Cross-Functional Municipal Teams Graduate Asset Management Professional Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MISSISSAUGA, May 26, 2022 – PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada and Northern Lakes College congratulate the group of municipal practitioners who have recently graduated from the special delivery of the Asset Management Professional (AMP) program for cross-functional municipal teams.
The AMP program, comprised of six courses, is delivered through Northern Lakes College. It introduces participants to the latest in strategic asset management thinking while building organizational capacity for excellence in Asset Management. Designed for mid-career professionals and senior management from a variety of roles including IT, business management and finance, participants build their knowledge and skills while familiarizing themselves with strategic decision-making tools at each stage of the asset lifecycle.
In 2020 PEMAC was selected for the second time, by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to provide asset management training to municipal practitioners. The Municipal Asset Management Program is an eight-year, $110 million initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.
The participating cohorts of 126 municipal practitioners from over 50 municipalities of all sizes across ten provinces, have started their learning journey together through the AMP program beginning in fall 2020 through spring 2022. In April, over 60 of these practitioners from 34 municipalities successfully completed the full program and are now eligible for the Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP) designation.
“PEMAC was pleased to welcome another group of cross-functional teams from municipalities across Canada who applied for the program with the stated goal to work together to strengthen their understanding of Asset Management and to meaningfully improve the Asset Management practices of their municipality. We are thrilled to see that the knowledge gained throughout the program is being applied, as these professionals work to implement process improvements and more strategic decision-making tools. They join a growing list of recognized Certified Asset Management Professionals, and they should be very proud of their accomplishments,” shares Cindy Snedden, Executive Director, PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada.
Course One of the programs began in fall 2020 as a five-day live online course during this special offering. Participants gained an overview of the essentials of Asset Management in the context of ISO 5500x and identified opportunities for application of Asset Management concepts in their municipality to realize value and increase the level of service. Cohorts completed the remaining five courses in an asynchronous online format. Each ten-week long course focused on a key subject area. The program culminated in a final Capstone project that allowed participants to apply their learning through topics such as leadership, culture, lifecycle activities, risk management, knowledge management and so much more.
“The Asset Management Professional program has strengthened my understanding of how to achieve our asset management objectives,” shares Philip Lawlor, Manager of Treatment Plant Maintenance at the Regional Municipality of Halton. “I appreciated the all-around support provided by the PEMAC and Northern Lakes College, and the opportunity to collaborate with other municipal staff throughout the shared learning journey. Applying what I have learned in the program, it’s exciting to see the region’s Asset Management capability increase, especially though an optimized Maintenance Management strategy to enhance the condition of core infrastructure to align with strategic asset management plans.”
“This program has provided an excellent understanding of what Asset Management truly means, and what it takes to develop an effective AM program,” states Cindy King, Asset Management Analyst, Haldimand County. “The training opportunity provided by PEMAC and supported through an initiative delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada, has provided great value not only to our municipality, but also to our community. Participation from practitioners from various employment backgrounds, the online teaching format and the course discussion style, along with the instructors’ invaluable knowledge, expertise and support, delivered an exceptional educational experience that will lay a solid foundation in the development of our municipality’s AM program and my asset management career.”
A key element to the success of participants in the program, and improvements for municipalities beyond, is the support from municipal leadership. Encouraging participants through the program, with the willingness to consider the new knowledge, is one way. Another way is for senior management to participate in the program along with their teams.
“Participating in the AMP program has given myself and our team, the tools to make our municipality more sustainable and provided a vision for the future,” notes Kim Dalton, Director of Public Works Cypress County.
“Northern Lakes College wishes the graduates of the Asset Management Professional program continued success. Our longstanding work with PEMAC in the delivery of asset and maintenance training is truly an outstanding partnership. Together, with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities initiative, we have the opportunity to assist municipalities to build capacity and excellence in relation to asset management practices. Northern Lakes College endeavours to increase access to educational opportunities, regardless of learners’ locations, and we are proud to provide this special offering of the Asset Management Professional program,” comments Dr. Glenn Mitchell, President & CEO, Northern Lakes College.
A third and final phase of the AMP program for cross-functional municipal teams is underway, with the next opportunity to participate in the subsidized program starting in May and June 2022 through November 2023. Space is still available in this special offering of the program that is 90% subsidized by the grant, leading to a program registration fee of only $624 per participant. For more information and to apply to participate: www.pemac.org/amp_municipal or email fcm_amp@pemac.org.
