City of Courtenay Annual Report 2022

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Gila'kasla. It’s my honour to present the City of Courtenay’s 2022 Annual Report on behalf of Courtenay Council. This was a year of progress on so many levels, and there’s much to be proud of with these collective achievements. The adoption of Courtenay’s new Official Community Plan in June was the culmination of an extensive, multi-year consultation and planning process to define how we will manage growth and change in our community. The OCP is shaped around four core directions: reconciliation, community well-being, equity, and climate action. Our Council is very pleased that reconciliation was so strongly prioritized in the OCP. We understand that extensive work and understanding will be essential to making progress toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and with K’ómoks First Nation, on whose unceded territory we are so privileged to live, work, and play. We know we have a lot of work to do, and we’re committed to taking meaningful, concrete steps toward these important goals. Shortly after the local government election in October and the swearing-in of our newly elected Council team in early November, Council along with senior City staff began the important work of defining the strategic priorities for this Council term ending 2026, emphasizing reconciliation as well as numerous other goals to help bring the vision of our OCP to fruition. One important priority that many of you in the community have spoken to us about is housing. Building on the goals of the new OCP, one of the priorities for our Council term is the development of affordable housing, a key component of making Courtenay a livable community. Housing supports the health and wellness of our residents and supports our local economy as businesses seek to attract and retain employees. In addition to exploring ways we as a City can support the development of affordable housing, we also continue to advocate strongly with the provincial and federal governments at every opportunity for additional investment in social and supportive housing for our community. We also continue to seek urgent funding and support for mental health, social and recovery services, to ensure Comox Valley residents have access to these important resources and that all residents have their basic needs met. Please scroll through this report to learn more about some of the many projects and activities that helped shape our year in 2022. On behalf of Council, I extend our deep appreciation to the staff, residents, businesses, regional governments, and community partners we collaborate and consult with throughout the year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this wonderful community. Mayor Bob Wells

MAYOR APPOINTMENTS (as of November 2022)

• Comox Valley Water Committee • Comox Strathcona Solid Waste Management Board • Alternate, Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board of Directors • Alternate, Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Alternate, Comox Valley Recreation Commission • Alternate, Regional Parks and Trails Committee • Alternate, Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District Board • City of Courtenay Heritage Commission • City of Courtenay Court of Revision (Parcel Tax Review Panel) • Alternate, Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness • Alternate, Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (DCBIA) Board

City of Courtenay | 2022 Annual Report

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