The annual UBCM convention was held September 16-20, 2024 in Vancouver. I was one of four Princeton delegates in attendance. Before I get into the details of my time at this event, let me tell you a little about the UBCM. 

UBCM is the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. It represents local government officials of member communities throughout British Columbia.  The group was formed several decades ago to give local governments a common voice.

The annual convention provides local governments with workshops, study sessions, social interaction with peers, a huge trade show, voting sessions on various resolutions passed onto higher levels of government, and private meetings with several cabinet ministers. This year's event theme was, "Ride The Wave."

Here is a breakdown of my schedule:

Sunday, September 15
This was a travel day for me. I left Princeton around 10 AM and took my time heading to Vancouver with several stops along the way. I don't normally travel in this direction on Highway 3, so I like to soak up whatever I can when I'm on the road. That usually means stops in Manning Park, Hope, and elsewhere. I checked into my hotel in the afternoon. 

I still do some freelance writing "on the side" and took a few projects with me that were due during the week so after I settled into my room, I worked on and completed one 1,000-word project, stopped for a walk on the seawall in Coal Harbour, and had supper. In the evening, I wrote another 1,000-words in a second freelance project before calling it a night.

Monday, September 16
I got up early and registered for the UBCM Convention. This is when I received my delegate badge (worn around the neck) which gives me access to the events and activities I pre-registered for a couple of months ago. My first study session was at 9:30 AM. The 2-hour session was titled, "What's Next For Housing?" The message from that presentation was fairly straightforward...there will be a change, but not anytime soon.

I had time before my next session so I walked the two blocks back to my hotel and wrote another 1,000-words in a third freelance project. At 2 PM, I attended the "Changing Climate, Rising Costs" 2-hour session. The message there was that things would continue to get bad. I was hoping that future sessions I planned to attend were a little more positive, as today's were definitely on one end of the scale.

I finished the day with another walk on the seawall and attended the weekly Zoom meeting of the web development company I work for in Australia. The freelance work I do is mostly from this company. I write web content (blogs, articles) for about 20 different Australian businesses and services with most of them coming from this company so it was important to maintain contact while I was away as I had to take time off (unpaid) from my other job to attend UBCM.

Tuesday, September 17
This was a busy day for all delegates at the convention as the daily schedule of events filled up. I started the day off attending the Resource Breakfast hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. At 9 AM I went to the 3-hour "Small Talk Forum" which was followed by lunch. I took a short break after this session and met the rest of the Princeton delegation at the World Trade Centre for a 3 PM meeting with BC Premier Eby. 

Our second "Minister Meeting" was at 3:30 PM with Minister Fleming (Ministry of Transportation and Highways). The meetings run usually no more than 15-minutes each. Our concerns this year revolve around flooding risk, obstacles that may impact flooding (bridge approaches as an example), and other matters. In all of these meetings, we are seeking assistance or direction in our efforts on Town Council to improve our community.

After these meetings, I went for another walk on the seawall for my self-care and attended the evening UBCM Welcome Reception, but did not stay long. The receptions are usually great networking opportunities, so I will attend a few of them. I don't normally stay long at any of them.

Wednesday, September 18
I started today with attending the early delegates breakfast. As I had some time before my next session, I went back to my hotel and completed two more freelance projects. That freed up the rest of the convention for me as now all the work I took with me was finished. At 12 Noon, I went to the SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) Lunch but had to leave early to meet the rest of the Princeton delegates at another Minister Meeting. This one was with MoTI Staff. 

With a Provincial Election coming up, I felt that meeting with Ministry staff was probably more productive than with the actual Ministers, so I was pleased that our Cabinet Minister meeting schedule was not just with Ministers. I visited the Trade Show, which featured hundreds of exhibitors. I normally just do a quick lap to see what's there. I followed that up with attendance at the Trade Show and BC Government receptions. I took a break after that fitting in another walk on the seawall. I finished the day at the CUPE reception. 

Thursday, September 19
I started my day at the Delegate's Breakfast then I sat in on the Resolution Session. I voted on several including one to change the name of the UBCM. I was against it. The resolution failed. A typical resolution session will see several hundred delegates in attendance. The final Minister meeting scheduled for us was at 9:40 AM with the Ministry of Tourism's Lana Popham. The topic was related to the trestle just past the Tunnel (under Highway 3) and the KVR past the Red Bluffs.

I went back to the Resolution Session and later discovered a small demonstration taking place outside the convention centre that was timed to take place during an address from BC Premier Eby. I sat in on that address and attended the Delegates Lunch. I had some time so I went for my last walk on the seawall and started packing for my return trip home. I find time to get away from the convention daily for self-care and for me, that's a walk on the seawall. It energizes me for the rest of the day. I finished the day at the UBCM Banquet but did not stay long.

Friday, September 20
I started the day with the Delegate's Breakfast. I stayed for the address from Jonathan Wilkinson (Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources). He was followed by John Rustad (BC Conservative Party Leader). I went back to the hotel, checked out, left Vancouver by 10 AM and pulled into my driveway in Princeton at 2:30 PM.

As I don't normally spend much time with my fellow Princeton delegates (except at Minister meetings), I take advantage of networking opportunities and meet as many people as I can. I was encouraged to do this at my first UBCM in 2019. I find that sometimes in conversation a delegate may have a solution to a problem or suggestion that may be worth exploring. I know I've given delegates ideas. I also like to reconnect with delegates I've met before at these events.

UBCM for me is a lot of work that I fit around work I've taken with me. It is not a holiday, or a party. It is a schedule of educational events that include learning and sharing opportunities. I look forward to it each year, but I also look forward to getting home once it is over.

September is convention time for municipal elected officials. The big event during the month is the UBCM Conference and Election of Officers. It is commonly just referred to as “UBCM” which stands for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. It is an event that attracts Mayors, Councillors, CEOs, and CFOs from communities all over the province.

UBCM 2023 ran from September 18 to 22 and was hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The theme this year was “Balancing Act” and with the type of schedule we had, it was the perfect theme. It was the third UBCM for all of us on the Princeton Town Council. Our first was in Vancouver in 2019, the 2020 and 2021 events were virtual due to the pandemic, and the 2022 conference was in Whistler. Regardless of the venue, the organizers always put on a first-class event filled with interesting workshops, sessions, presentations, and social activities.

My schedule was fairly full as I wanted to attend as many sessions as possible however, scheduling conflicts with meetings planned with ministry officials cut into those plans. Here is a brief rundown of what UBCM was for me.

Sunday, September 17
I got to Vancouver in the early evening. Traffic was backed up due to an accident outside of Abbotsford, so my arrival was later than I had expected. I got checked into the hotel and settled by 6:30 PM. I took it easy that evening taking a walk in the neighbourhood and ending up on the seawall. It was a nice way to start a week in Vancouver.

Monday, September 18
I attended a couple of two-hour sessions during the day: “Building Economic Resiliency” and “Building Homes, Building Communities.” I had a third event booked, but could not make it. Our first ministry meeting was in the afternoon and was with Bruce Ralston (Ministry of Forests) and his staff. The evening featured a reception hosted by FortisBC. I finished the day with another walk on the seawall.

Tuesday, September 19
This was one of our busiest days. I attended the “Small Talk Forum” and had to leave near the end to be with the rest of council at our second ministry meeting with Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation. That was quickly followed by our third meeting with Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food. I attended the “Small Talk Forum Lunch” and then in the afternoon, went to our fourth meeting with Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship which was followed by our fifth meeting of the conference with BC Premier David Eby. I went for another seawall walk in the early evening and enjoyed some social networking afterward at the “Welcome Reception.”

Wednesday, September 20
Today was a bit of a working day for me as I took a couple of writing projects with me and spent the morning completing them. I attended the SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) lunch. I had been at the annual SILGA Convention this past April in Vernon. Our sixth meeting was with Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and our seventh meeting of the week was later in the afternoon with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff. I checked out the massive UBCM Trade Show, fit in another seawall walk, and attended three different receptions in the evening. I started at the one hosted by the BC Government, then headed over to one hosted by COFI (BC Council of Forest Industries), and finished at the CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) reception. These receptions allow me to meet other municipal officials from different parts of BC, share ideas, and generally socialize. They also bring me in contact with delegates I’ve met at other conferences so we can catch up or renew friendships.

Thursday, September 21
In the morning, I attended our final meeting of UBCM with Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation. The “minister meetings” give us a private 15-minute audience with a provincial government minister and/or staff to discuss various issues of concern to our community. They often produce various levels of success and, according to our Mayor at the October 5 regular meeting of Town Council, there has already been some follow-up from more than one of our meetings at UBCM. I attended the Delegate's Lunch and a wonderful Port of Vancouver Harbour Tour where delegates were shown the shipping activity in Burrard Inlet. The evening featured the UBCM Reception, and I finished the night at the UBCM Banquet.

Friday, September 22
The final day of UBCM is usually just a morning of keynote speakers. I opted to skip that so I could head home early like many of the over 2,000 delegates who attended the 2023 event. My usually good sense of direction failed me and it took me an hour to get out of Vancouver. I was quite happy to pull into my driveway in Princeton later that afternoon.

Conclusion

Although there are many social activities planned during UBCM, there are as many business items, meetings, and important events included. For me, I find importance in the “minister meetings” where we sit as an entire council team with a minister and staff to discuss matters that impact our local citizens. These meetings give us a forum that is more direct than an email, phone call, or video chat. They also foster dialogue and collaboration. I also find importance in attending key sessions and always try to sign up for ones that have some connection to the needs of our community. It is challenging to attend everything provided at one of these conferences, but whatever you fit in is always worth it.

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From April 25 to April 28, I was in Vernon. I was the second delegate from Princeton in attendance at the 2023 SILGA AGM and Conference held in the Prestige Vernon Lodge. I was not originally scheduled to be at this event but had the opportunity when another member of the Princeton Town Council could not make it. 

I arrived in Vernon during the noon hour on the first day (April 25). Instead of participating in one of a few different field trips planned for delegates, I chose to attend two presentations. The first one was “Climate Change and the Future for Water in the Okanagan” which was hosted by the Okanagan Basin Water Board. The second one was “Syilx Leadership for Protecting Water" and it was presented by the Okanagan Nation Alliance and Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program. Future flooding potential was the main point of both sessions.

The evening ended with a social event for delegates to network, mingle, get to know each other, or re-establish contacts. I found myself sitting with delegates from Keremeos for most of the conference. However, I did reconnect with peers from Peachland, Lake Country, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, and the surrounding region.

Day 2 (April 26) 
I missed most of it as I had a previously scheduled series of medical appointments in Kelowna to attend. I did get back to Vernon in time to attend the evening Welcome Reception, which provided more networking opportunities.

Day 3 (April 27) 
I spent all day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the conference centre. The day included the SILGA Annual General Meeting, election speeches, elections, and numerous AGM reports. Sessions attended during the day included a “Trans Mountain Project Expansion Update” where we learned that the project is just about complete with the taps set to turn on soon. Later in the morning was a presentation on the “Canada Community Building Fund Renewal” and before lunch, the Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association presented a session titled, “The Path to Recovery in the Housing Market.”

The afternoon was full of presentations from the BC Lottery Corporation, one on “Planning and Response to Climate Related Events,” and “The Elected Official Role in Planning and Development.” I also attended a breakout session titled, “The 13 Things Local Governments Need To Know for Successful Economic Development.” One of the presenters, Dale Wheeldon of the BC Economic Development Association, referenced Princeton several times in his slide show as an example of what to do to attract economic development. His presentation contained many photos of Princeton and he praised both Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne (who was also at the conference) and Princeton Director of Economic Development Gary Schatz for their post-flood economic recovery plans and marketing programs attracting people back to our area.

The evening ended with a banquet and dance with live entertainment. I called it a night shortly after the band hit the stage.

Day 4 (April 28) 
Started with BC Assessment’s Graham Held presenting his slide show “Overview of Property Assessment and 2023 Assessment Roll.” I had seen this in early March when I was in Kelowna for the LGLA (Local Government Leadership Academy) conference. I also sat through the presentation titled, “Media 101: Setting Yourself Up For Success” where I heard a few delegates lament the bullying they experience from their local media and panelists explaining the evils of having a presence on social media.

I disagree with most of what they said simply because, in a small community like Princeton, social media is active (sometimes overactive) but an effective tool for communicating important local government information to taxpayers. It also provides a valuable link between taxpayers and elected officials. Although the number of us engaging in social media activity locally is quite small, I know from my years in the media industry how to use it for what I need and admit that it gives locals better access to me, if they need to reach me for something.

The morning finished with greetings from BC Liberal (United) Official Opposition MLA Dan Ashton of Penticton and words from the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs.

I left Vernon during the noon hour and got back home in the early evening as I had a few stops to make along the way. I enjoyed attending this, my third SILGA AGM and Conference. I was at last year’s in Salmon Arm and attended the last pre-COVID event in Penticton in 2019. My takeaways are many. What I learn more than anything else at these events is that regardless of the size of the community in the southern interior, we all share the same issues and by working together, and using the SILGA platform to advocate, changes can come.
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