The Government of Ontario has passed Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2025.
OMAA joined AMO, The Women of Ontario Say No, AMCTO, and several other associations in urging the Province to pass this much needed legislation. We would like to congratulate the Province for moving forward on this vital initiative.
The Act provides the foundation for the much-anticipated new ethical framework governing the behaviour of elected municipal officials. A new standardized Code of Conduct and Integrity Commissioner investigation process will be prescribed by the Minister in regulation. |
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OMAA is transitioning into Civic Ontario |
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Civic Ontario is the new name of our organization. We will soon launch a new website, newsletter, and social media channels to reflect this change. We want to be very clear: this change is additive, not reductive.
Our name change to Civic Ontario does not alter the core of what members value most about this community. The networking, connection, and events that CAOs rely on to gather together in a safe, trusted space will continue as they always have.
What we are adding is more opportunity. In addition to our existing programming, we will begin offering new events designed to bring members together with peers from other sectors. These gatherings will focus on cross-cutting challenges and leadership issues that matter across public service.
This evolution also reflects the reality of the work our members do every day. Today’s challenges and decisions do not stay contained within a single institution. Municipal, health, education, and public agency leaders are increasingly facing shared questions that benefit from broader conversation, shared insight, and continuous learning. Civic Ontario aims to together senior leaders from across Ontario’s civic institutions in a trusted environment for connection, learning, and collaboration.
Interestingly, as we heard from Bill Winegard at the Spring Workshop this closely matches the original founders intent for the association. While our name is changing, our purpose remains the same: to support strong leadership and meaningful relationships across the public sector. The Rebrand Process Explained provides full background and context
Stay tuned for more updates as we launch a new website and other collateral in the next few weeks. In the meantime, please take 3 minutes to tell us what you want in a revised Observer newsletter going forward by clicking on the button below. |
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Our New Board of Directors |
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| Denise Corry, CAO Town of Huntsville, is our new President. Denise offers outstanding governance experience and a strong track record of thoughtful leadership on the board. Her energy and enthusiasm will accelerate our progress and inspire members as we move into this next chapter. She is joined by ten outstanding local leaders:
First Vice President: Daniel Kostopoulos, CAO Township of King
Second Vice President: Rob Adams, CAO Town of Erin Past President: Michael DiLullo, CAO Haldimand County
Director: Margaret Misek-Evans, CAO Town of Tecumseh
Director: Marnie Cluckie, City Manager Hamilton Director: Malcolm Morris, CAO Town of Smiths Falls Director: Valerie Critchley, CAO Town of Amherstburg Director: Sonya Skinner, CAO Town of Collingwood Director: Morgan Calvert, CAO Township of Adelaide Metcalfe
Director: Kara Van Myall, CAO Town of Saugeen Shores We extend sincere thanks to all outgoing directors for their dedicated service and contributions to the Association and its members. |
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| I went to the vet the other day for my annual check up and shots. I don't love it, but it's the right thing to do to stay healthy and happy. Sometimes we get so busy with our lives that we forget to take care of ourselves. But the leader who neglects the body often discovers, too late, that the mind is not an untethered kite, but a lantern carried by a human frame. When the frame falters, so does the light.
Public life asks for stamina, patience, and emotional control in equal measure. As Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” The same is true of health. It is not a dramatic decision made once, but a chain of small, unglamorous daily choices.
The ancient Stoics understood this with a clarity that modern leaders often miss. Marcus Aurelius reminded himself, “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” That strength is built into the habits that let a leader remain steady under pressure: enough sleep, movement, restraint, and recovery.
Physical health also serves a moral purpose. A leader who is exhausted becomes impatient. A leader who is hungry, unhealthy, or chronically stressed becomes narrower in judgment, less generous in interpretation, and more vulnerable to ego.
You need to be in good health to take care of others. That's why they always tell you to put on your oxygen mask first before assisting others when you're on an airplane. |
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The World Cities Report 2026 highlights adequate housing as a fundamental pillar of sustainable urban development and human well-being, extending far beyond the provision of shelter. Housing influences access to employment, public services, health, and economic opportunity, making it central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlights the importance of safe, affordable, and well-located housing in reducing poverty, improving quality of life, and transforming informal settlements and slums.
The report also positions housing as a critical driver of climate action and urban resilience, noting the need for energy-efficient, low-carbon housing solutions and resilient urban infrastructure. It calls for inclusive and participatory approaches that support community-led upgrading initiatives and recognize informal settlements as integral parts of cities. Ultimately, the report urges governments and stakeholders to recommit to housing as a human right and a foundation for greener, more equitable, and resilient urban futures.
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