About the Village of Pemberton Council

The primary functions of municipal Council are to establish administrative policy, to adopt bylaws governing matters delegated to local government through the Local Government Act, the Community Charter, and other provincial statutes, and to levy taxes for these purposes. Council is also empowered to manage, acquire and dispose of Village assets.

Council meeting information - Electronic Meetings:

On October 21, 2021, Council amended Council Procedure Bylaw No. 788, 2015, removing limits to electronic attendance at council and committee meetings and adding provision for fully electronic meetings when the Mayor or Acting Mayor deems it advisable, or if necessitated by a safety, health, or environmental emergency.

Members of the public may attend council and committee meetings and public hearings in person in Council Chambers or by joining an electronic webinar. Instructions for attendance will be available in the calendar on the Village website in advance of the meeting.

On December 13, 2022, Council approved the Electronic and Hybrid Meeting Policy which sets out a framework to support the use of hybrid and electronic formats for council and committee meetings and public hearings.

Please be advised that all council, committee, commission, public hearing and board meetings are recorded as per the Video Recording and Broadcasting Policy for Open Meetings.

Viewing Recorded Meetings Online and Accessing Agendas & Minutes

Meeting recordings are available online in the calendar on the Village’s website by clicking on the date of the meeting you would like to view. Meeting agendas and minutes are  available on the calendar and in the Documents section of the website.  Please note that only recordings of Council meetings held after March 31, 2020 are available to view.

Live virtual participation by Zoom video conferencing

The Village is offering the opportunity to attend live council, committee, commission, public hearings and board meeting via Zoom video conferencing. Instructions for attending a meeting via Zoom are provided below.

How do I join a meeting via Zoom video conferencing?

Please visit: https://zoom.us/ and either sign-up for a free Zoom account or continue as a guest.

Download the Zoom software on your personal computer, or download the mobile app to your smart phone or tablet. Once you have downloaded the Zoom software you will be able join any public Council or committee meeting. Links to the meetings are provided in the Village's calendar as well as within each meeting agenda. 

Pre-registration is not required, however, you may be required to provide your name and email address when attending the webinar.

How can I provide public comment on Zoom?

An open question period is available at the end of each regular council meeting. Opportunity for comment is provided at public hearings and may be available at other meetings. Please note that Committee of the Whole meetings and special council meetings do not include an open question period.

IMPORTANT NOTE: By participating in the question and answer period, providing comment at a Public Hearing or Public Information Session, you are consenting to the collection and use of your personal information, including your name, address and voice that will become part of the official recording of the meeting. This is authorized by s 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

During question period, I don’t want to ask my question at the meeting; can I provide my question to the Village for response another way? 

Of course! Please submit all public comments via email at corporate@pemberton.ca.

I am having difficulties preparing for the meeting and learning Zoom. Do you have any resources to help me?

Yes, please visit Zoom’s website support page on helpful tips to prepare for the meeting:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/201146643

Attending meetings in person

Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings in person in Council Chambers. Please note, however, that seating is limited. 

PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT: By participating in the question and answer period, providing comment at a Public Hearing or Public Information Session, you are consenting to the collection and use of your personal information, including your name, address and voice that will become part of the official recording of the meeting. This is authorized by s 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

 

Meeting schedule and procedures

Meeting schedule

The annual regular council meeting schedule is posted prior to January 1st each year.  Upcoming Meeting details can be found on the Council Meeting Calendar. Meetings of Committee of the Whole are typically scheduled on the same day as regular Council Meetings. 

2023 Council Meeting Schedule (PDF)

Online Council Meeting Calendar

Meeting procedures

Council meetings are run in accordance with the Village of Pemberton Council Procedure Bylaw No. 788, 2015.

Council Procedure Bylaw - CONSOLIDATED for Reference

Council Procedure Bylaw Amendments:  

864 - Council Procedure Amendment (Section 31) Bylaw

875 - Council Procedure Amendment (Electronic Participation) Bylaw

888 - Council Procedure Amendment (Order of Proceedings) Bylaw 

909 - Council Procedure Amendment (Electronic Meetings) Bylaw

Council Meeting Policies:

Electronic and Hybrid Meeting Policy (COU - 012)

Video Recording and Broadcasting Policy for Open Meetings (COU - 011)

Public hearings

When Council considers the Official Community Plan or a zoning bylaw, a public hearing must be held for the purpose of allowing members of the public to voice their opinion concerning the matters contained in the Official Community Plan or bylaw. To learn more about Public Hearings, download the Public Hearing Information Sheet.

Types of council meetings

Regular meetings

These are scheduled official meetings of Council, where the majority of the business of the municipality is conducted.  Issues are discussed and debated, determinations are made, and direction is given to staff. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings to learn about how the Village is working for the community.  Public input to Council may take the form of a pre-approved delegation. Learn more about presenting to Council.

Please note: meeting minutes are not published until approved by Council, usually at the next meeting.

Committee of the Whole meetings

The Committee of the Whole is comprised of the Mayor and all members of Council, but the meetings are not considered formal Council meetings. When Council meets as Committee of the Whole, no final decisions are made but rather recommendations can be made to Council that must be considered at a properly convened Council Meeting to be acted on or implemented. Committee meetings provide an opportunity for Mayor and Council to discuss issues less formally and in advance of actual decision making, and to workshop ideas and proposals before they are advanced to Council meetings for formal approval. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings.

Please note:  meeting minutes are not published until approved by the Committee, usually at the next meeting.

In-camera meetings

Council and Committee meetings may be closed to the public under special circumstances pending the subject matter under discussion.  Topics which may be closed to the public include those involving receipt of advice under solicitor-client privilege, property acquisition or disposition, law enforcement matters, personnel issues, litigation, and negotiations around new services if there are confidential matters involved. Learn more about how and when items are considered in-camera items

Special council meetings

These are previously unscheduled but official meetings of Council wherein the business of the municipality is conducted.  Special meetings are typically convened to address emergent topics and time sensitive issues that either require immediate attention or have associated timelines that cannot be met in the timing of regular council meetings.  These meetings tend to focus on a singular issue and do not include provision for delegations unless the subject matter of the meeting requires it.  They are open to the public.

Role of Council

Council is the governing body of the Village of Pemberton and the custodian of its legislative powers, duties, and functions. The purpose of local government (which is defined in the provincial legislation as being Council) includes:

  • Providing good government for its community.
  • Providing works, services, facilities, and other things that the municipality considers necessary or desirable for all or part of its community.
  • Providing stewardship of the public assets of its community.
  • Fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well being of its community.

In their role as Council, they collectively develop policies through the adoption of bylaws and passing of resolutions.

It is important to note that individual members of Council cannot make a decision on behalf of Council nor, individually, are they able to give direction to staff. To do either, they must give a collective direction as a group at a properly convened meeting.

Council may not grant special privileges or immunities to individuals or corporations unless the Community Charter specifically allows them to do so. Generally speaking, they cannot lend money to corporations, give away land, guarantee loans for business purposes, or give tax reductions.

The Community Charter requires that Council exercise its powers at regular or special meetings when a quorum is present.

Council Planning Documents

Annual Strategic Priorities

Annual Reports

Official Community Plan

Council profiles and contact info

Village of Pemberton Council

Mayor Mike Richman, Councillor Ted Craddock, Councillor Jennie Helmer, Councillor Katrina Nightingale, Councillor Laura Ramsden.

Meet your Council

Mayor Mike Richman

Phone: 604-966-6309
Email: mrichman@pemberton.ca

Originally from Montreal, Mike first landed and fell in love with the Pemberton Valley in 1990 as a travelling chef.

Mike has owned a number of businesses locally and was originally best known in the region for the fourteen years he spent owning and operating the Pony Espresso. After selling the business and hanging up his chef's jacket, Mike turned to general contracting as his next direction. Mike is now the proud co-owner and operator of Town Square restaurant.

Mike has been and is still active in the community as a coach for youth soccer and coach of the senior basketball teams at PSS for close to twenty years. Mike and family live on a three acre property on which they raise the majority of their own meat, poultry and vegetables. Telemarking, basketball, mountain biking and the outdoors are his passions however the driving force in his life is his family.

Mike has served one term on council and two terms as mayor and is now honoured to be serving the community again in a third term as Mayor. He currently sits on the Squamish Lillooet regional district, board SCF, sea to sky hospital board, regional transit committee, Pemberton valley emergency management committee to name a few.

Board/committee appointments

  • NuKwanTwal Intergovernmental Relations Committee
  • Pemberton Emergency Management Committee
  • Sea to Sky Regional Transit Commission/Committee
  • Squamish Lillooet Regional District Board (SLRD)
  • Pemberton Valley Utilities & Services Committee (PVUS)
  • Pemberton Lillooet Treaty Advisory (PLTAC)
  • Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District Board
  • Spel̓kúmtn Community Forest Interim Board

Councillor Ted Craddock

Email: tcraddock@pemberton.ca

Councillor Craddock is an eighteen-year resident of the Glen - where Halloween happens. Thirty-six years as a licensed professional in the real estate industry. Twenty-nine years of elected service in three communities, serving on the school board, regional district director, and on council for 13 years here in Pemberton. Ten years as board director of Community Futures of Howe Sound, and two years as chair. Twelve years as a friend of Rotary. Seven years as a voting member for the Village of Pemberton on the Municipal Insurance Association of BC. Two years as board director for the Spel’kúmtn Community Forest, a partnership with the Lil’wat Nation. I love my job on council and with your support look forward to four more years serving the community.

Board/Committee Appointments

  • Parcel Tax Review Panel
  • Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan Committee
  • Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC)
  • Pemberton Valley Dyking District (Liaison)
  • Tourism Pemberton (Liaison)
  • Spel̓kúmtn Community Forest Interim Board 

Acting Mayor: December, January, February

Councillor Jennie Helmer

Phone: 604-966-8091

Email: jhelmer@pemberton.ca

Jennie Helmer is a lifetime active member of the Pemberton community. Her family farms organic potatoes in the Valley and her roots run deep, as her Great-Grandfather also served on Pemberton Village Council. Jennie has over 29 years working in emergency health services in British Columbia. She also has experience owning and running small businesses in Pemberton.  In addition to a Bachelor of Commerce and her Canadian Securities license, Jennie has a Master’s in Education.

Board/committee appointments

  • Parcel Tax Review Panel
  • Cemetery Committee (Alternate)
  • Municipal Insurance Association of BC (Alternate)

Acting Mayor: March, April, May

Councillor  Katrina Nightingale

Email: knightingale@pemberton.ca

Katrina and her family have called Pemberton home for 13 years. They chose to move from the hustle of the city to raise their young family immersed in nature and more connected to the land. Katrina is the proud Mother of two fantastic teens and has been a teacher for 25 years. Her work has taken her abroad and to various parts of Canada. With her expertise in Special Education, Katrina currently runs her own business supporting children with unique and complex learning challenges. Katrina is on the Board of Stewardship Pemberton and until recently, she was on the Official Community Plan (OCP) Advisory Board. Katrina is a member of the Pemberton Secondary School Parent Advisory Council (PSS PAC) and a committed chauffeur for sports teams and a volunteer for Sea to Sky Biathlon. She is happiest with her family, harvesting home-grown food, or skate skiing through old growth forests at Whistler Olympic Park. She is a committed advocate for the Environment, authentic stewardship and sustainable living. Katrina is honoured to serve the people of Pemberton and the land that supports our community.

Board/committee appointments

  • Cemetery Committee
  • Pemberton & District Library Board
  • Pemberton Valley Trails Association (Liaison)
  • Pemberton Arts Council (Liaison)
  • Regional Economic Development Collaborative (Alternate)
  • Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) (Alternate)
  • Pemberton Lillooet Treaty Advisory (PLTAC) (Alternate)
  • Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District Board (Alternate)

Acting Mayor: June, July, August

Councillor  Laura Ramsden

Email: lramsden@pemberton.ca

Board/committee appointments

  • Parcel Tax Review Panel
  • Emergency Planning & Operations Committee
  • Regional Economic Development Collaborative
  • Agricultural Advisory Committee (SLRD)
  • Pemberton Valley Utilities & Services Committee (PVUS)
  • Pemberton & District Library Board (Alternate)
  • Joint Wellness Committee –Graduating Student Bursary Review (Spc Mtg 1583, May 23, 2023)

Acting Mayor:  September, October, November

Writing to Mayor and Council

Correspondence should be addressed to Mayor and Council, personally signed and contain a return mailing address, email and phone number. Pursuant to Section 21 (c ) of Council Procedure Bylaw No. 788, 2015, the Corporate Officer must receive the correspondence no later than Wednesday at noon preceding a regular or special meeting, to be included on the next agenda. Letters may be mailed, faxed or emailed. While email correspondence does not need a signature, it must contain contact information, including full name, mailing address, email address and telephone number.

Please note:  Correspondence to Mayor and Council may be referred to staff for reply depending on the subject matter or may appear on a meeting agenda which will be published on the Village's website and available to the public.  Your mailing and street address, personal email address, phone number and signature will not be published but your name will appear in both the agenda and the subsequent minutes which are a permanent public record and cannot be amended.  

If you are writing to Mayor and Council on a confidential matter please indicate your preference for confidentiality.

Your letter will be acknowledged (received) during a Council meeting. Council may just receive your letter, direct further action, or refer it to Staff. In any case, the Corporate Officer responds to letters informing the author of Council's action.

If you are writing in regards to a public hearing, your letter must be received prior to the start of the hearing to be considered. Letters may be faxed or emailed. If your correspondence is received after the close of the public hearing, it will not be received by Council unless correspondence is requested after the bylaw is adopted.

Use our online form to write to Mayor and Council