Asset management resources for beginners

Looking to get started on asset management in your municipality? Are you wondering how to get started?

There are many excellent asset management resources available in Canada. This list provides a sample of great asset management resources for beginners, as recommended by the Technical Working Group of the Municipal Asset Management Program.

Remember that your province or territory may have specific requirements, regulations, or approaches to asset management, so we encourage you to start with local resources if they are available. You can also look to your local asset management community of practice for more information. You can find definitions of common terms on the AM Concepts page.

Guides

Title	Author	Type	Description
Asset management guide for BC First Nations	British Columbia First Nations	Guide, checklist, video	This asset management guide is designed to help First Nation communities sustainably manage their infrastructure assets over their full lifecycles. It introduces concepts, systems and tools to start a new asset management program, or to further develop an existing one.
Managing Infrastructure Assets for Sustainable Development: A Handbook for Local and National Governments	United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)	Guide	This handbook provides guidance and practical tools to assess needs, develop information systems, and creating an action plan for sustainable infrastructure asset management.
The Building Blocks of Asset Management - A how-to guide for reaching Level 1 of FCM's Asset Management Readiness Scale	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Guide and webinar recording	The guide and webinar helps communities at early stages of asset management to take the first steps to reach Level 1 on the Asset Management Readiness Scale.
*UPDATED* Asset Management 101 Web Portal	Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	Guide and web portal	This web portal provides the rationale for asset management and details the initial steps to get started and advance in the five competency areas.
Guide de gestion des actifs à l’intention des petites municipalités (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This guide will help municipalities understand the concepts of asset management and the main steps to developing an AM policy, strategy and plan.
*UPDATED* Guide à l'intention des élus concernant les infrastructures municipales (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This municipal infrastructure guide for elected officials provides approaches for managing municipal assets like water and wastewater systems, stormwater and roadways. (Available in French only)
Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities with Asset Management: An introduction for municipal leaders	FCM	Guide	This guide helps municipalities embed sustainability into asset management practices, including climate change considerations, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
Asset Management for Sustainable Service Delivery: A BC Framework	Asset Management BC	Guide	This Framework establishes a high-level, systematic approach that supports local governments in moving toward service, asset and financial sustainability through an asset management process.
The Joy of Governing (your how-to guide for optimal governance)	Association of Yukon Communities (AYC)	Guide	The Joy of Governing was developed for small northern communities to enhance understanding of governance, leadership, and the link to asset management.  It is also available in Inuktitut.
Asset Management Getting Started Guide	Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Government of Saskatchewan	Guide	This guide will provide readers with fundamental information about asset management and how it can be used to help support municipal operations.
Asset Management Primer for Elected Officials	AMO	Primer	This primer provides councils with a better understanding of their role in adopting a strategic approach to determine infrastructure investment priorities.
Asset Management: Smart Management Practices	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Brief	The brief is a series of two-page summaries of the main components and concepts of asset management, as well as the available tools to get started.

 

Tools

Title	Author	Type	Description
Asset Management: The Strategic Basics	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA);  Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA);  Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook helps elected officials gain an understanding of the benefits and trade-offs of asset management, the role of elected officials, using data for decision-making and communicating to the community.
Asset Management for Municipal Staff: The Technical Basics	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook provides municipal staff with information, exercises and reference material to help them understand asset management concepts and competencies, the asset data required, and the process of building an AM Plan.
Starting the asset management conversation with your municipal council: A communication tool	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a facilitator’s guide and two customizable presentations to start the conversation or go deeper on asset management and provide  municipal council an overview of asset management and its value to the municipality.
Getting Started Toolkit (User Guide and Excel Workbook)	Province of Alberta	Toolkit	The tools in this toolkit have been designed to help kick-start municipalities who are in the early stages of their asset management journey, or to support others with continuous improvement of their asset management programs.
Estimated Maximum Useful Life Table for Asset	Association of Yukon Communities (AYC)	Reference	These tables provide an estimated maximum useful life for tangible capital assets for the purposes of asset management and financial planning.
Asset Management in the Northwest Territories	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	The toolkit includes a series of guides, templates, and workbooks to advance asset management policy, planning and operationalization.

 

Examples

Title	Author	Type	Description
How to develop an asset management policy, strategy and governance framework: Set up a consistent approach to asset management in your municipality	FCM	Guide with examples	See section 2.5 for examples of AM plans.  See section 3.3 for examples of AM strategies and frameworks.  See section 4.7 for examples of governance structures
2015 Asset Management Handbook	Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, BC	Example	This is an example of an AM Handbook from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality in BC (population 4,800).
Asset management plan for the County of Northumberland, ON	County of Northumberland, ON	Example	This is an example of an AM plan from the County of Northumberland, ON (population 85,000)
Asset Management Leadership Team Terms of Reference for Frankston City, Australia	Frankston City, Australia	Example	This is an example of the terms of reference for Frankston City’s AM leadership team (population 134,000).
Capital Asset Management Policies and Procedures	Selkirk, Alberta	Example	The City of Selkirk shares its policies and procedures for capital asset management, including evaluation, registry, operations and management.

 

Videos and webinars

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* History Of Asset Management in Canada	Asset Management British Columbia (AMBC)	Webinar	Four Canadian asset management pioneers share their perspectives on how asset management has evolved in Canada, and the significant actions and initiatives that shaped asset management in Canada.
*NEW* Implementing Asset Management	Asset Management Ontario (AMONT)	Video	The video shares approaches to embedding asset management practices into its municipal operations and discover the benefits.
The case for asset management: What is asset management?	PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada	Video and guiding questions for leaders	The video provides senior leaders with an introduction to Asset Management, and the associated web page includes questions intended to enable leaders to engage in a conversation towards improvement within their municipality.
Municipal Leadership Essentials: A Guide to Asset Management	Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL)	Webinar recording	This series of six webinars covers the “what” and “how” of asset management, the tools to implement AM, and how AM can support community planning and development.
Understanding the Benefits and Clarifying Roles in Asset Management	WaterWolf Planning Inc. (WWP)	Webinar recording	This webinar and handout provides an overview of asset management and the importance of understanding the different roles of staff, administrators, and council members in implementing asset management processes.
Principles of Asset Management	Asset Management Ontario	Video	This video describes the principles of asset management, why they are important, and the need for sound asset information to make decisions.
La gestion des actifs (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Video	This video explains the importance of asset management and the first steps that municipalities can take to get started.
Why invest in asset management?	FCM	Video	This video explains how asset management can address many of the challenges faced by municipalities relating to service delivery through infrastructure.
The Big Picture: The Asset Management Journey	Institute of Asset Management (IAM)	Video	The Big Picture is a visual tool for starting conversations about asset management within your organisation as well as with customers, suppliers and wider stakeholders.
Practical advice for common AM challenges	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Webinar recording	This webinar provides lessons and advice from municipalities on getting started in asset management, creating a team, using software, hiring a consultant, and taking an asset inventory.
The Building Blocks of Asset Management - A how-to guide for reaching Level 1 of FCM's Asset Management Readiness Scale	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Guide and webinar recording	The guide and webinar helps communities at early stages of asset management to take the first steps to reach Level 1 on the Asset Management Readiness Scale.

 

Online courses

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Asset Management 101	Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	Online course	This online asset management awareness course helps municipal staff and elected officials in Canada learn how to explain the challenges and understand the benefits of asset management so they can sustainably deliver services to their customers. Registration and fee required.
*NEW* Developing an Asset Management policy and roadmap	Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network	Online course	The online course enables participants to develop a working policy and to set a strategic roadmap to expand and monitor an asset management program. Registration and fee required.
*Updated* The Basics of Asset Management for Elected Officials (with a new climate change chapter)	Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM)	Online course	This paid course is designed to provide elected officials with a clear understanding of asset management and how to use it to inform decision making and improve service delivery. Registration and fee required
The Learning Path to Asset Management Readiness	Asset Management Saskatchewan (AMSK)	Online course	This paid online course provides an overview of AM concepts, such as levels of service, lifecycle costing and risk, to help small municipalities get started and advance in asset management. Registration and fee required
Pourquoi se préoccuper de la gestion de ses actifs municipaux?  (Module 1) et Les étapes du cycle de gestion des actifs municipaux (Module 2) (available in French only)	Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM), Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Online course	This free course includes a module about the principles and prerequisites of asset management, and a second module that explains the six steps in the asset management cycle. Registration required (free)

 

Note: Different jurisdictions can have specific requirements for asset management plans, policies and strategies. For example, Ontario’s regulation O. Reg 588/17 lays out specific requirements for Ontario municipalities. It is always a good idea to check with your province, territory, municipal association, or local community of practice to see if there are specific requirements or approaches in your jurisdiction.

* “New” or “Updated” resource listings are as of October 2024.