Celebrating 50 Years of Partnership at ENGAGE Canada 2025

In late June, more than 100 public sector professionals from 40+ agencies swarmed Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario for ENGAGE Canada 2025. This year’s event was especially meaningful, marking 50 years of partnership between CentralSquare and Canadian municipalities – a milestone that framed many sessions and celebrations.

With the Blue Mountains as a backdrop, public sector professionals gathered for two packed days of hands-on product training and peer networking. Together, they learned and discussed how to better serve their communities. With dedicated tracks for both public administration and public safety, attendees discovered new ways to get value from their trusted CentralSquare tools.

From the keynote to the closing celebration, ENGAGE Canada 2025 was more than a user conference. It was an opportunity to connect, recharge and imagine what’s possible with smart technology and strong partnerships.

ENGAGE Canada was just one way CentralSquare continues to show its commitment to Canadian agencies – 50 years and counting! Keep reading for a recap of our 2025 event and what you missed. From training sessions to keynotes, the conference sparked conversations and ideas that will carry into the months and years ahead.

New to this Year: Paid Trainings

ENGAGE Canada 2025 introduced paid training sessions for the first time. Scheduled on June 25 only, these exclusive workshops offered hands-on guidance from product experts. Attendees received instruction and learned advanced skills in a small-group setting (only 25 spots each). Now they can deliver better results for their agencies.

Diamond Training

During the Diamond paid training session, attendees dived deep into SmartList Builder – one of the most powerful tools in the Diamond platform. SmartList Builder allows users to create SmartLists, or customizable views of data. Users can pull information from multiple tables and compile it into a single, easy-to-read list.

Whether you’re managing budgets, tracking citizen services or analyzing departmental performance, this tool helps you view and format critical data in helpful ways. Attendees learned how to build SmartLists that are informative and actionable, giving users greater control and visibility into operations. For many, it’s now an indispensable part of their daily workflow.

Vadim-iCity Training

The Vadim-iCity session focused on mastering RIM Reporting, a powerful browser-based reporting tool essential to the platform. RIM Reporting supports smarter decision-making by allowing users to build custom, comprehensive reports for their agency’s unique needs.

Attendees received a detailed walkthrough on how to use RIM Reporting, access critical data in Vadim-iCity and customize reports. With hands-on instruction from product experts, participants now understand how to unlock agency insights and improve reporting.

New to this Year: Customer Awards

At this year’s conference, CentralSquare proudly recognized four outstanding municipalities with the first-ever ENGAGE Canada Awards. These awards were created to celebrate the agencies making meaningful progress in service, innovation and community impact.

The Innovation Award went to the Town of Greater Napanee, recognized for its forward-thinking use of technology to improve municipal operations and citizen services.

The User Group Award was presented to the Township of Langley in celebration of its dedication to learning and networking with industry peers.

The Citizen Experience Award honored the City of Guelph for its expert use of citizen portals to engage with the community. They have successfully reduced the need for face-to-face, mail, phone and email interactions – thereby improving internal operations and citizen experiences.

Lastly, the Smart Community Award was awarded to Labrador City, Newfoundland, for its innovative use of data, cutting-edge cloud technology and forward-thinking strategies. Their efforts have optimized internal operations, enriched the lives of citizens and strengthened organizations within the community.

These awards shine a spotlight on what’s possible when public agencies pair dedication with the right technology.

Keynote: Ron Anderson (CRO) and Brian Fugere (CPO)

The keynote on Thursday, June 26, set the tone for the conference. Brian Fugere, (CentralSquare’s new Chief Product Officer) and Ron Anderson (CRO), took the stage to reflect on 50 years of partnership with Canadian municipalities. They spoke with conviction about the shared mission to serve communities – and how that mission has guided every product decision, innovation and collaboration along the way.

Brian Fugere also offered a preview of what’s ahead – exciting product enhancements and game-changing innovations. These advancements are designed to save time and deliver more value to users like you. Whether it’s faster service, greater efficiency, or improved transparency, the impact should be felt by users and citizens alike.

Customer Celebration

Thursday night’s Customer Celebration was the perfect way to end a day of learning. Held on June 26, the evening featured a banquet and open bar, giving attendees a well-earned chance to relax and recharge.

More than a party, the evening was a celebration of public servants who work tirelessly to serve their communities. As teams shared stories over dinner, the atmosphere reflected the spirit of ENGAGE itself: connecting and energizing. For many, it was a chance to step back from day-to-day responsibilities and feel appreciated for the difference they make.

The event also celebrated 50 years of partnership between CentralSquare and Canadian municipalities. It reminded everyone in the room of our shared mission: building stronger communities, together.

The ENGAGE conference is built with agencies in mind. Don’t miss out on next year’s event. Stay tuned for more news on ENGAGE Canada 2026 to enjoy hands-on training, peer networking, and exciting celebrations.