Agenda – 2025 MNL Conference, Trade Show and AGM
The 2025 MNL Conference, Trade Show and AGM takes place Nov. 20-22 in Corner Brook, N.L.
Please note, this agenda is subject to change. A final version will be sent to registered delegates ahead of the event.
Use these links to jump to a specific day on the agenda: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Pre-Conference Professional Development
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Professional Development: Emergency Operations Centre Management
Location: Glynmill Hotel Meeting Room
(Requires a separate $50 registration fee)
Includes morning and afternoon nutrition breaks, plus a one-hour break for lunch. Please note, lunch is not provided.
Presenter: Jeremy Keeping, Regional Emergency Planner, Emergency Services Division, Department of Justice and Public Safety
This course is designed for those who may be required to function effectively as members of an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The course introduces the candidate to the principles of emergency operations and control. Candidates receive an introduction to the standard operating procedures applied in an EOC. The focus of the course will be establishing, organizing and exercising an EOC. This is a two-day course that consists of lectures and tabletop exercises. Candidates must have successfully completed the BEM/EPO or equivalent course prior to being accepted to EOCM.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Pre-Conference Professional Development
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Professional Development: Emergency Operations Centre Management
Location: Glynmill Hotel Meeting Room
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch Break
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Professional Development: Compassion Fatigue & Burnout Prevention
Location: Glynmill Hotel Meeting Room
(Requires a separate $25 registration fee)
Presenter: Janice Preston, Western Regional Manager & Educator, Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador
Compassion fatigue, also called “the cost of caring,” can be experienced by people working in environments where there is a high chance of exposure to secondary trauma. These individuals are at risk of potential mental health challenges, relationship problems, and the inability to perform work responsibilities. The symptoms of compassion fatigue are hard to recognize and require adequate support for the individual experiencing it.
This workshop is meant to help employers, employees and volunteers who may develop compassion fatigue, including first responders and individuals who are the first point of contact for those going through a crisis or disaster. The workshop will equip participants with the language to talk about mental health, the understanding to support employees with challenges, and the steps to move towards greater self-care.
By the end of the workshop, you will:
- Understand symptoms and effects of compassion fatigue and fatigue risk factors.
- Recognize personal and systemic barriers to receiving help.
- Learn how to manage daily perceived threats and stress in more effective ways.
- Create a self-care plan with resiliency-building skills and steps to improve workplace mental health.
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
New rulings on the Municipal Conduct Act (and how you should navigate its twists and turns)
Location: Corner Brook Civic Centre (CBCC) Meeting Rooms
Presenters: Ruth Trask and Steve Penney, Stewart McKelvey
The Municipal Conduct Act redefined the rules on conflicts of interest and created new parameters, and consequences, for councillors’ conduct. Several legal cases have now made their way through the Court system, and we had a front-row seat. We’ll tell you about what questions were before the Courts; what the rulings decided; and what these cases mean for you.
Most importantly, we’ll give you our best practical tips on how best to navigate a Municipal Conduct Act complaint.
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
CNA Alumni Social
Location: CBCC Annex
College of the North Atlantic welcomes alumni for an evening social and networking event.
Thursday, Nov. 20
Trade Show hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM; 10:30 AM – 11:55 AM; 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM; 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Women and Gender-Diverse Individuals Networking Breakfast
Location: Glynmill Hotel Meeting Room
Hosted by the MNL Women and Gender-Diverse Individuals Committee, this breakfast provides an engaging networking opportunity as well as the presentation of the MNL Leadership Awards for Women and Gender-Diverse Individuals. Pre-Registration is required; the option to register is included in the registration process.
Attendance at this networking breakfast is limited to women and gender-diverse individuals.
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Nutrition Break
Trade Show and Networking
Location: Corner Brook Civic Center (CBCC) Arena
Sponsored by belairdirect
8:00 AM
Registration Desk opens
Location: CBCC Annex
9:15 AM – 10:25 AM
Opening Plenary with Keynote by Jonny Harris
Location: CBCC Studio
This year’s event kicks off with a keynote presentation from actor and comedian Jonny Harris, host of the CBC show Still Standing.
Born and raised in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, Jonny Harris has appeared regularly at The Halifax Comedy Festival, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, CBC Radio’s The Debaters, and as both a stand-up and sketch comic at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival. He has been a staff writer for the award-winning This Hour has 22 Minutes and was a contributing writer and star of Mary Walsh’s Hatching, Matching and Dispatching, for which he later reprised his character along with the rest of the original cast in the feature length presentation A Christmas Fury. Harris did a more dramatic turn for the dark indie film Grown Up Movie Star, with which he attended the Sundance Film Festival. His stand-up special for Comedy Now! earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
He currently plays Constable George Crabtree on CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, for which he has garnered two Gemini nominations and two Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series. He also is a writer, producer and host for CBC’s Still Standing, for which he has won 9 Canadian Screen Awards.
10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Nutrition Break
Trade Show and Networking
Location: CBCC Arena
Sponsored by Trio Benefits
11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
Investigating and Preventing Employee Dishonesty
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenter: Stephen Penney, Stewart McKelvey
Employee dishonesty cases create challenging legal issues for municipalities and are incredibly upsetting for staff, council, and residents. This session will discuss the proper oversight role that councils should play, how to conduct a proper investigation when issues arise and the legal issues that you may encounter; and some concrete suggestions for preventing fraud.
11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
Meeting the Moment: Equity as a Growth Strategy
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenter: Ty Smith, Senior Director, Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion, FCM
Communities in Newfoundland and Labrador are navigating population shifts, tight budgets, climate impacts, and rising service expectations. This session reframes equity from a “nice-to-have” to a core growth and sustainability strategy. Equity helps towns keep and attract residents, strengthen local business, use limited dollars wisely, and deepen trust with citizens—including seniors, youth, newcomers, people with disabilities, and neighbouring Indigenous communities.
Framed around “moments that matter” in municipal life—budget season, capital planning, winter maintenance, permitting, recreation, emergency response, procurement, and public engagement—this practical, one-hour session gives elected officials and staff a simple lens and set of tools to make better, fairer decisions when it counts. Participants will leave with a clear definition of equity (not the same as equality), a 5-question equity check they can apply tomorrow, and a short list of quick wins that improve social cohesion, civic participation, and long-term sustainability in small and rural contexts.
What you’ll learn / take away:
• A plain-language equity lens tailored to small & rural municipalities (“5 questions in 5 minutes”).
• The “moments that matter” map for municipal decisions—and how equity improves outcomes at each moment.
• Three quick wins (e.g., engagement that reaches the hard-to-reach, procurement that grows local capacity, budget practices that reflect real need).
• Simple metrics to track progress without adding bureaucracy.
11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
Trade Show
Location: CBCC Arena
12:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Luncheon
Location: CBCC Studio
Sponsored by Stewart McKelvey
1:30 PM – 2:25 PM
CNA Foundation: Diversifying the connection between municipalities and
CNA through its alumni and advancement operations
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenter: Ted Cadigan
We’ll explore opportunities for municipalities to collaborate with CNA Foundation’s advancement and alumni engagement work, highlighting in-kind
giving, donor’s focus on regional investment, and the meaning of philanthropy at CNA. We’ll also examine how CNA Foundation’s connection with alumni can impact municipal workforce propulsion, volunteerism, and community leadership.
1:30 PM – 2:25 PM
Climate-Ready NL: Wildfire Debrief Edition
Location: CBCC Canada House
This past summer, fire had been on the minds of us all. Let’s talk about it.
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
MMSB Presentation
Presenter: Charles Bown
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
Memorial University Presentation
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenter: Janet Morrison, MUN President
When a university succeeds, it does more than educate. It energizes regions, preserves cultures, strengthens industries and binds communities together. Dr. Janet Morrison, president of Memorial University, will examine how Memorial isn’t just in the province – it’s for the province.
2:30 PM – 3:55 PM
N.L. Municipal Sector 101: Orientation for New Councillors
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenters: Rob Nolan, MNL; Holly Scott-Walsh, Dep’t of Municipal Affairs and Community Engagement; Chris Torraville, PMA; Connie Reid, PMA
New to council? This essential orientation session offers a foundational overview of the municipal sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. Delivered collaboratively by Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL), the Professional Municipal Administrators (PMA), and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Municipal Affairs and Community Engagement, this session will help new councillors understand their roles and responsibilities, the legislative framework, and how the key sector partners work together to support effective local governance. Ideal for those seeking clarity, confidence, and connections as they begin their term.
3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Bringing Fibre To The Home in Rural Newfoundland
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenter: Charles Beaudet
Get a sneak peek at where and how Xplore Inc. will deploy it’s fibre to the home network in rural Newfoundland. This latest technology will provide a fast and robust network with speeds that exceed 1GB per second; providing access to all that the internet can offer. Xplore is actively bridging the digital gap between urban and rural communities.
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
TRIO Fall Caucus Meeting
Location: CBCC Studio
Presenters: Mary Galway, Doug Brake, Jonathan Croft
TRIO will provide MNL members with an update on the latest news concerning the pension program and health care program.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Why is there still a housing crisis? Solving for housing differently
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenters: Mylène Vincent, Pivot Housing Solutions, Brian Coleman, MNL
Municipalities can be leaders in figuring out how to solve for housing!
In most communities, we need more housing: seniors’ housing, affordable housing, or just any housing. But it seems that no matter what we do in terms of getting housing built, it’s never enough.
In this session, we will explore how you might consider solving for housing differently, why the law of supply and demand doesn’t seem to work in bringing housing prices down, and how you can work towards a fully executable plan that will result in concrete results for your community.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
The Untapped Talent Advantage: Building Newcomer Pathways through Volunteering
Location: Canada House
Presenter: Bahareh Hashemibeni
Newcomers bring skills, experience, and fresh perspectives, yet many organizations struggle to engage them. This practical session shares a simple playbook to design “right-sized” volunteer roles, run inclusive onboarding, and use volunteer-to-hire pathways where appropriate.
4:35 PM – 5:25 PM
Meet-Up for Indigenous Delegates
A time for all Indigenous-identifying attendees to gather – be you elected officials, municipal/Inuit Community Government staff or whatever other function brings you to our Conference.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Coastal Diptychs: The Influence of Visual Arts at Memorial University
“Dialogue & Debate” Event
Location: Memorial University Grenfell Campus
Featuring Kent Jones, founding visual arts faculty member at the Grenfell Campus School of Fine Arts, and Jeff Webb, professor in the Department of History at Memorial University.
What role did Memorial University play in fostering the growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s arts community during the 1960s and 1970s in St. John’s? How did the creation of the Visual Arts program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, along with the founding of the Grenfell Art Gallery, contribute to the broader development of visual arts in the province?
Dialogue and Debate is an event series that invites experts from Memorial University to discuss and expand on the collections and exhibitions featured at The Rooms. The discussions are lively, informative and designed for the public. Broad strokes: The passion and the past of the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador is part of Memorial’s 100th anniversary programming.
Please join us before and after the talk to view two concurrent group exhibitions at the Grenfell Art Gallery:
- To Launch Forth Into The Deep: A Legacy of Supporting the Arts At Memorial University
- Hard Westerlies: Making and Teaching Visual Art at Grenfell Campus
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Opening Ceremonies
Location: CBCC Studio
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Welcome Reception and Official Trade Show Opening
Location: CBCC Arena
Sponsored by Newfoundland Power
Speaker: Gary Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newfoundland Power
Join us for an evening of networking as we officially open the 2025 MNL Conference, Trade Show and AGM.
Friday, Nov. 21
Trade Show hours: 10:00 AM – 11:55 AM; 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
8:30 AM
Registration Desk opens
Location: CBCC Annex
Start your day with a coffee and tea service in the Annex
9:00 AM – 9:55 AM
Keynote by Qalipu First Nation Vice Chief Colleen Paul
Location: CBCC Studio
Presenter: Colleen Paul
10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Nutrition Break
Trade Show and Networking
Location: CBCC Arena
Sponsored by Municipal Assessment Agency
10:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Trade Show Open
Location: CBCC Arena
10:30 AM – 11:25 AM
Empowering Community Leaders through Digital Innovation – Taking the guesswork out of Mobility Management
Location: CBCC Studio
Presenter: Normand Cyr
Managing a mobility program can often feel overwhelming due to the many factors involved, such as choosing the right technology, addressing security concerns, and managing the overall cost of ownership. These challenges can make it difficult for organizations to implement an effective and sustainable mobility solution. By following established guidelines and utilizing the right tools, organizations can significantly reduce the stress and uncertainty often associated with mobility management, leading to a more productive and empowered community of leaders.
10:30 AM – 11:25 AM
The Straight Flush: Cutting Through Wastewater Confusion
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenters: Gerry Lahey, Travis Hnidan, Alexis Foster
This session offers municipal staff and council members a clear and practical overview of current wastewater regulations, their objectives, and the path to compliance. Through discussion of site visits, regulatory expectations, and the intent behind the requirements, participants will gain a stronger understanding of what is needed to meet standards and avoid common pitfalls.
We’ll also address the growing concerns surrounding wastewater compliance, providing factual, actionable insights to help municipalities make informed decisions. The session will cover upcoming training opportunities and how some municipalities can move toward self-monitoring.
Whether your municipality is well along the path to compliance or just beginning, this session will equip you with the tools and clarity needed to move forward with confidence.
10:30 – 11:25
Partnerships for Prosperity: Municipal Roles in Economic Development and Investment Attraction
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenters: Roseanne Leonard (CBDC), Amr Alagouza (ACOA), Michelle Cluett-Fizzard (IET)
A moderated panel with CBDC, ACOA, IET, and industry explores how municipalities can strengthen economic development and attract investment by fostering business-friendly environments and supporting local growth.
11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Short-Term Rentals: Supporting Local Tourism
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenter: Alex Howell, Shelley Magnusson, Linette Moores
Learn how municipalities can generate more travellers to their communities. Learn about how short-term rentals are supporting tourism and economic developments across Newfoundland and Labrador and how municipalities can work with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation and Airbnb. There will be an opportunity for a Q and A
11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Reeling in Procurement When You’re Hooked on Tariffs
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenter: Dave Dextraze and Tasha Blumenthal, Canoe Procurement
Economic conditions are shifting rapidly and governments are adapting to meet new challenges. This session explores current legislation and how it shapes government operations across Canada. Canoe will also share practical strategies and examples of best practices from members nationwide.
12:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Luncheon
Location: CBCC Studio
Sponsored by the City of Corner Brook
1:30 PM – 3:25 PM
Youth Simulated Council Debate
Location: Corner Brook City Council Chambers
1:30 PM – 4:25 PM
Trade Show open
Location: CBCC Arena
1:30 PM – 2:25 PM
Hidden Histories, Present Challenges: Racism and Belonging in Newfoundland and Labrador
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenters: Anti-Racism Coalition of NL’s Dome Lombeida, Sobia Shaikh, Maria Dussan
Newfoundland and Labrador often prides itself on being a welcoming and kind place. Yet the province also holds hidden histories of exclusion, racism, and displacement that continues to shape how belonging is experienced today. From the overlooked stories of racialized people in our history to the challenges newcomers and residents face, racism is not a distant problem but a present-day reality.
1:30 PM – 2:25 PM
ATIPP Presentation
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
Municipal Assessment Agency’s 2025 Operational Report
Location: CBCC Studio
Presenter: Don Hearn
The MAA offers ethical, transparent, and equitable property assessment services to municipalities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. As the province’s designated assessment authority, MAA oversees both residential and commercial property assessments that support fair municipal taxation and public services.
Join CEO Don Hearn for a presentation of the Agency’s Annual Operational Report. This session will highlight key achievements, operational updates, service delivery improvements, and trends impacting the property assessment landscape across the province. A Q&A session will follow, providing an opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the Agency’s CEO.
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
Housing Panel, with MNL, Pivot Housing and Community Mental Health Initiative
Location: CBCC Meting Rooms
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
Tackling Harassment in the Municipal Sector
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenter: Craig Pollett
Have you ever experienced inappropriate or abusive behaviour from the public or other members of council? Unfortunately, if you’ve worked in the local government sector for any length of time, the answer is ‘Yes.’ This session will explore the governance, operational, training, policy, and communications strategies essential for promoting civility in your chambers and in your community.
3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Harvey and Company Presentation
Location: Canada House
3:30 PM – 4:25 PM
Phish Happens, with Cal LeGrow
Location: CBCC Studio
Presenter: Kevin Casey, Cal LeGrow
Think your town is too small to attack? That’s what cyber-criminals bank on.
Small often means easier targets and faster paydays.
Fewer staff. Reused passwords. Essential services they can hold hostage.
In this fast, plain-English session you’ll test your scam-spotting live, grab six quick wins that block most attacks, and leave with a 90-day one-pager and a who-to-call sheet.
3:30 PM – 4:25 PM
140 Years of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Presenter: Jamie Mullins, VP Customer Operations, Newfoundland Power
Join Newfoundland Power as we celebrate 140 years of service. Learn how we’re preparing for climate risks, enhancing safety, supporting customers with new tools, and partnering with communities to build a more sustainable,
reliable, and resilient future. Discover how we’re planning for tomorrow-today.
4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Spotlight on MNL’s Current Projects
Location: CBCC Canada House
Presenters: Rudy Norman, Kim
Noseworthy, Brian Coleman
Are you curious about what exciting initiatives MNL is working on to help shape the future of our communities? This session will offer participants a dynamic overview of innovative projects that reflect the diversity, challenges, and opportunities facing municipalities across the province. Hear about how you can get involved in the Financial Services project, Tomorrow’s Towns program, and Housing Capacity-Building program.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Trade Show prize giveaway
Location: CBCC Arena
Join us in the Trade Show area for prize giveaways from our sponsors and trade show booth holders.
Grand Prize draw: PAL flight for 2, sponsored by PAL Airlines.
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Hospitality Night
Location: Grenfell Campus
Sponsored by MUN Grenfell Campus and the communities of Northern and Western Newfoundland
Light snacks will be served. Cash bar for beverages.
Note: Attendance is limited to MNL members and event sponsors
Saturday, Nov. 22
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Intergovernmental Breakfast
Location: Corner Brook City Hall
The City of Corner Brook invites you to visit Corner Brook City Hall for a continental breakfast and networking opportunity with provincial and federal government representatives.
National Housing Day Proclomation Signing.
Note: Attendance is limited to MNL members and provincial and federal elected officials.
Following the breakfast, all attendees will be invited to participate in the special recreation of MNL’s inaugural meeting photo 75 years ago.
The photo opportunity will take place at the Majestic Lawn (or City Hall in the case of inclement weather). Plan to attend and take part in this special initiative, celebrating MNL’s 75 years of progress through community leadership. Please dress for the weather.
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Regional Caucus Meetings
Location: various hotel meeting rooms
Join your municipal sector colleagues from communities near you to discuss regional issues and topics.
Note: Attendance is limited to MNL members
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Annual General Meeting registration
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
Pick up your AGM package and voting cards in advance of the meeting. Note that all MNL members are welcome to attend but only voting members will receive an AGM package.
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers
Location: CBCC Meeting Rooms
AGM Agenda:
- Call to Order
- Land Acknowledgment
- Moment of Silence
- Introduction of Parliamentarian and Adoption of Standing Rules
- Approval of the Minutes of the 74th Annual General Meeting
- Address by Affiliate Presidents
- President’s Report
- Chief Executive Officer’s Report
- Finance Report and Adoption of 2024 Audited Financial Statements
- Advocacy Report
- Membership Report
- 2025 Resolutions
- Election of Officers
- Concluding Motions and Adjournment
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Appreciation Banquet and dance
Location: CBCC Studio
Cash Bar open 6:30 PM
Doors open 7:00 PM
Dinner served 7:15 PM
Presentation of Long Service Awards to follow