Vernon mayor Victor Cumming shares a laugh with another delegate at the UBCM conference in Whistler, with Vernon councillor Akbal Mund in the background. (Photo credit: Flickr)

By Pete McIntyre

annual conference

Mayor says city reps had productive meetings at UBCM

Sep 16, 2022 | 5:30 PM

A return to in-person meetings made the Union of BC Municipalities conference a success for Vernon’s mayor.

Victor Cumming said the five-day event in Whistler was more productive than the last two in 2020 and ’21 which were held online due to the pandemic.

“This one was quite effective because of the direct access to the ministers and deputy ministers. We we’re able to sit across, share maps, look at things jointly and build more raport,’ Cumming told Vernon Matters while on his way home from the convention.

Cumming was joined at the conference by five Vernon councillors and two staff members. Kelly Fehr was the only councillor not there due to work requirements.

Vernon mayor Victor Cumming at UBCM conference in Whistler (Photo credit: Flickr)

Stuck Near Shorts Creek

VSAR teams helped rescue stranded motorists

1h ago

Event Cancelled

Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival cancelled after nearly 30 years

Apr 06, 2026

Flood Hazards

Requests for proposals open for Water Reclamation bridge project

Apr 06, 2026

Cumming said the face-to-face format also allowed for discussions with neighbouring communities like Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Lake Country.

“These are all communities that are outside our regional districts so we don’t get much face time with them. And to be able to share concerns with them and discover that our concerns are similar to theirs, allows us to jointly be saying the same thing to the provincial government, and I think that’s really valuable,” Cumming remarked.

Cumming, who is coming to the end of his first term as mayor, said city reps met with officials from three ministries to outline a concern about the slow provincial approval process for developments.

The mayor said the ministry officials understood the issues, and in response, are adjusting their manpower and triage system.

The need for more housing was also pressed.

“We were able to articulate, along with all municipalities, the need for a mechanism for mid-range housing and some way of making that happen. It seems to be one part of the housing spectrum that we’re really thin on,” Cumming stated

Greater Vernon reps also stressed the need to manage the drinking water area in the Aberdeen Plateau.

“Concerns about wildfire potential, and being able to manage more effectively for fire breaks and thinning and things like that, so that was really well received [by the ministries],” said Cumming.

Lake Country was also in on that discussion as it shares the same area for its drinking water.

Cumming said some of the interesting UBCM resolutions involved climate change including one to speed up the building code requirements, along with the need for programs to help people renovate multi-family buildings to bring them in line with energy use, more insulation, and the need for air conditioners.

Premier John Horgan at the UBCM conference in Whistler. (Photo credit: Flickr)

Councillor Jen Ford from Whistler was acclaimed s the new UBCM president.

Mayor Ange Qualizza of the City of Fernie was acclaimed first vice president.

Premier John Horgan was the keynote speaker on the final day Friday, telling the delegates working together at all levels of government is the best way to approach and resolve British Columbia’s most pressing issues, including health care, public safety and housing.

by Pete McIntyre

View Comments