The municipality of West Nipissing is hosting an information session for residents interested in running for council. If you “want to learn the secret to effective municipal leadership,” the event poster proclaims, then make your way to the Sports Hall of Fame Room at the West Nipissing Recreation Centre at 210 Clark St. in Sturgeon Falls.
The show begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 10th, and is hosted by presenter Paul Cassan, a partner at the Wishart Law Firm in Sault Ste. Marie. Cassan has focused extensively on municipal law and local government issues. Wishart Law Firm “serves a significant portion of municipalities” throughout the province, the firm mentioned on their website.
He will be there to answer your questions concerning all things involving municipalities and the law. It’s a great chance for would-be candidates to learn more about the process of running, and what the councillor job entails.
The session is also a resource for everyone interested in local politics. You don’t have to be a council contender to attend, the event is open to all as an opportunity to learn more about how municipal government works.
Topics include but are not limited to an overview of municipal government and the roles and responsibilities of councillors, mayor, and municipal administration. Cassan will also discuss the importance of “leading a community through strategic planning, thinking and effective decision making.”
Cassan will also discuss the rules and regulations regarding open and closed meetings and highlight the importance of consistent decision making and the importance of municipal service levels.
The municipal election is on October 24, 2022, and West Nipissing will need a mayor, and eight councillors—one per ward. The nomination period opened on May 2 and runs until August 19.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
