Coming Attractions: Open House Webinar |
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Open-House Webinar #1: Addressing Harassment from Council or Staff Date: 26 July 2024
Time: 12:15-1:15
Location: Zoom Overview: Harassment in the workplace, whether from council members or staff, poses significant challenges to maintaining a healthy and productive work environment. This open-house webinar is designed to provide a forum for CAOs and Aspiring CAOs to have a frank discussion on how to effectively address and manage harassment issues.
What to Expect:
Join us for an interactive session where you will have the opportunity to share experiences with peers and explore practical solutions to discuss real-world scenarios and develop strategies for creating a respectful and safe workplace. This session will not be recorded and is only available to OMAA members. Participants will determine the direction of this guided conversation.
Possible Topics: Understanding Harassment: Examples and types of harassment in the municipal context. Recognizing the signs and impact of harassment on individuals and the organization. Prevention Strategies: Creating a culture of respect and inclusion. Training programs and initiatives to prevent harassment. Response and Reporting: Effective procedures for reporting and responding to harassment complaints.
Supporting victims and ensuring confidentiality and fairness in investigations. Leadership Role: The role of senior leaders in setting the tone and enforcing zero-tolerance policies. Handling harassment by or towards council members and senior staff.
Conflict Resolution: Techniques for mediating and resolving harassment-related conflicts. Restorative practices and maintaining workplace harmony post-incident.
Registration is free for members but space is limited. Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link a week ahead of the event. |
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Robert Baldwin Award Nominations |
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The Robert Baldwin Award is Ontario's highest award for municipal public service. Winners must demonstrate significant and lasting contributions to municipal and local government plus service to the community, the province, and the country.
The award was inspired by the achievements of Robert Baldwin: a principled political figure active in the mid-1800s. Baldwin wrote the first Municipal Act, supported religious tolerance and women's rights, was one of the first proponents of a bi-cultural nation and popularized the idea of "responsible government".
The Robert Baldwin Award is presented at the Fall Workshop when suitable candidates are identified. Nominations are accepted by the Awards Committee, with the name of the selected candidate tabled for Board approval. Nominations will be accepted until 30 September 2024. |
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City of Temiskaming Shores |
The City of Temiskaming Shores is a single-tier municipality and an economic and service hub in Northeastern Ontario. Centrally located between North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins and Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.
Situated on beautiful Lake Temiskaming, the City of Temiskaming Shores is an ideal location for boating, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing and numerous other recreational amenities which make our community an exceptional place to both live and work.
Directly accountable to Council, the City Manager will be a proven leader with a demonstrated ability to embrace change and guide the municipality.
The City Manager supports the Mayor and Council, in directing and developing public policy, ensuring that Council has timely, and relevant information to make well-informed decisions. The position also oversees the coordination of the day-to-day administration of the City, through its senior management team.
The City of Temiskaming Shores is a vibrant community that is seeking a leader who can work with Council and a dynamic senior management team to further position the municipality for a successful future. Closes: 24 July 2024
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Manager, Finance & Accounting |
The Town of Newmarket is located in York Region and is home to almost 90 000 residents. Newmarket has garnered an international reputation for being one of the country's most dynamic, diverse and desirable towns to live and work in. Newmarket is a progressive place with a reputation for innovation, inclusivity and community mindedness.
Working at the Town of Newmarket means that everyday, you are part of team striving to make this community and the workplace well beyond the ordinary. Staff are at the centre of our well beyond the ordinary work culture that includes broad health and wellness programs, work-life balance, flexibility and a people first focus. As a team we celebrate and enjoy the diversity of talents, backgrounds and interests that make up our organization, we celebrate the personal and professional accomplishments of our colleagues together and we like to spend time together. Whether you want to spend your lunch relaxing, knitting, staying active, playing guitar, having a picnic or taking care of our eco-sphere, there’s something for you.
When it comes to work, our leaders are collaborators, working across departments and organizations to get the best results. We value innovation, especially those that bring efficiency and even better customer service. This is an opportunity for a forward thinking leader who has a passion for finance, and encouraging a talented team. Success will come to the candidate who employs a collaborative yet decisive approach.
The successful candidate will work under the direction of the Director, Financial Services, and as the Manager, Finance & Accounting manage and implement the work and organizational objectives within the Financial Services Department. The Finance and Accounting portfolio includes the accounts payable; corporate purchasing cards; investments; financial reporting and analysis functions; budgets and long range plans; financial policies and strategies; compliance with regulatory reporting requirements; payroll services, as well as to act on behalf of the Director, Financial Services as required. The Manager, Finance and Accounting will fulfill the duties of the Deputy Treasurer under the Municipal Act.
Closes: 8 July 2024
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2024 Maureen McCauley Bursary Applications Now Open |
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The Maureen McCauley Bursary offers $5,000 annually to support the education of future municipal government leaders.
The Bursary is available to any student in a post secondary program meeting the following criteria:
(1) Is a student residing in Ontario
(2) Is a student that has completed at least one year of an Ontario university or an Ontario community college program that has the potential to lead to a municipal government career.
(3) Has submitted the completed Application Form, accompanied by the noted requirements
The OMAA Awards Committee will assess all submissions under approved evaluation criteria. The successful candidate will be advised of their award in October. Bursary funds will be made available to the successful applicant shortly thereafter. Although not mandatory successful candidates will be invited to attend the OMAA Fall Workshop virtually or in person to receive their Bursary award.
Applicants must complete the application form and also develop a 2-3 minute video which would outline the significance of municipal government service delivery and the value of professional management thereof. Examples are included on our website. Applications close on 30 September 2024. |
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| Thinking often seems like an exercise in navigating through the dense fog of confusion. Confusion arises from the complexity of the world and the limitations of our understanding. When faced with a multitude of possibilities, emotions, and contradictory information, the mind can easily become overwhelmed.
Socrates declared, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” This acknowledgment reminds us that to think clearly, we must first recognize the extent of what we do not know.
Friedrich Nietzsche, emphasized the value of embracing uncertainty and ambiguity: “You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” Nietzsche encourages us to accept that confusion is not something to be feared or eradicated but rather an inherent aspect of human thought. By accepting this, we can approach thinking with humility and openness, ready to explore diverse perspectives and complex ideas.
To navigate confusion effectively, we must develop critical thinking skills and maintain intellectual humility. This involves questioning our assumptions, seeking diverse viewpoints, and being willing to revise our beliefs in light of new evidence. I've found that Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats method can also help a lot when working with groups as it switches people out of their usual track to get them to think differently about the matter at hand. |
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Interested in being an Interim CAO? |
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Are you a retired or soon to be retired CAO looking to act as an interim? Are you a consultant with CAO experience that provides this service in addition to others?
OMAA is frequently asked for a list of those available to act as an interim CAO by municipalities in need. All those interested are asked to complete a short questionnaire that will be posted on our website shortly. Deadline: 28 July 2024 |
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Please note that the next Observer will be sent on July 10. Happy Canada Day! |
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