The NSFM Conference will be held from November 3^rd – 6^th at the Westin Hotel in Halifax.

The conference program will be available towards the end of Summer - more details to come!

Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting? Contact Judy Webber, Director of Events and Member Development jwebber@nsfm.ca 

Book your accommodations now!

The full program and registration will be available when the conference website launches later this Summer. In the meantime, here are some key dates to help with accommodations planning:

• Tuesday, November 3:  possible pre-conference session tbc (3:00–5:00 p.m.); Meet and Greet Reception (7:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, November 4: Conference officially opens in the morning @ 8:30 a.m. - sessions until 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, November 5: Sessions 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - banquet that evening
• Friday, November 6: Conference concludes at noon

Host Conference Hotel – The Westin Nova Scotian Hotel

The block of rooms is now available for booking at the Westin. Our accommodations are in high demand and the room block will fill quickly. The Westin will hold the block until October 2^nd 2026.

Room rates range from $185 - $195 ++ per night.

Please use THIS BOOKING LINK to book your room.

If you prefer to call: 1-866-761-3513 – between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Monday through Friday. Please indicate that you are attending the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Conference to receive our conference rate.

Optional Hotels – no block at these hotels, but they’ve offered government rate to NSFM

Cambridge Suites Halifax

Single $179 ++ I Double $ 189 ++ (Government Rate)

Call 1-800-565-1263 and ask for the government rate - be sure to have your municipal government ID available when checking in.

Prince George Hotel

Single: $ 198 ++ I Double: $208 ++ (Government Rate)

Call 1-800-565-1567 and ask for the government rate - be sure to have your municipal government ID available when checking in.

Once these hotels are full there are several other options available in Halifax. Click here for an easy reference link.  NSFM does not have room blocks at these hotels.

Accommodations

The NSFM 2026 Spring Conference will take place at the Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth, NS, from April 29^th to May 1^st. Accommodations are now open for booking.

The event will kick off with a Meet & Greet reception at 7:30 p.m. on April 29^th and will wrap up at Noon on May 1^st. Our program is currently being finalized. Tentatively, sessions will feature topics such as:

• Municipal Success Stories
• Dark Skies & Astro Tourism
• Stormwater Strategy
• Harnessing AI for Better Local Government
• Update on the Policing Review
• Emergency Measures Office
• …and more

Please watch the Monday Memo for updates as the program is confirmed and as the conference website launches with full details and registration information. We look forward to welcoming you to Yarmouth!

Rodd Grand Hotel Yarmouth – Main Venue

• Rates: $ 119 to $ 129++ - (Block held until March 31^st, 2026)
• Identify that you wish to book a room under the group block name “NSFM” April 28 to May 01, 2026

Booking Confirmation Number - 1885573

• Call The RoddGrandYarmouth direct at 902-742-2446 or call toll-free reservations at 1-800-565-RODD (7633).
• Booking link – https://reservations.travelclick.com/85514?groupID=4834562
• Guest room enquiries should be directed to our front desk team at grand@roddvacations.comor our front desk manager Blaze Winship at  bwinship@roddvacations.comor by calling the front desk at 902-742-2446.

Comfort Inn Yarmouth

• Rates: $ 139 and $149++ (Block held until March 29^th, 2026)
• Call: 902-742-1119
• Booking link https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/EF79F4

Tru by Hilton Yarmouth

• Rates: $ 131 ++ (Block held until March 30^th, 2026)
• Call 1-902-881-8787 and dial “0” to reach front desk
• Booking Code 90W, NSFM and the dates of the stay

Interested in sponsoring? Contact Judy Webber, Director of Events and Member Development jwebber@nsfm.ca 

Session Presentations:

pdf Presentation #6 Nov 5 3pm Commonwealth Policing Erin Nauss(323 KB)

pdf Presentation # 7 Nov 5 3pm Commonwealth Policing Virginia Brooke(177 KB)

pdf Presentation #8 Engagement Success Stories Comm A 4pm Elspeth McLean Wile(883 KB)

pdf Presentation # 9 Nov 5 4pm Commonwealth Engagement Success Stories Megan Wludyka(5.09 MB)

pdf Presentation # 15 Nov 6 345pm Commonwealth BIG Roger Tatlock(142 KB)

pdf Presentation #17 Nov 6 345 pm Harbour Suites Legal Support Noella Martin(309 KB)

pdf Presentation #21 Nov 7 9am Commonwealth Social Media Patrick Hirtle David Mitchell(2.21 MB)

pdf Presentation #22 Nov 7 9am Tradewinds DEIA Shruti Gola(572 KB)

pdf Presentation #23 nov 7 11am commonwealth mental health david mitchell lisa didiomizio(472 KB)

pdf CRCC Presentation Policing Panel NSFM(528 KB)

pdf Nova Scotia Health AccessWellness Pamphlet(1.69 MB)

pdf Success Stories on Engagement New Glasgow(132 KB)

pdf UBI Councillor Belle Hatfield(240 KB)

Live Illustrations of Sessions:

Fireside Chat with the Honourable Claudia Chender - Video Link

Fireside Chat with the Honourable John A. MacDonald - Video Link

Governance and Oversight in Nova Scotia Policing - Video Link

Keynote - One Peace Won't Hurt - Video Link

Municipal Success Stories Engagement that Works - Video Link

NSFM Emerging Issues - Video Link

NSFM’s Monthly Lunch & Learn Series

 

OCTOBER 2026

Municipal Fraud Research

Municipal councillors play an important role in supporting accountability, oversight and good governance; yet fraud-related responsibilities are not always clearly understood. This session shared findings from Exploring Fraud Responsibility: A Municipal Perspective, a research project examining how councillors, mayors, senior municipal staff and community representatives understand fraud risk and responsibility in municipal settings. Drawing on interviews with municipal stakeholders across Canada, the session highlighted key insights related to fraud awareness, council’s oversight role, audit committees, communication with staff and auditors and more. Participants learned from the experiences and perspectives of others working in municipal contexts and left with practical takeaways, including common pitfalls, best practices and questions councillors can ask to help strengthen municipal governance.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, October 15
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenters:

Zac Konings - Assistant Professor at Acadia University and PhD Candidate at Saint Mary’s University.
Jane Fraser - Assistant Professor at St. Francis University and PhD Candidate at Saint Mary’s University.
Natalia Kochetova - Professor of Accounting and Auditing at Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University.

 

SEPTEMBER 2026

Using the Sustainable Development Goals to Advance Our Local Agendas

In 2015, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an ambitious vision to guide global action on the urgent economic, social, and environmental challenges facing our planet.
Since their adoption, the SDGs have increasingly gained attention from municipal leaders as a useful way to connect municipal and community efforts around shared sustainability goals. Municipalities from around the world have used the SDGs to help make local sustainability efforts more comprehensive and coordinated.
While it is well understood that for the SDGs to be successful we must ‘localize’ them, they do not offer much direction on how to operationalize or integrate them into institutional or corporate processes. In the municipal context, this means finding ways to integrate the SDGs into governance, planning, budgeting, and program implementation.
This session was presented by Local Futures, to learn more about the SDGs, how cities around the world are finding value in using them, and opportunities for Canadian municipalities to use the SDGs to advance local agendas.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenters:

Jon Beale and Laura Carr-Pries with Local Futures

  To view Webinar (Click Here) 

 

JULY 2026

Beyond the Ballot: Rethinking Women's Inclusion in Municipal Politics

This session explored why women politicians are leaving office earlier than men at other levels of Canadian government, with a focus on how these questions apply at the local level. This discussion was particularly relevant in Nova Scotia, where many notable women—especially those in mayoral positions—have publicly shared their experiences with discrimination and harassment while serving in office. The presenters examined women’s tenure in local office to better understand what drives women out of politics and how communities can address these challenges and improve women’s retention.

The session focused on: 
1) capturing the barriers and challenges that women face in municipal office; 
2) understanding how these experiences affect women’s willingness to seek re-election and their outcomes in those contests; and 
3) considering policies and programs that could help improve women’s retention in local government. 

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, July 16
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenter:

Dr. Rebecca Wallace, Mila Mulroney Research Chair in Women and Politics - Assistant Professor, Political Science, St. Francis Xavier University

 

JUNE 2026

Calculating Insurance Premiums (A.K.A. What You Need to Know)

Premiums for your commercial, property, casualty, cyber, and Auto  insurance are a significant expense on the municipal budget. Often, the mindset is that there is a sense of mystique around how premiums are determined and that all of the factors are beyond your control, so you just have to pay it.

Have you ever wondered how insurance premiums are calculated? What are the factors that go into influencing the insurance premium that you pay? What might be some things that you as a leader or as a staff person can do to influence the premiums that your municipal unit pays? The session enhanced members overall understanding of this important aspect of their risk management strategy and discussed the topic areas itemized below. There was also questions around premiums, their calculations, and industry trends.

• Amount of the deductible
• Claims history and outstanding/probable claims
• Economic factors
• Fire alarm and life safety equipment on hand
• Level of coverage
• Market conditions
• Number of employees
• Organizational income 
• The nature of your activity and the growing scope of municipal activity
• The value of your physical assets

This session was co-presented by the NSFM Municipal Insurance Program, which is a comprehensive insurance program serving municipal units within the broader municipal sector in Nova Scotia since 1995.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, June 18
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Guest Speaker:

Peter Fraser, BBA, CAIB, CIP, Senior Account Executive, Gallagher

  To view Webinar (Click Here)

 

MAY 2026

Understanding Human Rights, Presented by HR Covered

Elected municipal officials play a critical role in upholding human rights through governance, decision‑making, and public leadership. This webinar focused on Understanding Human Rights and how human rights obligations apply specifically to elected officials in the municipal context.

This session provided a practical, accessible overview of key human rights principles, with an emphasis on the responsibilities and risks faced by councils, mayors, wardens, and other elected leaders. The presentation explored how human rights considerations intersect with council conduct, policy development, motions, public engagement, and municipal decision‑making.

What Members Learned:

• A broad overview of human rights legislation and protected grounds relevant to elected officials
• An understanding of how human rights issues can arise through council actions, decisions, and public interactions
• Practical context for recognizing and mitigating human‑rights‑related risks in governance
• Greater awareness of individual and collective responsibilities when serving in elected municipal roles

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, May 20
• Time: 12:00–1:00 PM
  

Guest Speaker:

Darcy Michaud, CHRL

 To view Webinar (Click Here)

 

MARCH 2026

NSFM Lunch and Learn - 2025 Nova Scotia Mental Wellness Survey

Explored early insights from the 2025 Nova Scotia Mental Wellness Survey, drawing on over 13,000 responses from communities across Nova Scotia.

In this session, they shared key findings, discussed what they could mean for municipalities, and explored how this data can support planning at the local level. They also introduced their upcoming project and highlight opportunities to get involved.

Members were able to join the conversation on using data and shared knowledge to support mental wellness in communities across Nova Scotia.

WellNS Research (WellNS) is an interdisciplinary team of researchers working to advance mental wellness and substance use health in Nova Scotia. The team conducts population-level, evidence-informed research to examine trends in mental wellness and needs across communities over time.

WellNS’s mandate is to generate and analyze data on mental wellness across geographic, demographic, and social dimensions. This evidence supports policy development, program planning, service design, workforce development, and the ongoing evolution of needs-based planning for mental health and substance use health in Nova Scotia.

WellNS’s work is carried out through collaborative research, strategic partnerships, and sustained community engagement, ensuring the data produced is relevant, credible, and responsive to the needs of communities and decision-makers. 

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, March 12
• Time: 2:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Guest Speakers:

Rebecca Todd Research Project Community Coordinator, CBU School of Nursing
Jenna MacQueen Research Manager, Nova Scotia Health's Research Innovation and Discovery

 To view Webinar (Click Here)

 

FEBRUARY 2026

Integrating Meaningful Access from the Ground Up: Strategies for Preconstruction

This session explored how to embed meaningful access into new construction projects from the outset. Using the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program as a framework, they discussed practical strategies for navigating complex design and development processes – including stakeholder alignment, legislative requirements, site constraints, and budget pressures. 

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 18
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AST

Guest Speakers:

Uli Egger Sr. Specialist, Strategic Partnerships & Outreach Rick Hansen Foundation
Henry Chen Principal Architect Hygge Architecture

To view Webinar (Click Here)

 

JANUARY 2026

Advancing DEIA: Tailoring your Approach to Fit your Municipality

This Lunch & Learn session explored how municipalities can advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in ways that reflect their unique communities. Led by Shruti Gola Taraschi-Carr, Director of Race Relations, Equity, and Inclusion (secondment, Office of Equity and Race Relations), the session outlined key legal rights and responsibilities under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act and highlighted practical approaches to building on existing DEIA efforts. Participants gained insight into assessing diversity at the council table and how targeted DEIA training can strengthen confidence when engaging with diverse community voices.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, January 14
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AST

Guest Speakers:

Shruti Gola Taraschi-Carr Director, Race Relations, Equity and Inclusion Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
Luke Power Director of Community Engagement & Evaluation Office of Equity and Anti-Racism

To view Webinar (Click Here) 

 

NOVEMBER - 2025

Nova Scotia's Air: What We Do and Why it is Important - Department of Environment and Climate Change

This presentation covered the province's activities with respect to monitoring and regulation, including in response to the recent Long Lake wildfire, and looked at plans for future air quality protection. The Department covered:

• Air quality and health (general/new standards/touching on planning)
• Air quality monitoring (Nova Scotia monitoring stations)
• Air quality and wildfire response
• General – what we do in the Air Quality Unit (monitoring/regulation)

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, November 19
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AST

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Christina Wells
Air Quality Manager Department of Environment and Climate Change, Province of Nova Scotia

To view Webinar (Click Here) 

 

OCTOBER - 2025

Harassment in the Workplace Regulations - The Safety Branch of Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration

The Safety Branch of Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration were pleased to work with The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities to provide members with an informative webinar on the new Harassment in the Workplace regulations, which came into effect on September 1, 2025.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, October 22
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Guest Speaker:

Eve Webster
Senior Director, Compliance and Inspection Services Labour, Skills & Immigration - Safety Branch

To view Webinar (Click Here) and to view the Presentation (Click Here)

 

NSFM Lunch and Learn with Nova Scotia Power - Renewable Energy and Nova Scotia's Path to 2030

We’re on a path to building a cleaner, greener energy future for our province. It’s why we’re moving off coal and working to reach 80% renewable energy by 2030. Like any goal worth striving for, there is a lot to consider. It’s critical that we listen to and engage with our customers, stakeholders, and communities across the province as we work to build a greener Nova Scotia, together. 

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, October 8
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Members were able to join NSFM in welcoming Nova Scotia Power, your 2025 Conference Presenting Sponsor, on October 8th. 

Guest Speakers:

Martin Rovers
Project Director, Clean Energy Strategy Nova Scotia Power
Emily MacNeil
Senior Manager, Government Relations Nova Scotia Power 

 

JULY - 2025

Community Health Boards (CHB) Launch New Five-Year Plan

Staff supporting Nova Scotia’s 35 CHB were excited to share highlights from their newly released Community Health Plans for 2025–2029. Developed with input from over 6,700 Nova Scotians, the plans outline five key priorities:

• Access to affordable basics (food, housing, transportation)
• Active living and social connection
• Healthy natural and built environments
• Local access to services and supports
• Mental wellness

Members were able to join the CHB team for a virtual overview and learn how municipalities can support healthier, more connected communities.

• Wednesday, July 16
• 12:00–1:00 PM ADT

To view Webinar (Click Here)

 

JUNE - 2025

Deer Governance in Nova Scotia

Members were able to join Tricia Fleming, Human-Wildlife Coexistence Biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, for an overview of deer-related issues facing municipalities.

The session covered key topics including deer biology and behaviour, human-deer conflict, and strategies for developing a municipal deer governance approach. Participants also learned about the respective roles of DNR and municipalities, data collection and management options, and where to find useful, NS-specific resources. This free one-hour online session was designed to help elected officials and staff better understand the tools and partnerships available to support effective local deer management. Tricia has been working in this role since December 2021 and is also a wildlife veterinarian.

Note: This session was not recorded by request of the Department

• June 18 @ 12 Noon

 

MAY - 2025

We kicked off our new monthly Lunch & Learn virtual sessions with Trade Shifts and Economic Outlook, a follow-up to our popular March session with CIBC Economist Andrew Grantham.

Andrew provided an update on the changing US trade environment, President Trump’s tariff policies, and the implications for Canada and Nova Scotia. He also discussed rising recession risks both globally and in North America, expected monetary and fiscal policy responses, and whether there is any positive outlook for our local economy amid these shifts.

To view Webinar (Click Here).

This was the first of many Lunch & Learn virtual sessions from NSFM — stay tuned for more!