Village of Cumberland Candidates 2026

On Oct. 17, Cumberland voters will choose four Village Council members from 7 council candidates. No one opposed Mayor Vickey Brown. Decafnation asked the candidates to respond to seven questions that might help voters decide how to cast their ballots. Here are their responses, sorted by the questions and alphabetically by candidates’ last names. Decafnation did not edit the responses, except for length. Not all candidates chose to respond.

? What aspects of your work/career/professional background would make you a valuable asset to the next Council or Board

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

Before I was elected I worked in the non profit sector where I learned governance, collaboration, partnerships, communications and budgeting as well as representing the needs of the people I represent. My husband and I also ran a small business (silviculture) for several years. I have a Community Economic Development Certificate, a BA with double Major in Environmental Studies and Political Science and completed a Leadership Credential with the Harvard Kennedy School in 2021.

Zanoni Agnew

Professionally I help small businesses with financial management, budgeting, long-term outlook forecasting, and other fiscally related activities. I also hold a Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Studies, pursued due to my love of nature. My two academic and professional pursuits have made me conscious of the delicate balance between a thriving community, and preserving our local environments.

Ellian Bell

I have over 20 years of experience in running events, many of those here in the Village of Cumberland. It has given me the chance to get to know the real heart that makes this community tick. It also means that I am an adaptive worker, not easily stressed by surprises, and work incredibly well with others. I also owned a small store in the heart of the village, which left me with a deep insight into the strengths and weaknesses of our village council when it comes to supporting this aspect of our community. There is room for improvement!
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Kevin Snaden

My career has mostly been about making organizations work better. I have nearly 20 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, process improvement and enterprise asset management, including more than seven years consulting with IBM for large Canadian organizations. That work taught me to look beyond the initial price tag and ask about lifecycle costs, risk, service levels and whether an organization can actually maintain what it builds.

Sean Sullivan

I have served on Cumberland Council for the last 12 years, I am a business owner and President of The Cumberland Cup Society.

Troy Therrien

I have a diverse background that lets me bring a unique perspective to the council table:
– I have a BSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics, so complex policy analysis and critical thinking is a strength.
– I have run a local math tutoring company for almost a decade, so I understand the many issues facing small business owners in the valley.
? What types of personal attributes do you have that will contribute to an effective Council or Board?

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

I am a governance nerd and team builder, I think it’s important to enjoy what we do and I am a collaborator. While I am deeply introverted, I truly enjoy building relationships to create a good team that works well together. I have good leadership, chairing and critical thinking skills, and have a very practical approach to my work on Council. I think it’s important that we don’t take ourselves too seriously – we are elected to serve our communities – that comes with a great deal of responsibility and should not create a sense of entitlement or power over. We are here to serve.

Zanoni Agnew

I grew up very poor, and had to work extremely hard to get ahead and build a life outside of the one my parents set me up for. I rented for the first 18yrs of my adult life before buying a house. I know what it’s like to be a renter, and I know what it’s like to own. I believe a healthy community doesn’t price out lower income homeowners, and doesn’t price out renters trying to buy. My life experience has been one that recognizes fiscal restraint and responsibility creates a healthy life, and a healthy community.

Ellian Bell

I carry a confidence of self that I believe brings me the strength to have my own opinions and insights to add to our council. I also feel that one of my strengths, is communication, with both colleagues and groups. I am socially very comfortable, which has enabled me to get to know a very good number of people in our community, and in turn have insights into their needs.

Kevin Snaden

I’m naturally curious and I enjoy researching an issue, challenging an idea and seeing where the evidence leads. I try to be conscious of my own biases because sometimes the more you dig, the more your view changes. Some of the challenges Cumberland is dealing with today were being discussed in Village documents and newspaper archives 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. I think an effective councillor should understand that history, ask good questions and be willing to adjust their position when the evidence points somewhere different.

Sean Sullivan

I am empathetic, honest, community minded, and a pragmatic realist.

Troy Therrien

As I have shown in my four years at the council table, I listen well, I am collaborative, I bring ideas, and I do the work. I also have a sense of humour and the stamina to withstand long budget meetings.
? What is your experience with governance work (committees, volunteer boards, etc)

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

I have sat on governing boards or been senior staff of social profits for more than 2 decades.
I held the following roles over that time: Executive Director of the Comox Valley Farmers Market, President of the BC Farmers’ Market, Director of First Credit Union Board, Executive Director of the Cumberland Lake Park Society, Chair of the Cumberland Community Schools Society. I may be missing some, I have been a governance nerd for a very long time. I love policy development and have done a tone of training and learning about good governance and policy development.

Zanoni Agnew

Throughout my life I’ve volunteered with various organizations, and I used to be very active in the recovery community in Courtenay and I sat on a board for a few years in that capacity.

Ellian Bell

I spent several years helping to build the non-profit that was the Cumberland Business Association. This was a steep curve in learning all about governance. I then spent a year on the board of the First Credit Union as one of their directors. These two experiences came with a lot of official and experiential governance training.

Kevin Snaden

I’m a member of the Village of Cumberland Board of Variance and North Island College’s Program Advisory Committee. I’ve also spent considerable time following Council agendas and meetings, reading staff reports and engaging residents on local issues. That has given me a good understanding of how municipal decisions move from staff recommendations, through public discussion, to Council decisions.

Sean Sullivan

I have served on Cumberland Council for 12 years. 5 years on the Vancouver Island Library Board and 5 years on the Solid Waste and Hospital Board. Founding member of the Cumberland Village Accessibility Committ

Troy Therrien

I served for a year on the Advisory Planning Commission before I was elected to council. In addition to my regular council duties, I sit on the Regional Waste Management and the Regional Hospital Boards and on our local accessibility committee.
? What have you done to prepare yourself for office, if elected?

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

Being an incumbent, I understand how much time orientation takes and then we move right into strategic planning and budget. I have my list ready for both strategic planning and budget and I am making myself available to our residents to hear from them prior to the election since I don’t have to campaign.

Zanoni Agnew

I’m prepared to show up, understand the issues that need to be addressed, and ensure I have all the information available for the decision-making process. Then vote in the best interests of the community, and the people who voted for me.

Ellian Bell

In preparation for office I have been speaking to as many people in the community as possible. I have also been starting on my journey of reading and learning all about the matters and choices facing council in the year ahead.

Kevin Snaden

I’ve thought about running for Council for some time and seriously considered it during the last by-election, but chose to support another strong candidate. Since then I’ve spoken with past and current members of Cumberland Council and people throughout the community about the role. I regularly read Council agendas and staff reports, attend meetings, and try to pull important issues out of lengthy agenda packages for discussion with residents on the Cumberland Bulletin Board. I wanted to understand the job before asking people to elect me to it.

Sean Sullivan

I am preparing myself for office by answering campaign questions, putting up signs and being present in the Community.

Troy Therrien

After four years on council, I feel I have a good understanding of the many workings of the village. This will enable me to hit the ground running and provide stability to the new council.
? What motivated you to seek office (list as many as three)

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

I care deeply about this community, while I did not grow up here, my family has lived here for 5 generations. I have watched this community (and island) change dramatically over my lifetime and I want to help guide that change so that this remains a wonderful place to live for everyone.
Change is hard on people and the pandemic was even harder, Cumberland saw huge growth and huge increases in housing costs over the past decade. I saw a need for change management and leadership to smooth that change and make sure that we remain a welcoming and connected community.

Zanoni Agnew

– Concerns about current and future spending practices that fall outside the realm of municipal obligation.
– Concerns that ideological leanings are driving decision making, and that may not be what’s best for the community.
– Concerns that the above will have long term negative effects on Cumberland, and a little fiscal restraint and staying within the lines of municipal spending practices would go a long way to protecting the community I love.

Ellian Bell

Folks kept asking me, I wanted to give back to my community, and the opportunity to learn excites me deeply.

Kevin Snaden

– Cumberland has been home for virtually my entire life, and it’s where I’m raising my children. I care about where the village goes next while respecting the coal-mining, logging and community history that shaped it.
– I believe my professional experience can be useful as Cumberland faces major infrastructure and financial decisions.
– I care about transparency. Residents should have enough information, and enough opportunity, to understand and discuss important decisions before they are made.

Sean Sullivan

I serve on Council because it is the best way I have found to contribute back to my Community, and Cumberland is an extremely special place! I love it dearly and it is a great honour to be a part of helping to shape its future.

Troy Therrien

Cumberland has seen a lot of big changes over a short time. Having lived in Whistler and Squamish, I have seen first hand how good long-term municipal decision making can impact everyday life. Cumberland is our “forever” home and I want it to be our child’s “forever” home as well. So, that was the spark to get involved.
? If elected, name your top three objectives and how you would achieve them

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

– Build the team and good understanding via orientation and strategic planning, nothing will get done if we don’t understand each other and the role of staff and Council.
– I will continue to work with the dirt bike community to address challenging riders (this is not Council work, it’s my own community work). Similarly, I will be re-initiating Business Socials to connect the business community.
– Work with our new Council to make sure Cumberland continues to be a fabulous place to live by continuing to replace and build resilience into our infrastructure, and by paying close attention to how we are developing.

Zanoni Agnew

– Fiscal restraint on spending outside of the lines of municipal obligations to keep taxes as low as possible.
– Incentivising small businesses such as private daycare, which is much needed in the area.
– I would like to get a safe bike trail down to the lake. There are already trails covering part of the way. It would get cyclists off that narrow and very busy road.

Ellian Bell

No Response

Kevin Snaden

– Build a comprehensive asset-management plan: know the condition of our roads, pipes, buildings and facilities, the service level we expect, and what replacement will cost.
– Improve long-term financial planning: consider lifecycle costs and infrastructure obligations before adding new services or assuming growth will pay for them.
– Make Village government easier to follow: communicate earlier, explain decisions plainly, and publish simple scorecards showing the goal, target, current status, budget or schedule, and whether we are on track.

Sean Sullivan

My top three objectives are reasonable tax rates, affordable housing, and community wellness

Troy Therrien

Bike lane to Courtenay – I recently brought a motion to council directing staff to begin discussions with MOTT about a possible bike path. I will continue to push this forward.
Realistic asset management plan – well-budgeted linear infrastructure replacement has to be a priority in our new strategic plan.
Public works yard, and a community wide discussion about the Union Rd property.
My audacious dream is a civic block with affordable housing. I think that will take much more than four more years at council to achieve, but the work needs to start now.
? If you have disagreed with any recent council action, explain why and what you would have done differently

Vickey Brown -- Mayor

N/A

Zanoni Agnew

– Once our taxes have been committed, once the obligation exists, we are kind of stuck. What I disagree with is councils, maybe existentially noble, but very expensive pursuits, especially those that fall outside the realm of municipal obligations. A healthy community is one where all income levels can afford to stay in their homes, and aren’t’ priced out, in part due to exploding property taxes.

Ellian Bell

No response

Kevin Snaden

I’ve been concerned with how two recent land matters were handled largely in-camera. In both cases, residents initially had very little public information, while pieces began circulating informally in the community. After questions were raised, more background eventually appeared publicly. I understand why land negotiations sometimes require confidentiality, but I would release as much information as legally possible, as early as possible, and move discussion into public meetings when confidentiality is no longer necessary. I also believe Village-owned parkland should be retained wherever possible and any proposed change should receive clear public scrutiny.

Sean Sullivan

I have been proud to serve on three very functional and successful councils.

Troy Therrien

I have stood alone on the Comox Lake Land Corporation issue where I voted against moving ahead given the many bylaw infractions still unresolved. I feel that overlooking non-compliance sets a challenging precedent. Solutions must reinforce accountability and fairness for all.