PROMISES AND PLATFORMS

Many have been asking about my platform. Here's one thing that is often missed: The platform has to survive the strategic planning process. At this time of year, many candidates talk about the things they'd like to accomplish if elected. But what's often missing is how they actually get these things done. An elected candidate will be just one of five on council - all of us will have ideas and plans, but none of us gets to do it alone. We have to work together. This work largely happens during the strategic planning process. 

This process involves working with staff to understand what's actually possible. Staff have limited capacity, municipal budgets have limits, and there are always more good ideas than there are resources for. A good strategic plan has to recognize those realities and set priorities accordingly. 

So, yes, I have a list of things I'd like to accomplish over the next four years. But I also know that wanting to do something and being able to do it are two different things. We have to work with our staff, work with each other, listen to the community, and make decisions that recognise the economic headwinds facing residents, businesses and taxpayers. The challenge will be finding the right balance between moving Cumberland forward and recognizing that our resources are limited. And that's how I think we can make real progress, ambitious about what we want to achieve, but realistic about how we get there.

What I’d like to make my strategic priorities

Sustainable infrastructure planning. Cumberland has a long list of roads, water systems, and sewer systems that need attention, and we need a sustainable plan for the next 5 to 10 years. Sometimes, this work is grant eligible, so we'll need to be aggressive in pursuing those opportunities to reduce the burden on tax payers. Sometimes, these plans are expensive, and will have to move at a slightly slower pace in order to be affordable. 

Thoughtful big projects. Before we rush headlong into development, we need to understand the numbers and figure out how we can make development sustainable over the long term. Expanding the tax base doesn’t make financial sense if the lifecycle costs of the development are not accurately accounted for. Staff reports indicate major funding shortfalls for big projects already in the pipeline - I want to make sure we are clear on costs before going ahead.

Unlocking the value of the Bevan lands, the Union lands and the civic block. Cumberland is at a crossroads in its development and there is huge potential for an improved civic block and development of the Union lands. I think the next step is a much broader conversation with the community that will need to be started soon. 

Active transport. I am currently working on an affordable made-in-Cumberland solution for a safer travel route to Courtenay, while concurrently advocating with MOTT for bicycle infrastructure in the underpass. 

Parks and recreation. Our Cumberland Forest Land Strategy is underway. However, our Parks and Greenways Plan is no longer current and Solport park improvements are overdue - so both of these need to be addressed this term. Recreational programming also needs to be looked at; I’d like to see improved programming for early years and seniors.

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Got any hot issues you would like to discuss? Let's chat. Stay in touch by email troymtherrien@gmail.com or find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/votetroytherrien/.

It's been a challenging four years for the village. As a new councillor, the learning curve was steep. Cumberland may be a tiny village of about 4,845 residents (2024 Complete Communities Assessment) but there are a lot of moving parts and lots of village policies and staff reports at every step of the way. If you'd like to follow along with what we've been up to, my monthly reports are available online in in the regular monthly agenda packages (VOC Meetings and Agendas). Outside of regular council meetings, I also currently represent Cumberland on the Comox Strathcona Waste Management board, the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District board, and the Comox Valley Regional District board (as alternate). 

Strategic planning sets the tone 

As councillor, I consider the strategic planning done at the beginning of each elected term to be the most effective way to move the needle in the right direction. Strategic planning priorities inform the annual budgeting process and consequently impacts how staff prioritise and work on the many projects they have on the go. 

Here's a short and non-exhaustive list of highlights from the past four years:

• Our Official Community Plan was finally finally finally updated on Jan 2026. From the Plan Your Community street event on May 2023, it was almost three years of engaging with community members and stakeholders, as well as reviewing reports and draft documents. Highlights include a new urban containment boundary (to limit expensive sprawl) that still provides enough sufficient room for projected development demand until 2040.  

• Wastewater Treatment Facility Phase 1 opened on Mar 2026. Beset with cost overruns, this project was a particular challenge for Cumberland. With a change in project designers, we managed to get the project back on track and on budget from that point onward.

• Climate Action Plan. Yes, we finally have one (as of 2024) - and we will soon have zero step code building requirements. 

• Improved processes. No one likes red tape, so we worked on streamlining development processes and improving bylaw enforcement policy. 

Unfinished business

While there have been some successes, there are also other projects I have been working on that are still works-in-progress:

• We finalised the Transportation Master Plan in 2024. Active transport is a key focus of mine, and there is so much more that we can do. This includes working on an active transportation route from Cumberland to Courtenay - see the most recent discussion at council on July 2026.

• Affordable housing remains elusive. Grants have not materialised for the Second Street project; yet affordable housing remains an important priority for me and we continue to explore other creative means of building homes for residents.  

Conversations with Troy

All this didn't hapeen in a vacuum. I made time over the past four years to hear from as many residents, business owners and community stakeholders as I could. Politics and progress is a two-way process that works best when you show up too. I would love to hear from you in person. I'll be hanging out at the Village Square, rain or shine, if you would like to pop by: 

• Sunday Sept 13 1-2pm 

• Tuesday Sept 22 12-1pm

Yes, I'm running again. Watch this space.

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