The Calgary Stampede is known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Alberta, Canada, and around the world to celebrate Alberta's western heritage and culture. But beyond the rodeo and midway, the Stampede has also become one of the province's most important opportunities for municipal advocacy. At this year's Alberta Premier's Calgary Stampede Breakfast at McDougall House in downtown Calgary, municipal leaders met with pr

Every year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention brings together local leaders from communities large and small, creating an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to Canadians at the local level. But municipal leaders aren't the only ones paying attention. Among the attendees at this year's FCM Convention was Alberta Senator Paul Simons, who spent time listening to municipal officials from across Alberta and throughout Canada as they shared the ch

Imagine spending decades not only focused on the issues facing your own community, but also championing the needs of municipalities from coast to coast to coast. For one delegate at this year's Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention in Edmonton, that wasn't just a commitment—it was a way of life. For years, Silverton, British Columbia Councillor Leah Main has been a respected voice in municipal politics. Beyond serving the residents of her own village, she has helpe

The Calgary Stampede is often called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Alberta, Canada, and around the world to celebrate Alberta's unique culture and western heritage. But it's also a time when municipal leaders from every corner of the province come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate Alberta. At this year's Alberta Premier's Calgary Stampede Breakfast at McDougall House in downtown Calgary, municipal elect

Over the last several months, especially over the last week and a half, I've been asked the same question repeatedly: Why don't I comment on what municipal leaders have said on other podcasts? Why don't I react to council meetings or provide colour commentary on the challenges local councils are facing? The answer is actually quite simple. When I rebranded in 2023 as the Cross Border Network, I made a conscious decision that would shape everything the network would become. I

Across Canada, municipalities are facing growing demands—from aging infrastructure and housing pressures to rising construction costs and the challenge of building resilient communities for the future. Meeting those challenges requires cooperation between every order of government. Last Month, that conversation took centre stage in Jasper, Alberta, where provincial and territorial ministers responsible for local government met to discuss shared priorities and help shape the f

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, last month for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy. Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from British Columbia connected not only with delegates from their own provinces, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opp

If you've been following the news this week, you've seen the images: roads washed away, neighbourhoods underwater, and families forced to leave their homes with little more than the essentials. For the people of Swan River, this isn't just another flood. It's their second major flood in less than a month. The water is finally starting to go down, but very slowly. In some parts of town, it still has metres to drop before people can even get back into their homes. That means hu

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta last month for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy. Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from Ontario connected not only with delegates from their own provinces, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity t