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.
B次元官网网址淭he weather was great, food was great, people were great,B次元官网网址� said Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming just prior to the conventionB次元官网网址檚 end Friday. B次元官网网址淭here was more time to chat with each other this year. They got to meet each other and see what each community was doing. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why this conference was so successful.B次元官网网址�
Held every spring, the SILGA convention brings together local governmentB次元官网网址檚 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 MunicipalitiesB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淭he veterans called it the best SILGA ever,B次元官网网址� said Cumming, in his second term as Vernon mayor. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 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.B次元官网网址�
Final day Friday included presenting three Community Excellence Awards, sponsored by Urban SystemB次元官网网址檚 and the North OkanaganB次元官网网址檚 Township of Spallumcheen won two of them.
The township took home the Economic Development Award and the Environmental Sustainability Award.
B次元官网网址淲e are really surprised and super excited,B次元官网网址� said Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser, attending the conference with councillors Joe Van Tienhoven, Gerry Popoff and John Bakker. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�
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 townshipB次元官网网址檚 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 OliverB次元官网网址檚 Town Hall.
The 2024 SILGA convention will be held in Kamloops.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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