Articles about UBCM's annual Conventions.
George Abbott, Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission, discusses how treaties have evolved since the landmark Nisga’a agreement and explains how living treaties can adapt over time to meet changing community needs.
UBCM President Cori Ramsay addressed delegates at the 2026 UBCM Convention, noting the growing frustration among local governments over issues including public safety, housing and provincial decision-making. She outlined UBCM’s firmer approach to advocating for local governments and ensuring local voices are heard in provincial policy and legislation.
Tuesday’s plenary session drew together perspectives from local leaders, legal experts, provincial representatives and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip to discuss the current context and pathway forward of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in BC. The full session is available in six segments on our YouTube channel.
Understanding DRIPA: Opportunities, Challenges and Implications for BC Communities
Online harassment, personal attacks, threats and more hostile public debate are adding to the pressures that already come with serving in local government. Yet elected officials often don’t have access to mental health supports through their workplace.
One of the first sessions at Convention this year was a panel discussing rising costs for local governments who use RCMP policing services. Local governments across BC have been sharing concerns that taxpayers are paying the price without having enough input into how policing is funded and delivered.
As the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act continues to shape conversations in BC about reconciliation, governance, law-making and community relationships, UBCM is convening an extended plenary session at Convention to discuss the complexities around this Act and its implementation.
Through a moderated series of panels, the session will explore perspectives from legal, Indigenous, local government, business and provincial representatives.
The 2026 UBCM Convention will include a memorial wall, meant to honour local elected officials in BC who have passed away this year. If you know of an elected official in your area who passed away in the last 12 months, contact Zoë Ducklow by Tuesday, September 8 to ensure they are included in the memorial wall. Please include their name, the position they held and at which local government, the years they held office, and a photo.
The first day of Convention will feature a unique session of a live reading of the documentary play, “Eyes of the Beast”, followed by a forum for delegates to discuss their own experiences and wisdom learned. Minister of Emergency Management & Climate Readiness, Kelly Greene, will attend the session as a policy listener.
In 2021, British Columbia experienced the deadliest weather-related disaster in Canadian history: an extreme heat wave that killed 619 people, followed by a fire that levelled Lytton and floods that cut the province in two.
UBCM staff will be available to discuss the funding programs we administer during the 2026 UBCM Convention. Local governments are invited to book appointments with staff from the BCSF – Community Stream and/or Local Government Program Services.
CAO’s and senior staff are invited to book appointments online here.
UBCM members are encouraged to book an appointment to meet UBCM staff and to discuss:
Every year at UBCM Convention we host forums specifically for small communities and electoral areas. The Small Talk Forum unites the collective brainpower of communities with populations under 5,000. The unique concerns of regional district electoral areas focus the discussion at the Electoral Area Directors' Forum.
Help shape this year's agendas by sending your questions, ideas and success stories to UBCM staff by Friday, July 17.