When people hear the word governance, they often think of policies, procedures, bylaws, and meeting agendas. While those things certainly matter, they are only part of the picture. At the heart of great governance is something much simpler: trust. Trust is what allows organizations to move forward with confidence, build strong relationships, and make difficult decisions. And trust is built through ethical leadership. Simply put, ethics and governance go hand-in-hand. You can

The past ten years have seen enormous growth of indigenous populations in the major cities of Atlantic Canada. Dating back to the Peace & Friendship treaties of the 18th century, indigenous groups and municipalities have co-existed, in some form or another, for nearly 300 years, however it took the advent of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report to move from co-existence to partnership. Historically, indigenous peoples have been excluded from the decisio

In Animal Farm, George Orwell famously wrote that “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” or something close to that. While Orwell’s point was rooted in political critique, there is an interesting parallel in how we operate within local government. Formally, every member of council is equal around the table. In practice, however, relationships, influence, and structural realities create distinctions that matter a great deal, particularly in the relationsh