Canadian Network of Asset Managers

Canadian Network of Asset Managers
Name	Canadian Network of Asset Managers
Type	Non-profit organization
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Region served	Canada
Membership	Municipalities, utilities, consultants

Contents

Canadian Network of Asset Managers is a Canadian non-profit association focused on municipal infrastructure asset management, bringing together practitioners from across Canada and aligning with international peers. It acts as a hub for exchange among cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary and collaborates with provincial agencies like Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and federal partners including Infrastructure Canada. The Network connects professionals from organizations such as Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and utilities like Toronto Hydro and Hydro-Québec.

History

The Network was formed in 2004 amid national dialogues involving stakeholders from Public Works and Government Services Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Canadian Institute of Planners. Early partners included academic institutions such as University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Toronto, and University of Waterloo, and industry groups like Canadian Construction Association and Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. Influential events that shaped the Network’s trajectory included workshops tied to programs from Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités, initiatives with Municipal Engineers Association, and consultations linked to National Research Council Canada and Standards Council of Canada. The Network evolved through collaborations with international bodies including International Federation of Municipal Engineering and Institute of Asset Management.

Governance is delivered through a volunteer board with representation from municipalities such as City of Winnipeg, City of Edmonton, Halifax Regional Municipality, and regional districts like Capital Regional District. The executive interacts with advisory groups comprising members from consulting firms such as WSP Global, Stantec, AECOM, and professional associations including Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, Canadian Public Works Association, and Canadian Institute of Planners. Funding and oversight have involved agencies such as Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Employment and Social Development Canada, and partnerships with provincial ministries including Alberta Transportation and Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.

Services emphasize capacity building with training programs co-developed with universities like University of Calgary and research centres such as ICLEI Canada, Smart Prosperity Institute, and Canadian Urban Institute. The Network’s offerings include asset management frameworks aligned with standards from ISO bodies, tools used by utilities like Enbridge, Union Gas, and municipal services such as Halton Region and Peel Region. Technical assistance initiatives are run alongside organizations like Canadian Water Resources Association, Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, and engineering societies including Professional Engineers Ontario.

Membership spans municipal governments from City of Ottawa to regional municipalities like York Region, utilities including BC Hydro and Electricity Distributors Association, consulting practices such as Rutherford Strategic, and academia represented by Queen’s University, Concordia University, and Dalhousie University. Corporate members have included construction firms like PCL Constructors and technology vendors collaborating with IBM Canada, Microsoft Canada, and geospatial providers like Esri Canada. Partner organizations include Canadian Standards Association, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, and funding partners such as Canada Infrastructure Bank.

The Network hosts annual conferences that attract delegates from municipalities like Mississauga and Brampton, provincial associations such as Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, and international bodies including ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, American Public Works Association, and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Workshops and webinars have featured speakers from World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and research labs at National Research Council Canada. Co-located events have taken place alongside gatherings such as Canadian Urban Forum, Green Municipal Fund sessions, and industry expos like Municipal Infrastructure Conference.

The Network publishes guidance, case studies, and toolkits developed with contributors from Canadian Institute of Planners, Institute of Public Administration of Canada, and technical partners such as Transportation Association of Canada and Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association. Resources reference best practices from standards entities like ISO/TC 251 and cross-jurisdictional studies involving Statistics Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and provincial data sets from BC Stats. Knowledge products include webinars, white papers, and templates used by practitioners from City of Surrey to Regina.

The Network has supported municipal asset management maturity improvements in jurisdictions including Ottawa, Edmonton, and Moncton, influencing funding programs administered by Infrastructure Canada and policy dialogues involving Parliament of Canada committees. Its collaborations have advanced practices in lifecycle planning used by utilities like Hydro Ottawa and waste services such as Region of Waterloo; informed procurement approaches with partners like Canadian Construction Association; and shaped professional education with institutions like Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). Internationally, the Network engaged with entities such as World Bank Group and United Nations Human Settlements Programme to promote resilient municipal infrastructure.

Category:Professional associations based in Canada Category:Infrastructure in Canada