Mayor Brown gets emotional, says the village inspires her even on the hardest days

Calling the Village of Cumberland “pure magic,”Mayor Vickey Brown took the oath of office Monday night for a second consecutive term. She ran unopposed this year.

Four council members were also sworn in during the brief council meeting: incumbents Nick Ward, Troy Therrien, Sean Sullivan and first-time councillor Ellian Bell.

After agreeing on council appointments to boards and commission, Mayor Brown concluded the meeting with her inaugural address.

Addressing village residents, Brown said she is honored to serve this community along with this “caring and thoughtful team you have elected.”

And in thanking the family and friends of her elected council members, Brown said, “I apologize in advance for any ranting that may occur in your homes after meetings,” she said.

She also thanked voters, saying that democracy is not a given. It takes time and work, engagement, participation and critical thinking and, most of all, “consideration for our whole community’s needs.

Brown then urged the community to leave the campaign behind and shift into collaboration and team building mode, “So that we can successfully lay the foundation for decision-making for the next four years.”

But, she added, “It’s important to follow the work of the council between elections to understand the context within which we are making decisions.”

Brown said Cumberland is thriving in many ways and that the council will have to work hard to understand the challenges and demands that come with serving a community.

She acknowledged that many residents struggle due to the economic times, and that the village hall recognizes the need for more housing options and the demand for more services inside the village.

“We will do our best to balance those needs with the property tax hike,” she said.

“This organization is small and mighty and working largely with a residential tax base as a mechanism for funding our operations,” she said. “We are not perfect. We do not have nearly as much power as our residents hope, but we care deeply for this place.”

Brown then turned to recent provincial elections. Recently elected Mid-Island Pacific MLA Josie Osborne and new Courtenay-Comox MLA Will Cole-Hamilton were in the audience. Electoral Area A director Daniel Arbour also attended.

She said the change in government will have an unknown impact on the village.

“We appreciate this new government’s promise not to combine elections again, and their agreement to ensure autonomy for local government,” she said.

But she was also clear that the village depends on the province for funding to meet the community’s demand for services.

Then Brown concluded her address on a sometimes emotional note.

“This village is pure magic. I am grateful for each person who has chosen Cumberland for their homes.

“That’s why I’m here, because your love for this place inspires me even on the hardest days. This village makes me want to wake up every morning and continue to learn and grow as a leader. Thank you so much for the privilege of being your mayor.”

Earlier, councillors accepted positions on various regional boards and committees. Therrien will represent the village at the regional hospital district board and the regional waste management. Sullivan takes on the justice society. Ward returns to the Vancouver Island Regional Library board and Bell will represent at the heritage committee.

Brown will continue her position on the regional district board and its parks committee.