AMO Education

AMO’s educational programming provides opportunities for municipally elected officials to advance their leadership skills in a variety of areas.  Our programs are custom designed specifically for municipal leaders. AMO continues to evolve its offerings so check back often. 

View the complete calendar of AMO educational opportunities here. Our current programming is outlined below.

AMO has recently adjusted its prices for workshops.

Current Educational Opportunities

 

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is committed to support and enhance strong and effective municipal government in Ontario. We do that in a variety of ways including providing educational programs that provide insight, skills and tactics for our members to rely on in the many roles and responsibilities they carry out in their local leadership roles.

As global events are increasingly impacting our local communities, AMO has built important partnerships with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies and the Canadian Centre for Muslim Women to develop and deliver education on antisemitism and anti-islamophobia.
Each program is designed to build your understanding on the historical and contemporary roots of antisemitism and anti-islamophobia, how to address these and how to build relationships and allyships.

AMO is a non-partisan organization and does not take positions on global matters but understands the importance of supporting our members as they strive to build inclusive, safe communities and stop discrimination and hate. 

These programs support AMO’s work on creating a healthy democracy in Ontario. The Friends of Simon Wiesenthel Centre for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) and Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) are partners of AMO’s Advisory Group for AMO’s Health Democracy Project.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies: Antisemitism: Then and Now - NEW

In collaboration with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthel Centre for Holocaust Studies (FSWC), AMO is offering timely and in demand education on: Antisemitism: Then and Now. 

The FSWC is one of Canada’s leading human rights and social advocacy organizations. Inspired by the legacy of Simon Wiesenthal, FSWC works to build a more inclusive and respectful Canada by sharing the lessons of the Holocaust, advocating for human rights and combatting both antisemitism and hate in all its forms.

This two-hour training covers historic and contemporary antisemitism, how to address this, and ways to build allyship. This workshop will help municipally elected officials to better understand the experience of and serve Jewish employees and community members.

April 24, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

Canadian Council of Muslim Women: Anti-Islamophobia Training - NEW

In collaboration with the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW), AMO is presenting a 2 hour workshop that will support AMO members to  critically examine the impacts of Islamophobia on the lives of Muslims living in Canada and how it further marginalizes Black and Indigenous Muslims, queer Muslims, and Muslims with disabilities. Participants will what Islamophobia is and how to be active allies to counter Islamophobia.

The CCMW is an organization dedicated to the empowerment, equality and equity of all Muslim women in Canada. Their mission is to affirm the identities of Canadian Muslim women and promote their lived experiences through community engagement, public policy, stakeholder engagement and amplified awareness of the social injustices that Muslim women and girls endure in Canada, while advocating for their diverse needs and equipping local CCMW chapters with the necessary resources to maximize national efforts and mobilize local communities to join the movement.

May 15, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

 

If you are interested in these workshops, you will want to know about AMO's Healthy Democracy Project. Click here for information.


Cybersecurity for Municipal Councillors - AMO and TMU Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst Training - NEW

Ransome ware attacks on municipal organizations are on the rise. You may believe you have your basis covered, but do you?  This workshop lead by experts in the cybersecurity field from the Rogers Catalyst Cybersecurity Centre at TMU will help you build the protections you need to keep your municipality safe from attack. This workshop will guide participants through short lectures, guided discussions, and activities. Elected officials will be provided insight and information to better understand the landscape and critical decisions related to preventing, preparing for, and responding to cybersecurity incidents.

June 12, 2024 - Registration and Full Details  

Governance and Leadership Education

Councillor Training

The demanding arena of municipal politics requires you to be up-to-date on issues (many!) and to have the skills and insight to manage expectations and relations, while delivering on strategies and commitments in a relatively short period of time. This is a tall order. AMO’s Education provides the foundations and insights to support you as you continue the role of local leader. 

May 14, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

Advanced Councillor Training Series 

Elected municipal officials are facing many pressures. This includes: provincial interventions in municipal matters, a lack of Council cohesion, concerns about ethical behaviour, the challenges of municipal stewardship, relations with municipal staff, the demands placed upon you by constituents...and of course your unique experiences arising from local matters. The pressure is real and we are here to support you.

 

Session 1
This training focuses on the ABCD’s of governance and leadership including:
A – Foundational Governance 
B – Ethical Responsibility 
C – Council-Staff Relations 
D – Code of Conduct 

You will explore each of these elements, your roles and responsibilities within and effective, healthy and productive approaches to each.

May 8, 2024 - Registration and Full Details  
 

Session 2
As an elected official, your understanding and approach to planning and leadership will be one of your lasting legacies on your organization and community. This session will look into various elements of leadership and actions you should be undertaking.
This session will explore:

  • Stewardship
  • Strategic Planning
  • Fiscal Sustainability
May 29, 2024 - Registration and Full Details September 25, 2024 - Registration and Full Details
 

Session 3

  • The elected official and Community Engagement 
  • Communications 
  • The Fine Points of Leadership 

Session 3 is really important. It helps you demystify a number of key municipal responsibilities. Budget and strategic planning are a great internal exercise but if your constituents and community members don’t really understand what you are doing, why you are doing it and how priorities are identified and planned for, well, we all understand what the fallout can look like. This session explores the importance of and options to community engagement and how leadership is the key ingredient to meaningful and impactful local engagement.

October 2, 2024 - Registration and Full Details November 20, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

AMO- Abilities Centre: Disability Inclusion Workshop and Panel Discussion - NEW

Accessibility and inclusion are more than meeting your obligations under Ontario’s AODA Standards. Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees provide important insight and direction for municipalities in building accessible and inclusive communities.

AMO has partnered with the Abilities Centre to enhance elected officials understanding and accessibility and approach to inclusion. The Disability Inclusion Workshop and Panel Discussion will highlight best practices and provides a platform for local leaders to reflect on your own and your organizations knowledge and approach to inclusion.

You will leave this workshop with a greater depth of knowledge and understanding that is essential to providing access and the ability to enjoy your community.

March 25, 2024 - Registration and Full Details June 5, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

If you are interested in this workshop, you will want to know about AMO's Healthy Democracy Project. Click here for information.


Municipal Codes of Conduct: Essential to Good Governance - NEW

Municipal Codes of Conduct are extremely valuable for local councils to establish a general standard to ensure that all Members of Council share a common basis for acceptable conduct, and to which all Members are expected to adhere to and comply with. As AMO and municipalities await provincial direction, your Association has developed a course that helps and guides municipal leaders in: developing or revitalizing existing codes of conduct, establishing buy-in or ownership at council, expectations on ethical behaviour and how to ensure adherence, how to address and manage breaches, Integrity Commissioners as a supporting resource and so much more.

This training will be delivered by a leading Ontario lawyer in the municipal sphere including in that of integrity commissioners.

  April 25, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details
 
September 19, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details

Competing Rights: What You Need to Know! - NEW

As elected officials, you often face complex issues that seem to pit rights of one group against the rights of others. What do you do when faced with this? This training will help you negotiate these sensitive situations including what you, as an elected official, need to do to fulfill your human rights obligations. This 3-hour virtual event is focused on the perspective and realities of elected officials.

May 23, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details
September 26, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details
November 14, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details

Islam: Its Roots and Wings - NEW

AMO has partnered with the Canadian Council of Muslim Women to offer AMO members an opportunity to learn about Islam and honour the rich history and diversity of Canadian Muslims and Muslims living across the globe. 

September 18, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

 

If you are interested in this workshop, you will want to know about AMO's Healthy Democracy Project. Click here for information.


Managing Communications through Uncomfortable Times - NEW

During times of crisis such as natural disasters or public disruption, municipally elected officials find themselves at the front line and facing the expectations of providing up to date and useful information to their communities. This interactive, one-day course will teach participants how to manage all aspects of crisis communications during an emergency or large-scale event. Participants will learn how to be comfortable with managing local, national, digital and social media to get messages heard. This educational opportunity will provide attendees with techniques to effectively and proactively communication with the community and media. 

March 27, 2024 - Registration and Full Details


Navigating Conflict Relationships as an Elected Official (NCR 1.0)

Municipal life is very much a people-oriented business, meaning elected representatives must engage in and build a wide variety of relationships with constituents, municipal staff, other elected officials, other orders of government and community organizations. Participants will gain skills in building collaborative relationships and negotiating difficult ones in their role as an elected municipal official.

  June 26 - 27, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details
 
October 16 - 17, 2024 -
Registration and Full Details

 

If you are interested in this workshop, you will want to know about AMO's Healthy Democracy Project. Click here for information.


Navigating Conflict: Advanced Strategies for Elected Officials to Master Conflict Relationships (NCR 2.0) - NEW

Building on AMO’s in demand program, Navigating Conflict Relationships as an Elected Official (NCR 1.0), Advanced Strategies for Elected Officials (NCR 2.0), will take you to the next level of negotiating one of the more difficult aspects of local leadership: relationships. 

April 9 - 10, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

 

If you are interested in this workshop, you will want to know about AMO's Healthy Democracy Project. Click here for information.


OFIFC Indigenous Community Awareness

The AMO-OFIFC Indigenous Cultural Competency Training helps build indigenous cultural competency in municipal government by providing knowledge and tools to utilize in moving improved and stronger relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. This session includes both self-paced learning modules and a live virtual component

April 2, 2024 - Registration and Full Details - SOLD OUT


Foundations in Planning for Elected Officials

An interactive and engaging half day session that familiarizes participants with legislation, processes and provides real life examples to give a deep understanding and insight into important planning matters.

April 17, 2024 - Registration and Full Details October 22, 2024 - Registration and Full Details

Advanced Land Use Planning: A Deeper Dive

This course examines, from a strategic perspective, the planning process and the complexities that people can bring to the process. Over three hours, participants will engage in case studies and real life examples that are analyzed and understood through instructor lead instruction and group discussion.

April 18, 2024 - Registration and Full Details October 23, 2024 - Registration and Full Details