This session explores the foundations of a healthy and effective relationship between elected and administrative leadership. Through presentations and real-world scenarios, participants will examine the distinct yet interconnected roles of Mayors and CAOs, focusing on areas where governance and administration often overlap.

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Participants will:

• Gain clarity on the roles of Council, Mayor, and CAO

• Identify common tensions and misunderstandings in municipal leadership

• Develop strategies for maintaining alignment and accountability

This moderated panel features Honourable Mike Savage (former Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality) and Cathie O’Toole (former CAO of Halifax Regional Municipality). They will share candid insights and real-life lessons on building and sustaining a strong, productive Mayor–CAO relationship through transitions, challenges, and public scrutiny.

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Participants will:

• Learn directly from experienced municipal leaders

• Explore practical strategies for resilience and long-term collaboration

• Engage in open discussion and ask questions

Municipal leaders operate in increasingly visible and complex environments. This session examines how ethical leadership, transparency, and responsible communication contribute to public trust and confidence in local government.

Using case examples from municipalities across Canada and beyond, participants will explore challenges related to public communication, media engagement, and social media conduct.

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Participants will gain:

• Practical approaches for maintaining public trust during challenging situations

• Strategies for ethical decision-making and transparent communication

• Increased confidence in navigating public scrutiny and digital communication environments

• An understanding of the warning signs that the situation is souring and about to go off the rails.

One of the most persistent challenges in municipal leadership is understanding where governance ends and administration begins in the constant effort to build a well-functioning team that supports the community. Through case studies and facilitated discussion, participants will examine common situations where boundaries become unclear and discuss strategies for maintaining healthy role separation.

Participants will:

• Strengthen understanding of governance versus operational responsibilities

• Learn how to navigate overlapping expectations respectfully

• Build confidence in addressing role confusion constructively

• Agree on the importance of taking the ‘politics’ out of Politics

Effective councils are built through intentional leadership, shared expectations, and healthy working relationships. In this collaborative exercise, participants will develop a draft “Mayor–CAO Charter” that outlines expectations, behaviours, and principles for working together effectively.

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Participants can expect to:

• Clarify expectations and leadership commitments

• Explore ways to model respectful and collaborative behaviour

• Develop tools for sustaining healthy team dynamics over time

Strong leadership partnerships depend on trust, respectful communication, and self-awareness. This interactive workshop introduces practical tools for giving and receiving feedback, while also helping participants better understand their personal leadership and communication styles through the style analysis framework.

Mayor–CAO pairs will discuss what effective communication looks like within their own working relationship and identify opportunities for improvement.

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Participants will leave with:

• Greater awareness of their own communication preferences and leadership tendencies

• Practical approaches for managing difficult conversations constructively

• Shared expectations for communication and collaboration within their leadership pair

A collaborative and interactive team-building activity designed to reinforce communication, problem-solving, and partnership under pressure. Through informal and engaging challenges, Mayor–CAO pairs will strengthen trust while building connections with colleagues from other municipalities.

This session focuses on the practical tools and behaviours that support effective municipal governance. Participants will explore both the “soft skills” required to maintain respectful and constructive relationships and the “hard skills” necessary for effective meetings, decision-making, team leadership, and organizational accountability.

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Participants can expect to:

• Learn practical governance tools and leadership techniques

• Improve meeting effectiveness and communication structures

• Identify ways to strengthen council culture and organizational trust

Using their own municipal strategic and corporate plans, Mayor–CAO pairs will work together to identify key priorities and align leadership efforts around implementation, and how that might differ through the council’s term. The session emphasizes practical planning, priority identification, visible leadership alignment, and accountability.

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Participants will:

• Explore frameworks for linking strategic goals to operational delivery

• Identify actionable priorities for the first 12 months

• Develop greater alignment between political leadership and organizational execution

One of the most persistent challenges in municipal leadership is understanding where governance ends and administration begins in the constant effort to build a well-functioning team that supports the community. Through case studies and facilitated discussion, participants will examine common situations where boundaries become unclear and discuss strategies for maintaining healthy role separation.

​

Participants will:

• Strengthen understanding of governance versus operational responsibilities

• Learn how to navigate overlapping expectations respectfully

• Build confidence in addressing role confusion constructively

• Agree on the importance of taking the ‘politics’ out of Politics