Overview:

Part two of our three-part webinar series on Municipal Service Corporations will feature a panel discussion with municipal leaders from across Ontario who are currently developing MSCs, have recently committed to establishing one, or are already operating under this governance model. These individuals represent the forefront of municipal innovation and bring valuable firsthand experience to share with peers across the province.

This webinar offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from practitioners about:

1. The decision-making processes behind launching an MSC
2. Challenges encountered and how they were addressed
3. Operational insights and outcomes to date

We strongly encourage attendance by municipal staff, board members, and council representatives who are considering, or are curious about, the creation of a Municipal Service Corporation.Please also extend this invitation to your local colleagues and professional networks—this is an important and timely conversation that stands to benefit municipalities of all sizes.

Host:

Ed Houghton
OMWA Executive Director

Ed Houghton has more than 45 years of experience in both water and municipal-utility experience, as the long-time President and CEO of Collus PowerStream Corp. and Collingwood Public Utilities and the Executive Director of the OMWA since 2015.In 2012, while he was still with the Collingwood Public Utilities, Ed was the recipient of the OMWA Exceptional Merit Award, presented to the individual who has made an important contribution to the waterworks sector over an extended period of time. For distinguished service to the water-supply field, in 2005, Ed was recognized with the most prestigious award for water in North America – the George Warren Fuller Award.As the Executive Director of the Ontario Municipal Water Association, Ed has emphasized, to all that will listen, that OMWA is here because of our members and that our goal is to assist our member municipal professionals to be the best that they can be and to provide Ontario citizens with exceptional water, wastewater and stormwater services.

Panelists:

Byron Tan
Manager, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd.

Byron joined the firm in 2013 and has over a decade of experience with assisting municipalities on various financial-related studies. To date, Byron has undertaken over 60 water and wastewater rate studies, water financial plan reporting (O. Reg. 453/07), over 120 development charge studies, asset management studies, reserve and reserve fund policy reviews, and fiscal impact assessments for municipalities and is the firm’s water and wastewater lead. Byron has been qualified as an expert witness in municipal finance and land economics on numerous occasions for appeal matters at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).Byron holds a B.A. (Honours) degree in Economics and a Master of Business Economics from Brock University.

Hilda MacDonald
Mayor, Municipality of Leamington

Hilda MacDonald was elected Mayor of Leamington on October 22, 2018 and is currently serving her second term in the role. Mayor MacDonald served as Leamington’s Deputy Mayor for one term and as a Leamington Councillor for two terms. On November 23, 2022, Mayor MacDonald was elected Warden of Essex County and is the first woman to hold the position since it was established in 1853.  For a number of years, Mayor MacDonald worked as a branch supervisor for the Essex County Library, Ruthven branch, before leaving to open a business in Uptown Leamington that she owned and operated for 10 years.   Presently, Mayor MacDonald sits on Essex County Council and is chair of the Union Water Supply System Joint Board of Management. She also serves on the boards of: Essex Powerlines Corporation, Leamington Police Services, the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island, Uptown Leamington Business Improvement Area, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, ProsperUs Leadership Council, and the AMO Social Policy and Human Services Transformation Task Force. Known for her honesty and fairness, Mayor MacDonald is not afraid to take a stand. She has a heart for her community. She understands the issues and the challenges facing Leamington, but she also recognizes the fine attributes of her hometown

REGISTER TODAY!