Education & Events

What Do We Offer?

At the AMA we recognize the value of education, training and development and the importance of having municipal government staff and elected officials who have the capacity to meet today's challenges.

To ensure that critical knowledge and skills required for municipal governance and administration are in place, AMANS assessed the current and future education, training and development needs of key positions within the municipalities across Nova Scotia.

Working in collaboration with municipal subject matter experts and professional curriculum developers, we designed the Municipal Management Modules to build capacity of established and aspiring municipal leaders in core areas such as:

• Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Legislation and Policy
• Financial Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Human Resource Management

Session Layout

Our Municipal Management Modules are designed specifically for: Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Managers and Directors, Mayors, Wardens, Deputies, Councillors and individuals aspiring to those positions. We provide participants with workbooks that outline all the content covered during the workshop and provide resources for on-going learning for after the module. Each workshop is limited to 30 participants and will be an immersive classroom environment. We believe that participants learn from each other so these workshops have been developed to be interactive using real life case studies and engaging group discussions.

Workshops Available

Below is a list of some of the modules that the AMA puts on. Check out Upcoming Events to see when the next module is being put on. For more information about these modules, please contact Andrea Jeffs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Leadership I - Leading in the Grey: Relationships, Decision Making & Innovation

This module is designed to improve leadership skills for Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Directors, Managers, Mayors/Wardens and Councillors. This module builds awareness on why leadership is different in the municipal sector, defines council/staff relations, and discusses what challenges municipal leaders face with innovation.

Leadership II: Communication and Change Leadership

This module is a skill-based training designed to enhance leadership skills of Nova Scotia's municipal administrators and elected officials by strengthening communication skills and exploring strategies to confidently and effectively manage change. Providing tools such as: building effective relationships with key stakeholders, being able to make fair and rational decisions all while building teams and upholding the standards for workplace culture.

Financial Management I: Strategy, Statements & Budgets for Municipal Managers

This module is designed to improve municipal administrators skills in reviewing financial statements and indicators, developing a long-term financial plan, and preparing operating and capital budgets.

Financial Management II: Policies, Processes and Control Systems for Managers

This module is designed to help you improve your skills in designing and implementing control systems, and administrative policies and procedures. You will learn about communicating financial information to council and negotiating contracts.

Financial Management III: Financial Management for Elected Officials

This module is designed to help you improve your skills in budget review, financial decisions, and communication about financial matters. It will build your awareness and understanding of priority-setting, and making financial decisions, among other skills. It is our hope that you will gain an increased confidence in performing council duties related to budget and finance such as:

• setting budget priorities
• establishing or revising taxation structure
• communicating financial conditions to the public
• identifying issues in financial statements and reports
• monitoring and implementation of the budget