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

Every council faces difficult moments. Disagreements happen. Emotions rise. Priorities compete for attention. Public pressure can intensify quickly, especially in smaller communities where decisions feel personal and can be highly visible. The real test of a Council is not whether conflict occurs, but whether the Councillors can recognize when they are drifting off course and act to find their collective way back. Good governance practices are the keel for the municipal “ship