With Ontario’s 2026 municipal elections less than a year away, municipalities are already feeling the pressure. Election years often bring surges in FOI requests, often broader, more sensitive, and more resource-intensive than usual. From council attendance records to internal deliberations, these requests test the limits of already stretched FOI teams.

Drawing on insights from Vayle’s 2025 State of FOI and Privacy Report – Ontario Municipalities Edition, this session will highlight emerging trends, practical steps to build efficiency, and best practices being adopted across municipalities of all sizes.

Shaun McIver, CEO of Vayle, will be joined by a panel of Ontario municipal FOI experts, including:

•  Chantelle Rolland | Privacy Analyst, Regional Municipality of Durham
• Elyse Fletcher | Records, Access and Privacy Coordinator, Town of Grimsby
• Lesley Webb | Information & Privacy Analyst, Region of Waterloo

 Together, we will explore the following topics:

•  Managing FOI surges without derailing other priorities.
• Reducing risks tied to sensitive, high-profile requests.
• Modernizing and simplifying FOI processes with digital intake, built-in compliance, and streamlined reporting.

 This one-hour session is designed to equip municipal leaders, clerks and FOI staff with actionable approaches to strengthen FOI operations, improve transparency, and maintain public trust ahead of election-year demands.

Register Here