Message

executive director’s message

Board of Directors President Genelle Davidson Vice President Trevor Thompson Secretary-Treasurer Lorraine Coughlin Past President Rick Danyluk

Directors at Large Nyla Attiana Jim Bauer Jeannie Bradburne Shelley Hahn Lenora Lee Talitha Soldera Sheila Thiessen

Kala Harris, Executive Director Kisha Pellerin, Manager, Operations and Member Services Gerilee McBride, Graphic Design Its’s been a busy start to the new year for local government finance staff across BC with budgeting, year-end audits, and preparation for property tax collection well underway. And, with Board and Council strategic priorities now firmly established heading into the second year of their four-year mandate and a newly released provincial budget, local government finance staff will continue to be busy now and throughout the year to come.

The start to the year is a busy time for your Association as well. In January we launched our annual membership renewal as well as the annual events and programming plan. This year we have added three new workshops to the programming roster: Treasury & Investment Management, Asset Retirement Obligations, and Financing Infrastructure. In February, we issued our annual call out for volunteers. There are many ways to add value to your Association while enriching your own professional development; as a volunteer you can help us develop workshops and programs, serve on one of our committees, or write an article for our newsletter, or make a presentation at the annual conference. Speaking of which, this year the annual conference will be held in Kamloops from June 3 to 5. The theme this year is Community & Economic Development. From Fort St. John to Abbotsford and Fraser-Fort George to the Capital Regional District, economic health and strong communities are key Council and Board priorities. Local government finance departments play an increasingly important role in supporting these priorities. We hope to see you in Kamloops where we will explore community partnerships and how to measure the benefits of investments that drive economic development.

Kala Harris Executive Director