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2026 MNP Municipal Report: How Canadian local governments are embracing the future of work

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New report examines the growing demands on leadership navigating workforce pressures, service delivery demands, and digital and AI readiness

CALGARY, AB, May 14, 2026 /CNW/ – The nature of municipal work is fundamentally changing with artificial intelligence driving a sense of urgency. For local governments already managing workforce strain, leadership gaps, and rising service expectations, this is not a future consideration. It reflects the current reality of leadership capacity and why the conversation about the future of work is happening now.

According to the 2026 MNP Municipal Report, more than half of respondents (57 percent) say change fatigue is already affecting employee engagement and timely outcomes. The report examines how AI and digital transformation are reshaping what it means to run a local government as workforce strain, leadership challenges, and service expectations continue to stretch teams and long-term capacity.

Since MNP released its first Municipal Report in 2023, municipalities have faced increasing pressure to modernize responsibly while balancing tighter capacity, evolving workforce needs, and growing operational complexity. What has shifted is the pace. AI is accelerating the need to rethink how work gets done, how teams are structured, and how leaders prepare their organizations for a fundamentally different operating environment.

Now in its fourth year, the report captures insights from 292 local government leaders across urban and rural communities of all sizes. Developed in partnership with Leger, it offers a national perspective on how municipalities are preparing for the future of work while maintaining essential services and public trust.

Technology and digital tools remain an important part of municipal progress. At the same time, local governments are placing greater focus on workforce sustainability, leadership capacity, employee experience, and service delivery in practice — recognizing that the strongest outcomes happen when people, leadership, and technology work together.

“What we’re seeing is a more practical approach from local governments. Technology is being worked into day-to-day operations in a way that supports teams and helps them manage growing demands while keeping services moving.” says James Richardson, Partner and National Leader of Municipal Community of Practice at MNP.

Where priorities are rising
Local governments remain focused on the fundamentals: delivering strong service, managing resources responsibly, and protecting the public trust. What is changing is how those priorities are being addressed.

Cost management is now the top organizational priority, rising to 70 percent from 62 percent in 2025Customer service remain steady at 65 percentCyber security and privacy continue to rank high at 62 percent

Leadership is also moving to the forefront. More than half of respondents (58%) identified leadership and management as the most important future-ready capability, followed closely by digital literacy, including AI, at 53 percent.

Leadership and senior management also remain the top hiring and retention challenge, with 40 percent of respondents identifying these roles as the hardest to recruit and retain.

Municipal work is advancing, and the skills needed to lead it are changing too. As routine tasks become more automated, stronger leadership, sound decision-making, and resident-facing problem-solving are becoming more valuable across every department.

“The municipalities making the most progress are the ones treating AI as a workforce strategy, not just a technology project; investing in structured training frameworks that help every employee, from front-line staff to senior leaders, work confidently alongside new tools. That’s where modernization actually takes hold.” says Wendy Gnenz, Partner and National Municipal Digital Leader at MNP.

Pressure on people is affecting performance
Operational pressure is not only visible in budgets and staffing plans. It’s also being felt in employee experience, leadership effectiveness, and an organization’s ability to maintain momentum.

High workload and stress levels (53 percent) were identified as the top challenge in building and maintaining an engaged workforce.

Along with respondents pointing to budget constraints for employee engagement initiatives (50 percent) and limited career growth opportunities (42 percent), the report also found:

Leadership communication during change initiatives was identified by 43 percent of respondents as a key support practice41 percent pointed to employee training and support programs as critical to managing organizational change

These findings reinforce what many municipal leaders already know. Service delivery depends on people who feel supported, informed, and equipped to adapt.

Digital readiness is also another vital element. While AI adoption continues to grow, respondents identified using AI tools in daily work (37%) and a basic understanding of AI (34%) as the AI-related skill areas expected to have the greatest impact on future service delivery, ahead of more advanced technical applications.

This suggests municipalities are not simply preparing for new tools, but focusing on building confidence, strengthening leadership, and helping teams work differently as expectations continue to transform.

Progress starts with practical solutions
Municipal leaders are focused on making thoughtful decisions that protect service delivery, support their teams, and strengthen their communities over the long term.

The 2026 MNP Municipal Report is designed to support that work by providing practical insight into the priorities, pressures, and decisions shaping local government today.

It aligns with the values municipalities uphold every day, responsible leadership, strong public service, and solutions grounded in local realities.

At MNP, we believe local governments need guidance they can trust. The Municipal Report is one way we support that by sharing relevant research, grounded perspective, and real insight into the challenges communities are working through every day.

As workforce demands shift, service expectations grow, and digital readiness becomes more important, municipalities need more than broad recommendations. They need solutions that reflect local realities, support informed decision-making, and help leaders move forward with confidence.

Progress looks different in every community, but it always starts with well-informed decisions, strong leadership, and the confidence to move forward.

For full survey findings, analysis, and expert insights, download the 2026 MNP Municipal Report here: 2026 MNP Municipal Report

Primary Author: Katie Hayes, Digital Advisor

About MNP
National in scope and local in focus, MNP provides client-focused accounting, consulting, tax, and digital services in more than 150 communities from coast to coast. Founded in Brandon, Manitoba in 1958, we are proud to be born and raised in Canada and committed to the success of Canadian individuals, businesses, and organizations. Our advisors deliver personalized strategies and made-in-Canada solutions to help you reach your full potential — wherever business takes you.

SOURCE MNP

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Incredible Supply & Logistics Awarded NASA SEWP VI Prime Contract, Launches New Federal Technology Procurement Channel

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7 minutes ago

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August 25, 2026

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10-year, $20 billion-ceiling GWAC expands Federal access to IT, communications, cybersecurity, audio visual, AI, cloud and emerging technology solutions through ISL beginning November 1, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Incredible Supply & Logistics (ISL), an award-winning small business serving the Federal, War, Maritime and Space communities, today announced the award and launch of its NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) VI Category A Small Business Prime Contract, providing Federal agencies and Department of War organizations a new streamlined channel for acquiring information technology, communications, audio visual and emerging technology solutions.

Ordering through ISL’s SEWP VI contract begins November 1, 2026. Federal customers, acquisition teams and OEM partners can begin engaging ISL now through its dedicated SEWP VI website at incrediblesupply.com/sewp6.

Available Government-wide, NASA SEWP VI provides Federal acquisition and program teams a streamlined path to competitively acquire technology products and solutions through an established procurement framework supported by the NASA SEWP Program Management Office. Through ISL, customers also gain access to specialized technology sourcing, supply consolidation, logistics and customer-support capabilities.

“SEWP VI significantly expands how ISL can support our Federal, War, Intelligence and Diplomatic customers,” said Chris Faison, Co-Founder and CEO of ISL. “Our customers need access to leading technology solutions, but they also need a partner who understands government acquisition, complex requirements and the realities of getting the right solution delivered where and when it is needed. SEWP VI is a natural extension of our ONE SOURCE model and combines a powerful government-wide acquisition vehicle with the sourcing, logistics and customer support capabilities ISL has built serving these communities.”

SEWP VI Expands ISL’s ONE SOURCE Capabilities

Unlike traditional technology resellers, ISL brings SEWP VI customers access to a broader ONE SOURCE supply and logistics platform built specifically for Federal, War, Maritime and Space missions. In addition to Information Technology, ISL supports customers across Industrial, MRO, Tactical and Workwear requirements—helping agencies and war organizations consolidate suppliers, simplify procurement and work with a proven partner across a broader range of operational needs.

ISL further differentiates its SEWP VI offering through specialized capabilities including complete Bill of Materials (BOM) sourcing, supply consolidation, advanced kitting, configuration and labeling, warehousing, global logistics and customized third-party logistics (3PL). These capabilities allow ISL to support requirements beyond transactional technology procurement—from complex multi-manufacturer solutions to deployment-ready kits and globally delivered customer-specific configurations.

ISL ONE SOURCE: Industrial | MRO | Tactical | Workwear | Information Technology

SEWP VI adds a powerful technology acquisition vehicle to ISL’s broader ONE SOURCE platform, giving Federal and War customers another way to reduce procurement complexity, consolidate requirements and get complete solutions delivered through a single trusted partner.

ISL’s growing ecosystem of leading technology manufacturers enables the company to support requirements ranging from routine IT procurement to complex, large-scale enterprise modernization initiatives.

Technology Solutions Available Through ISL’s NASA SEWP VI Contract

IT Hardware & Infrastructure — Laptops, desktops, workstations, servers, storage, peripherals and supporting infrastructureNetworking & Cybersecurity — Network appliances, routers, switches, security technologies and related solutionsCommunications & Mobility — Phones, tablets, tactical and satellite communications, telecommunications devices and VoIPAudio Visual & Collaboration — A/V equipment and accessories, displays, projectors, screens, conferencing and collaboration solutionsAI, Cloud, Emerging Technology & Software — AI, cloud computing and infrastructure, XaaS offerings, emerging IT and softwareSupporting Technology — Accessories, Cables, Copiers, Fiber Optics, Printers, Scanners, Sensors and ShreddersProduct-Based Services — Asset tracking, cabling, installation, maintenance, product-based engineering and training, RFID labeling, site planning and warranty support

ISL SEWP VI Contract at a Glance

Contract Number

80TECH26D0172 — Category A, Small Business

Contract Type

GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract)

GWAC Ceiling

$20 Billion

Ordering Period

November 1, 2026 – October 31, 2036

Contract Fee

0.34 %

ISL Launches Dedicated SEWP VI Website and Ordering Guide

Federal customers, acquisition teams and technology manufacturers can access contract information, ordering guides, quote-request information and OEM partnership resources through ISL’s dedicated SEWP VI website.

Website & Ordering Guide: incrediblesupply.com/sewp6

Quote Requests & OEM Partnership Inquiries: sewp6@incrediblesupply.com

ISL Expands SEWP VI Opportunities for Technology Manufacturers

ISL is actively engaging IT, communications, networking, cybersecurity, mobility, audio visual and emerging-technology manufacturers seeking to expand their reach across Federal, War, Intelligence and Diplomatic markets through SEWP VI.

As a NASA SEWP VI Category A Small Business prime, ISL provides OEMs with a government-focused channel supported by experience in federal procurement, technology sourcing, supply consolidation, logistics and mission-driven customer support.

Manufacturers interested in authorized product inclusion, Letters of Authorization, joint go-to-market initiatives, Federal opportunity capture or customer-specific technology requirements can contact the ISL SEWP VI team at sewp6@incrediblesupply.com.

About Incredible Supply & Logistics

Incredible Supply & Logistics (ISL) is an award-winning small business serving the Federal, War, Maritime and Space communities. Through its ONE SOURCE approach, ISL delivers Industrial, MRO, Tactical, Workwear and Information Technology solutions that help customers simplify procurement, reduce costs, strengthen supply chains and maintain mission readiness.

To learn more about ISL, visit https://www.incrediblesupply.com.

Media & Contract Contact

Chris Richards
Co-Founder, GM IT Solutions
Incredible Supply & Logistics (ISL)
(855) 955-8077

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SOURCE Incredible Supply & Logistics (ISL)

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Women Leaders Association Names Dr. Megan Laabs as First Washington Coaching Partner, Bringing Brain Science to Executive Coaching for the Region’s Women Professionals

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7 minutes ago

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August 25, 2026

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New Coaching Partners program connects the association’s Washington members with rigorously vetted, proven executive coaches — beginning with a Harvard-trained clinical neuropsychologist who spent 13 years with the Department of Defense, including nine advising senior leaders at the Office of Naval Intelligence

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Women Leaders Association, the largest publisher and events organization for women professionals with 43,000 members and more than 130 regional chapters, today announced Dr. Megan Laabs as the first official Coaching Partner of its Washington chapter, WashingtonWomenLeaders.org. The appointment launches the association’s new Coaching Partners program in the Washington metro area, giving members direct access to executive coaches who have been carefully screened for credentials, track record, and client results.

The Coaching Partners program was created to solve a problem the association’s members raise constantly: executive coaching is one of the highest-impact investments a professional woman can make in her career — and one of the hardest to shop for. Coaching titles are unregulated, quality varies enormously, and a leader evaluating coaches on her own has little way to verify who is genuinely proven. Under the new program, the Women Leaders Association does much of that screening on the member’s behalf. Every Coaching Partner is vetted for recognized certifications, verifiable experience, and excellent client reviews before being presented to members, so each chapter’s professionals can book a consultation with confidence, have a great experience, and keep rising in their careers.

Dr. Laabs brings a background that is genuinely rare in executive coaching. A clinical neuropsychologist and ICF Professional Certified Coach whose practice motto is “High-Performance Leadership, Backed by Science,” she spent nine years as an executive advisor at the Office of Naval Intelligence where she built an Operational Psychology Program and coached senior leaders responsible for some of the highest-stakes teams in government earning a Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She completed a postdoctoral clinical neuropsychology fellowship at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital and treated military patients as a neuropsychologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center before transitioning to serve in the Department of Defense. For Washington-area members, she offers a one-on-one coaching partnership focused on decision making, strategic clarity, communication, and resilience empowering clients to align their values and build confidence to show up at their best. She also offers specialized assessment tools such as the EQ-i 2.0 and Hogan to give clients a clear, data-driven foundation at any point in their coaching journey, eliminating guesswork and pinpointing where to focus for maximum growth as well as tailored leadership seminars for teams.

“Women executives are navigating more complexity and pressure than at any point in their career, and they deserve more than generic advice,” said Dr. Laabs. “My work brings the science of how the brain performs into the coaching relationship, so leaders can see their patterns clearly, build resilience, and lead with genuine confidence. I am honored to partner with the Women Leaders Association and to help Washington’s women professionals keep rising.”

Washington-area members can view Dr. Laabs’ full profile, including her focus areas and credentials, schedule a complimentary consultation directly through her calendar, or send her a private note through her page at https://WashingtonWomenLeaders.org/coaching.html?coach=MeganLaabs

“Our members tell us coaching is one of the most valuable investments they make in their careers, and also one of the most confusing purchases,” said Lydia Price, 2026 Volunteer Chair of the Women Leaders Association. “The Coaching Partners program does the heavy lifting for them. We vet every coach for credentials, experience, and reviews before they ever appear on a chapter site, so a member can walk into a free consultation knowing she is meeting a proven professional. Bringing a coach of Dr. Laabs’ caliber to our Washington members is exactly what this program was built to do.”

The Washington launch is part of a national rollout, with the association planning to extend the Coaching Partners program across its network of more than 130 chapters, pairing each city’s members with coaches selected for that market.

The Coaching Partners program extends the association’s broader mission of giving professional women both the structural transparency and the individual support they need to advance. Research from Pew and others estimates that women still earn roughly 15 percent less than men on average, and most women have little visibility into which employers actually advance women fairly. The Women Leaders Association has invested heavily in closing that information gap: its Glass Ceiling Score project, available at WomanLeaders.org/r/GlassCeiling, uses big data to score most major U.S. employers on how fairly they promote women into management and executive roles, and its chapters publish Best Women Employers rankings, compensation studies, and annual Top 50 Women Leaders awards. Coaching Partners adds the complementary, personal dimension: once a member can see the landscape clearly, a proven coach helps her move through it.

About Dr. Megan Laabs

Dr. Megan Laabs is a clinical neuropsychologist, executive advisor, and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a Marshall Goldsmith-certified practitioner. She holds a Doctorate of Psychology from The George Washington University, completed her clinical neuropsychology fellowship at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, and earned her B.A. in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. She works with executives, founders, and women at every stage of their career journey, and with organizations seeking assessment, team optimization, and tailored leadership seminars. Washington members can schedule a free consultation through her profile at https://WashingtonWomenLeaders.org/coaching.html?coach=MeganLaabs

About the Women Leaders Association

The Women Leaders Association is a non-profit committed to the development and advancement of women in the corporate arena. With 43,000 members and more than 130 chapters in major cities, it is the largest publisher and events organization serving women professionals, producing conferences, leadership programs, original research, and daily publications for its members. We also celebrate the top 50 business women in each city, publish a Glass Ceiling Score ranking how well most employers advance women, and then recognize the best women’s employers in each city from these rankings.

Events Near You: https://WomanLeaders.org/r/

Best Employers Near You: https://WomanLeaders.org/r/GlassCeiling

Media Contact: Women Leaders Association, Service@WomanLeaders.org, https://WomanLeaders.org

Free Washington Women Leaders Resources — available to all women in the Washington metro at no charge:

News: https://WashingtonWomenLeaders.org/NewsTop 50 Women: https://WashingtonWomenLeaders.org/top-50.htmlBest Women Employers and Glass Ceiling Scores: https://WashingtonWomenLeaders.org/GlassCeiling

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/women-leaders-association-names-dr-megan-laabs-as-first-washington-coaching-partner-bringing-brain-science-to-executive-coaching-for-the-regions-women-professionals-302859729.html

SOURCE Women Leaders Association

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SEEKINK Market Insight: Why Color E-Paper Frame is One of Crowdfunding’s Hottest New Categories

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7 minutes ago

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August 25, 2026

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As a leading ePaper display (EPD) module original manufacturer, SEEKINK is eager to support and help bring innovative ePaper applications across various industries to life.

SEEKINK has keenly recognized that color ePaper frames are emerging as a distinct consumer electronics category, combining paper-like display quality, ultra-low power consumption, and AI-enabled content creation.

Industry observers report that global shipments of color ePaper photo frames exceeded 30,000 units in 2025. The category is now gaining momentum across Kickstarter, with multi-innovators — Arpobot (Bloomin8), Inkanva, JITRAINNO, Weclay Paper, and others — drawing significant backer support through differentiated product approaches.

Bloomin8, one of the most market-validated entrants, raised AU$2,397,443 from 2,272 backers in its first campaign. In August 2026, Arpobot is planning to launch a second campaign featuring a new 10-inch model with E Ink Spectra 6 display and customizable “Blossom” refresh effects.

Inkanva positions itself as the world’s first self-charging e-ink canvas, using perovskite photovoltaic panels to harvest energy from indoor ambient light. Its open API supports integration with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for natural-language content control.

JITRAINNO offers AI voice-interactive artwork generation, allowing users to describe creative ideas in natural language and receive images optimized for ePaper display.

Weclay Paper is a self-updating color ePaper companion board that tailors its displayed content to the frame’s physical location and room aesthetic via AI, while offering an open SDK for custom app development.

Industry analysts attribute the category’s rise to converging factors: mature Spectra 6 color ePaper technology, bistable power consumption enabling months of battery life, and growing consumer preference for sustainable, paper-like displays.

AI integration addresses a key pain point: keeping content fresh without relying solely on personal photo libraries.

Crowdfunding success further validates global demand, with Bloomin8 exceeding its goal by 7,900% in 2025 and Weclay achieving 728% funding with 16 days remaining.

At CES 2026, 15 exhibitors featured ePaper picture frames, representing 65% of the digital photo frame category. With major panel manufacturers and brands increasing ePaper supply chain investment, the product category is expanding beyond early adopters.

Color ePaper frames are evolving from niche gadgets into mainstream home decor products, driven by ePaper technology, industrial design, AI, and sustainability converging around a new consumer experience.

About SEEKINK

Founded in 2015, SEEKINK ranks among the top 3 globally in sales of electronic paper (EPD) modules thanks to its industry-leading technical team and boasts a monthly production capacity of 20 million units. With nearly 10 localized service teams worldwide and 208 granted patents, SEEKINK provides localized technical and business support to customers across global markets, backed by robust upstream and downstream industry resources,

As one of the founding members of the EPA (ePaper Industry Alliance), SEEKINK is committed to empowering the alliance’s members (currently numbering more than 270) and promoting the adoption of ePaper technology in more innovative application areas.

As an original ePaper display module manufacturer, SEEKINK congratulates the innovators and creators driving the development of the color ePaper frame category.

SEEKINK currently provides 5.89-inch, 7.09-inch, 10-inch, 13.3-inch, 28.5-inch, and 31.5-inch ePaper frame modules, as well as complete OEM/ODM services for customers developing innovative ePaper frame products and other ePaper display applications.

For more information about ePaper industry insights, color ePaper displays, ePaper digital photo frames, and innovative ePaper applications, follow SEEKINK:

Website: https://www.seekink.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seekink/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Seekink

Business Inquiries: enquiries@seekink.com

Media & Partnership Inquiries: contact@seekink.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seekink-market-insight-why-color-e-paper-frame-is-one-of-crowdfundings-hottest-new-categories-302859734.html

SOURCE SEEKINK

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