Courtenay Annual Report 2025 draft

Strengthening regional relationships through Treaty recognition

Engagement framework adopted to strengthen community participation

Local governments across the Comox Valley joined together to congratulate K’ómoks First Nation on the historic ratification of the K’ómoks Treaty and Constitution in March 2025. The decision represents a significant step toward self governance and deepens government-to-government relationships throughout the region. The treaty establishes a renewed framework for autonomy, land stewardship and long-term partnership. Courtenay, along with neighbouring jurisdictions, affirmed its commitment to supporting K’ómoks First Nation through the transition to self-government and continuing collaborative work on shared priorities such as water, housing and infrastructure. Resident telephone survey The City continued its statistically valid Your Courtenay, Your Voice resident survey in November 2025, conducted by PRA Inc. The telephone survey gathers input from randomly selected residents aged 18 and older on City services, community priorities and overall quality of life. Results from the survey will: • Help shape strategic priorities and budgets. • Highlight key community issues and services. • Assess resident awareness of City programs and services. • Uncover potential service gaps. • Support continuous improvement within the City. The City will conduct the resident survey annually until 2027 to build a five-year dataset, then every two years starting in 2029. Survey results were presented to Council in early 2026.

In 2025, Council approved the City of Courtenay’s new engagement framework, a key good governance priority designed to strengthen how the City involves residents in municipal decision-making. Building on the communication strategy adopted in 2024, the framework outlines a clear, consistent approach for planning and delivering engagement that is accessible, equitable and responsive to community needs. Grounded in five guiding principles — listening to learn, equity, transparency, flexibility, and valuing relationships and reconciliation — the framework defines roles and responsibilities, recommended engagement methods, processes for mapping interest holders, feedback and reporting expectations, and considerations for engaging with urban Indigenous community members. Government-to-government relations with First Nations will continue to be guided separately through a forthcoming Reconciliation Framework. A phased implementation strategy will continue into 2026 to ensure the City has the capacity, tools and resources needed for a sustainable rollout across all departments. This strategic approach will support consistent practices, improve internal efficiencies and enhance the quality of engagement on City projects and initiatives. courtenay.ca/engage

Courtenay City Hall

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