A Memorable First Time at AMO: Connection, Support, and a Shared Love for the Greenbelt
Written by Serena Luk, Manager Content and Media Relations, Greenbelt Foundation
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend my very first Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa, and I have to say, it was an experience I won’t forget any time soon.
As someone who works day-to-day to support and protect Ontario’s Greenbelt, I’ve always known the importance of our work. But being at AMO surrounded by passionate, community-minded people from every corner of the province made it hit home in a whole new way.
Pictured (left to right): Danielle Letang Senior Policy Advisor, Serena Luk Manager Content and Media Relations, and Edward McDonnell CEO
As someone who works day-to-day to support and protect Ontario’s Greenbelt, I’ve always known the importance of our work. But being at AMO surrounded by passionate people from every corner of the province made it hit home in a whole new way.
What made this experience truly special was seeing just how broad and heartfelt the support is for the Greenbelt, not only from within its boundaries, but from far beyond them. Throughout the conference, people from municipalities across Ontario, many outside of the Greenbelt itself, came by our booth to say hello, share a story, or simply thank us for the work the Greenbelt Foundation is doing. It was both humbling and inspiring.
It’s easy to forget, especially when our work can sometimes feel siloed or technical, that there are thousands of Ontarians, from small towns to big cities, who deeply value what the Greenbelt represents: protected farmland, clean water, climate resilience, and thriving rural communities. At AMO, I got to see and feel that support firsthand.
Our booth quickly became more than just an information stop, it turned into a space for connection and conversation, and of course, the love for our swag! We spoke with councillors, mayors, and community leaders who brought forward both their enthusiasm and their concerns. They told us about local food initiatives, flooding issues, challenges with development pressures, and efforts to preserve greenspace in their own regions. It was a valuable reminder that the Greenbelt isn’t just a policy or a map designation — it’s a living, evolving landscape that people feel a deep connection to, whether they live inside it or not.
Pictured: Greenbelt Booth at AMO
These conversations also reminded me how interconnected our communities really are. What happens in the Greenbelt impacts surrounding regions, and vice versa. Clean water flows across boundaries. Local food travels from farm to plate across the province. The climate resilience we build through natural infrastructure in one region strengthens others downstream. That’s the kind of holistic, systems-thinking that we at the Foundation work toward every day, and it was encouraging to see that same thinking reflected in so many of the conversations we had.
For a first-time attendee, AMO showed me that our work is not only necessary, but noticed and appreciated. These kinds of spaces are so important, not just for sharing what we do, but for listening and learning from the communities we serve.
I left Ottawa feeling more connected, more energized, and more hopeful than ever about the future of Ontario’s Greenbelt, and the incredible network of people who care deeply about protecting it.
Until next time, AMO.