Lake Country Mayor and Council have returned from the 2026 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver following a week of meetings focused on issues important to the community.
Throughout the convention, the District’s delegation met with provincial representatives including Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks; Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests; Bobbi Plecas, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure; Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness; Stephanie Higginson, Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Care Access; and Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, along with senior provincial and agency representatives.
Discussions focused on issues aligned with Council’s 2024–2026 Strategic Priorities, including water and environmental stewardship, emergency preparedness, health care, infrastructure and agriculture. Council’s Strategic Priorities identify advocacy and strong intergovernmental relationships as important tools for advancing Lake Country’s interests and securing support from other orders of government.
“It was a busy and productive week for Lake Country,” said Mayor Blair Ireland. “UBCM gives us a great opportunity to sit down face-to-face with ministers and senior staff, share what’s happening in our community and talk about the things that matter most to the people who live here. We had some good conversations, strengthened important relationships and made sure Lake Country’s priorities were heard. We also had the opportunity to attend many sessions and talk to other communities to learn more about which projects worked well and about the issues facing all of us. It’s all about working together to make sure our community continues to have the support and opportunities it needs to thrive.”
The week also brought provincial recognition for regional collaboration. Lake Country, the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) received the Presidents Committee Choice Award at the UBCM Community Excellence Awards for the North Aberdeen Plateau Wildfire and Watershed Resilience Initiative.
The District will continue working with provincial ministries and partners to build on the work undertaken at UBCM and support Lake Country’s priorities.
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