Did You Know: the Mayor is the CEO of a City? Burlington Mayor is Back to School to Serve You Better

Last year, I embarked on a Chartered Director Program through The Directors College offered in partnership by McMaster University and the Degroote School of Business.The course is related to board governance — click this link for the background on it.The program is divided into five modules with the first starting in October 2019. I recently attended Module 2 and will be completing Modules 3 and 4 in March and April, respectively. The fifth and final module will occur in May and will be scheduled only after the first four modules are completed. A final exam will also take place in June. At the successful completion of the course and exam, I will receive a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation.Though my enrolment in this program is not being paid for through my city budget, successful completion of the course will certainly benefit my service to Burlington, Council, staff and residents in my role as Mayor.The mayor’s legislated role in the Municipal Act is “Chief Executive Officer” of the corporation of the City of Burlington and the “Head of Council.” City council functions in many ways as a “board,” so the learnings related to board governance, the role of the chair, relationship to staff, setting strategy and managing risk, and much more, have already proven invaluable in my serving as the head of council and the city's CEO.The course material is also directly relevant to matters being discussed at committee, where I recently referenced them at last week's Audit Committee.It's important to me as your Mayor to be able to continually strive for ways to better serve you and this City.— Mayor Marianne Meed Ward--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist