The City of Vernon played super host to a record-breaking convention.
Close to 300 representatives of municipal governments attended the annual Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) annual convention, held in Vernon April 25-28 at the Prestige Vernon Lodge.
That blew away the previous mark of around 220 attendees.
鈥淭he weather was great, food was great, people were great,鈥� said Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming just prior to the convention鈥檚 end Friday. 鈥淭here was more time to chat with each other this year. They got to meet each other and see what each community was doing. That鈥檚 why this conference was so successful.鈥�
Held every spring, the SILGA convention brings together local government鈥檚 elected officials to network and learn from each other.
Over the four days, educational sessions are presented to make the local government reps more knowledgeable and effective in dealing with the requirements of their council or (regional district) board.
The SILGA board also advocates with provincial ministries at the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities鈥� convention, held in the fall.
Of the record attendees in Vernon, half were veteran politicians, said Cumming, and half were attending their first-ever SILGA event.
鈥淭he veterans called it the best SILGA ever,鈥� said Cumming, in his second term as Vernon mayor. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of Vernon. The community has shone. People had a great time visiting our shops and stores, walking up and down the streets and commenting on our parks and facilities. Just tremendous.鈥�
Final day Friday included presenting three Community Excellence Awards, sponsored by Urban System鈥檚 and the North Okanagan鈥檚 Township of Spallumcheen won two of them.
The township took home the Economic Development Award and the Environmental Sustainability Award.
鈥淲e are really surprised and super excited,鈥� said Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser, attending the conference with councillors Joe Van Tienhoven, Gerry Popoff and John Bakker. 鈥淚t鈥檚 validation for how hard our staff has worked to build a sustainable environment and that can develop economically. The township is a place anyone would love to call home.鈥�
Spall won the Economic Development Award after beginning a business roundtable to create local dialogue with the business community. It was so beneficial, more roundtables were created with the farming and economic development stakeholders.
The township鈥檚 commitment to initiate improvements to make the environment a little more green, reduce its carbon footprint and increase environmental knowledge help it win the Sustainable Environment Award.
Among the improvements include switching to LED lights in the public works shop, municipal office and township streetlights; using latex-based line paint on all roads; curbside recycling for residents; and purchasing local food and drink for township meetings and events whenever possible.
The Social Responsibility Award went to the Town of Oliver for flying the flag of the Osoyoos Indian Band outside Oliver鈥檚 Town Hall.
The 2024 SILGA convention will be held in Kamloops.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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