On May 30th, 2026, members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia will choose a new party leader. Leadership contests are not only about party politics—they are also about ideas, priorities, and competing visions for the future of the province. In the weeks leading up to the vote, candidates are outlining their plans for British Columbia, including how they see the role of municipalities and regional districts across the province. Local governments play a central role

Leading a municipality today isn’t just about budgets, bylaws, and infrastructure—it’s about people. In the past decade alone, the role of local leaders has transformed dramatically. The pace of social media, the complexity of intergovernmental relationships, and the growing expectations of communities have created a new reality for municipal councils and administrators. The mental load on local leaders has never been heavier, and the need for strong communication, collaborat

In small towns, big projects often carry even bigger meaning. In Trochu, a community of just over 1,000 people in rural Alberta, that meaning is taking shape in steel, concrete, and long-term vision. The Trochu Seniors Supportive Living Facility is more than a new building—it’s an investment in aging with dignity, staying close to home, and keeping families and community connections intact This Town of Trochu and Trochu Housing Corporation capital project, funded in part by t

Today, we are taking a closer look at infrastructure, housing, and the growing tension between good intentions and real-world consequences. In its 2025 budget, the federal government announced the new Build Communities Strong Fund, promising major investments in local infrastructure — roads, transit, water and wastewater systems, and community facilities — all aimed at unlocking housing supply and improving affordability. It’s a commitment that Alberta’s municipalities welcom

Today, we’re talking about community economic development—not just as a series of projects or plans, but as a system. A system that connects people, sectors, and places, and helps communities prepare for opportunity when it comes. For more than 40 years, one organization has played a key role in that work. SEDA is Saskatchewan’s provincial backbone organization for community economic development. Since 1984, it has supported communities across the province to become investmen

With artificial intelligence moving from buzzword to everyday tool, a big question is facing local governments everywhere: are municipalities ready for the rise of AI? Are they leading the way in innovation, or quietly falling behind? Across council chambers and municipal offices, AI is beginning to influence how services are delivered, how decisions are made, and how limited resources are stretched further than ever before. But with opportunity comes risk — and the need for

Rural municipalities across Alberta own and operate most of the province’s roads, bridges, and utility systems. These are the assets that connect communities, move goods, and support the resource-based and emerging industries that keep Alberta competitive. But for years, those same municipalities have been asked to do more with less—facing chronic underfunding, rising construction costs, aging infrastructure, and increasingly constrained budgets. This week, the Rural Municipa

It’s a new year—and with it comes new challenges, new obstacles, and new problems to solve. But a new year also gives us a moment to pause, to reflect on where we are today, and how we got here. Municipalities are complex, multi-pronged organizations. From cleaning the streets, to keeping the water running when you turn on the shower, municipalities are truly the front lines of government services. They’re the level of government people interact with every single day—often wi

(Photo Prime Minister of Canada Facebook Page) After months of uncertainty for farmers and producers across rural Canada, there may finally be some relief on the horizon. On Friday, Ottawa announced a new trade agreement with China following a high-level meeting in Beijing between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The deal is expected to roll back some of the steep tariffs that have weighed heavily on Canadian agriculture and seafood exports—tariffs