The Union of British Columbia Municipalities presented its 2020 Community Excellence Awards during the UBCM virtual convention. 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 District is pleased to share that it was one of the top three finalists, along with Kamloops and Burnaby, for the Excellence in Governance Award for the District’s Transparency and Accountability Project. This project involved developing a suite of documents which focused on enhancing the quality and transparency of corporate reporting and revising District processes to promote robust public engagement and citizen participation in civic decision-making.

This was the first time that Oak Bay was in a position to apply for the Community Excellence Awards and out of 35 high-quality applications from across the Province, the District is thrilled to be among the top three local governments considered in the Governance category. With many contenders from larger communities with more significant budgets, the District is honoured to be in the company of municipalities who, like Oak Bay, are dedicated to accountability, effectiveness, and transparency.

The District wishes to extend its congratulations to the City of Kamloops, the winner of the Excellence in Governance Award for Adopting a “Let’s Talk” Commitment Guide for Kamloops’ Engagement During COVID-19, as well as the City of Burnaby for its honourable mention in this category.