BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Wednesday, April 22nd
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(Sponsored by Global Philanthropic)
MNP Hall A (2nd Floor)
All disasters are local. When they strike, your local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hospital, and healthcare staff are critical lifelines – but are they truly integrated into your community’s emergency plan? Discover practical strategies for coordinating with hospitals and paramedic services during floods, fires, severe weather, and public health emergencies. Learn how to navigate the complexities of the health system and hear real-world examples of how healthcare and municipal emergency management teams can collaborate effectively.
Presenters: Jeff Martin, Director, Emergency and Continuity Management, ERS and Marc Sheridan, Manager Provincial Emergency Coordination, Emergency and Continuity Management ERS
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MNP Hall B (2nd Floor)
Public safety is the most essential service municipalities provide — and for most Manitoba communities, that service depends on the RCMP. Yet the governance, funding, and long-term future of RCMP contract policing are being shaped largely outside municipal control.
This presentation will provide AMM delegates with a clear, practical understanding of how Canada’s contract policing system works, what major changes may be coming in the next decade, and what these changes may mean directly for municipal budgets, service levels, and community safety.
Presenters: Bobby Baker, Director, Prairie Region, National Police Federation (NPF)
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(Sponsored by Western Recreation & Development Inc.)
Assembly Lounge & Viewing Lounge (2nd Floor)
Manitoba’s Council Members’ Code of Conduct Framework has been in force since 2020, the first of it’s kind in Canada. Following passage of AMM Resolution #15-2023 requesting changes to the framework, the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations committed to a review of the legislation, regulation, and training programs. This presentation provides information on the status of the review, the findings of the public engagement exercises at the AMM district meetings in 2025, and the planned next steps.
Presenter: Kevin McPike
1:15 P.M. - 2:15 P.M.
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Room: MNP Hall A (2nd Floor)
This presentation will highlight the rise in incidents of damaged property, online threats and intimidation by elected officials and government staff in Manitoba. We will focus on actionable solutions for municipal governments, including de-escalation and protection strategies from the legal perspective while continuing to safeguard democracy and civility.
A brief overview of legal updates from neighbouring provinces will be provided.Presenters: Jennifer S Hanson & Maggie J. Spezzano
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(Sponsored by Coughlin)
MNP Hall B (2nd Floor)
Municipal leaders across Manitoba continue to navigate complex transitions—from evolving community expectations to staffing pressures to council turnover. This session focuses on the people side of municipal leadership—how to maintain strong relationships, support staff and council through change, and strengthen the culture that will carry municipalities into their next term. Participants will explore practical tools and best practices for leading through uncertainty, communicating with clarity, and fostering team dynamics in demanding and high-pressure settings.
Presenter: Lisa Anderson, Director, Strategic HR Consulting
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(Sponsored by AECOM)
Assembly Lounge & Viewing Lounge (2nd Floor)
Manitoba’s energy transition is underway, reshaping how energy is produced, delivered, and used across the province. Manitoba Hydro is working to prepare for a changing energy landscape while also making crucial investments to upgrade and maintain aging infrastructure. Join this session to learn how Manitoba Hydro can support your community’s evolving energy needs by planning and working together. The presentation will provide an overview of how our electric and natural gas systems operate and outline what municipalities should know when planning new development projects including to support local economic growth. We will cover common questions we hear around system capacity, timelines for new service, and key considerations for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. The session will also provide updates on key initiatives such as our 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, the procurement of 600 MW of new wind generation with majority Indigenous ownership, planning for new dispatchable capacity, enhanced vegetation management efforts, and the first phase of Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Charging Network.
Presenters: Quinn Menec, Vice-President, Operations
2:15 P.M. - 3:15 P.M.
Thursday , April 23rd
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MNP Hall A (2nd Floor)
Why do people really run for municipal office — and what happens after the election is over? This session explores how clarity of purpose shapes stronger campaigns, clearer decision-making, and more consistent leadership once elected. Through interactive discussion and shared reflection, participants will examine how defining their “why” helps connect campaign messaging, leadership choices, and long-term community impact. The focus is on leadership and legacy rather than campaign tactics.
Presenter: Tyler MacAfee
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(Sponsored by Nelson Granite)
MNP Hall B (2nd Floor)
In August 2025, the Manitoba Auditor General released a landmark report following a significant cybersecurity incident and financial loss within a rural Manitoba municipality. The findings were a wake-up call for every Council in the province: the issue wasn't just a technical breach; it was a governance failure. The report highlighted a lack of root-cause investigation and a critical absence of provincial oversight. For Reeves, CAOs, and Councillors, cyber security is no longer a technical "IT task"—it is a legal and fiduciary mandate. This session translates the Auditor General’s recommendations into a non-technical, strategic roadmap that moves RMs from "patchwork compliance" to a matured, defensible posture.
Presenter: Curt Dueck, CEO of SolutionsIT
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(Sponsored by Co-operatives First)
Assembly Lounge & Viewing Lounge (2nd Floor)
Dennis Meeches is an Indigenous leader from Long Plain First Nation (LPFN) and is nationally recognized for his leadership in advancing economic opportunities through urban reserve development. During his 26 years on council, he played a key role in establishing Long Plain’s urban reserves and contributed to the creation of the Treaty One joint reserve at the former Kapyong Barracks site, now known as Nawii-Oodena, including the municipal services agreement with the City of Winnipeg.
Mr. Meeches currently works with Manitoba USKE, supporting First Nations across Manitoba on land governance, reserve creation, and economic development initiatives. He is also involved in the Urban Reserve Task Force with the Province of Manitoba, which is focused on developing a made-in-Manitoba approach to support and streamline urban reserve development.
Presenters Dennis Meeches- President of Tribal Councils Investment Group, Former Chief of Long Plain First Nation
1:15 P.M. - 2:15 P.M.
