The City of Belleville to Attend ROMA Conference

Mayor Neil Ellis, CAO Rod Bovay and Councillors Chris Malette, Garnet Thompson and Sean Kelly will join more than 1,600 participants from across the province at the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The conference is being held in-person, in downtown Toronto, from Jan. 21 to 23, 2024.

The 2024 conference theme, Closer to Home, speaks directly to ROMA’s advocacy work over the past year. ROMA Chair Robin Jones will present the Board’s latest research paper, Fill the Gaps Closer to Home, that focuses on solutions to accessing equitable primary healthcare services in rural Ontario.

Key presenters for the 2024 conference include Ontario Premier Doug Ford, opposition leaders, and provincial and federal ministers. Keynote speakers at this year’s event include social entrepreneur Shane Feldman, speaking about the future of work, and award-winning journalist Althia Raj, discussing the impact of polarization on local decision-making. Concurrent sessions will focus on topics that are top-of-mind in rural communities, like attraction and retention of municipal employees, local economic development, and attainable housing. The Belleville delegation will also meet with the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Health.

During the conference, interviews with Mayor Ellis can be accommodated by contacting Jenna Leslie, Communications Coordinator, by phone at 613-967-3200 ext. 3261 or by email at [email protected].

All media attending the conference are required to register in the VIP Room on the Concourse Level at the Sheraton Centre.

For more information and the full conference program, visit www.roma.on.ca.