Event Details

Welcome, friends, to the RMA 2025 Spring Convention!

I am excited to welcome our members, guests, and invited speakers to an exciting week of learning, networking, and building relationships. This week will provide a great opportunity to make new connections with colleagues, form friendships, and exchange ideas with peers. Pamela Braun will be welcomed as our featured keynote speaker. With the rural municipal world busier than it has ever been, expect plenty of great conversations on a range of critical issues.

The convention will also be a great opportunity for RMA members to engage with provincial ministers and government representatives to better understand the province’s position on issues impacting rural municipalities. This year, the best opportunity for this dialogue will occur through the two Ministerial Forums on Wednesday, but we expect a strong provincial presence throughout the convention.

We are also looking forward to the resolutions session on Tuesday. We have 16 resolutions on the order paper this year, and the wide range of issues covered shows just how diverse our members are.

For the first time, the 2025 Spring Convention will include a member-exclusive Q&A period with the RMA Board of Directors on Tuesday afternoon. “Between Two Burning Barrels” will be an opportunity for members to ask board members any questions about RMA’s advocacy or business services. Note that attendance for this will be exclusive to full RMA member elected officials and staff only.

Delegates will have the choice to participate in some of the many educational sessions available, covering current and important municipal issues. Session topics include critical thinking and social innovation, maintaining natural assets, recreation cost sharing, exploring our wildfire working group report, and many more. Our team works hard to collaborate with experts in a variety of fields to organize these sessions, so please check out the ones that interest you!

As in past years, networking opportunities are a highlight for convention delegates. Check the convention agenda for social events that are supported by our valued sponsors scheduled throughout convention.

In closing, I would like to thank my fellow board members, RMA staff, as well as our generous sponsors for helping us strengthen rural Alberta through the coordination of this event. From myself to my board colleagues to all of our amazing staff, we are so proud to represent our innovative, hard-working members and serve as the voice of rural Alberta.

Have a great convention!
Kara Westerlund, RMA President