UBCM Gather In Victoria: One-on-One with Victoria Mayor

Municipal Affairs
Sep 29
2 min read

Welcome to Municipal Affairs.

This past week, the capital city of Victoria played host to one of the most important gatherings in the civic calendar: the 2025 Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention.

From September 22nd to 26th, the Victoria Conference Centre became the meeting ground for mayors, councillors, directors senior staff, First Nations representatives, provincial agencies, and partners from across the province.

The UBCM Convention is more than a series of speeches and workshops—it’s where the future of British Columbia’s communities is debated, shaped, and, in many cases, decided.

This year, the conversations were as pressing as they were complex.

Housing affordability and growth management dominated the agenda, with municipalities grappling with the need to build smarter, faster, and more affordably while ensuring neighbourhoods remain livable and inclusive.

Infrastructure and asset management also loomed large, as aging roads, water systems, and drainage networks strain the budgets of communities

Climate resilience was another critical theme, with leaders focused on how municipalities can protect residents and economies in the face of intensifying wildfires, floods, and rising seas.

Alongside that, the discussions turned to intergovernmental relations—questions about local decision-making authority, the role of the province, and how responsibilities are shared.

And throughout it all, reconciliation and partnership with First Nations remained a guiding principle, with delegates working to align municipal priorities with Indigenous leadership and perspectives.

During the week, we had a chance to speak one-on-one with Victoria’s own Mayor, Marianne Alto, about what it means for her city to showcase municipal leadership from across British Columbia.

For the Mayor, and for many of the delegates, the convention was not only about issues but also about solidarity—the fraternity of municipalities who, despite their differences, share common challenges and a common determination to solve them.em.

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