Oct 7 | Oct 14 | Oct 21, 2026

9:00 am - 11:30 am

Course Overview:

A strong council-CAO relationship is fundamental to effective municipal governance.  This course equips municipal elected officials with the knowledge and practical tools to carry out council's role as the CAO's employer while maintaining clear governance and administrative boundaries.

Participants will explore council's legislative responsibilities, CAO recruitment and hiring, performance management, professional development, retention and leadership transitions.  The course also examines how council conduct, communication and collective decision-making can strengthen the relationship, support accountability and contribute to long-term organizational success.

Key Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand council's legal authority, responsibilities and limitations in the employment of the CAO
  • Distinguish the roles of council, the CAO and administration
  • Apply effective practices for CAO recruitment, hiring and onboarding and retention
  • Understand council's role in succession planning and CAO transitions
  • Recognize early signs of relationship strain and use practical governance tools to support accountability, consistency and trust.

Format:

This course, delivered via Zoom, combines expert instruction, group discussions, and applied exercises to explore the council-CAO relationship throughout the employment lifecycle.

Interactive discussions provide participants with opportunities to work through common governance challenges, exchange perspectives with municipal leaders across Alberta and consider how good governance practices can be applied at their own council tables.

Instructor:

Andrew Skeith is a municipal and employment lawyer with Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP.  He advises municipalities on governance, employment and human resources matters, bringing a legal perspective to council's responsibilities as the CAO's employer.

Al Kemmere served on Mountain View County Council from 2004-2021, including six years as Reeve, and as President of the Alberta Municipalities of Alberta from 2014-2026.  he brings extensive practical experience in municipal governance, council leadership and the council-CAO relationship.

Who should Attend?

Municipal elected officials who want to strengthen their understanding of council's responsibilities as the CAO's employer.


Schedule:

This course will be offered over three morning sessions over Zoom on:

  • Date: October 7 | October 14 | October 21
  • Time: 9:00 - 11:30 am
  • Course cost: $295 plus GST
  • Location: VIRTUAL

Participants must attend all three sessions to receive credit for completing the course. 

For more information on this course, visit the  eoep Website

Attendance Expectations

To get the most out of our courses, full attendance is required. Here’s how we handle attendance:

Virtual Courses:

  • Participants must attend all sessions. Up to 30 minutes of absence across all sessions is permitted for personal or business reasons.
  • Attendance is tracked by login records and participation. Technical issues must be reported immediately to ensure attendance credit. 

Cancellation and Refund Timelines

We aim to provide flexibility while maintaining fairness. Here’s how cancellations are handled:

Cancellation More Than 7 Days Before the Course Date:

  • A refund will be issued, minus a $50 cancellation fee.

Cancellation Between 7 Days and 48 Hours Before the Course Date:

  • Virtual Courses: A refund will be issued, minus a $50 cancellation fee.
  • In-Person Courses: Half of the registration fee will be refunded, minus a $50 cancellation fee.

Cancellation Less Than 48 Hours Before the Course Date:

  • No refunds are available for cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance or for no-shows.

Visit eoep.ca for more details.