MISA/ASIM Canada Joins LOLA

November 28, 2006 -- MISA/ASIM Canada has announced a new affiliation that is widening the communication between municipalities in Canada and other countries.

The national organization has joined an international association based in Britain called the Linked Organisations in Local Authorities (LOLA).

LOLA, www.lola-online.org, is a grouping of municipal-service associations in Europe, North America and New Zealand that have agreed to work collectively and collaboratively to achieve benefits for their organizations and members, and the citizens they serve.

Participation in LOLA events and initiatives will mean exciting opportunities for MISA/ASIM Canada and its members, said Kevin Peacock, branch manager, Corporate Information Services at the City of Saskatoon and president of the 10-member Board of Directors of MISA/ASIM Canada.

“The opportunity to network, share best practices and other IT-related information on a global basis will be highly valued by our member chapters,” Peacock said.

“We are all in the service-delivery business and this relationship with LOLA will only help improve our ability to better serve the citizens of Canada.  The collaboration and the sharing of knowledge with like-minded people will prove to be invaluable.  We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with all six of the national bodies.”

MISA/ASIM Canada, or Municipal Information Systems Association/Association des systèmes d'information municipale Canada, was officially launched in June 2006.  It is the first national body formed to promote e-Government services for municipalities and to work with other levels of government to make services efficient across jurisdictions. 

Members of MISA/ASIM Canada include the four chapters of MISA as well as the Réseau de l’informatique municipale du Québec (RIMQ).

The national association has previously established international connections informally through joint attendance at events with a US association, Government Management Information Sciences (GMIS).MISA/ASIM Canada Joins LOLA