Reflections from the 2025 LGP Conference
Sponsored by Western University Local Government Program Alumni Conference Committee
Reducing red tape and finding new ways to improve local communities was the focus of the recent Western University Local Government Program (LGP) Alumni Conference.
About 200 leaders and future leaders in local government, as well as scholars in public administration, came together at the conference held at RBC Place Nov. 13-14, 2025, in London, Ont.
The event promotes vibrant discussions on current topics by integrating both academic perspectives and practitioner experiences. And it serves as a platform to examine pressing issues facing local government and to encourage collaboration and networking throughout the sector.
This year’s conference was guided by the theme, “Less Red Tape, More Duct Tape: Improving, Growing and Powering Our Communities.” This theme recognized the drive among local government professionals to:
- advance initiatives
- enhance programs
- improve services
- enrich the lives of the communities they serve
Yet, these efforts are often complicated by rapidly changing circumstances:
- provincial legislation may shift overnight
- regulations can evolve midstream
- new fiscal realities may arise
- priorities often shift before projects can effectively be completed
In Case You Missed It
Day 1 kicked off with a reception designed to help attendees unwind, connect, and strengthen professional and academic communities.
The atmosphere was abuzz with anticipation as alumni, municipal leaders, and guests rekindled old friendships and forged new ones over refreshments and yard games. The evening featured opening remarks from the LGP Alumni Society, a program update from Program Director Joe Lyons, and, of course, Dr. Andy Sancton’s much-anticipated Booklist, a tradition that never fails to spark lively debate and thought-provoking conversations.
Day 2 was a full day of learning through panel discussions and presentations on the evolving role of municipalities in:
- land use planning and development
- the changing energy landscape in Ontario
- the multi-level government response to homelessness and encampment challenges
- personal stories of the decline of decorum and public discourse
Attendees also received exciting research updates on the Canadian Municipal Barometer Research Project and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Municipal Workforce Development Project.
Improving, Growing, Powering Communities
This year’s theme resonated throughout as presenters and participants alike shared innovative approaches to tackling opportunities and challenges in local government.
We’re living in a time where the connection between those who study local government and those who work in local government is more important than ever. Increasingly, policy decisions seem disconnected from what research, data, and academic rigor are telling us. This makes it incumbent upon those working in the municipal sector to remain committed to evidence-based decision making and policy design – and to pay attention to emerging research related to local government.
Attendees departed with renewed commitment to evidence-based policymaking, stronger ties to both academia and practice, and actionable ideas to take back to their communities.
Sincere thanks are extended to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s conference, especially the panelists and presenters and, of course, the generous sponsors and the planning committee. See you in 2026.
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Greg Crone’s editorial: “Swiftnomics” underlines need for municipal fiscal reform.
Morgan Calvert is the CAO of the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe.
Nicole Cooper is the Deputy CAO of the Town of Ajax.
Together, they co-chaired the 2025 Local Government Program Alumni Conference.
Related resource materials: