AMANS 2022 SPRING CONFERENCE

Join our exhibitors for a morning networking session and a chance to win some prizes from other municipalities.

Food is essential for life, but we often take it for granted. Recently we have seen the cost of food increase to new heights. Many Nova Scotians are looking to reduce their grocery bill and the amount of food they throw out. Join Alain Bosse, the Kilted Chef and Peter Chapman, the guy with the shopping cart, to learn how you can do more with less. They will share culinary skills and insights into our food industry to help you save money and eat better. Alain and Peter will also uncover some hidden gems and old favourites produced right here in Nova Scotia. They will share the inside secrets of these products and how you can use them in your house. You will never think about food and grocery shopping the same way again!

Join our exhibitors for a morning networking session and some light snacks.

We encourage you to stretch your legs and take a walk around the Oak Island property. Be sure to return to the Bluenose Room before 1:00pm for the Sharing of Local Municipal Innovation session.

Science has shown that humans regularly make counterintuitive and seemingly irrational decisions, basing these decisions on factors other than facts and rational arguments. As such, their behaviour can make a huge difference in how governments work. Behavioural science, which combines insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and other fields, is the study of mental shortcuts and biases that impact decision-making. Governments around the world have begun to use this knowledge to better design and deliver services to benefit their constituents. In this session, Mike Davis, will introduce you to several key behavioural science concepts, and they can be employed to tackle a wide range of problems faced by local governments. He will profile some of the low-cost behavioural "nudges" that Davis Pier has designed for governments in the areas of public health, environmental management, regulatory compliance, digital services, and financial assistance.

Who is ready to unwind, socialize and play in the AMA Washer Toss Tournament? Pre-registration was required for Washer Toss. Your partner for the tournament will be picked at random. It will be up to you and your new teammate to avoid walking the plank (single knockout) in hopes of winning the treasure! Don’t worry this event will not interfere with the offsite activities, dinner or the hospitality suite. In fact, it will enhance the day with free, competitive entertainment. Those that are not interested in competing are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, enjoy the bonfire and cheer on your municipal colleagues. Perhaps we can get enough of a crowd to start the wave! Thinkdox is kindly sponsoring this event.

Local environmental stewardship and conservation activities occur in a context that includes environmental, social, economic, political and geographic forces. The success of these environmental stewardship initiatives is not a given. They face barriers such as rapid environmental change, social and market pressures, and competing political priorities. This panel will discuss the enablers and barriers to successful local environmental stewardship and potential solutions that might help others overcome their challenges.

An interactive session on how living in a world class region can affect our professional goals, our community growth and our mental and physical well-being. There’s no denying that these last few years have been challenging in ways we never could have imagined and through this presentation, we’ll collectively examine how the path forward can lead to greater resiliency, curiosity, and appreciation for the gift of living in such an amazing place. **This session will take place outside - weather permitted. We strongly encourage you to wear active clothing and comfortable shoes. We will be meeting in the Bluenose A&B before we head outside as a group.

Must be in attendance to win.