Municipal World recognizes 2025 Local Government Award honourees
The honourees of Municipal World’s 2025 Local Government Awards include Lisa Pastro (left), director of operations for Westbank First Nation; Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward (middle); and Rob Adams, CAO of the Town of Erin, Ont. (right).
The honourees of Municipal World’s 2025 Local Government Awards include a woman serving as director of operations in her home community in British Columbia; the mayor of a Southern Ontario city recognized as a leading voice for equity, civility, and safety in government; and a veteran CAO with more than three decades of municipal leadership experience.
The Local Government Awards combine Municipal World’s long-standing Women of Influence in Local Government Award with two newer awards: Mayor of the Year and CAO of the Year.
Women of Influence
The Women of Influence award, launched in 2019, celebrates women who have made significant contributions to the field – whether on the administrative or political side of life. The women recognized by this award have demonstrated grace under pressure, worked collaboratively, and lifted others up while pursuing positive change in their communities.
The honouree this year is Lisa Pastro, director of operations for Westbank First Nation, in B.C.
Pastro is an Indigenous governance specialist with more than a decade of experience in policy, operations, and leadership across B.C. In addition to her current role in Westbank First Nation, she also runs her own consulting firm.
Pastro oversees strategic planning, administration, and community services in her home community of Westbank. Her leadership focuses on balancing governance with cultural integrity.
“I was surprised. And while the award is an amazing thing, just knowing that my team did that [nominated her] in secret meant the world to me,” Pastro said. “Sometimes you wonder why you’re doing what you’re doing and then things like that happen and then you’re reminded why. It really meant a lot.”
Pastro was selected by a panel of judges who reviewed a shortlist of 10 finalists chosen from more than 40 nominations submitted by people in communities across Canada, including B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.
The Women of Influence award has recognized 23 remarkable individuals over the past six years, including 2024 honouree Sheilagh O’Leary, former deputy mayor of St. John’s, Nfld.; and 2023 honouree Rowena Santos, current regional councillor in Brampton, Ont.
In addition to Pastro being selected as the 2025 honouree, there were two honourable mentions this year: Christa Lowry, the mayor of Mississippi Mills, Ont.; and Randy Goulden, a city councillor in Yorkton, Sask.
Mayor of the Year
The Mayor of the Year award – launched in 2024 – is selected by the editors of Municipal World. This year’s honouree is Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
Meed Ward has served in elected office since 2010 and became mayor in 2018. She was re-elected for a second term in 2022. A former journalist and communications consultant, Meed Ward is known for her advocacy of civic engagement, responsible urban growth, and equity in government.
“I couldn’t be more humbled and proud at the same time,” Meed Ward said on being named mayor of the year. “It’s an enormous honour.”
Meed Ward credited her staff for making her work as mayor possible.
“I do nothing on my own,” Meed Ward said. “The good things happen because I have people who believe in the same things I believe in, and I am so lucky to have a team of staff that believe in me – but more importantly, they believe in the city and they believe what we can do for the good of the community.”
Meed Ward is a leading voice in the nonpartisan initiative Elect Respect, which she helped launch this year alongside members of Halton Elected Representatives. She is championing the campaign’s effort to promote equity, civility, and safety in government. The campaign is a response to the rising harassment of elected officials and seeks to foster respectful public discourse.
This is the second year for the Mayor of the Year award, and Meed Ward joins former Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek on the honour roll of recognition.
CAO of the Year
Also launched in 2024, Municipal World’s CAO of the Year award shines a spotlight on exemplary individuals who drive communities forward. This award recognizes outstanding dedication, innovation, and leadership in Canadian municipal governance.
The 2025 honouree is Rob Adams, CAO of the Town of Erin, Ont.
Adams was appointed CAO of Erin in March 2024. He’s known for blending strategic planning with community-focused governance, and his leadership style emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Prior to his current role, Adams served as CAO in the Ontario communities of Whitchurch-Stouffville and Grey Highlands. But, before his work on the staff side of local government, Adams served as a mayor and councillor in Orangeville, Ont., as well as the warden of Dufferin County for four terms.
He also founded Town Hall Consulting Inc., a boutique firm specializing in municipal strategy and leadership development.
“I was surprised. There are so many absolutely terrific CAOs out there who are building communities, solving problems, doing amazing things,” said Adams. “I still feel like I’m a rookie as a CAO in some ways.”
Adams was selected by a panel of judges who reviewed a list of 10 finalists drawn from two dozen nominations submitted by people in communities across Canada, including B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.
This is the second year for the CAO of the Year award, and Adams joins Pickering CAO Marisa Carpino on the list of honourees.
This year’s honourees will be featured in articles to be published in the December issue of Municipal World. The two Women of Influence honourable mentions will be receiving online articles posted to the Municipal World website this November.
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in: Recognizing key figures in local government.
Sean Meyer is digital content editor for Municipal World.
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