Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Towns’ director of Movement Building, will be the keynote speaker at the Southern Interior Local Government Association’s 2025 convention in Merritt, British Columbia, on April 30.

LOCATION: Merritt Civic Centre  |  DATE: April 30, 2025  |  TIME: 1 p.m. PDT

Why are so many cities and towns across North America going broke? Our roads are deteriorating. Our governments are in debt. No matter how much we increase them, our taxes aren’t enough to fix it all. And no one seems to be able to agree on how we got here — much less how to change the course. 

This isn’t just about numbers on a budget. This is about the fate of the communities we love most and the real people who live there. This is about giving our citizens, today and tomorrow, a chance at the future they deserve. 

If we want North American cities to be strong and resilient, we need to change everything about the way we plan and build our places.

In his presentation, Norm will explain how so many North American cities have found themselves in decline after decades of “growth.” He’ll then share a revolutionary way forward that could create enduring prosperity — if we just have the courage to change our minds.