Winnipeg, MB - Mayor Brian Bowman will join 21 Mayors from across Canada tomorrow and Friday as part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Big City Mayors' Caucus meeting in Ottawa.
“I look forward to meeting colleagues from across Canada to discuss issues of shared interest,” said Mayor Brian Bowman.
The Big City Mayors’ Caucus comprises a regionally representative group of FCM member cities. It meets two to three times a year to discuss shared issues and to reinforce FCM policy and advocacy agenda set by the National Board of Directors.
Big city mayors attending the meeting this week will discuss and receive updates on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report implementation, infrastructure, public safety and disaster mitigation, Syrian refugee resettlement, and climate change.
Last year in June, the Big City Mayors’ Caucus recognized the significant work of the TRC, and the FCM called upon municipalities to work toward implementation of five of the TRC’s Calls to Action relating to municipal governments.
As part of Mayor Brian Bowman declaring 2016 as the Year of Reconciliation for Winnipeg, Executive Policy Committee will review a report later this morning that supports the implementation of TRC Calls to Action relating to municipalities.
“Declaring 2016 as a Year of Reconciliation for Winnipeg builds on the important work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and will enable us to continue the dialogue and maintain our focus, as a community, to be more inclusive,” said Mayor Bowman.
“At this week’s meeting in Ottawa, I will also be discussing with my colleagues ways we can better share and learn what each of us is doing to promote racial inclusion and address the challenges of racism which are challenges we face across Canada.” “I also want to continue this discussion when the Federation of Canadian Municipalities meets in Winnipeg later this year.”
The FCM’s Annual Conference and Trade Show brings together over 1,500 people and is Canada’s largest gathering of municipal officials. Winnipeg is hosting this year’s annual conference which is scheduled for June 3-5, 2016 at the RBC Convention Centre.
The administrative report under consideration by Executive Policy Committee is available through the City of Winnipeg’s Decision Management Information System.