After four years as a member of SD71’s school board, Vickey Brown has been nominated for council in Cumberland.
“My heart is in Cumberland, it is an honour to be nominated,” Brown says of the move. “I enjoyed the work I did with the school board and learned so much, now it’s time for me to focus my time and passion directly in the village.”
Cumberland is a quickly growing community facing huge infrastructure development needs and going through the process of bringing economic development under the Village’s control.
“It’s so important for us to develop on our own terms,” Brown states.
Cumberland has an opportunity to support and cultivate entrepreneurs and small businesses who consistently give back to our community in so many ways. Brown is a strong advocate for local economic development, and is keen to support both commercial and industrial development where it fits well with the Village.
“We need to leverage the assets we have, to build a strong business community that contributes to the success of the village as a whole, including our natural areas, our industrially zoned lands as well as further commercial development within the core.”
Brown has been actively volunteering in the village for 20 years, including several years as chair of the Cumberland Community School Society, sitting on the Economic Development Commission and the Official Community Plan Advisory Group, as well as chairing the Advisory Planning Commission, and currently serving on the board of First Credit Union. She has worked in community development and non-profits for even longer.
Brown was a tireless advocate for local farmers and producers as the executive director of the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, and is now the vice-president of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.
She is currently the executive director of the Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society.
Brown has a passion for community development that brings people together, empowers them and builds capacity to find solutions to challenging problems. As a member of council, she would bring this approach along with her varied professional and volunteer experience to help guide the Village through these challenging and exciting times ahead.
“Cumberland has grown so much over the past few years, let’s treasure the values that made this village so special – that drew us all here, while we move strongly into a sustainable future that works for all of Cumberland.”