Location: Online

Do you want to improve your written communications skills? In today’s world of information overload, it is vital to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively. The better your writing skills are, the better the impression you will make and the more successful you will be in ensuring your advice and ideas get noticed, assessed, and implemented. Improve your writing skills, avoid common pitfalls, and fix those pesky grammatical mistakes with this online course offered by experts in writing effectively and communicating successfully in a local government context.

Course Format: This online course includes three modules, which include live, interactive webinars, assignments, and coaching. Participants attend the webinars; review additional resource documents and participate in online discussions; work on the assignments on their own time; and submit their assignments for review, coaching and direct feedback.
May 2: Introduction webinar to the online course (1:30 – 2:30 pm)
May 3: Webinar – Module 1 (1:30 – 3:00 pm)
May 10: Webinar – Module 2 (1:30 – 3:00 pm)
May 17: Webinar – Module 3 (1:30 – 3:00 pm)

Each interactive webinar is a 90-minute (1:30 – 3:00 pm) facilitated online workshop with Q&As and an overview of the assignments. Participants will have seven days to complete their assignments for each module and will receive written feedback and coaching. Final assignment is due Tuesday, May 24.

Cost: $590 +GST LGMA member and $675 + GST Non-member Registration:
Register online for all three modules before April 26, 2022. Information will be sent to registered participants before each module.

Location: 11308 Alaska Rd, Fort St John, BC  View Map

The theme of NCLGA’s 67th Annual General Meeting and Convention is “Inspired to Lead” which reflects the spirit of resilience throughout the north-central region of BC. Local government leaders from across the region are invited to attend to learn about and discuss important issues affecting northern communities and pass resolutions that will be advanced to other orders of government for consideration.
 
Sessions at this year’s convention are expected to focus on healthcare, food security, affordable housing, policing services, resilient resource industries and reconciliation. 
 
Up-to-date program information will be posted on the NCLGA website as it becomes available.

 

Location: 1919 Columbia Avenue, Rossland, BC  View Map

West Kootenay Boundary & Rocky Mountain LGMA Chapters
2022 Conference, Rossland - May 4-6, 2022

Join us in Rossland, BC from May 4 -6 for an in-person event  - finally!
 
Along with keynote speaker Bruce Kirkby, a Canadian explorer and writer, we’ll offer the following sessions:

• Indigenous relations and reconciliation
• Blanket Exercise
• cost-effective procurement
• socially responsible long-term investing
• relations between elected officials/staff
• health and wellness post-pandemic
• legal updates
• electric vehicle rides
• and more

Expect great food, a casino night and a draw for a gas barbecue worth over $1000!
 
Conference registration cost: $185
 
For accommodation, contact the Prestige Mountain Resort, Rossland:
 
[email protected]
Phone: 250.362.7375
Room rate is $144.
Conference booking number is # 1764.
 

Location: 4599 Chateau Blvd, Whistler, BC V8E 0Z5, Whistler, BC  View Map

This year our flagship conference will be in-person for the first time in 3 years! Pick up where we left off pre-pandemic in the beautiful mountain location of Whistler. Reconnect with your peers there May 4 & 5. We are also presenting one virtual conference day in the preceeding week on April 27.

Our theme, Moving Forward: Resilience and Adaptation, is both a call-to-action and an opportunity to take stock as a network of peers.

We invite you to join us for 2 days in Whistler, including 2 keynote presentations, 8 education sessions with 6 concurrent sessions from which to choose, an in-person Marketplace Expo, and Awards and AGM Luncheon, plus 1 virtual day featuring 3 sessions. Join us for in-depth presentations and collaborative discussions that explore the recreation and parks' sector's resilience, growth, creativity, and leadership, plus learn about the adaptation that has resulted from our experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Location: 4090 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC  View Map

The Lower Mainland Local Government Association will be hosting their Annual Conference and AGM from May 4th to 6th in beautiful Whistler, BC. 

Location: Online

Community Relations, the eighth installment in UDI Capital Region’s ongoing series of RED Management Certificate Program courses, focuses on the creation and management of community relations plans. Learn community engagement strategies and techniques, including what goes into planning a successful meeting, online communication and reputation management, building and maintaining support, and preparing for a public hearing.

Each course included in UDI Capital Region’s RED Management Certificate Program can be taken a la carte; professional development is just a click away.

Course Dates/Times
– May 5, 2022 3:30pm-5:30pm
– May 12, 2022 3:30pm-5:30pm
– May 19, 2022 3:30pm-5:30pm

Location: Online

If you work with real estate developers or want to understand how the development industry functions, this course offers an inside look into the development process.
Practitioners and experts in the field—from both the private and public sectors—will share a variety of personal experiences. Their stories, combined with case studies and interactive discussions, will provide you with a wealth of insights into the real estate development industry.
You'll leave with practical knowledge of how the industry is structured, how it functions, who the players are, what motivates them, and how they interact.

Location: Online

Join the BC Economic Development Association and the Golden Shovel Agency for this FREE #EconDevWeek22 Webinar!

A lack of entry-level housing could be the biggest thing preventing workers from moving to communities. Solving this challenge requires a comprehensive plan and more than a little creativity. 

Bethany Quinn, VP Strategy & Content Development, spoke with economic developers and community leaders from throughout North America to compile best practices and strategies that have worked to spur housing development at the local level. These solutions are being presented in our latest whitepaper so that economic developers can be inspired and empowered to solve the housing crisis for their communities.

You won't find this collection of strategies and solutions anywhere else. They are diverse, actionable and proven.

Economic developers who attend this presentation and read the whitepaper will benefit from reviewing comprehensive housing strategies without needing to do the research.

Register here

Location: 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC  View Map

The 2022 FireSmart BC Conference: Building Collaboration and Community will bring together wildfire practitioners from all over BC and beyond. Speakers and workshops will investigate how to make BC homes, communities and the landscape more wildfire-resilient in the future. This conference will focus on collaboration, community-led initiatives, wildfire management, prevention, ecology and wildfire resiliency research in British Columbia. BC has a diversity of fire-prone environments that bring a unique perspective to wildland fire challenges and opportunities.

The conference is open to all participants, but will be of special interest to firefighters, First Nations and local government staff who are implementing FireSmart initiatives within their communities using Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) funding. Wildland–urban interface (WUI) specialists (e.g. RPFs, RFTs, consultants, contractors, and other land specialists), landscape management agencies, rural or urban planners/managers, Office of the Fire Commissioner staff, emergency management staff, wildfire management staff, Local FireSmart Representatives and Wildfire Mitigation Specialists will also find the conference useful and informative.

For more information and to register for the conference, please click here.

Location: Online

Date: May 11, 2022
Time: 9am - 10:00am (approx.)
 
As CivicInfo BC members, all municipalities and regional districts can now access joint purchasing programs offered through the Canoe Procurement Group, a non-profit national partnership between major municipal associations across Canada.
 
By leveraging the group purchasing power of over 5,000 local governments and related organizations, Canoe Procurement offers preferential pricing on everything from office supplies to heavy equipment  Save time and money while accessing trusted brands and products from reputable national and local vendors.  There are no program fees, participation is optional, and local governments receive full support with purchases from start to finish. Find more information at https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/purchasing.

On Wednesday May 11, 2022, 9am, join CivicInfo BC and Canoe Procurement for an introductory webinar where you can learn more about Canoe Procurement and how you can use group purchasing in a way that meets all obligations under legislation and trade agreements. Canoe Procurement's Legal Counsel, Raman Khabra, BA, LLB, will be on-hand to answer any questions.  Please note: this is the same introductory webinar we hosted in January 2022, and we are hosting it again at the request of our members.

Register today at:  https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/event/2022/Canoe
 

Location: Online

Join the BC Economic Development Association and the Province of BC's Immigration Programs Branch for a FREE #EconDevWeek22 webinar.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has re-opened intake to new communities interested in participating in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot (EI-RP). 

The EI Regional Pilot is an initiative under the BC PNP for participating communities to collaborate with the Province to attract international entrepreneurs looking to bring their expertise and establish new businesses in smaller centres. Entrepreneurs who are nominated by the Province are able to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence for themselves and their families.

More than fifty (50) communities across B.C. are actively participating in the pilot. Since the official launch in March 2019, more than 160 international entrepreneurs have been referred to the BC PNP. During that time, more than 20 approved candidates have arrived in B.C. with their families to establish new businesses in these communities. The pilot runs to March 2024.

In order to be eligible to participate, communities must have the endorsement of a local government with a population of fewer than 75,000 and be farther than 30 kilometres away from a municipality of more than 75,000.

Ministry staff will be offering a virtual information session for communities on May 11, 2022 during International Economic Development Week to provide more details about the pilot. Senior local government officials, regional district officials, economic development officers, individuals or organizations who play a role in community/economic development will benefit from this information session.

Attendees will:

• Gain a thorough understanding of the pilot including successes and challenges to date
• Understand the respective roles of the community and the Province
• Have enough information to consider enrolment in the pilot for your community
• Learn how communities have benefited from the program

The enrolment deadline for communities wishing to participate is May 31, 2022.
For more information, visit the EI Regional Pilot page on the WelcomeBC website or email [email protected] to register.

Register for the webinar here

Location: Online

The Community Energy Association and the Northern BC Branch of the Canadian Home Builders' Association are partnering to deliver "Step Up to Step Code Week" in northern BC, to provide information about the BC Energy Step Code and upcoming changes to the BC Building Code for builders, local government staff, and elected officials. Various webinars will be held April 11-14. For more info and to register here.
 

Location: Online

Problems in urban sustainability, housing, transportation, land use, farmland security and infrastructure often go beyond the boundaries of a single municipality. Solving these problems requires an approach that brings various municipalities in a region together through shared strategies and action. Learning the “what”, “how”, and “why” of regional planning creates a powerful perspective on trying to solve some of the biggest urban problems facing cities and regions today.
This course will benefit anyone who wishes to learn how to solve common urban problems through mutual cooperation and negotiation. You will be introduced to the purpose, theory and practice of regional planning and how it applies to many current problems faced by cities. From viewing urban problems through a “regional lens” to learning about basic tools like regional population and employment forecasts, this course surveys how shared problems can be solved by municipalities working together.
The course will include a discussion of contemporary debates on urban and regional issues. Some key topics include: the tension between local and regional planning, industrial land protection, farmland security, environmental protection, regional housing markets, the effectiveness of regional planning and its limitations, and the relationship between regional land use and transportation planning. The emphasis will be on regional district planning in BC, with a focus on Metro Vancouver, but examples of best practices and case studies will be highlighted from around the world.

Location: 1171 Harvey Ave, Kelowna, BC  View Map

Conference  - Members $225
Conference - Non-Members $260
 
*includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on Thursday; and breakfast and lunch on Friday (plus all nutrition breaks).
 
Registration Deadline:     April 28, 2022

Refund Policy:    Any cancellation resulting from COVID-19 will result in refunds processed automatically.  Request for refunds must be made by April 26, 2022 – otherwise, refunds cannot be provided.

For information about sponsoring the 2022 TOLGMA conference, please contact:
[email protected]

Location: Online

Join the BC Economic Development Association and Ruby Industries for a FREE #EconDevWeek22 Webinar.

In this webinar we will:
 
  + Look into the components of population change.
  + Analyze the momentum of interprovincial migration to British Columbia.
  + Compare the impact on urban and rural communities.
  + Include the analysis of most recent census population data, and more.
​
This webinar is for you if you want to:
 
  + Understand the population growth trends based on most recent census data.
  + Use annual population estimates to understand interprovincial population migration patterns.
  + Provide support for policy makers to be proactive and make evidence-based decisions.
 
The webinar is organized by Ruby Industries Inc. (provider of Cityviz data platform for economic development) in partnership with BCEDA to celebrate the Economic Development Week 2022 #EconDevWeek22.
​
About the host
Sasha Bogdanovic is an award-winning data expert with over 20 years of experience delivering data products that support evidence-based decision making. He is the solution architect and lead developer of Cityviz data platform that already supports a number of communities and regions in using data to their advantage.

Register here.

Location: Online

Join Janice Alpine and Elana Zysblat for this illustrated presentation on how the Ktunaxa finally became the tellers of their own story in the Fernie Heritage Strategy, the speakers' ongoing work together today, and a list of their shared understandings on this type of collaboration, both for Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants.

They will also share some tips, including: “Truth” comes first in TRC; Willingness to Work in Discomfort; How Beginnings Matter; Consensual Language; Taking the Time and Valuing Difficult Perspectives.

About the Speakers
Janice Alpine, Ktunaxa Nation Business Development Officer/Tourism Engagement, and Elana Zysblat, BCAHP – Heritage Consultant, Ance Building Services, first collaborated through the Fernie Heritage Strategy project. This working relationship was unprecedented on both sides. Although there were uncomfortable exchanges of views and language, it resulted in shared lessons and conclusions about how Indigenous and non-indigenous professionals can work together effectively. After anecdotal recounting of the collaboration in their own networks, they each began to receive requests to talk about their work together that could potentially support others in building working relationships with their Indigenous neighbours.

$15 / $9 + tax
Register here

Location: Online

Recognizing the importance of developing and managing the workforce for municipal administrators, CAMA created a Human Resources Toolkit which is a resource to support Chief Administrative Officers, direct reports and managers working in local government, for all size populations and municipalities with or without a Human Resources Department.  This document is designed to provide information regarding several different human resource topics with support through over 200 samples of policies and best practices from across the country.

CAMA is excited to launch this Toolkit during a Virtual Zoom meeting platform on Thursday May 12th, 2022  from 2:00PM - 3:00PM EST.

More information available online.

Location: Online

Are you a local government Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in British Columbia who would like an informal space to connect with your peers, gain support and advice for the challenges you face on a day-today basis while building meaningful connections? Join your colleagues every other month on a Friday for an LGMA-hosted lunch hour discussion inspired by CAOs, for CAOs. You and your peers can submit suggested discussion topics in advance. Take advantage of the wisdom of your peers while you strengthen your professional networks in a safe, supportive environment.

The CAO Advisory Committee, with the support of the LGMA, has identified the need to build on previous efforts by local government leaders to strengthen informal networking opportunities for CAOs by hosting a virtual space for CAOs to connect with their peers and engage in collaborative problem-solving. The CAO Advisory Committee and the LGMA acknowledges the incredible work that has been done by past leaders to hold space for these important gatherings and recognizes that this work would not be possible without such a solid foundation upon which to build. The Committee noted CAOs are faced with significant challenges and mounting stressors and would benefit from a virtually accessible peer discussion network. The accessibility and technological familiarity gleaned over the past year affords CAOs the opportunity to connect with their peers for informal discussion without travel constraints or significant commitment.

Submit your suggested discussion topics, questions, or challenging scenarios in advance on the CAO Lunch Hour Connect Series form or by emailing Candace Witkowskyj, Executive Director at [email protected]

Frequency: Every other month, on the second Friday of the month (except statutory holidays or when sessions would fall on scheduled programming for CAOs)

Registration: Complimentary registration is online for all five sessions, for CAOs only.

Location: 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC  View Map

The BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show is the premier water and wastewater event in BC, attracting delegates from across the sector. The in-person program boasts over 80 presentations, multiple panels sessions and technical tours, and features one of the largest trade shows of its kind in western Canada. This annual event brings in over 1,000 attendees from BC, the Yukon and beyond. Following on the heels of two successful virtual conferences we are excited to announce our 2022 Annual Conference & Trade Show is anticipated to be held in person, with the potential for hybrid virtual attendance, in beautiful Victoria, BC! 

See website for more information

Location: Online

Uncertain and turbulent times call for ethical and resilient civic leadership.
 
In this 5 week (2 sessions a week) interactive program, learn to cultivate the values and leadership skills required to enhance empirical and ethical decision-making and increase personal, social and environmental well-being.
​
Examine ways that civic leaders can shift their political, organizational and community culture from reactive and short-term to proactive and long-term decision-making and operations. Align your municipality behind a shared purpose the enhances the wellbeing of all and fosters sustainable service delivery.
​
Are you a Mayor, Councillor, Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Staff person and/or Asset Manager wanting to join a national cohort of resilient civic leaders who are fostering this culture at the Council/Board table, in their organizations and in their community?
​
Learn from distinguished civic leaders including Mayors of communities big and small to servant leader champion CAO Steve Kanellakos of the City of Ottawa to asset management and planning experts to leaders like Mary W. Rose, CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute.
​
The course is hosted and delivered by educator, author, culture transformation expert and asset management champion Diane Kalen-Sukra, MA, CMC of Kalen Academy.
​
By covering a range of skills from self-regulation, relating to others ethically and with compassion to engaging with complex systems, this training builds towards compassionate integrity: the ability to lead in accordance with one's values with a recognition of our common humanity, fostering trust and social cohesion―the key to resilient workplaces and communities.
 

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​Compassionate Integrity Training® is based on cutting-edge developments in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, trauma-informed care, peace and conflict studies, and contemplative science. It builds off of work done by Daniel Goleman (author of the book Emotional Intelligence) and Peter Senge, initiatives in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and other areas. Its development has been aided by the collaborative work of a team of experts with both academic and applied backgrounds.

• Graduates of this online program will receive a certificate from Life University's Center for Compassion, Integrity & Secular Ethics based in Georgia, USA. Participants must attend a minimum of 8 of the 10 online sessions to receive their certificate.
• Participants include diverse civic and community leaders, from Mayors, Councillors, Board members and senior municipal staff to culture/well-being organizational representatives, non-profit directors and community builders.
• The time commitment for this course is 2 hours via Zoom twice each week for the 10 sessions (20 hour total). While there is no formal homework, participants are asked to spend time in between sessions reflecting, journaling & engaging in personal practice of the skills learned.
• Ongoing membership in alumni learning community upon graduation.

FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE:
​
​SERIES 1: SELF-CULTIVATION
Calming Body & Mind
Ethical Mindfulness
Emotional Awareness
Self-Compassion
Reactive/Proactive Thinking
Resilience Zone
​
SERIES 2: RELATING TO OTHERS (ETHICS)
Impartiality & Public Servant Ethos
Civic Values & Ethics
Psychological Safety & Inclusion
Transformational Leadership
Empathetic Concern & Compassion
​
SERIES 3: ENGAGING IN SYSTEMS
Appreciating Interdependence
Systemic Violence, Injustice, Culture
Long-term stewardship
Engaging with Discernment
Culture Change/Transformation
​

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Dates:  May 17, 2022 - June 16, 2022 (5 weeks)
Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10am PST to 12 pm PST

Register early. Space limited.

BOOK NOW. 
 

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Kalen Academy 2021/2022 Civic Leadership Training Schedule

Location: 1050 Paignton House Rd., Minnet, ON  View Map

The 2022 OMAA Spring Workshop while a regular part of the OMAA annual programming, has been reformatted this year in order to address pandemic health and safety requirements. 

Location: Online

UBCM is hosting a series of regional workshops across the province this spring. Each session will provide updates on the funding programs administered by UBCM along with current trends in Asset Management.
 
Programs highlighted in the workshops include the Canada Community Building Fund and the suite of provincially funded programs administered by Local Government Program Services. The workshops will be led by Glen Brown, General Manager of UBCM's Victoria Operations, and Brant Felker, Canada Community Building Fund Policy & Program Manager.
 
This learning opportunity will be of particular interest to senior staff but could also be of interest to staff involved in grant program administration, delivery, and/or asset management.
 
To attend a free workshop in your area, participants must register online. Limited space is available at each location so we recommend registering early.

May 25th: The Bayside Oceanfront Resort, 240 Dogwood Street, Parksville, BC, V9P 1E1
May 26th: Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X3
June 8th: St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino, 7777 Mission Road, Cranbrook BC V1C 7E5
June 9th: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, 1665 Innovation Drive, Kelowna BC, V1V 2Y9
June 15th: Courtyard by Marriot Prince George, 900 Brunswick St, Prince George, BC V2L 2C3
July 5th: Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Vancouver International Airport, 3111 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC V7B 0A6

Location: Online

The design, construction and long-term stability monitoring of MSE walls continues to evolve as designers, researchers and specifiers push the leading edge of the technology and use more advanced geosynthetic materials and systems. 

At present, MSE walls represent more than half of all retaining walls used for transportation applications. MSE walls can offer some fairly significant advantages for the construction of transportation infrastructure. They are used to reduce or eliminate the need for the improvement of poor foundations where piles, caissons or other soils stabilization techniques would be required for the use of conventional reinforced concrete retaining walls.  They are most commonly used as cost-effective solutions where the cost of fill, right-of-way or other restrictions require a steeper slope than is practically possible. 

There are many type of MSE wall types categorized by the geometry of the reinforcement, mechanism used to transfer stress, the type of reinforcement material (metallic or non-metallic) and the type and geometry of the wall facing. 

This webinar provides a basic understanding of the type of MSE walls, their primary uses, key factors in their design and lessons learned from construction. A series of case studies provides the “good” the “bad” and the “ugly” experiences with the use of MSE walls along with key lessons learned for their long-term success.  

The learning objectives for this webinar include:

• Recognize potential MSE wall applications for transportation facilities
• Understand the primary design considerations and select appropriate parameters for design
• To be able to check contractor submitted designs for MSE walls
• Select appropriate specification and contracting methods
• Identify appropriate construction inspection activities to confirm compliance with design

Location: Online

Remember when it comes to contracts, it’s not about your own thoughts and assumptions; it’s about what is written!

What has caused changes to industry-standard contract clauses? Allocation of risk often gets modified in contract clauses based on Project Owners or their lawyers’ past experiences. The issue with modifications to contract clauses is the lack of understanding of what these clauses mean and associated risks to Project Owners, Consultants, Contractors, and other Stakeholders when they are changed.

When contract clauses are modified these risks materialize:

• disputes arise,
• relationships are damaged,
• project costs can increase,
• schedules can be compromised,
• bidders can jeopardize their businesses 
• the potential for litigation increases

It’s critical to be aware that in the nuances of the prime contract clauses, there are implications and requirements impacting all partners including the Consultants and Subcontractors.

Location: NE3 – 3700 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby, BC  View Map

This 18-hr course provides students with a good understanding of the role that green roofs can play in the conversation of biodiversity in urban environments.

Students will explore an ecological approach to plant selection and design to integrate into current green roof design practices. Using critical thinking to analyze the underlying topics of sustainability, biodiversity and natural processes, students will develop an appropriate plant selection for green roofs in the Pacific Northwest. They will study in detail a range of plants available in regional ecosystems and investigate their growing requirements as well as some non-native plants used in the green roof industry. They will also study the relationships between plant function, plant form and canopy complexity on plant survival and habitat implications.

Students will practice the basic principles of plant design based on site conditions, plant function, species mix, berries, pollen, and habitat, through the preparation of a planting plan for an actual project. Students will participate in a green roof tour and visit to a local nursery.

More Information available online.

Location: 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON  View Map

Canada's largest information management conference, Information Conference, by ARMA Canada, brings together the national records and information community. Back in-person in Toronto, this centrally-located conference will bring together industry innovators and experts. 

More information can be found on the website as details unfold: https://armacanada.org/home/information-conference/

Location: 21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC V2A 7M5, Penticton, BC  View Map

Dates & Workshops:

• May 30, 2022 - Debt Financing - REGISTER
• May 30, 2022 - ARO Workshop: Scoping & Measurement - REGISTER
• May 31, 2022 - Annual Municipal Tax Sale - REGISTER
• May 31, 2022 - Treasury & Investment Management (Part 2) - REGISTER

 Workshop Fees:

	Early Bird	After March 31
GFOABC Member	$450	$500
Non-Member	$550	$600

Location: Online

CESA 0158 - Introduction To Solar Electricity course
This online course introduces the equipment used to generate electricity from solar power, such as photovoltaic modules, batteries, inverters and charge controllers. Participants are taught to identify the various components, understand how the components interact and interpret manufacturer's specifications. Design principles of stand-alone photovoltaic systems are explained and participants visit demonstrations of PV systems on the BCIT campus. At the end of the course, the participants should be able to: Analyze the solar energy resource of a potential site; explain the function of each PV system component; interpret performance data for each PV system component; identify the different types of PV systems; specify the main component of an off-grid PV system; perform basic PV system maintenance.

CESA 0159 - Solar Electric Design course
This course addresses more advanced PV system design as well as the requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code. The design principles of grid-tie PV systems, off grid hybrid systems and Building Integrated PV systems are covered in detail. Advances in PV technology, the economics of PV systems, computer programs for PV design, and the PV industry in general are also discussed. Students will also learn to: identify potential PV system designs suitable for a particular application and site; specify and design PV systems for various types of applications; relate the operating principles of PV system components to PV system design; estimate the energy production of a grid-tie PV system; and refer to and interpret sections of the CEC applicable to PV systems.

CESA 5310 - Green Energy and Local Economic Development course
This online course provides an introduction to the wide range of green energy strategies and local economic development opportunities for communities. Green energy is sourced from clean and renewable sources. Students will be able to identify green energy project development pathways, provide case study examples and describe how green energy can attract investment and infrastructure development. Students will be able to link a healthy environment to health impacts and costs. Students will be able to justify green energy projects by totaling estimated energy spending in a community and demonstrating how green energy can create jobs, keep energy dollars circulating locally and improve community resilience.

CESA 5410 - Finance and Governance for Green Energy Systems course
This online course provides an introduction to investing in green energy systems and the choices and trade-offs associated with different ownership and governance arrangements. The legal, tax and incorporation considerations involved in establishing a green energy utility will be explained, and the financing options available to local governments and First Nations will be covered. The importance of public engagement when developing projects will also be explored. Students will be able to identify case studies and integrate lessons learned.

Location: Online

This is a practical course on writing reports.
Many council reports are standardized; staff are able to refer to past examples and municipal formats. By contrast, policy reports are frequently "one-offs." This course focuses on these policy reports. It addresses the challenges of assembling strategic directions, incorporating public input, conveying options and framing recommendations.

Location: Online

Are you interested in a career in the water and wastewater treatment sector?  Join us on May 31, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (PST) for an online information session about BCIT’s Associate Certificate in Fundamentals of Water and Wastewater Operations online program, presented by Zaki Abdullah, Faculty with BCIT’s Civil Engineering Department.

This program provides the essential knowledge and skills for entry-level positions in the water and wastewater treatment sector.  We are currently accepting applications for the September 2022 intake.  There will be a Q&A session following the presentation to answer your questions.  This session will be delivered online using Zoom. You will receive an email upon registration with a link and further instructions on how to join the info session.

If you would like to register for this event, please contact Andrea Dusanj, Industry Services Assistant

Note: you can register for this event until Monday, May 30th at 12:00 pm.

Location: Online

Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s popular Heritage House Tour returns this year in virtual format! Through a series of curated video tours and our exclusive Heritage House Tour web portal we will explore the stories of six unique properties around the city. We will learn about their past and present, about their early architects, builders and residents, and about how they have been restored and adapted for modern living.

This year, we will visit a Mission Revival building in Hastings-Sunrise that has been converted to residential townhouses; a 1928 award-winning Tudor-Revival style cottage; a grand Edwardian commercial building; a 1912 Craftsman home in Kitsilano lovingly restored by its current owner; an early passive solar home in Dunbar Southlands; and a Dutch Colonial Revival home in Marpole that has been transformed into a community museum. We will showcase the original interior features, craftsmanship, and unique designs, and explore the history and heritage significance of each of these special properties.

Tour participants will have exclusive access to our special Heritage House Tour Online Web Portal where they can view the curated video tours as well as a collection of photographs highlighting details of the properties. During the two live events on May 31 and June 2, we will showcase the video tours and have special presentations from heritage professionals and homeowners who will dive deeper into the historical aspects of the properties and then answer questions from the audience.

Event 1 | Tuesday May 31, 7PM - 8:30PM
Event 2 | Thursday June 2, 7PM - 8:30PM

Exclusive Access: Heritage House Tour Online Web Portal | Available to registered participants June 6 - 30

Webinar details for the virtual events will be provided to all registered participants three days in advance of the events and will be re-sent the day of each event. If you have not received the details before each virtual event, please contact [email protected] If you are unable to attend at the time of both the virtual events, you can still register and have access to the recordings via the web portal after the event. An access code for the web portal will be sent to registrants after June 2. 

Tickets: $40 + tax
Register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vancouverheritagefoundation/694331

Location: 21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC V2A 7M5, Penticton, BC  View Map

NEXT LEVEL FINANCE: Leadership & Transformation
Penticton Lakeside Resort

SAVE THE DATE!
June 1-3, 2022

While still grappling with the challenges of a global pandemic, British Columbia is now navigating the fallout from two devastating climate events. We are in a transformational moment in history, the scale of which is playing out around the globe, across the country, and, locally here in BC. Set against this backdrop, this year's annual conference, NEXT LEVEL FINANCE: Leadership & Transformation, will explore the key topics impacting local governments and the leadership role that finance plays in navigating transformation.

Join your colleagues in Penticton for conference content and events dedicated to local government finance professionals.

Location: Online

FCM’s Annual Conference and Trade Show is back with a unique hybrid format that’ll feature something for everyone. Join us in Regina—or connect online—and be part of Canada’s fullest gathering of municipal leaders. AC2022 is where local leaders are coming together to gear up for the recovery Canadians deserve.

This year’s hybrid conference model brings the best of previous gatherings to life—in-person and online—as your one-stop shop to gear up for recovery:

• Get new recovery tools and ideas through workshops, panels and networking.
• Engage with federal leaders and senior officials as they debate Canada’s recovery.
• Connect at the Trade Show with partners and suppliers who’ll be allies in recovery.
• Learn how FCM’s programs, like GMF and MAMP, can support your recovery efforts.
• Shape the national municipal agenda by electing FCM’s 2022-23 Board of Directors.
• Experience beautiful Regina through our innovative study tours (and after hours!).

We're also pleased to welcome back the incredible, dynamic and fluently bilingual Catherine Clark—as this year’s on-stage master of ceremonies.

Want more details? Have a peek at our program to see what we've got in store for you.

Location: Online

As a result of significant interest, a second iteration of the Indigenous Awareness Training webinar is now available. Join us in honouring Indigenous History Month with a half-day webinar designed to provide a foundational understanding of historical and present-day issues that impact Indigenous Peoples. The webinar offers important guidance for those new to Indigenous relations or experienced individuals looking for a refresher course. LGMA is pleased to work with Indigenous Corporate Training to offer this opportunity specifically for local government leaders such as CAOs, Corporate Officers, Managers/Supervisors, and HR professionals.

At this training, you will:
• Review historical events and their relation to the present day
• Review major court cases and their implications
• Begin to understand the cross-cultural perspectives of the same issue
• Become familiar with terminology and know what terms to use in different situations

The webinar will give you an overview of Indigenous self-government, the constitutional, political and legal context of Indigenous issues, and how Indigenous and western world views impact decision-making.

The intended audience for the training is non-Indigenous learners, in particular for the foundational course, Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®, (of which Indigenous Awareness is the first half). Indigenous Peoples with a connection to their community very likely have this information in addition to lived experience of their own community’s history and could be triggered by the information provided in the training.

Course Format: This half-day webinar provides time for questions and discussion

Location: Online

BC Housing’s Mobilizing Building Adaptation and Resilience (MBAR) initiative aims to prepare the building design and construction industry to cost-effectively meet the challenges of our changing climate.

Join us to learn about the emerging functional needs of buildings and the new Climate Ready Housing Guide that will be published soon. Building professionals can use the guide to adapt residential buildings to climate stressors and shocks. It will also help protect investments throughout a building’s lifespan. Understanding these concepts can help communities minimize displacement when a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or pandemic, occurs. 

The first edition of the guide will include high-level approaches and resilience strategies and share how they align with low-carbon principles. Participants will also learn about the technical standards to support each of the approaches for managing extreme heat and poor indoor air quality. 

Register now

Location: Online

Climate change is affecting our cities, our communities, and our homes and is changing the way we must design and build our urban landscapes. Each city, town and community must seek solutions and develop initiatives that are specific to their needs – on their streets, in their parks, playgrounds and schools, at all their green spaces, at every opportunity. Join Bill Hardy and the City of Maple Ridge, BC, as they review the new CiB Green Cities grid, and provide practical examples of how your community can strive to become a greener city through the use of nature based solutions/green infrastructure.

Location: Online

UFV Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2022 Civic Governance and Innovation Certificate Program!

The 6 course Civic Governance and Innovation certificate program is designed for current municipal and regional government employees, and others interested in local governance. This program critically examines the role of local political culture in governance priorities and processes, why some good ideas take root while others do not, and ways that learners build on the best evidence available to effect change. Students collaborate across professional roles in order to identify and mold more resilient and effective organizational practices.

Apply today by clicking here.  

Questions? Email [email protected] 

Location: 36 Treasure Drive, Western Shore, NS  View Map

AMANS 2022 Spring Conference
June 15 - 17, 2022
Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre
Western Shore, Nova Scotia, Canada

Our 2022 Spring Conference will be held at the Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre, in Western Shore NS. The conference will be held from June 15-17, 2022. The chair of our Spring Conference committee is Dan McDougall, from the Municipality of Chester. The committee has developed a program that provides opportunities to network, learn and share your knowledge. Our program will be found on our conference website: https://www.amaconference.ca/ 

To book your room today please call:1 800-565-5075 and reference "The Association of Municipal Administrators". There are 1 & 2 bedroom chalets available, overlooking the waterfront. Please request these at your booking, if you would like to have one. 

Location: Online

Are you a building industry practitioners with a diploma or degree in a relevant field who are interested in learning about or updating your knowledge and skills in building energy modelling and performance analysis? BCIT offers an associate certificate in Building energy modelling and performance analysis. Graduates of this program are expected to be hired as building energy performance analysts, building energy modelling (BEM) managers or BEM specialists.

The program is offered via part-time studies (PTS) course-by-course registration. The aim of this program is to prepare graduates as proficient building energy modellers and to improve the state of practice among current industry practitioners.

Learn more at our upcoming online info session on June 15 at 4:00pm PST and find out if this program is the right path for you.

Zoom details to be sent out closer to the date.
Visit the program page or contact Bo Li for additional information on the program.

Location: Online

AMBC is pleased to being you the 2022 Workshop Series, built on the themes explored at the November Virtual Conference.

Workshops will be held quarterly in a virtual format, on three Thursday mornings, from 9:30 am to Noon. The first of the series is Natural Capital to be held virtually on Thursday June 16 10 9:30am-12 noon.

Natural Capital
Record wildfires that wiped out settlements, flash floods that obliterated water management infrastructure and destroyed bridges, a heat dome that melted roads and rendered structures uninhabitable, freezing rain, snowfalls, tidal waves, atmospheric rivers.  Climate change has shined a bright spotlight on municipalities’ reserves, and abilities to react to natural disasters.  Depending on the size of the community, the ability to respond to a natural disaster might be very different.  How does a small or medium community respond as opposed to a large metropolis.  Find out more through real live accounts and examples at AMBC’s Natural Capital session.


Cost is $75 + GST.

Location: Online

Project success takes more than just understanding what is “written” in your contract; it’s about leveraging key requirements from start to finish!

Many projects run into cost overruns, schedule delays, as well as quality and performance issues - and Project Owners are looking for solutions! A great solution if done well, Construction Management (CM) is about building a collaborative team from the outset of the project. A Construction Management approach brings the Project Owner, Consultant, and Contractors together in order to address key areas of functional requirements, time, cost, quality, and constructability.

Whether you are the Project Owner, Consultant, General Contractor or Subcontractor, you need to understand your Construction Management roles and responsibilities throughout all project phases: predesign, design, project delivery, and post-construction. It’s also important to be well versed in the Construction Management project drivers and concepts in order to fulfill your contractual responsibilities and achieve success.  A well-orchestrated Construction Management project drives success for all partners. 

We recommend this course for mid-management personnel from the following roles/disciplines who will actively be working on and/or responsible for the administration of Construction Management projects: 

• General Contractors and Subcontractors: Construction Company Owners/Managers, Project Managers, Commercial Managers, Business Development Managers
• Project Owners, Third Party Project Managers (For the Project Owner), and P3 Developers

Location: 273 Power Street, Penticton, BC  View Map

We gratefully acknowledge we will be gathering on the traditional territories of the Syilx Okanagan People.

Get ready for an exciting learning experience and chance to reconnect in person at LGMA’s Annual Conference, Shifting the Lens: Bringing Opportunity into Focus, June 21-23, 2022.
 
This year’s program will challenge local government professionals to share their insights, broaden their thinking, and embrace diverse perspectives to bring new opportunities into focus. It is through innovation and collaborative efforts that solutions will be found to current and future challenges.

Take a deep dive into expert-led educational sessions spanning a broad spectrum of important and timely topics. Enjoy expert-led educational sessions that have been carefully curated along primary learning tracks.
 
Engage in meaningful conversations and build your networks again throughout this three day in person event. Don’t miss the chance to attend the Conference finale and celebrate your peers at the Old Hollywood Black and White Dinner and Awards Gala.

Review the conference agenda at-a-glance and conference outline select your concurrent sessions when you register. Visit the annual conference website for all the details.

Conference Fees:
Early bird rates until April 30: $710 + GST Member, $860 + GST Non-member
Regular Rates starting May 1: $770 +GST Member, $920 + GST Non-member

Pre-conference workshops:
FULL Day Early Bird: $305  Regular Rate: $345
HALF Day Early Bird: $195 Regular Rate: $220

Register online before Friday, June 10, 2022.

Location: 273 Power St, Penticton, BC V2A 7K9, Penticton, BC  View Map

A three-day forum for peer-to-peer sharing, LGMA2022 will bring together local government practitioners, experts, and partners from across British Columbia to share effective practices, exchange perspectives on current trends, create solutions for shared issues, and expand their professional networks. Presentations, workshops, keynotes, and networking opportunities provide participants with a learning experience that continues to impact their work throughout the year.

Location: Online

WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT Reveals a Bright Light in Dark Times is a new HEADS UP Community Mental Health podcast from the Fresh Outlook Foundation featuring Dr. John Helliwell, a world-renowned economist, prolific well-being researcher, and Canadian treasure. His story of being a world-class dot connector are as fascinating and relevant as his observations about "pandemic benevolence" and other current findings. And his reflections on well-being issues related to countries' and communities’ geopolitical, social, cultural, environmental, and economic circumstances are gold for all government folks.  

 

Location: Online

In-person – July 5-8, 2022
Our in-person conference in beautiful Whistler, BC, includes three keynotes, over 40 concurrent sessions, award luncheons, welcome and closing receptions, 20 exhibitors, networking opportunities, and the option to add on experiential workshops and learning tours. 

Online – July 6-8, 2022
The online conference features live streams of our three keynote addresses, plus 21 concurrent sessions. Find out what’s included in our online program by looking for the specially noted sessions on the Agenda page.

Location: 7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC  View Map

This full-day workshop, hosted by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and First Nations Schools Association (FNSA), is designed to support educators to bring quality, authentic First Peoples teaching and learning into BC classrooms.

Founded upon the First Peoples Principles of Learning, English First Peoples courses for Grades 10-12 offer BC students of all backgrounds the opportunity to explore First Peoples’ worldviews through dynamic written, visual, oral, and digital First Peoples literature.

This workshop explores the English First Peoples Grade 10-12 Teacher Resource Guide. Themes in the guide include: Challenges with Representation, In Search of Authentic First Peoples’ Voice, First Peoples Oral Traditions, How Do We Define Ourselves, Humour in First Peoples Literature, and many more.

Participants will receive a copy of the 400-page resource guide, collaboratively explore its units, discuss implementation of its lessons, and network with other educators. First Peoples literature resources will be on display.

Location: 7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC  View Map

This full-day workshop, hosted by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and First Nations Schools Association (FNSA), is designed to support educators to bring quality, authentic First Peoples teaching and learning into BC classrooms.

FNESC and FNSA’s new resource, the BC First Peoples 12 Teacher Resource Guide, is intended to support students and teachers of BC First Peoples 12. The resource has eight thematic units: Here, Now; Story and Storytelling; Honouring the Children; The Power of Names; Acknowledging Rights; Food, Health, and Wellness; Resources and Economies; Maps and Borders; and Taking Action.

Participants will receive a copy of draft resource guide, collaboratively explore its units, discuss implementation of its lessons, and network with other educators.

Location: Online

Join Alan White, Chair of CNLA’s Climate Adaption Committee, as he discusses the global climate situation and how it affects the urban climate. Alan will introduce the concept of Nature-Based Climate Solutions; more specifically the new Clean Air Calculator project, goals and metrics and how they can benefit your community and residents.

Location: 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC  View Map

Boot Camp is designed for municipal and regional district finance professionals who are new to local government, are responsible for finance functions and aspire to be a statutory financial officer, or are in the statutory financial officer role and want a better grounding in the requirements and responsibilities of the position.

Location: University of Victoria

This is a residential program held every summer at the University of Victoria. The fee includes four days of accommodation, all meals and refreshments as well as workshop materials. Participants are required to stay at the University of Victoria accommodations in order to gain the full benefits of the program. 

Dates: August 7-11, 2022

Program Fees: 

	Early Bird	After June 17
GFOABC Member	$2,000	$2,500
Non-Member	$2,500	$3,000

Location: 7571 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC  View Map

The Learning First Peoples Summer Institute, coordinated by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association, is designed to support educators to bring quality, authentic First Peoples teaching and learning into BC classrooms.  The sessions will introduce resources that focus on themes, issues, and topics of importance to First Peoples learning and informed by the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

At each session, participants will receive a printed copy of the teacher resource guide, collaboratively explore its units, discuss implementation of the lessons/activities, and participate in collegial discussions with other educators. Sessions can be selected individually.
 

Location: Online

Make a difference in the future of your neighborhood. While city-building has traditionally been a top-down undertaking, neighborhood design has focused on building from the grassroots up. In this course, you will learn the basic tools and strategies to help you join the conversation and advocate for the neighbourhood you want to live in.

You will build a toolkit to help you navigate public processes, including: permitting, zoning, economic planning, context reading, and choosing appropriate built forms. Through examinations of relevant case studies, you will learn how to strategically convey local aspirations towards thoughtful, transformative outcomes.

You’ll also have an opportunity to discuss the current urban design challenges facing your neighbourhood, and develop specific co-design participatory strategies to address them. Walk away with an achievable plan and a support network comprised of others who are passionate about place-making.

Note: This course includes a walking tour through Kitsilano.

Course format: in-person in the Harbour Centre building at SFU's Vancouver campus
Instructor: Scot Hein
Schedule details:
Saturday, September 10, 2022: 10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday, September 17, 2022: 10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday, September 24, 2022: 10:00am-3:00pm (Note: this day will be the walking tour of Kitsilano)
Saturday, October 1, 2022: 10:00am-1:00pm

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/introduction-to-neighbourhood-design.html

Location: 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC V8E 1J2, Whistler, BC  View Map

UBCM’s annual Convention brings together its local government and First Nations members to identify key policy issues and engage with other orders of government.

The 2022 UBCM Convention is scheduled to take place September 12th - 16th in Whistler, BC.

Location: Online

This course is 6 evenings starting September 14. Please see schedule below.

If you work with real estate developers or want to understand how the development industry functions, this course offers an inside look into the development process. 

Practitioners and experts in the field—from both the private and public sectors—will share a variety of personal experiences. Their stories, combined with case studies and interactive discussions, will provide you with a wealth of insights into the real estate development industry. 

You'll leave with practical knowledge of how the industry is structured, how it functions, who the players are, what motivates them, and how they interact.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Michael Mortensen
Schedule details: 
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Wednesday, October 5, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/real-estate-development-from-the-inside-out.html

Location: 2150 Wilson Ave, Port Coquitlam, BC  View Map

BC Communities - this is your opportunity to send your fitness staff to the best training opportunity in the Province. After three years, BCFit'22 is back in-person and at a brand new venue, the Port Coquitlam Community Centre in Port Coquitlam, BC. Your fitness staff will thrive as they reunite with other Fitness Leaders and enthusiasts, reignite their passion for learning about and leading physical activity, and revitalize their knowledge, tools and practice!

BCFit'22: September 18, 8:00am - 4:30pm (PT) Register before August 17 to save!

We are also offering a Recertification & Exam Day on September 17 at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre. For more information, visit the BCFit'22 website.

Location: Online

This course is 4 evenings starting September 20. Please see details below. 

This course is an introduction to the practice of urban planning and how to build more sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive communities and physical environments.

You will learn about the matters, purpose and practice of urban planning in Canada, British Columbia, and the Metro Vancouver region. This course offers a special focus on planning and development issues in the region, and the planners’ role in building cities. We will explore the interrelationships between the physical, environmental, economic, social, and built considerations in planning at the site, neighbourhood, city, and regional scales.

The course will include defining urban planning and planning theory and history, explaining why we need to plan the physical environment. It outlines the role of participants, stakeholders, and decision-makers in the planning and development processes. This will include a review of the regulatory hierarchies, and the application of land use tools, including: plans, policies, bylaws, development permitting, and other approvals.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Eric Aderneck
Schedule details:
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, October 4, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/planning-for-non-planners.html

Location: Online

AMBC is pleased to being you the 2022 Workshop Series, built on the themes explored at the November Virtual Conference.

Workshops will be held quarterly in a virtual format, on three Thursday mornings, from 9:30 am to Noon. The first of the series is Human Capital to be held virtually on Thursday September 22, 9:30am-12 noon.

Human Capital
Managing our assets has become infinitely more complicated. The standard workplace as we all knew it, is gone.  It is replaced by a hybrid, evolving workplace, where more and more functions are being executed remotely.  What does this mean in terms of labour shortages?  How do we even define the new labour shortage, in particular when it comes to managing a remote workforce leading to record cyber security issues. Higher Education is lagging behind in turning out experts in the field.  Are we all fighting for the same cyber security specialists, and at what cost?  AMBC’s Human Capital session delves into the cyber security insurance and professional labour shortage problems, and explores some possible solutions.

Cost is $75 + GST.

Location: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC  View Map

The Zero Waste Conference (ZWC) brings together business leaders, community innovators, and policy makers who understand the value of a circular economy. In a rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to create solutions that combine economic opportunity with benefits to wider society and the environment.

For 11 years, the Zero Waste Conference has been at the forefront of Canada's circular economy, surfacing some of the best ideas from the past while presenting pioneering solutions that take us to a future we've only just begun to dare dream is possible. Join us in-person September 28 & 29, 2022 for the 12th edition where we will explore innovative ideas and actions with the greatest potential to transform our communities and economies in support of a future without waste.

Location: 1000 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC  View Map

Our annual Joint Conference and Trade Show is presented as a partnership between the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) and the Public Works Association of BC (PWABC). Combining the key strengths and areas of expertise of each of our associations elevates the quality and value of the conference experience.

The British Columbia Municipal Safety Association is an independent, non-profit organization committed to improving worker health and safety in all industries throughout the province. Our vision is Safer and Healthier Workplaces for All. Our mission is Empowering people to create healthier and safer workplaces through the sharing of knowledge and resources. Our onsite, virtual and online courses equip employers and employees with invaluable health and safety training that serves to reduce human injury and financial costs, along with continuing to be the largest training organization within BC.

The Public Works Association of BC represents individuals working for municipalities, utility companies and engineering consulting firms, in BC and Yukon. They represent approximately 350 members who all share the same dedication to improving the quality of life for citizens.

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Our conference is a two-day event of presentations and panels featuring over 30 presenters from across North America, attended by up to 500 municipal leaders and decision makers in Public Works and Occupational Safety complemented by a dynamic trade show with over 100 exhibitors. The event is being hosted at the Sheridan Vancouver Wall Centre on October 4^th and 5^th, 2022.

The education program at the conference provides a dynamic forum for information exchange and it is divided into three streams: Public Works/Utilities, Safety, and Leadership. Our goal is to provide delegates with a diverse range of topics to optimize their learning experience, take advantage of emerging technologies, understand and prepare for challenges that lie ahead, and provide better services to their organizations and communities.

Learn More: www.bcmsa.ca/what-we-do/conferences
 

Location: 110 Erb Street West Waterloo, Ontario, Waterloo, ON  View Map

The first Creative City Network of Canada conference was held in Vancouver, BC in November 2002. Since then, the CCNC has organized an annual meeting in different Canadian cities for established and aspiring culture workers to meet, share ideas, connect, and work together to build vital infrastructure for arts and cultural development across Canada’s towns and cities. The conference is now known as the Creative City Summit.

Why Attend a Creative City Summit?

Connecting with sector colleagues is an essential part of developing culture in Canada. Every year, delegates representing culture work across the country gather to share, learn, and grow. Each Creative City Summit offers content that is national in scope and addresses the breadth of issues within the practice of local cultural development for communities of different sizes and geographies.

Join us in Waterloo, ON from October 4-6, 2022 for an exciting itinerary of speakers, peer presentations, roundtables, networking, and local animation. In-person and virtual tickets will be available in spring 2022.

ALL IN: New Pathways for Moving Forward

Our hosts at the City of Waterloo are all about collaboration—how when we collectively buy-in and band together, we are positioned to reach far beyond what we could do alone. This Summit is about pooling our offerings, expertise, and ideas to play the best possible role in Canada’s economic recovery. That’s why the theme of the 2022 Creative City Summit is ALL IN: New Pathways for Moving Forward. In Partnership with the Cities of Kitchener and Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo, the City of Waterloo and CCNC cannot wait to welcome Canada’s culture professionals in October of 2022.

Location: 1171 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC  View Map

ARMA Canada was established as an ARMA International region in 1968, and currently there are almost 1000 members in the Canadian Region. In collaboration, ARMA Canada’s five western local chapters (Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatchewan) will be holding a Records and Information Management conference at the Coast Capri in Kelowna, October 5-7, 2022.

This conference is a reiteration of the very successful Whining about Records conference held in 2010. Also held at the Coast Capri, the conference was intended to provide an opportunity for members and non-members from a variety of professional backgrounds and levels to expand their Records and Information Management (RIM) knowledge, meet with exhibitors and network with their peers. Feedback was incredibly positive and after ten years of receiving continued requests to do it again, we’re well on our way to making it a reality.

The conference will take place over three days and consist of three themed streams: Records Management Basics 101, Records Management in Indigenous Organizations, and Special Topics.

Location: 1310 Water St, Kelowna, BC, Kelowna, BC  View Map

The Western Cities HR Conference brings together municipal and public sector Human Resource Professionals from all over Western Canada.

The Western Cities HR Conference brings together municipal and public sector Human Resource Professionals from all over Western Canada.

If you are a Public Sector HR Professional, you understand there are some HR challenges we all face that are unique. Join us for the 66th Western Cities HR Conference October 5 to 7, 2022 at the Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Location: Online

This course is 4 evenings starting October 6. Please see details below.

Transportation involves the myriad multimodal ways in which goods and people move. In general, transportation planning involves undertaking strategy, analysis, conceptual or schematic design, planning, monitoring, and engagement. This course focuses on the professional practice and process of transportation planning, including a high-level overview of transportation governance in metro Vancouver, and best practices in planning for transit, active transportation, driving and parking, goods movement, and new mobility.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Elicia Elliott
Schedule details:
Thursday, October 6, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/transportation-planning-and-mobility-fundamentals.html

Location: Online

This course is 4 evenings starting October 12. Please see details below.

Policy and practice in urban disciplines (housing, planning, real estate, transportation, demographics, etc.) are heavily informed by data. Experts in these fields use data to make claims about how cities are or how they should be. Factoids like “the Downtown Eastside is the poorest postal code in Canada” or “the world is now over 50% urbanized” have become a part of how people think about neighborhoods and cities. However, the ability to access and analyze urban data is often restricted to experts who may introduce bias into data collections and interpretation. This course attempts to democratize access to urban data by sharing some basic methods for accessing and analyzing urban data.

The main dataset you will explore in this course is the Canadian Census, as that is one of the few comprehensive national datasets everyone can access easily. You will also explore a few other housing-related datasets, and some basic tools like Beyond2020, CensusMapper, Esri ArcGIS, and Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets. The course is not designed to train you in using these tools, but rather to show you some of their functions. By the end of this course, you will know about a variety of techniques for accessing and analyzing urban data.

This course will benefit anyone interested in how data is used in urban policy and practice, but it is particularly relevant for professionals in the fields of housing, planning, real estate, transportation, and other urban disciplines who are interested in a very broad introduction to urban data.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructors: Craig E. Jones and Samuel Walker
Schedule details: 
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/community-data-fundamentals.html

Location: Online

This advanced planning law course addresses some current substantive topics in land use law as well as exploring some themes that tend to emerge repeatedly in land use litigation. Substantive topics will be chosen by the instructors in the period immediately preceding each offering of the course to ensure relevance and topicality; these may include changes in provincial enabling legislation for planning and land use management, and judicial decisions from the British Columbia courts or the Supreme Court of Canada. Themes to be discussed include judicial deference to local elected officials (the test of reasonableness) and procedural fairness.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructors: Bill Buholzer and Guy Patterson
Schedule details:
Monday, October 17, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:30pm PST
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/planning-and-zoning-law-refresher.html

Location: Online

This course is offered 4 evenings starting October 17. Please see details below.

Housing policy in Metro Vancouver can be a maze of complicated terminologies and confusing characteristics, face a vacuum of empirical data, and become prone to misunderstanding and misinformation. Amongst the most contentious have been debates on what constitutes affordable housing, who should be responsible, and how and where to make affordable housing happen.

In this course, you will learn about the foundational concepts and debates of housing Metro Vancouver.

The course will lay the foundation for explaining the local and regional housing landscape, survey the strengths and weaknesses of different housing policy responses and, in particular, the affordability crisis. It will look specifically at some of the innovative policy-making coming out of BC.

This four-evening course introductory course will transform the way you view housing and offer new opportunities to understand the affordable housing crisis. It will be of interest to community leaders, students of urban issues, housing providers, land use planners and related professionals, and anyone interested in elevating the discourse surrounding this complex problem.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructors: Matthew Thomson​, Marina Jozipovic, and Peer-Daniel Krause
Schedule details: 
Monday, October 17, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Monday, October 24, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Monday, October 31, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Monday, November 7, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/housing-policy-fundamentals.html

Location: Online

This course is offered 4 evenings starting October 18. Please see details below.

Health is a cornerstone of livability in any town or city. This course will introduce you to the discipline of public health and its role in shaping, planning and building heathier communities. You will explore the three main branches of the field: infectious disease prevention, environmental health, and health promotion, and how they shape neighbourhood patterns. Using health data, you’ll consider the impacts of health inequities on individuals and communities and the resulting policy implications. You’ll also review real-life public health challenges and solutions, and consider the policy dilemmas in everyday life, and most acutely, in public health emergencies.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Claire Gram
Schedule details:
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/fundamentals-of-public-health-in-cities.html

Location: 728 Humboldt Street Victoria, VICTORIA, BC  View Map

Join Alan White, Chair of CNLA’s Climate Adaption Committee, as he discusses the global climate situation and how it affects the urban climate. Alan will introduce the concept of Nature-Based Climate Solutions; more specifically the new Clean Air Calculator project, goals and metrics and how they can benefit your community and residents.

Location: Online

October 24, 25, November 1 and 8, 2022

Every Tuesday from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. PST

 

Registration will open end of June.

Location: 3099 Corvette Way, Vancouver, BC  View Map

Everyone has a different, significant role to play in managing the assets of BC’s communities. AMBC looks at the challenges and opportunities from the vantage point of small, medium and large communities in BC.

Conference will take place at the Westin Wall Centre Airport Hotel in Vancouver, November 2-4.
Registration will be through CivicInfo.  Cost: $395+GST; Registration Date TBA

Location: Online

This course is offered 4 evenings starting November 2. Please see details below.

Cities are at the centre of the global sustainability challenge: both sites of intense resource consumption and places of creative invention and solutions implementation.

In this course, you will be introduced to the basic challenges and principles of sustainable urban planning and design as well as survey the field's most influential tools used at different spatial scales from a city-region to a single building. Using climate change-related mitigation and adaptation examples used in Metro Vancouver, you will learn about key dimensions of climate action and ecological knowledge and how they can be incorporated into planning and design.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Neal LaMontagne
Schedule details:
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 - 6:00pm-8:30pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/introduction-to-sustainable-cities.html
 

Location: 1180 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver, BC  View Map

Every November we offer a variety of workshops that cover a wide breadth of programming relevant to local government finance professionals. Workshops take a best practice approach providing opportunity for attendees to network and share their experience.

Location: Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, 1180 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Booking Link: Coast Coal Harbour | Group Code: CCC-GFC8390

Dates & Workshops:

• November 14, 2022 - Development Cost Charges - REGISTER
• November 14, 2022 - Financial Indicators - REGISTER
• November 15, 2022 - ARO Workshop: Measurement & Financial Statements - REGISTER
• November 15, 2022 - Property Tax Policy & Rate Setting - REGISTER

Workshop Fees:

	Early Bird	After September 16
GFOABC Member	$450	$500
Non-Member	$550	$600

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NOTE: A minimum of 15 attendees are required for each workshop to run. It is highly recommended that you register as early as possible to avoid workshops being cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Payment can be made by credit card or cheque. Credit cards will be automatically charged on September 16.

Requests to cancel registration will be accepted until noon on October 14, 2022. No refunds after October 14, 2022. Program attendance is transferable.

Location: 720 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC  View Map

Our event will be held in Victoria BC from Nov15- Nov 17, 2022, on the ancestral lands of the Lekwungen People. This event will  bring the Indigenous and non-Indigenous govenments, leardship, communities, organizations together to learn, connect and collaborate in adressing the unique barries that Indigenous people living with disabilities face. The event will be held for 3 days at Victorial Conference Centre. We will have guest speakers The Honourable Carla Qualtrough and Tabatha Tribulla. Adimssion is required. Peple can purchase tickest through our website.
For the more detailed information about the event, please go to our website Indigenous Disability & Wellness Gathering (indigenousdisabilitygathering.com).

Location: 720 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC  View Map

Our event will be held in Victoria BC from Nov15- Nov 17, 2022, on the ancestral lands of the Lekwungen People. This event will  bring the Indigenous and non-Indigenous govenments, leardship, communities, organizations together to learn, connect and collaborate in adressing the unique barries that Indigenous people living with disabilities face. The event will be held for 3 days at Victorial Conference Centre. We will have guest speakers The Honourable Carla Qualtrough and Tabatha Tribulla. Adimssion is required. Peple can purchase tickest through our website.
For the more detailed information about the event, please go to our website Indigenous Disability & Wellness Gathering (indigenousdisabilitygathering.com).

Location: Online

2022 CAGFO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
“Value Beyond Numbers”

Tuesday, November 15 - Friday, November 18, 2022

We are delighted to announce that our annual national conference, “Value Beyond Numbers” will be held November 15 – 18, 2022.
This will be a Virtual Conference and you may be surprised by that. 

Our decision is based on:
Recognition that there are municipalities who are restricting staff travel for the balance of 2022 Some individuals are expressing continued concern over covid. This offers an opportunity for more members from across Canada to attend
We are utilizing a new dynamic platform that both delegates and sponsors/exhibitors will enjoy.
So mark your calendars and stay tuned for Keynote & Speaker details!

Registration will open soon.

Sponsorship opportunities will be circulated soon as well for those organizations who wish to connect with up to 1000 government financial officers from  all across Canada. We look forward to launching our 2022 Conference in the coming months - stay tuned for more details!
CAGFO, the 2022 Virtual Conference of Choice.

Location: Online

This course is 3 evenings starting November 21. Please see details below.

Problems in urban sustainability, housing, transportation, land use, farmland security and infrastructure often go beyond the boundaries of a single municipality. Solving these problems requires an approach that brings various municipalities in a region together through shared strategies and action. Learning the “what”, “how”, and “why” of regional planning creates a powerful perspective on trying to solve some of the biggest urban problems facing cities and regions today.

This course will benefit anyone who wishes to learn how to solve common urban problems through mutual cooperation and negotiation. You will be introduced to the purpose, theory and practice of regional planning and how it applies to many current problems faced by cities. From viewing urban problems through a “regional lens” to learning about basic tools like regional population and employment forecasts, this course surveys how shared problems can be solved by municipalities working together.

The course will include a discussion of contemporary debates on urban and regional issues. Some key topics include: the tension between local and regional planning, industrial land protection, farmland security, environmental protection, regional housing markets, the effectiveness of regional planning and its limitations, and the relationship between regional land use and transportation planning. The emphasis will be on regional district planning in BC, with a focus on Metro Vancouver, but examples of best practices and case studies will be highlighted from around the world.

Course format: online-supported remote delivery
Instructor: Christina DeMarco
Schedule details:
Monday, November 21, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Monday, November 28, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST
Monday, December 5, 2022 - 6:00pm-9:00pm PST

For more information and to register: https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/city/regional-planning-fundamentals.html

Location: 121 Upper Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, BC  View Map

Are you making planning decisions, but have no formal planning education or little planning experience?

You are not alone. Many BC municipalities have no registered planners on staff. MATI Community Planning is a program designed by a team of planners and educators especially for you.

In this week long residential course you will...

• Work with some of the most highly regarded planners in BC, and build a network of local government and planning colleagues.
• Learn to work more effectively with Council and community members on planning and development issues.
• Develop a critical understanding of various planning approaches.
• Learn to administer various land use permits, regulations, bylaws, and subdivision processes.
• Learn to apply the principal approving officer tools.
• Learn to effectively oversee land use planning consultants.
• Bring a challenging planning issue to discuss with planning experts and colleagues.
• Take home a planning “tool kit” you can use on Monday morning.

Fees
The fee per participant is $3000 (plus GST). This is an all-inclusive fee, which will cover tuition, course materials, accommodation, all meals and refreshment breaks, and all special recreational activities.