Wilmot delegation brings rural priorities to provincial leaders at AMO

Last week, Mayor Natasha Salonen and Councillor Stewart Cressman represented Wilmot Township at the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa. The annual event is an opportunity for municipal and provincial leaders to discuss local priorities, build connections and strengthen partnerships.

Wilmot’s delegation met with several cabinet ministers and senior officials, emphasizing the importance of provincial-municipal partnerships when addressing issues like rural transit, long-term infrastructure investments and the protection of rural water capacity.

Township representatives also delegated in support of pending applications to the Rural Ontario Development Fund and the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund.

In addition to representing Wilmot, Mayor Salonen participated in meetings with cabinet ministers in her role as Regional Councillor, as well as joint-township discussions advancing shared goals and priorities.

Mayor Salonen also served in her role as board member for AMO and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), participating in province-wide policy discussions that will shape the future of municipal governance, rural advocacy, and local service delivery. While there, Mayor Salonen was re-elected to serve a second term on the AMO and ROMA boards.

The AMO Conference is Ontario’s largest annual gathering of municipal officials, offering a forum to collaborate with colleagues and meet directly with provincial decision-makers. The delegates felt the time was well spent and left encouraged by the outcomes their meetings will deliver.

Quotes

Mayor Natasha Salonen

“AMO gives us an important opportunity to take Wilmot’s priorities directly to provincial decision-makers. This year, we focused on protecting Wilmot’s long-term water security and ensuring our community’s needs are understood within the broader regional picture, while also advocating for provincial support for upcoming projects. Every dollar we can secure through grants and other funding partnerships is a dollar we don’t have to ask local taxpayers to carry alone. These conversations are about making sure Wilmot is well positioned for the years ahead.”

Councillor Stewart Cressman

“AMO is about building relationships with provincial politicians and meeting officials from other rural municipalities to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. It also gives delegates a chance to learn about key issues facing municipalities – like long-term care – and bring that knowledge back to our communities.”

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For media inquiries:

Brett O’Reilly | Senior Communications Advisor
brett.oreilly@wilmot.ca | 519-634-8519 ext. 9229