Learn, Lead, Grow

Member Award Nominations Now Open - Celebrate your Peers! Submit your nomination before May 4 Peer recognition is one of our most valuable ways of ensuring continued excellence throughout the local government management profession Do you know of a local government colleague who has exemplified professional leadership, innovation or community and volunteer service? LGMA member awards highlight extraordinary accomplishments and dedicated service to the local government profession. LGMA members are encouraged to nominate those members who are deserving of such recognition. Award winners will be announced at the LGMA Annual Conference. Celebrate the many achievements of our members with one of the following award categories: Most Impactful New Professional Award Celebrating the accomplishment, dedication, and spirit of a new professional working in local government under 5 years, and Regional Chapter Award Recognizing excellence in supporting local government professionals within their region. Distinguished Member Professional Service Distinguished Partner Review the Membership Policy (section 3, Awards for Members) to see all award categories and submit your nomination before May 4. Award winners will be announced on June 11at our 2026 Annual Conference Awards Ceremony.

Bill 17 – 2026 House and Municipal Affairs Statutes (Codes of Conduct) Amendment Act, 2026 The LGMA welcomes the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs’ efforts to strengthen the responsible conduct framework for local elected officials. Feedback from local government staff, including through the LGMA-UBCM discussion paper, "Potential for Change: Responsible Conduct Framework for Local Government Elected Officials," has highlighted the need for greater clarity and consistency in conduct expectations. A provincewide code of conduct, supported by transparent complaint, investigation, and sanctions processes, will help enhance accountability, support healthier governance relationships, and strengthen public trust in local decision‑making. These amendments represent an important step in aiding local governments that serve communities across British Columbia. As the sector prepares for these changes, the LGMA will continue to provide education and resources for implementation. This includes hosting a pre‑conference workshop “Beyond the Code: Operationalizing Responsible Conduct in Local Government” at our 2026 Annual Conference, at the 2026 Corporate Officers Forum, and developing additional tools and knowledge sharing efforts to assist local governments in adapting to these amendments. Read the full announcement from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

Records and Information Management Month, 2026 Records and Information Management (RIM) Month, is celebrated worldwide in April each year. Many records and information managers in local government organizations use this opportunity to raise awareness and educate staff and leadership about the importance of information management through creative, unique promotions within their organization. The goal is to emphasize the significance and relevance of organizing and maintaining records and data to manage information efficiently and effectively. ______________________________________________________________________ Robyn Biggar, Manager of Information Governance, City of Maple Ridge Let the Record Show the Importance of Information Governance Every local government employee creates, uses, and manages information—and plays a role in ensuring it is governed responsibly and in compliance with legislated standards. To keep staff informed about requirements and expectations, the City of Maple Ridge has launched “ For the Record” , a quarterly staff newsletter. It features archive stories, privacy and legal updates, and practical records management tips. Beyond the “what” and “why,” it uses storytelling to show how strong information governance preserves our civic identity and strengthens community through shared history. This communication is especially important as the City adopts large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI tools . While these technologies can improve local government work, they can also introduce risk if not implemented and used carefully—impacting accuracy, reliability, accountability, integrity, and compliance. Ongoing staff awareness (including through the newsletter) is a practical way to reduce organizational risk and support responsible use.  On April 1 , staff will also release an “Off the Record” edition to mark April Fools’ Day and celebrate Records and Information Management Month , using humour to boost engagement. Sample headlines include: “HEARTBREAKING: Long-anticipated time capsule full of expired A&W coupons” and “Records Centre revealed to be portal to Paper Realm.”