Atlantic Mayors Congress

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Three days. Four Atlantic provinces. One shared commitment to stronger municipalities. From September 18–20, municipal leaders from across Atlantic Canada gathered in Truro-Colchester, Nova Scotia, for the 2026 Atlantic Mayors’ Congress.

Hosted by the Municipality of the County of Colchester and the Town of Truro, the Congress brought together 40 speakers, panelists and attendees for candid conversations, practical insights and opportunities to strengthen relationships across the region.

This year's Congress tackled some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing Atlantic Canadian municipalities:

• Building Innovation Economies: How municipal governments can encourage innovation and drive economic growth.
• Community Energy Opportunities: Exploring local energy projects, partnerships and energy resilience.
• Indigenous-Municipal Partnerships: Strengthening collaboration and shared economic opportunities.
• Bridging the Trust Gap: Confronting harassment and incivility in local government.
• The Future of AMC: Exploring how the Congress can continue to evolve and deliver value to municipal leaders.

One particularly compelling discussion focused on harassment and incivility in local government. In a live survey, 17 of 18 respondents reported experiencing harassment or incivility connected to their municipal role — a powerful reminder of the importance of continuing this conversation.

We've prepared a short report capturing the key discussions, presentations and insights from this year's Congress, including the results of our interactive workshop on harassment and incivility. Read the report below.

Our sincere appreciation goes to Mayor Christine Blair and the Municipality of the County of Colchester, Mayor Cathy Hinton and the Town of Truro, our sponsor, Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET), University of Victoria, speakers and every delegate who contributed to the success of AMC 2026.

Next stop: Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador!

We're pleased to announce that the Atlantic Mayors’ Congress will return in 

September 2027 in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

We look forward to continuing the conversations, building connections and working together toward stronger municipalities and brighter tomorrows.

Questions?
Contact the Atlantic Mayors Congress at atlanticmayors@gmail.com.