Community Government Learning and Development
Supporting community government staff and elected officials in developing the organizational knowledge, attitudes, skills, and habits needed in their workplaces.
Overview
The Community Government Learning and Development program provides a range of on-demand learning and resource materials that community government staff and elected officials can access at any time.
These resources support just-in-time learning, skill refreshers, and practical problem-solving. They may be used independently or alongside support from a regional Learning and Development Advisor.
Learning and resource materials include:
- Online courses
- Micro-learning modules and short videos
- Toolkits, templates, and job aids
- Recorded webinars or learning sessions
- Governance and operational learning resources
Regional Learning and Development Advisors
Regional Learning and Development Advisors (LDAs) provide relationship-based support to identify and respond to individual and organizational learning needs. They provide learner-centered supports and practical learning solutions tailored to each community government’s priorities through:
- Advisory services
- Learning planning and coaching
- Navigation of learning and development options
Regional Learning and Development Advisors are located in each MACA regional office.
Regional LDA contacts are:
- South Slave: Jim_Williams@gov.nt.ca
- Dehcho: Jim_Williams@gov.nt.ca
- North Slave: Michael_Yakabuski@gov.nt.ca
- Sahtu: Shelley_Pierrot@gov.nt.ca
- Beaufort Delta: Crystal_Lennie@gov.nt.ca
Courses and learning events
Structured learning opportunities for community government staff and NWT municipal councillors are available on a regular basis.
Opportunities include council orientations, competency-based courses, territory-wide learning events, and strategic learning projects that support consistent standards and shared learning.
Council orientations
Council orientations are offered after every NWT municipal election.
Contact your Regional Learning and Development Advisor for more information on scheduling and delivery.
Courses
Contact your Regional Learning and Development Advisor (LDA) to find out when courses are being offered and how to register.
LDAs can also advise on additional learning options available through external providers or other learning pathways, as needed.
Examples of additional courses include:
- Recreation courses offered through Alberta Recreation Facility personnel.
- Public works courses such as Solid Waste Management, Small Systems Water Treatment, and Water Treatment Classes I and II.
Learning conferences
Learning conferences create space for subject matter experts and industry professionals to come together and share knowledge, skills, and experience. These conferences are an important way for community government staff to network and collaborate in one place.
Contact your Regional Learning and Development Advisor to find out when these conferences are offered and how to register.
Examples of learning conferences include:
- Community Government and Learning Development (CGLD) Public Works Conference
- CGLD Administrative Professionals Conference
- CGLD Finance Conference
- CGLD Recreation Facilities Conference
Strategic learning projects
Strategic learning projects are projects that respond to emerging needs, legislative changes, and long-term capacity priorities across community governments.
These initiatives evolve over time and may involve developing or modernizing learning pathways, piloting new approaches, coordinating territory-wide initiatives, or creating shared tools and resources to support governance, operations, and workforce readiness.
Examples:
- Governance, leadership, or role-clarity initiatives
- Workforce development and competency frameworks
- Safety, compliance, or regulatory readiness projects
- Standardized toolkits, templates, or job aids
Quick learning resources
These resources support just-in-time learning, quick refreshers, and easy sharing for community government staff and elected officials.
These resources focus on common questions, emerging issues, and practical topics related to community government roles and responsibilities. New resources are added over time as priorities evolve.
All resources are also available through the Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT) Community Government Learning Portal for learners who prefer to track progress or access them alongside other courses.
Motions and resolutions (explainer video)
Motions and resolutions (micro-learning course)
Setting strategic priorities (micro-learning course)
Public engagement: Why it matters (explainer video)
NWT Community governments timeline (interactive timeline)
Online Learning Portal through Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT)
Online learning is available through the Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT) Community Government Learning Portal for learners who prefer to track progress or access other courses.
These resources are available to registered users and include:
- Toolkits, templates, and job aids to support workplace learning and program delivery
- Recorded webinars or learning sessions on relevant northern and community government topics
- Online courses and learning series that support skill development and service delivery
Resources for fire departments
The GNWT has many resources available to support the development of community fire departments and community fire protection.
Fire Protection Training
This program is intended to train community firefighters and to promote awareness of fire protection responsibilities at the community level. It provides community firefighters and community government employees with the skills to adequately perform the roles of fire safety officials, and enhances the skills of public safety employees so that they can more effectively contribute to the community development process.
If your community government or fire department would like to receive this training, reach out to your Regional Assistant Fire Marshal.
NWT Defensive Firefighter Training
This program provides firefighters in the NWT with foundational skills in defensive firefighting operations. It is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. It centers on 36 core defensive skills and is split into 9 sessions which can be taught over 4-5 days, over several months, as part of a fire department’s in-house training, or on an as needed basis determined by the fire department. It is designed to be facilitated by the fire chief of the fire department, or a facilitator identified by the fire chief.
In most places in Canada the entry-level training for firefighters is NFPA 1001. NFPA 1001 assumes that firefighters work in larger fire departments with greater resources than what most NWT communities have. Fire Chiefs can always choose other options for fire training, the NWT does not require them to participate in this program. However, for a fire department to meet Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission standards, firefighters must be trained appropriately and this program is one pathway to meeting that requirement.
You can access the training materials on the Community Government Learning Portal.
If you have any questions about the program, reach out to your Regional Assistant Fire Marshal.