Municipal Monitor Q2 2017 | Page 6

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M ESSAGE How do we design and maintain a Heritage Register? Aird & Berlis has the answer. Our Municipal and Land Use Planning Law Group is known for its practical, creative and cost-effective approach to navigating Ontario’s heritage legislation regime. We advise our clients on all aspects of the Ontario Heritage Act, providing a sound understanding of their obligations and opportunities. Tom Halinski | Practice Group Leader | 416.865.7767 airdberlis.com Second, it was my pleasure to represent AMCTO as your president at various meetings with provincial ministers and ministries, at our various collaborative association meetings, and with our sister organizations from the various provinces and internationally —bringing forward the concerns and the items that mattered most to all of us as municipal adminis- trators across the province. Although many of these items are moving targets and may take many years to come to fruition, you can rest assured that your incoming president will be more than capable of continuing to represent AMCTO. Third, I am extremely proud to have taken part in the inau- gural mentorship program. I do not believe that I can overstate the importance of mentoring for both the mentor and the mentee. I would encourage everyone to consider taking part in the mentorship program. The new and young professionals who have entered the realm of municipal administration are a group of extremely bright and talented individuals. It is in the best interest of AMCTO and our profession to provide the leadership and guidance to them in an effort to prepare them to continue on with the great tradition and professionalism established by AMCTO. Many of the original and previous gen- erations of new and young professionals have already become some of the most well-respected colleagues and peers in our association as well as in the municipal profession. I am quite confident that many of our latest batches of new and young professionals are poised to join them in the very near future. Finally, in anticipation of the 2017 spring zone meetings which are about to kick off in full, and as I begin my travels to the various zones once again, I look forward to seeing you all and reconnecting. I am also looking forward to meeting and seeing some new faces around the province. If I don’t get to see you at the spring zone meetings, I hope to have an opportunity to see you at our Annual General Meeting and Professional Development Institute in Huntsville later this June. In closing, I would like to reiterate once again what an honour and privilege it has been to serve as your president. I would like to thank all of you for your support, help and encouragement this past year. This truly was an amazing year and an unforgettable experience. Thanks to you, I have grown both personally and professionally and would encourage all of you to try to become more involved with AMCTO.  Civil / Municipal Land Development Environmental Solid Waste Management OTTAWA KINGSTON SUDBURY TIMMINS NORTH BAY HAWKESBURY GUELPH www.jlricha rds.ca 4 Q2 2017  www.amcto.com Urban & Regional Planning Geographic Information Systems Mechanical Electrical Structural Architecture