Stronger Together

Municipal Affairs
Jun 4
2 min read

Welcome to Municipal Affairs.

This past week, over 2,000 municipal leaders from across the country gathered in the nation’s capital for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tradeshow and Convention. Held in Ottawa, the convention provided a vital forum for local government leaders to come together and tackle pressing issues affecting communities from coast to coast to coast.

From calls for bail reform and urgent appeals for stable, predictable federal funding, to discussions on mental health and addiction, and the challenges of misinformation in the digital age — the agenda was both wide-ranging and deeply consequential.

A major highlight of this year’s event was the announcement of the FCM’s new table officers for the upcoming year. Vancouver City Councillor Rebecca Bligh was acclaimed as President. Ottawa City Councillor Tim Tierney will continue on as 1st Vice President, with Thompson, Manitoba Councillor Kathy Valentino returning as 2nd Vice President. Dorval Mayor Marc Doret joins the table for the first time, taking on the role of 3rd Vice President. And rounding out the leadership team is Amy Coady, Councillor from Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, who moves into the new role of Vice President At Large.

For the first time in recent memory, there will be no Past President serving on the board of table officers — a significant shift as the organization moves forward.

Throughout the week, we sat down with each of the acclaimed officers to hear their insights, reflections, and goals for the coming year.

We begin with President Rebecca Bligh, who shares her thoughts on the outcomes of this year’s convention, the challenges ahead, and the role FCM plays in championing municipal priorities at the federal level.

(INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT BLIGH)

With Ottawa serving as both backdrop and host city, we also spoke with 1st Vice President and local councillor Tim Tierney about welcoming the convention to his community — and how he’s preparing for the presidency when the event heads to Edmonton next year.

(INTERVIEW WITH 1st VP TIERNEY)

Next, we caught up with 2nd Vice President Kathy Valentino, whose rapid rise within FCM began just last year in Calgary. We spoke about the impact of recent wildfires in northern Manitoba, and how her experiences have shaped her perspective on national municipal advocacy.

(INTERVIEW WITH 2nd VP VALENTINO)

The newest member of the executive team, Dorval Mayor Marc Doret, joined us to reflect on his decision to step into the national spotlight as 3rd Vice President — and his vision for FCM’s work in Quebec and across Canada.

(INTERVIEW WITH 3rd VP DORET)

And finally, we spoke with Amy Coady, who takes on a new position as Vice President At Large. Representing Newfoundland and Labrador, she offered her perspective on the evolving municipal landscape in her province and her continued commitment to the FCM’s mission.

(INTERVIEW WITH VP COADY)

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