Local Government Week - October 21-25, 2024
Local Government Week is an opportunity to educate students and communities on the important role of municipal government and its potential to create positive, lasting change in Ontario communities.
Municipal governments provide important public services that people depend on every day and are the government closest to the people. Local governments have tremendous ability to impact the issues that youth are most concerned with today including housing, homelessness, climate change, equity, and economic opportunity.
AMO’s Local Government Week Toolkit
AMO has developed a Local Government Week toolkit for municipalities. This year's toolkit theme promotes local governments and residents alike as changemakers who have the ability and skillset to make a difference in their communities.
The toolkit includes:
• A template public notice/media release about Local Government Week that can be customized to your community
• Four social media graphics and social post text sized for X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
• We encourage you to use the toolkit alongside your own content.
AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project
AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project is a four-year, $1 million investment to renew local democracy. The project’s aspirations include working to:
• Attract more diverse candidates to municipal office.
• Support elected officials to be equity-informed leaders.
• Promote more respect for the people engaged in democratic processes.
• Encourage greater participation in local democracy and an increase in voter turnout.
• Promote greater civic engagement and greater awareness of the role of municipal government.
AMO launched this work by conducting Canada’s first ever study of municipal candidates’ electoral experiences to learn what helps and what hinders their success, particularly for those with diverse backgrounds.
• Please explore this research: Mapping the Experiences of Diverse Candidates Running for Municipal Office in Ontario
More Local Government Week Resources
AMO is working with a variety of partners to promote the importance of local government and healthier democracy.
• The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association has a variety of resources about local government week and the important role of school board trustees. They have created and shared resources to facilitate in-person and virtual sessions with students in Grade 5 or 10 classrooms.
• The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) has created resources for Local Government Week that AMCTO members can use to encourage engagement and initiate conversations about the various roles and opportunities that exist, and the value of working in local government.
• Learn more about local government on AMO's Municipal 101 pages.
• Civix - A national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
- Student Vote - Student Vote uses the election as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. Student Vote is a program of CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
AMO’s Youth Fellowship Program
A centerpiece of AMO’s approach to youth engagement is AMO’s Youth Fellowship Program. This work-integrated learning opportunity provides three young people from across Ontario who are interested in municipal politics, with an opportunity to connect with Ontario’s most influential municipal advocacy organization.
Participants engage with AMO’s governing Board of Directors, receive mentorship from an AMO Board member, have firsthand insight into the critical municipal issues of the day and the policy development process that supports Ontario’s municipalities. AMO Youth Fellows also have front row seats as AMO engages important advocacy mechanisms and approaches in supporting their membership.
The 2025 Youth Fellows application period is now open. The deadline for applications is on or before Tuesday, October 29 at 10 p.m. Please find all the information you need to apply on this information sheet.
