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Join the Board, LSRAs, plus AGM and other SW Happenings |
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Looking to get more involved in OMAA? Our Board of Directors nominations are now open. The Board of Directors drives our mission to empower municipal leaders through growth, connection, and advocacy. In collaboration with staff, the Board advances programs that strengthen leadership, sharpen skills, and create lasting impact across Ontario’s municipal community.
We are currently accepting nominations for the following positions on our Board of Directors:
- One (1) Director for a two-year term commencing May 2026
You must be a CAO and a member to be eligible. The deadline for applications is 27 March 2026.
Job descriptions are available here.
OMAA is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Association must reflect the diverse communities we serve and include the perspectives of individuals of all backgrounds. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to seek nomination. |
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Celebrate Your Milestone!
We proudly honour members who’ve dedicated years of leadership as CAOs through our Long Service Recognition Awards handed out at each Spring Workshop. Milestones are celebrated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service — and every year counts, no matter where your journey has taken you. Recognized recipients are celebrated at one of our annual banquets during their anniversary year. If you’ve reached a milestone, click to submit your short nomination form and join us in celebrating your impact and commitment to municipal excellence!
Deadline for submissions is 17 April 2026.
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Help Shape our Future and You can Win | |
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We’re making updates to serve you better — and we need your insights! Take a quick, 5?minute survey to share how you use our website, what’s working well, and where we can improve. Your feedback will directly shape the next phase of our website enhancements.
As a thank?you, three participants will each win a $50 gift card to their choice of LCBO, Starbucks, or Winners. Survey closes on February 28! |
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OMERS, the defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s broader municipal sector employees, earned a 2025 investment return of 6%, or $8.2 billion, net of expenses. Net assets grew from $138.2 billion at 31 December 2024 to $145.2 billion at 31 December 2025. The Plan’s smoothed funded status improved to 99%, from 98% in 2024, using a real discount rate of 3.7%. Over the past 10 years, OMERS has averaged an annual investment return of 7.1%, net of expenses, adding $73.9 billion to the Plan, and contributing significantly to improving the Plan’s funded status.
Other notable stats from the annual report: - 665,000 OMERS members
- 65% reduction in the portfolio carbon emissions intensity, relative to 2019
- 97% OMERS member service satisfaction
OMERS is highly rated across independent credit rating agencies, including ‘AAA’ ratings from S&P, Fitch, and DBRS. It invests in 12 countries--all western liberal democracies. |
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The Town of Collingwood is developing a Long-Term Strategic Financial Plan and would value insights from fellow CAOs and aspiring CAOs who have undertaken similar projects.
Sonya Skinner and the Collingwood team is integrating a wide range of financial commitments—from operating budgets, development charges, and asset management requirements to multiple master plans and council’s flagship initiatives outlined in the Strategic Plan. They are particularly interested in learning how you approached, completed, and communicated your long-term financial planning work. If you're able to share examples, strategies, or similar reports, please email Sonya directly via the button below.
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Interested in becoming a CAO one day?
Join us in Kitchener on Friday April 17 for a day filled with great advice, networking, and hands-on workshop segments including:
-- pathways to becoming a CAO
-- things Councils look for in a new CAO and recruiter Q&A
-- contracts, mentoring, and building your brand
-- developing your elevator pitch and LinkedIn Profile Registration is only $25 for members or $99 for non-member. |
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Building your Bench: Succession Planning for Municipal Leaders Keeping municipal services running requires more than good intentions, it requires planning before it’s needed. As retirements increase and critical knowledge sits with fewer people, succession planning becomes essential to protecting continuity and reducing operational risk.
This session will focus on identifying critical roles, assessing organizational risk, preserving institutional knowledge, and building internal readiness in a realistic, resource-conscious manner.
Whether you are already thinking about succession planning or haven’t yet had the time to focus on it, this webinar will help you assess risk, clarify priorities, and take meaningful steps toward continuity and readiness, before gaps appear. Today from 1:00–2:00 p.m. |
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| Ever wonder what perks for public service professionals could look like?
Applaud is a free membership association that connects you to a vibrant community, inspiring events, professional development, and exclusive perks.
As a sneak peek, we’re offering a guided Sound Bath webinar at noon on April 2 as a moment to pause, recharge, and feel grounded during your day. Explore a membership designed to support your whole self, at work and beyond. |
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| Save the Date
The next webinar in the Mayor-CAO Series is Governing Through the Election Year: The Mayor–CAO Dynamic in Pre‑Election Times
14 April 14 from 12–1 pm
Details and registration to come soon.
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| I've been ruminating on Law #1 in Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power this week: never outshine the master.
CAOs live in a paradox: you’re hired for your competence, judgment, and leadership, but you operate in a role where someone else must always be more visible than you. Greene cautions us that you can inadvertently outshine a master simply by being yourself but that it is imperative to always make those above you feel comfortably superior. Remember there can be only one sun at a time. Municipal governance only works when it is clear to the public who is ultimately accountable. The Mayor is the political “sun” as the focal point for scrutiny, praise, and blame. Charisma, eloquence, or a commanding presence at the microphone might win you admiration, but if they cast the Mayor into shadow, they create a subtle but corrosive tension. Over time, that tension will cost you influence, trust, and eventually effectiveness.
This isn’t about minimizing your own value. It’s about recognizing that your real power lies in making the Mayor feel more capable, more informed, and more in control because of you. Never obscure the sunlight or rival the sun's brilliance, rather, fade into the sky and find ways to heighten the master star's intensity. |
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The Township of Selwyn is the largest lower-tier municipality in the County of Peterborough. With a population of 18,653 and more than 8,000 households, Selwyn is a large, lively rural community that includes four distinct urban centres: Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore and Young’s Point. Selwyn Township ranks high on the quality-of-life scale. With a broad economic base that includes technology, information services, healthcare, education, retail, finance, and agriculture, it is home to one of Peterborough County’s most stable economies.
With a combined operating and capital budget of approximately $28M and close to 100 permanent and part-time staff, the Township of Selwyn is committed to meeting the needs of residents and the business community by delivering efficient and effective services. Due to the retirement of a long-serving and well-regarded CAO, Selwyn is looking for an inspiring leader to play a key role in implementing Council’s vision for the future.
As the ideal candidate, you are an inspiring, principled, and collaborative leader with a proven track record of results and accomplishments in an efficient and fiscally accountable fashion with related experience from either a public sector or private sector organization. You have exceptional communication skills and the political acumen to interact with an engaged council and diverse stakeholders; you foster the development of partnerships, develop our workforce and inspire our employees, while ensuring customer service excellence. Lastly, you have an exceptional understanding of forward-thinking strategies as it relates to managing responsible growth, ensuring effective municipal operations in a fiscally accountable fashion and guiding our organization into the future, while retaining our rural community charm.
Leading a talented team, you will inspire a dedicated workforce and help foster a workplace culture focused on service excellence, innovation and teamwork while positioning Selwyn as an employer of choice. We offer a competitive compensation of $153,629 to $186,909 plus pension, benefits, vacation, training and development, not to mention an opportunity to work with an engaged Council in a beautiful rural, lakeside community.
Closes: 2 March or sooner
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Reporting to the Director of Capital Projects, the Project Manager is responsible for the project management and administration of capital infrastructure projects which include roads, sewers, watermains, parks, and collection and distribution facilities, assist with infrastructure programs and manage Project Officials. Qualifications
Three-year post secondary education in related field with an OACETT, Professional Engineer or C.E.T. designation. PMP designation would be an asset. AutoCAD skills would be an asset. Valid Class ‘G’ Ontario Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle.
A current and acceptable Criminal Record Check is required prior to the commencement date. Attendance at meetings, seminars and conferences as required. . Must have a high-speed internet connection and a proper workstation at a home location to enable remote work. Please refer to the Working From Home procedure.
Work from home is not permitted during active construction projects from 1 April to October 1. |
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| You no doubt have heard of SMRs. But what are they exactly? Check out this explainer from The Narwhal: Small modular reactors, big dreams: Ontario’s nuclear pitch
With the first SMR in North America being built at the Darlington nuclear site, the province is testing new ground to meet future power demand |
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MFOA's Municipal Finance 101 Workshop (17-18 March 8:30-4) is designed to provide participants with a foundation in the fundamentals of municipal finance including the legislation that impacts your role as finance officers in Ontario. MFOA has developed this course to offer a good understanding of the core areas of focus within the role of the finance officer and includes strategies and tools to manage these responsibilities in your day-to-day role. Register by 27 February to confirm your spot.
Register for In Person (Brampton): Municipal Finance 101: A Fundamentals Course
Register for Live Stream: Municipal Finance 101: A Fundamentals Course |
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OMAA: Connecting CAOs, Strengthening Municipalities You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the OMAA newsletter.
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