The City of Revelstoke is preparing to host the 2026 Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) convention from Wednesday, April 29 to Saturday, May 2. The annual gathering brings together over 200 municipal government officials and staff members from around B.C.’s Southern Interior, from the City of Kelowna to the Village of Lytton.
Along with guest speakers and networking opportunities, a key part of SILGA is voting on resolutions local governments hope to bring to the Union of BC Municipalities 2026 convention for provincial input. Resolutions range from old growth conservation to general and provincial sales tax revenue sharing. Revelstoke has sponsored five different resolutions, two of them partnered with other local governments.
“It’s our opportunity to highlight the community, really say ‘this is what we are,’ and we also get to network and interact with others,” Mayor Gary Sulz said. He added he hopes SILGA attendees will return to Revelstoke to explore even more after experiencing the city through the convention.
While presenting and voting on resolutions is a large focus, Sulz said the networking between local government representatives shouldn’t be undervalued.
“Every community is different. So, we’re going to be able to say, ‘hey, what’s working for you, what’s not, how can we do that’?” he said, explaining that staff share underutilized funding streams, successful partnerships and who to reach out to for specific issues within the provincial government.
“Ministers may change, the government may change, but usually the staff stays the same,” Sulz explained. “Once you build a relationship with that staff, you know you can actually get their ear now and maybe move your project forward.”
Staff will also showcase recent projects in Revelstoke such as the Official Community Plan and work going into the new wastewater treatment plant. One particular strategy Sulz wants to highlight for other municipalities is the impact of community feedback.
“From a mayor’s perspective, when you trust the staff and you trust the community members that are giving you the engagement, it’s pretty easy to get things over the hump and to the finish line,” he said, referencing the community engagement used for Revelstoke’s updated OCP.
Part of the SILGA 2026 convention includes tours of the Revelstoke Fire Rescue Service hall, a golf tournament and a visit to the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre.
Taylor Sandell, RVAC executive director and curator said they hope SILGA guests will see the impact local art has on communities and how municipalities can support it. The centre was formerly the Revelstoke RCMP facility and the city has provided the space to Revelstoke Visual Arts Society since 2004 through a specialized lease.
“Having this facility is a gamechanger. We see so many other people from other communities come in and all they dream of is a space to operate in,” Sandell said, adding that increasing evidence shows the positive cultural, health and economic impact the arts have. In a time when municipalities are tightening budgets, Sandell hopes showcasing Revelstoke’s art culture encourages other municipalities to support the arts.
“I recognize that arts and culture are often one of the first things to get their funding cut. Being able to show the impact that we’re having in our community on an individual level and an economic level is a fantastic opportunity,” they said.
SILGA attendees will get a chance to try their hands at a woodworking or pottery project.
While there’s no definitive way to track if resolutions brought forward at SILGA and UBCM directly impact decisions made by the province, Sulz explained the conventions still provide a chance for smaller municipalities to build support.
“We hope and we trust that some of the things that they bring forward is because of what we brought to SILGA and UBCM.”
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