Updates from UBCM's Executive, including reports from meetings, decisions, calls for nominations and more.
Director Art Kaehn provided notification to UBCM that he has withdrawn his nomination for UBCM President due to health reasons. The purpose of this notice is to inform UBCM members that at present, there is no nominee for the position of President; and that the Nominating Committee has put in place additional steps to manage the process for nominations off the floor at Convention.
Congratulations to Brian Frenkel who has been recognized by the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia with a King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to those who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province.
The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings July 17-19. The meeting provided closure on several year-end matters, and established direction for the year ahead. Executive members also met with the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honourable Anne Kang as part of their deliberations.
Highlights from the July 19 Executive meeting include:
The UBCM Executive held its quarterly board and committee meetings in Victoria over April 24-26 in conjunction with its 2024 Advocacy Days. In addition to sharing UBCM’s advocacy priorities with the Premier, Ministers and MLAs, all Committees convened and Executive members met with Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs as part of the Friday board meeting.
UBCM’s Executive Board met with provincial leaders in Victoria to talk about common challenges local governments are dealing with across the province, with a focus on housing and homelessness, community safety, and infrastructure. Meetings with Premier Eby, Ministers Kahlon, Farnworth, Whiteside, Conroy and more, were an opportunity to discuss the ways these issues are affecting communities across the province, and what action is needed from the Province.
The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Executive meeting in Richmond February 15 – 16, immediately following the 2024 Housing Summit. Along with a full slate of Committee meetings, the Executive met with Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship regarding proposed Land Act amendments, which the Province later decided not to proceed with; and Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
With sadness we mark the sudden passing of Helen Poon, a former Port Alberni councillor who served on the UBCM Executive as a director at large in 2019-2020. Helen was visiting friends in New Zealand over the holiday when she died from a car crash.
Helen was an energetic participant in local politics where she served on the Port Alberni council from 2018 to 2022.
The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings in Richmond on November 16-17. UBCM President Trish Mandewo welcomed new and returning members to the Executive. In addition to Committee meetings, Executive members met with the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs; held an orientation session and all board members signed the Executive Code of Conduct.
Highlights of the Executive meeting include: