How can we get more women involved in local government? In this episode of Local Gov Cafe, we chat with Helen Cole, a champion for this issue who is dedicated to helping women achieve gender parity in places of power and influence. Helen shares her own experiences in local government, discusses the work of the Jean Collective, A Women in Politics Initiative and offers valuable advice for women who are considering running for office or seeking leadership positions. Don't miss this uplifting conversation!

In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Landry, Mayor of the Municipality of Shuniah - and Ontario's First Indigenous Woman Mayor. From her diverse career in the private and public sector to her advocacy work for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Wendy shares her experiences and insights on breaking barriers and achieving better representation in local politics.

What do "blamestorming," "socializing the document," and "synergistic optimization" all have in common? They're all examples of the confusing, convoluted language that has infiltrated our government and corporate communications.
In this episode of the Local Gov Cafe, we sit down with Brian Lambie, President of Redbrick Communications, to learn how to fight back against the buzzword apocalypse. We'll explore the origins of these confusing phrases, discuss the impact they have on clear communication, and offer tips and strategies for avoiding them in your own work. Tune in and join us in the fight against bureaucrat-ese!

CAMA (Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators) is a national association for City Managers and CAOs, with a focus on administrative excellence in local government. Executive Director Jennifer Goodine drops by the cafe to talk about her own career in local government, the mandate of CAMA, and the association's ongoing work to support senior municipal leadership across the country.

Inflation is making it more difficult than ever to run our municipalities.  Keeping all the line items "status quo" is not an option for leaders who want to deliver the best value to citizens for their tax dollars.
Tune in as Kelly Rudyk (It's Logical Consulting) explains Priority Based Budgeting, an innovative approach to developing the municipal budget. This approach expands the traditional focus on property taxes, fees and charges, integrating council's strategic vision as part of the process. The result: a budget that better reflects the priorities of the community and the ever-shifting needs of the municipal organization.