AMO Introduces Local Leadership Foundations Program for Elected Officials

From the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

As the next municipal term begins, Ontario’s elected officials face complex challenges, big decisions public scrutiny and a steep learning curve.

Local Leadership Foundations is here to help: A practical introduction to leading on council from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the expert voice of municipalities, and the Institute on Governance, public-sector education experts. It’s designed to give officials the best possible start to the term.

Registration is now open.

The program

Local Leadership Foundations is a flexible learning journey, built as six focused modules you can fit around a busy schedule. Take the full series or just the ones you need, in any order.

• Module 1: Governing in Practice – An orientation to the Councillor’s role in Ontario today and the habits that set up a strong term.
• Module 2: Making Decisions – How Council decisions get made and how to prepare for meetings and shape good outcomes.
• Module 3: Finance and Budgeting – A plain-language grounding in municipal finance and the trade-offs behind the big decisions.
• Module 4: Civility and Integrity – Building healthy dynamics with colleagues and staff and keeping debate respectful under pressure.
• Module 5: Engaging Community – What community engagement really involves, from the residents you serve to municipality-wide consultation.
• For Heads of Council: Leading Council – The added work of the chair, from running tough meetings to speaking for your municipality.

How each module works

Before the session. Each module begins with short videos and audio to take in on your own time, introducing the key content through candid interviews with councillors, mayors, and experts from across Ontario. It's years of on-the-ground municipal experience and insight, compiled in a way you can't find anywhere else. 

The live session. Then you join our facilitators to discuss the key points and work through case studies together. Because it’s led by people who’ve held the role, you get a genuine political perspective you won’t find in a textbook, in a space built to be candid and supportive. Sessions are held virtually, so you can take part from anywhere.

Who’s leading it

AMO’s Local Leadership Foundations is developed and facilitated in partnership with Dr. Kate Graham: Award-winning professor of local governance, consultant to municipal governments across Canada, former municipal public servant, and host of the popular No Second Chances podcast about women in senior political roles. Dr. Graham brings deep expertise in local government and a talent for turning complex material into learning that sticks. 

She is joined by experienced Ontario elected officials, whose firsthand experience shapes every module.

Pricing and registration

Join us for the full learning series or individual modules. All are delivered as live sessions you choose from a schedule, with run from November 2026 to April 2027. Early-bird rate is open until September 30, 2026.

• Full learning series: $1,000 (early-bird rate), $1,200 after September 30
• Individual modules: $275 (early-bird rate), $325 after September 30

Additional dates, including sessions at upcoming conferences, will be added as the calendar fills out.

Bursaries available! We're excited to offer AMO members a limited number of $150 bursaries to help with the cost of the program. Bursaries will be applied to the first 200 registrations of any kind, first come, first served. Made possible by sponsors Guardian Capital and PH&N Institutional, valued business partners of AMO Business Services and ONE Investment.

Registering for your incoming council? You can reserve seats now and assign names after the election. Also, save $100 per seat on the Learning Series, or $25 per module, on 5 or more seats from one municipality.

Prefer a local session? We can deliver all or part of Local Leadership Foundations just for your own or nearby councils. Contact us at education@amo.on.ca to talk through the options.