Toronto was the place to be for many municipal governments over this past weekend, including our own.

Municipal councils joined the Portage la Prairie City Council nationwide for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) annual conference. Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox says they left for Toronto on May 24th and returned on the 29th.

"The Prime Minister was there," notes Knox. "As well as the leader of the NDP, the leader of the Green Party and also the 2nd in command from the Conservatives was there. It was good to hear from them all and they were actually in attendance to hear from municipalities because they're the ones that are representing us all."

She adds getting to speak with members of different municipal governments was an eye-opening experience. Knox says speaking with the mayor from Iqaluit, Nunavut, was especially intriguing.

"It was a very interesting conversation to hear their struggles with water," says Knox. "I think, sometimes, we take for granted the great water that we have in Portage and also the access to it. Hearing the struggles that they have up there just makes you have a different perspective."

It was a special trip in particular for councillor Joe Masi, who was elected as a member of the FCM's board of directors. Knox says she's proud of the effort he put forward to join the board. PortageOnline has reached out to Masi for comment about his successful election.