Executive Certificate in Municipal Leadership

Program overview

Municipal leaders make decisions that shape the daily lives of their communities. At the Alberta School of Business, we’ve supported these leaders for more than two decades, helping them build the confidence, clarity and capability needed to lead with purpose.

The Executive Certificate in Municipal Leadership (ECML) empowers you to see beyond daily demands and step into strategic, people-centred leadership. You’ll explore who you are as a leader, how to mobilize others, and how to guide your municipality through change and complexity.

You’ll connect with peers from across Alberta, forming a trusted network of leaders who share similar challenges, ambitions and commitment to public service.

This program will help you:

• Grow your self-awareness and leadership effectiveness
• Transition from task-focused to strategic leadership
• Lead teams with clarity and confidence
• Navigate change, relationships and political context with skill

ECML is more than a credential; it’s a transformative learning experience that strengthens the leaders who strengthen our communities.

Course overview

The ECML includes five core courses. Courses are now offered in two cohorts. The Fall cohort runs from September to January and includes a virtual Summit option in January for those looking to complete the program sooner. The Winter cohort runs from January to May and concludes with an in-person Summit in Canmore, Alberta.

• Leading & Managing in Municipalities (EXASB 6101): Designed to help municipal leaders transition from managing day-to-day operations to strategic leadership by strengthening emotional intelligence, adaptability and self-awareness.
  Winter Cohort: January 26 & 27, 2027

• Leading Self & Others (EXASB 6102): Focuses on how you lead yourself and influence others — building relational leadership capacity, communication skills and team effectiveness in a municipal context
  Winter Cohort: February 23 & 24, 2027

• Change Management (EXASB 6103): Equips you with tools and frameworks to lead and manage change within municipalities, addressing stakeholder expectations, shifting priorities and organizational resilience.
  Winter Cohort: March 23 & 24, 2027

• Negotiations & Community Engagement (EXASB 6104): Builds your ability to engage diverse stakeholders, negotiate effectively in public-sector settings and build consensus across community and municipal contexts.
  Winter Cohort: April 27 & 28, 2027

• Sustainable Leadership Summit (EXASB 6105): A culminating in-person immersion that brings together the strategic leadership, sustainable thinking and network-building you’ve developed to lead your municipality into the future.
  Winter Cohort: May 20 & 21, 2027 (In Person)

Participants are encouraged to complete the courses in sequence; however, you have up to two years to complete all five and earn the Certificate of Completion.

Courses, including the in-person Leadership Summit, may also be taken individually, without enrolling in the full ECML program.

Learning outcomes

Through the ECML, participants can expect to:

• Apply leadership theory to real municipal challenges using practical case scenarios.
• Demonstrate ethical leadership that builds and maintains public trust.
• Assess personal leadership styles and align them with role expectations.
• Strengthen communication effectiveness by identifying strengths and development areas.
• Lead change confidently and deliver results in complex municipal environments.
  Use evidence-based tools (e.g., DiSC, simulations) to deepen self-awareness, build capacity, coach others and strengthen community relationships.
  
  

Who should attend?

This program is designed for municipal professionals who:

• Are mid-level managers or senior leaders responsible for teams, departments or cross-functional initiatives
• Want to deepen their management and leadership capabilities within a municipal environment
• Navigate competing priorities and seek tools to make informed, balanced decisions that benefit diverse stakeholders
• Work in administrative or operational roles within municipalities or local government

Elected officials are also welcome and can benefit from strengthening their leadership, strategic alignment, consensus-building and community-engagement skills.

Registration

Learn more about course registration, fees and payment through the Continuing Education website.  

ECML Registration

 

Course fees

EXASB 6101 Leading & Managing in Municipalities	September 16 & 17, 2026 January 26 & 27, 2027	$1,250 + GST each
EXASB 6102 Leading Self & Others	October 14 & 15, 2026 February 23 & 24, 2027	$1,250 + GST each
EXASB 6103 Change Management	November 3 & 4, 2026 March 23 & 24, 2027	$1,250 + GST each
EXASB 6104 Negotiations & Stakeholder Engagement	December 1 & 2, 2026 April 27 & 28, 2027	$1,250 + GST each
EXASB 6105 Sustainable Leadership Summit Canmore, Alberta (in-person)	January 12 & 13, 2027 (Virtual) May 20 & 21, 2027  (In Person)	$1,250 + GST (Virtual) $1850 + GST (In Person)

 

Pathway to the MBA

Participants who complete the ECML are eligible to receive a 3-credit reduction toward the
Alberta School of Business MBA program. This provides a head start for those interested in
advancing their business education and applying their municipal leadership experience within a broader graduate-level program.

Please note: Completion of the ECML does not guarantee admission to the MBA program.
All applicants must meet the standard MBA admission requirements and follow the formal
application process.

Additional Resources

UA General Helpline *select the Continuing Education Queue

Reset Your CCID Password