Message from President Craig:
As we head into the election, I want to thank all of you for your work on behalf of your communities this term. For those of you running for election again – good luck! For those acclaimed – congratulations! And for those of you who chose not to run again – I hope you can reflect on your local government experience and feel proud of what you accomplished.
Between our local government opportunities and AVICC activities it was a busy UBCM! I hope all who went to UBCM found it an engaging experience this year.
I have included an update of AVICC’s activities at the 2026 UBCM Convention below.
2026 Minister Meetings
AVICC was granted 3 meetings on priority topics for our members, ably supported by our Executive Director Theresa Dennison. We included representatives of local governments who have been advocating on these issues including by bringing forward resolutions to AVICC conventions. We have follow-up opportunities for each of these meetings.
Ministry Staff from WLRS, FOR and EMCR – Private Managed Forest Land Issues
Leading up to UBCM, I and Mayor Brown from the Village of Cumberland, Chair Will Cole-Hamilton from the Comox Valley RD, Chair Kate Segall from the Cowichan Valley RD, and Mayor Rob Douglas from North Cowichan as well as staff from our respective organizations had an online Ministry staff meeting with WLRS, MoF, and EMCR. The topic was watershed security, including challenges with Private Managed Forest Lands (PMFL), watershed management, data sharing with PMFL managers re. fire risk assessment, and opportunities for improved inter-ministry coordination.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs – Priority Issues
During UBCM, Councillor Erin Hemmens from the City of Nanaimo, Mayor Michelle Staples from the City of Duncan, and I met with Minister Christine Boyle, supported by Eileen Gillette from the Vancouver Island Regional Library and Ben Hyman from the Vancouver Public Library organizations.
Our topics were broad, reflecting the broad mandate of the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. Mayor Staples discussed ongoing advocacy for the Province to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to provide supportive housing operators with clear, proportionate, and transparent authority to enforce Good Neighbour Agreements while also maintaining tenant rights, procedural fairness, and human rights protections. Councillor Hemmens outlined the importance of public libraries in supporting British Columbians and reiterated our request for the Province to strike an advisory body as outlined in the Library Act. We will also be following up to receive an update on the regional district legislative reform initiative.
Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Also during UBCM, Mayor Sharie Minions from the City of Port Alberni, Chair Kate Segall from the Cowichan Valley RD, Chief Councillor John Jack, Huu-ay-aht First Nation/ Alberni-Clayoquot RD Chair, and I met with Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert. The request was for Provincial support surrounding intergovernmental relations between local governments and First Nations such as an engagement framework, as well as capacity funding for First Nations and local governments to support First Nation engagement in local government planning activities.
2026 AVICC Luncheon at UBCM
During the AVICC luncheon we were joined by Minister Randene Neill and had the opportunity to hear from her and also ask questions. Minister Neill indicated that we could receive written responses to our questions as well and we will circulate those when we have them. Immediately afterwards many of us joined MP Gord Johns’ rally in support of increased federal funding for BC Ferries.
2026 UBCM Elections
I was very pleased to see that two representatives from the AVICC region were elected to the UBCM Executive: Mayor Vickey Brown and Chair Will Cole-Hamilton were both elected as Directors-at-Large. Many thanks to Zac de Vries who put his name forward for third Vice President and Travis Hall who ran from the floor for a Director-at-Large position. As we all know, putting your hand up to stand for election requires courage and commitment and I appreciate all four of you for doing so!
UBCM Executive Update
Mayor Vickey Brown from the Village of Cumberland (UBCM Director-at-Large) and myself as your AVICC appointed representative were on the UBCM Executive for the 2025-2026 term. Prior to the start of the UBCM convention the outgoing UBCM Executive met for a short last meeting. During the meeting:
- we received reports from President Cori Ramsay and staff about their advocacy and work on UBCM priorities since the last meeting;
- received a report from the Nominations Committee on nominations received prior to convention (as the AVICC representative I was on the Nominations Committee);
- confirmed some last-minute aspects of convention (e.g., long service award recipients); considered the report on resolutions received after the deadline from the Resolutions Committee; and reviewed the assignments during convention as members of the Executive.
There was also a brief UBCM Executive meeting at the end of the UBCM Convention. As your appointed AVICC representative I will continue on the Executive, as will Mayor Vickey Brown, newly re-elected as Director-at-Large and acclaimed in her community. Although Will Cole-Hamilton from the City of Courtenay also was elected as a Director-at-Large, following the convention he is running for a provincial seat. After the local government elections, UBCM will be putting out a call to fill vacancies that may arise through the local government elections, following UBCM policy.