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Upcoming Training and Events

Virtual Training: Financial Management for Elected Officials

This three-part virtual series will build your skills in budget review, financial decision-making, and communicating about financial matters. Ideal for those looking to strengthen their financial acumen.

Session Dates

Part I – Setting Operating and Capital Budget Priorities
Date: January 7, 2025 | Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

  • Legislative framework & Council’s role in municipal finance
  • Relationship between strategic plans & budget priorities
  • Identifying & setting priorities
  • Operating & Capital Budgets and Decision Making

Part II – Financial Statements and Reports
Date: January 9, 2025 | Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

  • Interpreting Financial Statements & Reports
  • Ensuring proper financial controls & understanding the Financial Condition Index

Part III – Monitoring Budgets
Date: January 14, 2025 | Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

  • Monitoring budgets and making appropriate adjustments
  • Asking staff the right financial questions
  • Communicating budget decisions to the public

Registration and Pricing:

  • Early Bird: $300 (if registered before December 24, 2024)
  • Regular Price: $375 (after December 24, 2024)

Register Now

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of meeting processes and financial management, and strengthen your leadership skills. We look forward to seeing you there!

Writing Effective Reports for Council and other Professional Documents

Delivery Method: Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $150 per participant

Purpose

To build skills in writing clear, professional, and effective reports to councils and other professional documents. Through instruction and practical examples, participants will learn key principles of effective report writing.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand and apply the key elements of effective report writing
  • Communicate complex information clearly and concisely
  • Draft and revise professional documents with clarity and purpose

Course Outline

Participants will be guided through the learning of the following modules:

  1. Understanding the key elements of municipal reports
    1. Overview of the fundamental structure
    2. Understanding the audience and purpose of municipal reports
  2. Communicating complex information clearly and concisely
    1. Simplifying complex data analysis, clear recommendations, accessible writing
  3. Drafting, revising, and formatting professional documents
    1. Editing tips (clarity, brevity, objectivity)
    2. Common formatting guidelines

Facilitator

Theresa Edem, Learning & Development Specialist, Talent Development Human Resources, Halifax

How to Register

Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your report-writing skills and enhance your professional impact.

Enhance Workplace Safety: Verbal De-escalation & Harm Reduction Training

Ridgeback Security

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Location: West Hants Area
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 PM
Cost: $100 per participant

Description 

This interactive training session is designed specifically for municipal administrators. Participants will learn practical skills and strategies to manage harassment and de-escalate challenging interactions in a variety of workplace settings. Whether interacting with members of the public, navigating difficult council discussions, or addressing internal workplace dynamics, this session equips employees with tools to reduce risk and foster mutual understanding.

Key training objectives include:

  • Setting clear boundaries for workplace safety and respectful public interactions
  • Practical application of verbal de-escalation tactics tailored for municipal settings
  • Managing conflict effectively to minimize workplace violence risks
  • Lockdown procedures for workplace emergencies
  • Scenario-based discussions to apply concepts in real-world situations
  • Best practices for incident recording and reporting

Facilitator

Christopher O’Brien, Principal – President, Ridgeback Security Inc.

How to Register