VANCOUVER - The 2009 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Community Excellence Awards were presented at the 106th annual convention in Vancouver today to municipalities and regional districts who "lead the pack" by taking risks to innovate, establish new partnerships, question established ways of doing business and pioneer new customer service practices.
The program recognizes ideas that rise above challenges with vision, creativity and teamwork and is designed to create successful pathways and incentives for others to follow.
The Best Practices category recognizes a local government in BC that has improved or revised upon an existing program or service.
BEST PRACTICES
WINNER: City of Langford, The Community Safety and Policing Support Initiative
HONOURABLE MENTION: City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo’s Sign Management System
BEST PRACTICES Website
WINNER: Cowichan Valley Regional District website
BEST PRACTICES Website Innovation
WINNER: Metro Vancouver, metrovancouverrecycles.org
BEST PRACTICES Annual Reporting
WINNER: District of North Vancouver
HONOURABLE MENTION: Town of Smithers, and Cariboo Regional District
The Leadership and Innovation category recognizes regional districts and municipalities that have demonstrated environmental excellence in successfully implementing programs, policies and plans that have benefited a B.C. community.
LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
SMALL COMMUNITY WINNER: Town of Golden, From Page to Stage: Fostering Health and Environment in Golden B.C. MID-SIZE COMMUNITY WINNER: District of Lake Country, Lake Country Hydroelectric Generating Station LARGE COMMUNITY WINNER: City of Richmond, Terra Nova Rural Park REGIONAL DISTRICT WINNER: Regional District of East Kootenay / Regional District of Kootenay Boundary / Regional District of Central Kootenay, Carbon Neutral Kootenays Project HONOURABLE MENTION: City of North Vancouver, 100 Year Sustainability Vision
The PARTNERSHIPS category recognizes two or more partners who have collaborated on a joint venture or initiative with outstanding results. This year, the Partnerships category focused on Local Governments Supporting Physical Activity & Healthy Living.
PARTNERSHIPS
WINNER: District of North Saanich, North Saanich Freeride Park
HONOURABLE MENTION: District of Clearwater, Living Well/Chronic Disease Prevention
Members of the UBCM Executive board, along with field experts in each category, evaluated submissions in terms of how they demonstrate “excellence” as a product of the results achieved. Results were also based on the community’s capacity; for instance, the size or resources of the local government involved.
The UBCM was formed in 1905 to provide a common voice for local governments and it continues to do so today, representing 190 municipalities and regional districts. The annual convention provides a forum for local governments of all sizes to come together and learn, grow and take a united policy position. More than 1,500 local leaders will participate in workshops and forums while setting policy direction for UBCM to follow over the next year.
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