Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck is back from Ottawa after attending the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference held from May 29 to June 1. He says the trip left him feeling encouraged, recharged, and full of fresh ideas for Niverville.
"This was our federal conference for municipal leaders," said Dyck during this week's Town Council meeting.
While Dyck is quick to say Manitoba has great local networking opportunities through events like the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), the FCM conference stood out for its national focus.
“The theme this year was Stronger Together. And there was a lot of talk about the role of municipal leaders in national issues like U.S. tariffs, housing shortages, infrastructure funding, you name it. We’re the ones on the front lines. We're the ones residents see in the grocery store and gas station, so it’s our job to bring their concerns up to the bigger table.”
Networking with fellow Municipal leaders
One big benefit of the conference, Dyck added, was simply connecting with other mayors and councillors from across the country.
“There were over 3,000 leaders from all over Canada,” he said. “You start having those good conversations around dining room tables, waiting in breakfast lines, between sessions. It just reminds you that you're not alone; everyone is dealing with the same pressures. That alone helps lift your spirits.”
The conference also featured speeches from federal leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, and heads of other major political parties.
“We got to hear their thoughts, their plans. It’s important to know where the federal government stands on things like infrastructure and housing so we can align where possible or at least understand what’s coming,” Dyck noted.
Inclusive Housing and Green Funding
Taking a tour of the Wateridge District near Ottawa, which is a 310-acre redevelopment of a former Federal Air Force base, caught the mayor’s attention for its inclusive design. The development features a mix of million-dollar homes, affordable units, and supportive housing managed by organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Veterans Affairs.
“It’s all there, market housing, lower-market rent units, and non-profits working together. It’s a real community,” Dyck said. “Nine parks in 310 acres. And they’re doing it all under a local housing corporation model. That’s something we might explore here.”
He explained how municipalities can potentially set up a Community Development Corporation-style housing body that can apply for federal grants, such as through the Green Municipal Fund, to subsidize rent or support new builds. “It keeps the municipality at arm’s length while still meeting local housing needs,” he added.
Advocacy for Manitoba Funding
In addition to tours and networking, Dyck also used the trip to advocate for Niverville’s needs. He met with MP Ted Falk and discussed infrastructure funding, specifically the need for federal dollars to reach Manitoba municipalities in a timely and direct manner.
“There’s a funding stream called the Direct Stream, and the concern is that money earmarked for Manitoba is just sitting there. Municipalities like ours need access to it, whether it’s for road upgrades, sewer, water, or housing,” Dyck said. “We requested a meeting with the new Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Ken Robertson.”
What Comes Next?
There were also trade shows and study tours that showed off new technologies and ideas from road construction and wastewater systems to housing solutions and green funding programs.
“Your mind just starts spinning. You’re thinking, ‘How is this relevant to Niverville?’ And then you start seeing some ideas we might actually want to explore,” he said. “There’s a lot of innovation out there, things we haven’t thought of or just haven’t come across before.”
Dyck says he’s already begun organizing the ideas and information gathered into notes for future discussion with the rest of Council.
“I’ll be bringing this to our committee and forwarding it to our CAO. There are a few nuggets I definitely want us to look into, things like housing corporations and green municipal funding. I’ve collected some business cards and we’ll be following up.”
The mayor says that while not every idea picked up at a national conference will be a perfect fit for Niverville, the conversations and connections always make it worthwhile.
“One can feel a bit overburdened at times, wondering if you’re doing the right thing,” Dyck said. “But when you go to something like this and talk to other leaders who are in the trenches too, it really reenergizes you.”