Municipal Awareness Day 2005 is being celebrated by municipal councils, administrators and residents across the province today. Municipal Awareness Day is an opportunity to recognize the work done by members of municipal councils and municipal administrators across the province. While councils have organized activities unique to their community, some activities include open houses, local trivia, heavy equipment rodeos and displays. Call your municipal council to see what activities are happening in your area.

"It is especially important that we recognize Municipal Awareness Day this year because every municipality in this province will be involved in a general election in September," said Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. "Municipal Awareness Day is an excellent opportunity to discover what municipal councillors and administrators do on a daily basis. Not only should we reflect on the work they do for us, we should consider how important they are in ensuring our democratic society. As a former mayor of a small town, I know how crucial it is to have representation on a local level. I encourage anyone remotely interested to run for municipal politics and, in turn, I encourage all residents to exercise their democratic right and vote on September 27."

"As a member of elected council, I believe it is very important for us to ensure the public we serve are aware of the services we provide," says Deputy Mayor Herbert Brett, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities (NLFM). "Municipal Awareness Day is a great platform for this. Our municipal council delivers many of the programs and services that enrich our community and our way of life, including snow clearing, street lighting, water and sewer, fire protection and garbage collection. I�m now in my 29th year serving on municipal councils, and every year is challenging, but the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day keeps me going. It is very satisfying to see the spirit of cooperation that exists within councils and among neighbouring communities."

"Municipal Awareness Day is a day to recognize the many contributions of municipal government," says Rodney Cumby, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators (NLAMA). "Administrators are proud to be a part of the municipal team that serves your community and improves your quality of life. This year's theme, Municipal Government - Strengthening Our Community, is indeed appropriate as administrators work with council to achieve this goal."

One provincial activity that has been organized to mark the day is a story contest. Open to grade six students, the "Celebrate Municipal Government" story contest is part of an ongoing effort to educate young people on municipal governments and the many municipal programs and services that enrich the quality of life of people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Seven winners will be selected from across the province (one per NLFM region; Avalon, Central, Eastern, Northern, Northwest, Southwest and St. John�s).

An exciting addition to this years celebrations is the Torngat Municipal Achievement Award for Municipal Awareness, awarded to the municipality whose Municipal Awareness Day celebrations are judged to be the best in the province. This award recognizes those organizations or individuals that are helping to raise public awareness of the important role played by municipal government and municipal leaders.

Municipal Awareness Day is brought to you by the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities (NLFM); Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators (NLAMA); the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs; and the Municipal Training and Development Corporation.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities was formed in 1951 as an umbrella organization mandated to represent municipal government interests, and as a vehicle for municipal leaders to share information and resources. NLFM represents the 284 cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador that service 85 per cent of the population, as well as their 2,000 plus leaders.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators (NLAMA) was formed in 1972 to enhance and promote professional management and leadership excellence in local government through education, the exchanging of ideas and information. Their focus is on the professional development of administrators through established professional standardized training, partnership, and sharing.

The Municipal Training and Development Corporation (MTDC) was established in November 1999. Its mandate is to work towards strong, effective and self-sustaining municipal government provided by knowledgeable, competent, elected officials and qualified professional staff.

Media contact:
   Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983, 682-6593
   Ruth Marks, NLFM, (709) 576-5790 (w), (709) 728-3663 (cell)

2005 05 09                      2:30 p.m.