UBCM 2026: Mayors Discuss BC Priorities
Mayors, councillors and municipal leaders from across British Columbia gathered in Vancouver this week for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention and tradeshow.
The 2026 UBCM Convention brought local government leaders together from across the province to discuss the issues affecting their communities, while also providing an opportunity to meet directly with members of the provincial government and advocate for their municipalities.
And with the B.C. municipal election set for October 17th, this gathering comes at an important point in the local political calendar, with the formal campaign period beginning September 19th.
For many municipal leaders, the convention provided an opportunity to put the priorities of their communities directly in front of provincial decision-makers ahead of the election.
For the Town of Princeton, Mayor Spencer Coyne is seeking re-election, and on the second day of the convention, we spoke with him about the issues he was advocating for with the provincial government.
We also asked Mayor Coyne about what he sees as the path forward for Princeton following the October 17th election, should he return for another term.
For the Mayor of Smithers, Gladys Atrill, this year’s UBCM convention marked the end of her time as an elected municipal leader.
Mayor Atrill announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking re-election in the upcoming municipal election.
We spoke with Mayor Atrill about the future of Smithers, the issues facing her community, and why this final UBCM convention was an important opportunity to advocate for her community and bring its priorities directly to provincial leaders.
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