Coquitlam will be represented on a committee of local leaders that oversees policy directions and engages with provincial and federal governments.
Last Friday (Sept. 16), Coun. Trish Mandewo was voted to the next executive board for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) as its third vice-president.
She was elected to the position following an extensive campaign at the UBCM's annual convention in Whistler and will serve with her fellow table officers for the next year.
"I am honoured and humbled that my colleagues from across British Columbia, small, medium, large, rural, urban and everything in between, chose me as their 3rd Vice President," Mandewo said in a statement sent to the Tri-City News about the victory.
"As someone who values collaboration, I look forward to advocating for all local governments in B.C. in this role."
Mandewo added she hopes bring forward issues that matter to Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland as no politicians from the region have held a UBCM vice-president position in more than eight years.
The first-term city councillor said this includes issues like housing affordability, homelessness, mental health, overdose crisis, transportation and community safety.
For the last three years, Mandewo served as director of the UBCM's community economic development committee and chair of its Indigenous relations committee.
During her UBCM campaign, she said she would work to modernize the Local Government Act, advocate for environment and climate justice, and work hard to continue to build relationships with First Nations communities.
"My leadership style is centered around listening first, learning and then leading," reads one of her campaign points.
"Not often does a first-term Council member get this involved in the important work of UBCM," added Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart on Mandewo's victory.
"Trish has a lot of passion and enthusiasm for the role of Local Government, and a lot of commitment to her role as Councillor, and we're proud of her success in being elected as 3rd Vice President of UBCM."
Mandewo is also seeking re-election in the 2022 municipal election — set for Oct. 15.
She was voted to the UBCM's 2022-23 executive board alongside the following members:
- Resort Municipality of Whistler Coun. Jen Ford = President (acclaimed)
- Fernie Mayor Ange Qualizza = First vice-president (acclaimed)
- Campbell River Coun. Claire Moglove = Second vice-president (acclaimed)
