shares the purpose, intention and hoped for impact of the “Elect Respect” initiative. |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. | AMO’s Local Democracy Accelerator approach: the steps you can take in your municipality to speed up democratic health
|
| 1:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. | AMO’s Democratic Engagement Solutions Bank: how to use and contribute to a Bank full of inspiring potential solutions to democratic challenges in your communities.
|
| 2:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Sharing AMO’s new civic education resources. In partnership with CIVIX, the national experts on civic education, AMO has developed new civic education resources that are available to all AMO members for use in their communities. Learn from Mayor Jamie McGarvey, and teacher Julie Hoyles who have used the resources and can share their experiences. These resources have been designed to support you in building understanding of the role of municipal government, your role as a local leaders and the importance of engagement in municipal governance. These tools are an important ally building resource.
|
| 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Coffee Break |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. |
Ways to improve the candidate experience in Rural Ontario Increasingly, qualified candidates and experienced elected officials are weighing the risks and rewards of running or seeking re-election for municipal office. Risks for candidates and growing incivility are outweighing the good news stories of remarkable, positive change being accomplished through inspiring, committed municipal leadership. It’s time to rebalance the risk/reward equation. Join a conversation that will explore experiences and examine opportunities to improve the candidate experience informed by research undertaken by AMO through its Healthy Democracy Project and Operation Black Vote Canada:
Both initiatives offer solutions that municipalities, civil societies, community organizations, and election officials can as we work together to encourage and support candidates running for municipal office. Moderator
Panelists
|
| 4:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Clearing the collision at the intersection of voter turnout, civic engagement, and incivility: exploring the connections and ways to navigate this particularly important challenge
|