The NextGen Excellence Awards celebrated 11 outstanding alumni from 11 municipalities over 20 Cohorts of the NextGen Municipal Leadership Certificate Program on December 5th, for their transformative leadership and dedication to community progress. These leaders were recognized for driving meaningful change, fostering collaboration, and inspiring innovation in their municipalities. Their achievements reflect the program’s lasting impact in shaping resilient and thriving municipal leaders.  

Let’s appreciate these 8 out of 11 inspiring leaders:

Emma Vokes 

Emma is a natural leader being involved with many different groups and projects at the City of Brantford driving positive and lasting change. Her Strategic thinking and forward thinking have made an impact on her department and the city as whole. While Emma was completing the NextGen Leadership course at Brock, she was also completing her Green Lean Belt certification as well as completing courses at the University of Guelph. 

Emma is a member of the Occupational Change Management committee at the city and the Continuous Improvement and Innovation team lead at the City of Brantford leading the team through various projects utilizing her experience and skills and making the city a more efficient place.  

Emma is always positive and uplifting bringing her team together to overcome many challenges and projects. She always strives to create a culture of collaboration, inclusion and innovation while inspiring and encouraging others to do the same.

Cathy McGrath 

Cathy McGrath is the Emergency Coordinator for the Towns of Lincoln and Grimsby. From starting this new position months before COVID to hosting groundbreaking conferences to the daily outreach activities in between, Cathy has exemplified Excellence in Leadership. Her many achievements include being the driving force behind the tremendously successful symposium bringing together municipal staff and allied agencies from around the Niagara Region (and beyond) for the common goal of fostering collaboration, education, information sharing and mutual support in the area of emergency preparedness for our communities.   

She does all that with a positive attitude and caring disposition that inspires all around her. 

Sandy Dupuis 

Sandy Dupuis has been instrumental and exemplary leader for Niagara Region.  As part of her role as the Associate Director of Community Strategic Priorities within Community Services, Sandy regularly leads and collaborates with internal and external community partners on significant funding applications to help bring enhanced services to Niagara.

Projects that Sandy has led include expanding Situation Table across all of Niagara Region to support resolution for complex individuals. She also collaborated on the development of an isolation shelter for homeless individuals during the pandemic.

Sandy actively promotes inclusivity, diversity, and a culture of equity at Niagara Region. She started a DEI group for Community Services, and incorporated an equity lens to a new granting framework to support opportunities for a broader range of partners, and worked to ensure vaccine access for vulnerable populations. 

Adam Christie 

As the Director of Conservation Areas, Adam Christie has facilitated collaboration across various divisions within the NPCA. He worked to assemble a cross-functional capital projects working group and consistently ensures skilled members of his team are available to provide support across the organization.  

In a role that focuses on enhancing our green spaces, Adam strives to ensure Niagara Peninsula conservation areas are accessible to all residents of our watershed while protecting the natural environment.

His commitment to promoting our areas and providing the best service possible is a testament to his dedication and leadership. 

Ryan Newton 

Ryan has continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership and vision since completing the NextGen course with the Goodman Group at Brock University. As the Supervisor of Transportation Services with the Town of Grimsby, Ryan has consistently demonstrated and put into practice many of the teachings through the course. This includes being a visionary leader with a commitment to improving services that directly impact the community and its residents, while also showing resilience and commitment to moving the Transportation Services forward through times of change and challenge.

Ryan continues to lead initiatives that modernize the Town’s roads operations, implementing new practices and strategies that enhance the efficiency and safety of the work his team performs.  

Ryan leads by example and consistently demonstrates reliability and accountability amongst his stakeholders, including his staff, senior management, council and the local community. Ryan’s experience is deeply rooted in the Town of Grimsby, as is his career, starting out as a casual employee with the parks department nearly 20 years ago. Ryan leverages his knowledge of the Town, its culture and infrastructure to implement forward and proactive approaches with a fundamental commitment to continuous improvement. Collaboration and mentorship are at the core of Ryan’s leadership style. Ryan actively engages with local residents, stakeholders and Town staff to gather feedback and create a culture of inclusivity around the decision-making process. Through his inclusiveness, Ryan has built a strong level of trust within the community, ensuring the diverse need and views of all residents are heard. Furthermore, Ryan must be commended for his resilience. Ryan routinely navigates obstacles and roadblocks with a positive outlook, rallying, empowering and adapting his team to challenge and change. 

Andrew McMurtrie

Andrew McMurtrie has worked for the Town of Pelham for 5 years and has recently advanced into the leadership role of the Chief Building Official. His dedication and commitment to the municipality is unmatched. In addition to his CBO leadership role, he is also a volunteer fire fighter in Fonthill and devotes volunteer hours to serve his community. Andrew keeps his community safe through ensuring building and fire safety compliance. Andrew exemplifies collaboration and innovation as he is technically advanced in the Town of Pelham’s building computer software program and recognizes when and how daily improvements can advance the Town’s undertakings.

Recently he enhanced the Town of Pelham’s City Reporter’s capabilities by adding forms that enhance building review and provide consistency. An on-site app was also introduced to building staff to provide onsite opportunities. Andrew improved the Town of Pelham building review not out of necessity or direction but because he knew it was the right and reasonable thing to do to enhance employee performance and provide a positive impact on customer service.

Finally, it should be recognized that Andrew leads his small but mighty team at the Town of Pelham with empathy and inclusivity. His building team has daily morning meetings over hot coffee which creates an atmosphere of trust and opportunities for honest input and collaboration. Many commonsense OBC and process solutions are found over these morning coffee connections. And most importantly Andrew is always there to back up his team. When they are ill or having a bad day, Andrew is there to assist with their workload and let them know he cares. Overall, Andrew is a visionary leader of the next generation, and the Town of Pelham is proud of Andrew’s many and ongoing accomplishments

Ashlea Carter 

Ashlea has been instrumental in advancing our organization through a series of initiatives. Ashlea has introduced and implemented the use of eScribe, a meeting management software which has resulted in efficiencies in reporting across the organization. This change has helped staff, Council and committees, and the public access reports, attend meetings, and access meeting agendas and minutes. 

Ashlea has also introduced and implemented The Ontario Municipal Records Management System (TOMRMS). This change has resulted in efficiencies in file organization and records management. File management is essential for locating historical files, accessing important information efficiently, and ensuring staff can confidently access current information, agreements, by-laws, policies, licenses, and other reports and records. Ashlea had the vision to identify initiatives that would positively impact the organization and used project management skills to implement these initiatives effectively. These changes required buy-in and coordination across various departments. 

Donna DeFilippis

Donna holds her CPA/CA designation and has over 30 years’ experience serving the public sector. Donna has dedicated more than 14 years to the Township of West Lincoln, starting as Deputy Treasurer before advancing to Director of Finance/Treasurer. She is a devoted leader and gifted mentor and has built a formidable department on a foundation of support and mutual respect. Under her leadership, the Finance department boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, including modernized budget and finance systems, comprehensive asset management, IT upgrades and digital service implementations. Donna consistently recommends efficient financial strategies to improve the Township’s fiscal wellbeing. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize and celebrate Donna’ outstanding contributions.

She has demonstrated exceptional innovation and has directed multiple modernization and cross- functional projects for the Township of West Lincoln, such as ERP and budget software implementations, that have resulted in efficiencies, cost savings and positive stakeholder outcomes. Donna places high value on collaborating with others and building strong intradepartmental relationships that are built on a foundation of trust and respect, as demonstrated through leading the Township budget process and ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Donna showcases outstanding integrity and dedication to her role on a daily basis. She has implemented multiple modernization and cross-functional projects to provide residents in the community the opportunity to access an online platform (MyWESTLINCOLN) which allows residents to view and manage their property tax, utility and receivable accounts  at  any time  from  any  location.  Donna ensures that the Township Council  has  detailed  information during the budget process to ensure Council are making the best decisions for the residents of West Lincoln and that the Township is spending resident’s tax dollars efficiently and are being fiscally responsible.

In her role as Director of Finance/Treasurer Donna leads a team of 8 multi faceted Professionals. Donna has showcased outstanding integrity during her time with the Township and has ensured all Township staff have equal opportunity and fairness. She also welcomes openness for all staff members to bring forth improvements, suggestions, challenges (both internally and externally) and/or concerns so employees feel engaged and have a sense of belonging and value.

Over the past 14 years, Donna has consistently shown resilience and commitment. Most recently she stepped forward to fill in as Interim CAO over a period of five months ensuring the Township’s continued success as the municipality underwent a thorough recruitment process. During this time she continued to ensure her responsibilities as Director of Finance/Treasurer were being managed. Council and Staff are thankful for the guidance and hard work that Donna has provided over the years and it has been a true honour to have worked closely with her and to witness the experience and passion that she brings to her role each and every day.