City of Courtenay Annual Report 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Looking back at 2021, I am inspired by the amount of progress achieved at the City thanks to the collective vision and passion for public service by our staff. This excellent work has been guided by the vision laid out in our Council’s strategic priorities. The ongoing pandemic continued to influence every aspect of our operations, adding an additional layer of complexity to work ranging from major capital improvements like the 5th Street Bridge Project, to day-to day procedures and policies. The safety our staff and the public who rely on our services was the ultimate goal. Like many other organizations, staff sometimes had to develop creative and unfamiliar solutions to maintain operations and services during these unprecedented times, while following the guidance of the Province, Island Health, and WorksafeBC. The City’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety team has done a tremendous job throughout the pandemic, remaining nimble and responsive to public health guidance. The pandemic guidelines were most impactful at our Courtenay Recreation facilities, with staff going above and beyond to rapidly interpret and implement provincial health regulations as they evolved. We also faced supply chain issues and increased costs for materials, gradually at first due to the pandemic, then more suddenly following major highway closures in the province from a highly destructive atmospheric river event in the fall. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished despite these many challenges, and of how our entire City team gelled to overcome them – strengthening our corporate culture along the way. Progress continued on the development of the new Official Community Plan, which proposes incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the City's work and decision-making processes, and is guided by its four Cardinal Directions of reconciliation, community well-being, providing equitable and inclusive services, and addressing the pressing needs and implications of ongoing climate change. In support of our ongoing organizational commitment to reconciliation and Council’s adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2020, a number of important actions have been taken at the staff and Council level. These include ongoing monthly meetings with K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) Chief and Council to discuss areas of mutual interest, including ongoing support of municipal and fire services for KFN IR2 lands across the Puntledge River, as well as the adoption and implementation of KFN’s Cultural Heritage Policy. These guidelines would provide clear direction to anyone developing lands in the City to ensure that impacts on cultural heritage are incorporated into the development process as a key step in the reconciliation process.

The City is also working on incorporating Indigenous and social procurement principles into our Purchasing Policy in consultation with the K'ómoks Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). We look forward to building on these strong relationships, and are thankful for the opportunity to build our organizational capacity through this ongoing collaboration. On behalf of staff team at the City of Courtenay, thank you for the interest in accessing this report and taking the time to learn more about the wide range of services we provide. We are so grateful to serve this community.

Geoff Garbutt, MCIP RPP Chief Administrative Officer

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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