Leaders from the town of Bancroft attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Asscociation Conference on Monday. The annual ROMA conference offers rural municipalities a chance to lobby for funding and infrastructure support, also to address policy concerns and meet with provincial and federal leaders. Moose FM spoke with Councilor Tracy McGibbon who was at the event about what it offers:
“There’s economic development, anything that’s coming down the pipe from the province” McGibbon said, “recycling, infrastructure, there’s homelessness seminars you can go to as well. [It’s ]excellent for making connections. And it’s a good opportunity to sit and visit with other municipalities that are, perhaps in the same situation that you are, to see where they’re headed, where you’re headed, collect ideas. This is also where they announce different funding opportunities that maybe maybe you can tap into”
Bancrofts Mayor and General manager also attended. The conference theme this year was— “Closer To Home” the focus being on rural communities having better access to services.
According to the ROMA website: “The conference provides participants the opportunity to advocate for their local needs by gaining insight, education, networking opportunities and access to provincial and federal leaders”
The yearly event took place in Toronto at The Sheraton Hotel from January 21-23rd.