Kicker, October 1, 2025
Speed Dating with Provincial Ministries
Seven meetings, fifteen minutes each, and plenty of asks for the North Shuswap

I’m writing this column from Victoria, where the weather is spectacular and the city is showing off its best side. You might think I’m here on holiday, soaking up the sights — but no such luck. This is the annual Union of BC Municipalities conference (UBCM), where nearly 2,000 elected officials and provincial staff, including ministers, gather to learn, share ideas, and yes, schmooze.

One of the big parts of UBCM is the chance for local leaders like me to meet directly with provincial ministers. The catch? You only get 15 minutes to make your pitch — which feels a lot like speed dating, but with less romance and more acronyms.

I put in 10 requests for ministry meetings, got them all approved by the CSRD board, and was granted 7 actual appointments. That’s a pretty good batting average. All of my meetings are about making sure the North Shuswap stays front and centre after last summer’s fire, updating ministers on where we’re at, and flagging the gaps we still face. I’m joined by CSRD Board Chair Natalya Melnychuk (Blind Bay) and our CAO John McLean, which is a huge help.

My first meeting this morning was with the Ministry of Forests on the idea of a Community Forest. The vision: locals managing the forest so it’s safer from wildfires, creates local jobs, and supports recreation. The province tends to make this easier for municipalities than regional districts, so part of the pitch was: give us a fair shot. The conversation was good — but with government, you never know.

This week I’ve also got meetings lined up with:

• Education & Child Care — securing childcare spaces in the North Shuswap
• Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport — finding a home for our historical artifacts
• Social Development & Poverty Reduction — space for the food bank we now rely on
• Water, Lands & Resource Stewardship — space for needed social services
• Emergency Management & Climate Readiness — resilience funding and the cost gap between 2023 and 2025 rebuilding
• Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation — continuing early talks with local bands on long-term collaboration

I had hoped to meet with Agriculture & Food and with Local Government & Rural Development as well, but the BCGEU strike meant staff weren’t available to arrange those. I’ll have to chase those down another way.

In between all this “speed dating,” there are endless workshops, clinics, and study sessions to take in, plus plenty of evening receptions where the real networking often happens. Yes, there’s some fun mixed in, but even over a glass of wine, we’re mostly talking about our communities, challenges, and opportunities.

Back home, it’s harvest time in the Shuswap — lambs heading to the butcher, gardens and orchards overflowing, and of course, the October 1st snow tire deadline looming (already?!). I look forward to catching up with you at the next Town Hall on October 29th.