Mayor Denise O'Connor shares highlights from 2026 UBCM Convention
From September 14 to 18, leaders from local governments (including municipal, regional districts, and First Nations) gathered in Vancouver at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention to connect and learn from each other, attend meetings and sessions, vote on resolutions, and elect a new UBCM Board.
I attended along with Councillor Nonie McCann, Councillor Jennifer Thoss, and Chief Administrative Officer Diane Mombourquette. Our days were filled with attending panel and plenary sessions, listening to keynote speakers, attending meetings, and networking with other elected officials from across B.C. The theme for the convention was “Common Good” and some of the topics of discussion were emergency management, wildfire preparedness, housing and infrastructure, and funding needs.
Our Village of Lytton representatives had formal meetings with provincial ministers, including Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar to advocate for ongoing funding for FireSmart activities for municipalities and Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities Brittny Anderson to discuss the challenges and barriers people are facing in Lytton with recovery and rebuilding.
Some of the highlights of my week were attending Eyes of the Beast, a theatre production based on testimonies from the 2021 heat dome, Lytton Fire, and atmospheric river; listening to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip as part of the lengthy panel discussion on Understanding the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA); and listening to journalist Anna Maria Tremonti’s keynote speech.
~ Denise O’Connor, Mayor
Photo: Councillor McCann, Councillor Thoss, Mayor O'Connor, and CAO Mombourquette attended the 2026 UBCM Convention in Vancouver and met with Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities Brittny Anderson (second from right in first picture).
Photo credit: (left) Brittny Anderson (Facebook)