Program

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception, hosted by Town of Collingwood - sponsored by IPE

Trade Show Open - sponsored by Mosey & Mosey

Conference Opening

• Ken Templeman, Town Crier
• Yvonne Hamlin, Mayor, Town of Collingwood

• Jamie McGarvey, Mayor, Town of Parry Sound 

9:10 AM - 9:55 AM

Trump’s Tariffs Portend a No-Winner Trade War

• Tony Stillo, Director of Canada Economics at Oxford Economics

Trump’s tariffs threaten to undermine the long-established international trading framework and spark a global trade war that nobody would win. Tony Stillo, Director of Canada Economics at Oxford Economics, a leader in global economic forecasting and quantitative analysis, will explore possible trade war scenarios, including how targeted US tariffs on Canada would dampen economic prospects while blanket US tariffs on Canada would plunge the nation, its provinces, and cities into recession

AMO Policy and Advocacy Update

• Brian Rosborough, Executive Director, AMO

Gain insight into AMO’s current policy efforts and strategies on critical matters facing municipalities.

Update on insights and actions arising from AMO’s Groundbreaking Homelessness Study – Municipalities Under Pressure: The Growing Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis 

• Alicia Neufeld, Senior Manager, AMO Policy

AMO’s groundbreaking study on homelessness makes it clear that Ontario’s homelessness crisis is at a tipping point.  Released in January 2025, it reveals the unprecedented and growing costs of homelessness to individuals, families, communities, and governments and charts a collective path forward. AMO will provide an update, insights and outline actions taken arising from the report and those that OSUM members could do to support AMO’s evidence-informed advocacy to tackle homelessness and address the root causes. 

Ontario's Water and Wastewater Services: A Path Forward

• Judy Dezell, Enterprise Centre, Business Partnerships & LAS

The recent report by the LAS Expert Panel on the feasibility of a municipal utility model for water and wastewater services in Ontario has laid a strong foundation for transformative change. As we move forward, it's crucial to build on this momentum and take actionable steps to ensure sustainable, high-quality water and wastewater services for all Ontarians. LAS will provide an update on this exciting journey towards more sustainable water and wastewater systems that could make a lasting impact on communities and the environment.

In Discussion with OSUM Executive

• Moderator: Brian Lambie, President, Redbrick Communications
• Jamie McGarvey, OSUM Executive Chair
• Lynn Dollin, Chair, AMO Board Small Urban Caucus

This session is an opportunity to engage in discussion with the OSUM Executive Chair, Jamie McGarvey and AMO Board Small Urban Caucus Chair, Lynn Dollin, on OSUM’s focus of work and issues that matter to Ontario’s small urban leaders.

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM

Leveraging Limited Resources for Big Results in Affordable Housing - Town of Collingwood

• Councillor Deb Doherty, Member of Collingwood Council 
• Claire de Souza, Housing Development Coordinator, Town of Collingwood
• Marg Scheben-Edey, Member of the Town of Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force
• Rachelle Hamelin, Program Supervisor, Housing Development, County of Simcoe

Small urban municipalities across the province are facing increasing pressure to address the housing crisis and growing demand for affordable housing. With limited legislative tools and financial resources at their disposal, communities are turning to innovative solutions and creative problem-solving to maximize their impact. In this dynamic panel discussion, you will hear from the Town of Collingwood’s Housing Development Coordinator, a member of Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force, a representative from the County of Simcoe’s Social and Community Services department and a member of Collingwood Council. Discover how they are leveraging limited resources – through creativity, strategic partnerships, and innovative thinking – to turn challenges into bold actions intended to transform housing options for local communities.

Municipalities and their BIAs'- Friend, Foe or Ally? 

• Sara Almas, Clerk, Town of Collingwood
• Kay Matthews, Executive Director, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association
• Susan Nicholson, General Manager, Downtown Collingwood BIA
• Jennifer Parker, Manager, Culture & Events, Parks, Recreation & Culture Department, Town of Collingwood

Learn about the dynamic partnership between the Town of Collingwood and Downtown Collingwood BIA as they navigate relationships to forge mutual successes. Discover their collaborative insights into strategic and operational decision making, events and activations, and enhancing the local business ecosystem—all aimed at bolstering the downtown core. Featuring highlights from the Ontario BIA Association, who will illuminate the pivotal role of BIAs and the critical need for municipal support to advocate for needed amendments to the Municipal Act. 

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

The Canada We Want: Reflections on the Path Forward

• Jordan Simmons, Co-founder/CEO, Nominee

Canada has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move beyond divisions and hyper-partisanship and unite around a shared vision for a prosperous future. But to meet this moment, we need to reimagine what 21st century political leadership looks like. Join keynote speaker, Jordan Simmons, as he unpacks how we can chart a bold path forward together by rebuilding our political culture, including reflections on: 

• Emerging US-Canada dynamics and what it means for us
• The state of play - addressing mental health in politics and countering harassment, burnout and apathy
•  "Re-humanizing" politicians (they are mothers, daughters, friends, neighbours) and countering negative stereotypes and narratives
• Steps we can take to rebuild a healthy political culture and engage in positive public discourse in our communities
• The path forward - finding your why and leading by example

9:15 AM - 9:45 AM

The Real Cost of a Cyber Attack and the Ongoing Budget Implications

• Dan Mathieson, Special Advisor, Cybersecurity and Municipal Engagement at Toronto Metropolitan University Former Mayor, City of Stratford

Budgeting for cybersecurity is a constant challenge, especially when weighed against competing priorities. However, cyber threats are not a matter of if but when, and the financial impact of an attack extends far beyond the initial breach. Without proper investment in preparedness, municipalities face not only immediate response costs, but also long-term financial strain - ranging from regulatory fines to operational disruptions - that can last for years. The reputational damage and loss of trust that follow can be even more devastating, affecting community confidence and future growth. 

Learn firsthand from someone who has experienced a cyber-attack, about its true cost - and discover practical steps you can take now to minimize the impact.

9:45 AM - 9:55 AM

Robin Jones, AMO President

Clearing the collision at the intersection of voter turnout, community engagement, and incivility

• Dr. Chris Erl, Researcher, Democratic Engagement Exchange, Toronto Metropolitan University
• Stewart McDonough, Advisor, Municipal Engagement, Lead, AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project  

Join an interactive discussion about the inter-connected issues we face and an exploration about how we can work together to address these connected democratic challenges. In our current political and cultural climate three trends have become increasingly, and seemingly inextricably linked:

1. Significant drop off in voter turnout
2. A contracting of municipal community outreach and civic community engagement to keep elected officials and municipal staff safe
3. An increase in incivility, harassment, and toxic political discourse

Recognizing these problems as connected is an important step we need to take as a sector. If we work together with intent and aligned capacity, we can seek to reverse these trends, protect civic engagement spaces, and engage residents in local decision making. Combined those efforts can lead to safe and civil community members who engage, participate, and vote.

Conference Closing – Jamie McGarvey-OSUM Chair

Wrap Up Prize - sponsored by Hydro One

Grab and Go Lunch