2025 Municipal Symposium: Empowering Community Leaders
Council members and administrators of Newfoundland and Labrador municipalities will once again convene in Gander, N.L. for the annual Municipal Symposium. Over three days, attendees will take part in workshops and sessions to increase their knowledge of municipal governance and related issues.
Date: May 1-3, 2025
Location: Gander, N.L. at the Quality Hotel and Suites
Registration fee: $350 for MNL members (municipal council and administrators); $450 for non-members; $175 for students
Agenda
A preliminary agenda is now available. Please note, the agenda page will be updated regularly. A final agenda in PDF form will be sent to all registered attendees (using the email provided in the registration form) prior to the start of the Symposium.
Pre-Symposium Professional Development
On April 30, MNL is offering two professional development sessions for members. These sessions each have a registration fee separate from the Symposium fees. Registration for the pre-symposium sessions is done within the Symposium registration form.
Morning session:
Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Prevention, presented by Canadian Mental Health Association N.L.
This workshop is meant to help employers, employees and volunteers who may develop compassion fatigue, including first responders, councillors and other individuals who are the first point of contact for those going through a crisis or disaster.
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 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.
Afternoon session:
Indigenous Cultural Diversity Training, presented by First Light
This training provides an in-depth introduction to Indigenous groups in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is recommended for anyone looking to further their learning on the Indigenous cultures in the province.
Topics covered include: cultural humility, understanding culture, statistics and terminology, Indigenous groups, symbols/ceremonies/elders, colonization, the Indian Act, Residential Schools, Confederation, intergenerational trauma, cultural appropriation/tokenism, culturally insensitive phrases, and stereotypes/myths.
A training certificate will be provided to participants following the session.
Accommodations
Important Note: Symposium attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations. MNL will not be assigning rooms for this event.
The following hotels have provided special rates for Municipal Symposium attendees. MNL has arranged to have blocks of rooms held for attendees; however, attendees are responsible for reserving their own rooms.
Quality Hotel
- Rates range from $140-$175/night +tax (for single occupancy; includes complimentary breakfast)
- Phone number to book is 1-800-563-2988 or locally 709-256-3931
- Cut-off date for this reserved block is April 4
Comfort Inn
- Rates range from $149 – $159 / night + tax (includes complimentary breakfast)
- Phone number to book is 709-256-3535
- Cut-off date for this reserved block is April 1
Albatross
- Rate is $143/night + tax (for standard rooms)
- Phone number to book is (709) 256-3956
- Cut-off date for this reserved block is March 31
Sinbad’s
- Rates range from $148-$165/night + tax (for single occupancy; includes complimentary breakfast)
- Phone number to book is (709) 651-2678
- Cut-off date for this reserved block is March 31
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsors of the 2025 Municipal Symposium have an opportunity to present to municipal members on the Symposium stage. Additionally, each sponsor is given the opportunity to have a table in the Sponsor Showcase during networking and nutrition breaks.
For a full list of sponsor benefits, view the 2025 Municipal Symposium sponsor information page. If you would prefer a PDF, download the Municipal Symposium sponsor sheet.
MNL is grateful for the support of our corporate partners. Are you a business interested in supporting the municipal sector? Download the 2025 Corporate Sponsor Package to discover other ways to become involved.
To confirm your 2025 sponsorship or to discuss options, please contact Bradley Power, MNL Director of Programs.