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Canadian Municipal Leadership Program
Equip yourself for success in municipal government leadership and connect with a community of peers from municipalities across Canada.
Download Brochure
Price
$4,990 CAD
Fall Session
$4,990 CAD
October 29 - Friday, October 31, 2025
3 days
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lead When It Matters Most
Rising polarization, eroding public trust, competing community demands — all while trying to keep your team focused, your council aligned, and your city moving forward. If you’re in a leadership role in the public sector, you know the weight of every decision is heavier now.
The Canadian Municipal Leadership Program is built for this moment. It’s a three-day, immersive experience for municipal leaders ready to tackle today’s complexities with sharper tools, broader perspective, and renewed clarity.
What Sets This Program Apart
This isn’t about lectures and theory. It’s active, intense, and grounded in your day-to-day reality. You’ll step into high-stakes simulations, navigate real-world leadership dilemmas, and walk away with practical strategies that stick. We bring in real cases, guests, and vignettes from the municipal sector to create a learning experience that is uniquely tailored to your context.
You’ll also join a room of peers who get it — experienced leaders from across municipalities who are dealing with the same noise, nuance, and public scrutiny. Form a community of peers who can support your growth and development long after the program ends.
Participant Profile
This program is designed for leaders across the municipal public sector — whether you're overseeing teams, influencing strategy, or driving change from within.
Our cohorts include a diverse range of participants across functional areas and experience levels:
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A seasoned municipal leader overseeing teams, services, or strategy—whether in administration, public safety, infrastructure, or community services
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An emerging leader stepping into broader organizational influence and ready to lead across departments
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A professional driving policy, planning, or service delivery that shapes community outcomes
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Someone navigating the pressures of public accountability, cross-departmental collaboration, or council dynamics
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Or anyone ready to lead with greater impact in today’s complex and evolving municipal environment
Whether you work in finance, infrastructure, emergency services or public safety, public health, planning, recreation, or community engagement — if you're expected to lead people and make decisions that impact your community, this program is built for you.
Early Registration Bonus
Be one of the first 10 to register at least 90 days before the program start date and receive 5% off your tuition. Plan ahead and lock in your spot early!
What You’ll Experience
Day 1: Realities of Public Service
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Public Services Canada Case Exercise
Step into a dynamic role play that reflects the messy, political, and pressure-packed environment of public service leadership.
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Negotiation Deep Dive
Learn to lead when interests clash — how to build coalitions, manage difficult personalities, and get to better outcomes without giving ground.
Day 2: Pressure, Performance & Perspective
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High Stakes Leadership Simulation
Push your decision-making, teamwork, and communication skills to the edge in this classic simulation of ambition, risk, and survival.
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People Leadership Under Pressure
Unpack a real organizational challenge and see how different leadership choices play out.
Day 3: Influence and Impact
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Personal Assessment
See your leadership style with fresh eyes. Then strengthen the areas that matter most when leading yourself, others, and teams.
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Influence & Persuasion Workshop
Build the instincts to drive change, even when the politics are tricky and the demands are intense.
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Reflection and Commitment
A powerful close. Explore the mindset behind resilience, purpose, and long-haul leadership.
Why Ivey?
- Hands-on Faculty: Learn from profs who’ve been in the trenches of organizational leadership — not just in theory, but in practice.
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Peer Learning: Connect with others who understand your environment, your constraints, and your ambition.
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Real-World Relevance: Every exercise, every discussion — it’s built around the problems municipal leaders actually face.
Step Up
This isn’t just another leadership course. It’s a reset — for how you lead, how you think, and how you move forward.
Seats are limited. If you’re ready to lead with more clarity, confidence, and capacity, this is your moment to step up.
About AMCTO
The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) is Ontario’s largest municipal sector professional association. AMCTO’s mission is to deliver professional growth, networks, advocacy, and leadership to support and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of municipal professionals now and into the future. AMCTO is the ‘go-to’ organization to foster expertise and excellence within the municipal sector, with over 80 years’ of experience providing education, accreditation, leadership, and management expertise for Ontario municipal professionals.
How You Learn
The Canadian Municipal Leadership Program is deeply experiential, grounded in case research, and facilitated by expert faculty from Ivey Business School. Our real-world approach to learning for executives is about practical application. You'll finish the program with new skills, crowdsourced wisdom, and a clear strategy to tackle specific challenges back at work.
Learn more about the Ivey Experience
Expert Faculty Led Sessions
Ivey Case Method
Industry Guests
Peer Learning Teams
Assessment Tools
Return on Investment
- Earn a certificate and digital credential from Ivey. This Ivey badge is linked to a unique URL, allowing you to showcase your advanced proficiency in online profiles.
- Expand your professional network of peers in municipal government leadership.
- Take time for mindfulness and reflection to restore energy and motivation.
- Enhance your awareness to become a more effective, inclusive, emotionally intelligent leader.
- Plan for succession and create a leadership pipeline to develop and sustain future leadership capability.
- Adopt insights from Ivey faculty, industry experts, and peers in municipal government.
- Encourage an inclusive culture to foster belonging and well-being.
- Explore contemporary research on critical business issues to better navigate ongoing challenges in municipal government leadership.
Participant Testimonials
This program is a life-changing experience that has a powerful impact and challenges your leadership to higher levels. If you want to become a leader of profound character and lead your team in an impactful way, you need to attend.
Rob Adams, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Whitchurch-StouffvilleI highly recommend the program to anyone with municipal leadership responsibilities. The experience offers invaluable learning from peers, insights into your leadership style, and unique opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Katrina Furlanetto, Cataraqui ConservationIt was an excellent environment, working in teams and navigating the many "grey" situations, testing judgement and ability to extract pertinent facts from the case material. The group discussions were also a great opportunity to get perspectives on the cases from other municipal executives. The exercises which allowed insight into our leadership styles were quite valuable. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone in a leadership role.
Kevin Breen, City Manager, City of St. John'sThe high-level case studies challenged my own understanding and leadership orientation in a variety of complex scenarios. Most importantly, the program as a whole provided me with a strong avenue for self-reflection that I have been able to utilize and grow in a way that supports my role as a leader in my municipality.
Demetre Rigakos, Director of Human Resources, City of VaughanIt was an unbelievable experience... I thoroughly enjoyed the program. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and meet fellow professionals at such a world class facility. I have already changed select behaviours based on my learnings in the program. Gerard, Ann and Kylie were excellent hosts.
David Stewart, CMO, Treasurer, Deputy CAO, Hastings HighlandI can confidently say that was the most informative program I have completed. It provides extreme value for the money. I learned more about myself and leadership in those 3 days than my combined work experience! Totally appreciative of the program. I think that's the sort of education program AMCTO should offer! I would also agree 'the people in the program make the program.' Gerard and Ann are amazing.
Paul Shipway, CMO, CAO, Municipality of BayhamIvey is nothing like I've experienced before. The amount of work put into the program, the details – it is amazing and current.
Celine Anderson, Treasurer/Deputy Clerk, Municipality of Markstay-WarrenThe program taught me what the key leadership skills are and what they look like through well-chosen examples. I have learned more in three days then I have in previous week long courses.
Kira Dolch, Associate Director Planning and Development Services, Town of Fort ErieIvey’s faculty were genuinely passionate about the subject matter. The interactive environment enabled the group to feel connected and work collaboratively throughout the program.
Amy Grose, Township of MapletonLearning alongside other municipal leaders allowed me to hear so many diverse perspectives on our common challenges. Learning from others' experiences clarified my own approach to leadership.
Alana Del Greco, AMCTO Read moreFees
$4,990 CAD
Program fees cover program materials, meals, and hotel accommodations for sessions held at our Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre. For sessions delivered in Toronto and Calgary, fees include program materials, breakfast, and lunch; participants are responsible for accommodations and meals outside of program hours. Program fees are tax-exempt.
Applications must be submitted no later than 14 days before the start of the program.
FAQs
On the program page, select 'Apply Now' and choose your preferred start date. Submit the program application form and select a payment method. A program advisor may contact you to discuss your eligibility for the program. Once your application is approved, you will be billed directly or receive an invoice. Payment of program fees is due within 30 days of receipt of invoice and no less than 15 days before the program start date.
Organizations and participants in Canada may benefit from the Canada Job Grant or the Canada Training Credit to offset a portion of program fees. Visit our Funding Resources page to learn more.
Seats in programs may be reserved for a limited time, pending availability. Contact a program advisor to request a reservation. A program application must then be confirmed within 15 business days and no less than 30 days before the program start date.
3 days
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