The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) has presented its 2019 Community Excellence Awards at its annual convention in Vancouver and the Village of Canal Flats is among those being honoured.

The awards showcase municipalities and regional districts that have implemented projects and programs that demonstrate excellence in meeting the purposes of local government in BC.  The awards are designed to profile promising practices and to create successful pathways and incentives for others to follow. UBCM has offered the Community Excellence Awards since 2004.

The purpose of local governments in B.C. are set out in both the Community Charter and the Local Government Act and generally focus on good governance, providing services for community benefit, providing stewardship of public assets, and fostering sustainability. Based on this, the award categories recognize UBCM members that demonstrate:

• Excellence in Governance – by utilizing decision-making processes and policies that are outcomes-based and consensus oriented, support and encourage citizen participation, are efficient, equitable, inclusive and transparent, and exemplify best practices in accountability, effectiveness, and long-term thinking;
• Excellence in Service Delivery – by providing effective and beneficial services to the community in a proactive manner and drawing on performance measures, benchmarks and standards to ensure that service delivery is sustainable;
• Excellence in Asset Management – by developing comprehensive, integrated, innovative and effective approaches to the management of existing and new infrastructure in order to maximize benefits, reduce risk and provide satisfactory levels of service to the community in a sustainable manner; and
• Excellence in Sustainability – through commitment to the premise of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, and incorporating the four pillars of sustainability (cultural, social, economic and environmental) into local government planning, policy and practice.

In all categories, winners offer a path for other local governments to follow, not only in British Columbia but around the world, making communities more efficient, healthier and ultimately more livable.

Excellence in Governance

WINNER: City of Richmond – 2017-2022 Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy.

Honourable Mention: Village of Canal Flats – Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.

Excellence in Service Delivery

WINNER: Thompson-Nicola Regional District – A New Road Travelled – Mobile Library Service Provides Advanced Voting Opportunities for Rural Communities.

Honourable Mention: City of Surrey – Integrated Sustainability Education Program.

Excellence in Asset Management

WINNER: City of Colwood – Sustainable Infrastructure Replacement Plan.

Excellence in Sustainability

WINNER:  City of Castlegar – Columbia Avenue Complete Streets Project

Honourable Mention: Village of Harrison Hot Springs – LED Lighting Upgrade.

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