Pre-Conference Workshops
June 9, 2026, SnPink’tn (Penticton)
Penticton Trade and Convention Centre
273 Power Street
in conjunction with the 2026 LGMA Annual Conference
We gratefully acknowledge that we will be gathering on the
ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan People.
Do you want to deepen your learning and get a head start on peer connections just before the Annual Conference? Join us in Penticton for one of several pre-conference offerings on June 9!
In addition to the full-day
Communication & Engagement Professionals Forum, you can choose between a guided field trip led by the City of Penticton and the Okanagan Nation Alliance or a timely workshop on responsible conduct. Find out more below.
Registration fees:
Early Bird registration until April 30, 2026: $302.50 + GST
Regular registration rate starting May 1, 2026: $357.50 + GST
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations are accepted without penalty before 4:30 pm on May 26, 2026. No refunds provided after this date.
For information on hotel accommodations, visit the main
LGMA Annual Conference page. Please note: You don’t have to attend the full annual conference to register for these engaging pre-conference offerings.
June 9 - Pre-Conference Workshop
1-4:30pm - Beyond the Code - Operationalizing Responsible Conduct in Local Government
Facilitated by Christina Benty, Strategic Leadership Solutions and Reece Harding, Young Anderson
B.C.’s responsible conduct legislation has now been introduced, and local governments are moving from anticipation to action. With a provincewide code of conduct, a formal complaint and investigation process, and new transparency requirements on the horizon, local government staff are being asked to help their organizations adapt in real time.
This 3.5 hour workshop is designed to help local government professionals respond to this moment with clarity, confidence, and practical tools. This session is about what staff can do now to support healthier governance, reduce organizational stress, and prepare their councils and boards for the changes ahead.
Participants will leave better equipped to:
- identify immediate organizational implications for orientation, policy review, complaint pathways, and governance culture;
- strengthen the conditions for respectful, accountable conduct and reduce the likelihood of issues escalating;
- equip staff with practical tools and shared language to navigate challenging situations with greater confidence and consistency.
Through practical tools, guided dialogue, and real-world application, the workshop is grounded in three principles local governments can start building on immediately:
- Humanize: strengthen relational currency by helping staff and elected officials see the person behind the role and the complexity behind the work;
- Normalize: treat tension and conflict as predictable features of governance and build the skills to navigate them without freezing, escalating, or avoiding;
- Un-sanitize: loosen the grip of overly stiff, performative processes by using practical thinking tools that help elected officials stay relevant and staff stay confident.
At a time when many local government professionals are feeling both the urgency and workload implications of this change, Beyond the Code offers an immediate win: practical preparation, shared language, and tangible tools to support implementation while strengthening governance relationships and organizational resilience.
Registration fee includes lunch (noon - 1pm) and an afternoon coffee break.
June 9 - Pre-Conference Field Trip
2-4:30pm - Watercourses Revitalized
Decades ago, the rivers in Penticton were channelized for flood mitigation, leading to major environmental impacts. This bus tour will visit Penticton Creek, which is in the process of being naturalized to support the environmental, riparian, and fish habitat values, and Penticton Dam, where a fish ladder project was recently completed. Working with partners including the Okanagan Nation Alliance and snPink'tn Indian Band allows for a blend of traditional and western perspectives when working to undo past decisions.
Join city and Nation staff for this interactive tour to visit two different examples of environmental reclamation projects and hear about their successful collaboration, future steps to continue relationships on similar projects and lessons learned on persevering on complex municipal projects.
Participants will meet at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to board a chartered bus. The bus leaves at 2 p.m. and will return to the convention centre around 4:30 p.m, in time for the President's Welcome Reception at 5 p.m.
You are encouraged to dress comfortably for summer weather, wear walking shoes, and bring a reusable water bottle.
