Mayor Lum's Inaugural Address

“Good evening, everyone.

“Members of Council, distinguished guests, community leaders, friends, family, and residents of Chilliwack. Thank you for joining us tonight.

“Tonight, I am filled with a tremendous sense of gratitude and responsibility. It is an incredible honour to have been elected Mayor of Chilliwack—a community I love deeply, and a community that has given me so many opportunities.

“Before I talk about where we are going, I want to take a few moments to recognize the people who have helped along the way. First, to my family. To my Mom and Dad, my brothers and sister, my mother- and father-in-law, my Grandma—who signed my nomination papers—and my entire extended family of aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces: thank you for your love, support, and encouragement over the years.

“To my wife, Sheila: thank you for being my partner through this journey. Public service takes time, energy, and more than a few evenings and weekends away from home. None of this would be possible without your patience—most of the time—your understanding, and your unwavering support.

“And to my son, Cedar: I hope that one day you will look back on this moment and understand why your dad spent so much time at City Hall. Everything we do here is ultimately about building a better future for you, and for every child growing up in our community.

“To my friends, campaign volunteers, and supporters: thank you for believing in me and for the countless hours you contributed.

“To the residents who opened their doors, shared their concerns, challenged my ideas, or simply offered a few words of encouragement: thank you.

“To our outgoing Mayor, Ken Popove, and our outgoing members of Council, Bud Mercer, Jeff Shields, and Harv Westeringh: thank you for your years of service, your contributions to our community, and for the laughs over the years.

“To the City staff who have worked so hard to organize tonight's ceremony, and to those who have helped make this transition possible: thank you. I also want to acknowledge tonight's special guests and contributors: The Honourable Justice Thomas Crabtree; our Piper, Kendal Clarke; Karsyn Savard for leading us in O Canada; the RCMP Honour Guard, Cst. Mandeep Thandi and Cst. Scott Finlayson; the Chilliwack Community Band; Josiah Voth, our pianist; Brian Minter for the decor—and the gardening tips over the years; and to our community for navigating two elections and showing up to vote.

“And finally, to my Council colleagues: Chris Kloot, Nicole Read, Trevor McDonald, Steve Czeck, Kevin Baarda, and Sue Attrill-Knott. Congratulations. We have been entrusted with something deeply important, and I look forward to the work we will accomplish together.

“Tonight marks the beginning of a new chapter for Chilliwack. But we begin this chapter at a time of extraordinary change.

“Around the world, uncertainty is becoming the norm. Global conflicts, trade tensions, economic instability, and growing concerns about affordability are affecting communities everywhere. Families are paying more for groceries, housing, transportation, and everyday essentials. Businesses are facing higher costs, labour shortages, and uncertainty about what tomorrow might bring.

“Governments at every level are under increasing pressure to respond. Here in Chilliwack, we are not immune to these challenges.

“We are a growing city. With growth comes opportunity, but also significant responsibility. Our infrastructure, our amenities, and our services all need to keep pace with the community we are becoming.

“At the same time, local governments are increasingly being asked to take on responsibilities that traditionally belonged to senior levels of government. New regulations. New mandates. New expectations. Too often, without the corresponding resources to deliver them. While decisions may be made in Victoria or Ottawa, it is local governments that are left to explain them, implement them, and—too often—pay for them.

“That is not sustainable.

“In Chilliwack, we will seek strong partnerships with senior governments—partnerships that recognize that cities are not simply another level of provincial administration. We are where people live. We are where businesses invest. We are where infrastructure gets built. And we are where the success or failure of government policy is felt first.

“I want to be clear about something tonight: we cannot spend the next four years simply talking about the challenges we face. We have to get to work solving them. That is the Chilliwack way, and I believe Chilliwack is exceptionally well positioned to succeed.

“We have a solid foundation. We have made responsible decisions over many years to manage growth, invest in infrastructure while avoiding debt, and maintain a high quality of life for our residents. That gives us an enormous advantage. Our responsibility now is to build on that foundation.

“There is a phrase I hear often in government: "We have to do more with less."

“I understand the sentiment. Every taxpayer dollar matters, and we must continue to be efficient, disciplined, and accountable. But I want to challenge that concept. I don't just want Chilliwack to do more with less. I want us to do more with more.

“More opportunity.

“More investment.

“More good-paying jobs.

“More local businesses succeeding.

“And more revenue generated through a stronger, more diverse local economy.

“We will do more, not by simply asking existing taxpayers to pay more, but by growing our tax base. When we attract new investment, when a local manufacturer expands, when an entrepreneur opens a business, or when we create new employment opportunities, we strengthen the economic foundation of this city.

“A stronger tax base helps us invest in roads, parks, public safety, infrastructure, and the services that make Chilliwack such a great place to live. It helps us protect affordability for the families and businesses already here. Creating economic capacity allows us to build the community we want without placing that burden entirely on our existing taxpayers.

“That is why growing our local economy will be one of the defining priorities of my mayoralty.

“We will promote our competitive advantages. We will support our homegrown businesses. We will work to attract new investment, encourage innovation, and create opportunities for the next generation. We will continue to build on Chilliwack's reputation as a stable, predictable, and welcoming place to do business.

“And w will do it responsibly—respecting the agricultural lands, natural environment, neighbourhoods, partnerships with neighbouring first nations, and the community character that make Chilliwack special. Because growth for the sake of growth isn't the goal—growth that creates opportunity and improves people's lives is.

“Last week, I heard our incoming Premier, Lorne Doerkson, talk about supercharging British Columbia's economy. Well, I have a message for the Premier: If you want to supercharge British Columbia's economy, look to your cities. And if you're looking for a community that is ready to help lead that effort, look no further than Chilliwack.

“We've got the people.

“We've got the partnerships.

“We've got the potential.

“And we're ready to put it to work.

“We are ready to show what can happen when local, provincial, and First Nations governments work together to get things done.

“As ambitious as I am for Chilliwack, I also recognize that ambition must be matched by responsibility. I have been reminded that we cannot do everything at once.

“Our ambition isn't simply to build a bigger city. It's to build a better city—one that is safe, affordable, welcoming, and full of opportunity. I want Chilliwack to be a city where young families can afford to build a future. Where our neighbourhoods are safe, our parks and public spaces are places people are proud of, and our infrastructure keeps pace with our growth. Where seniors can age with dignity, and where our children have every opportunity to succeed. Where local businesses thrive, but where we never forget that the success of our city is measured by the quality of life of the people who call it home.

“No Mayor, no Council, and no single department can deliver that vision alone. It requires all of us. It requires residents who care about their neighbourhoods, businesses willing to invest, volunteers who give their time, and community partners and neighbouring First Nations working together toward shared opportunities.

“To our City of Chilliwack employees, I want to speak directly to you tonight.

“From our skate patrollers to snow plow drivers, our parks and public works crews to our first responders, our finance team, engineers, planners, administration, and everyone working behind the scenes—right through our management team, directors, and CAO: every single one of you has a vital role to play in the future of this city. You turn the decisions made by Council into real results in our community, and I want you to know how much I appreciate the work you do.

“I also want you to know that this new Council may challenge you. We will ask questions, look for new ideas, and ask how we can do things better, faster, and more effectively—not because we don't appreciate the work you do, but because we believe in what this organization is capable of achieving. It is my goal to create an environment where you are empowered to innovate, solve problems, and take pride in the work we accomplish together.

“We will be ambitious, but responsible. We will be disciplined, but innovative. And we will be focused on results.

“Fifteen years ago, when I was first elected to Council, I could never have imagined standing here tonight as your Mayor.

“Over those years, I have watched our community grow, overcome challenges, and accomplish incredible things. I have worked alongside great leaders, and I have learned that the best ones understand it isn't about one person. It's about bringing people together around a common purpose. It's about having the courage to make difficult decisions, the humility to listen, and the determination to keep moving forward.

“That is the leadership I intend to bring to the Mayor's office.

“I know there will be times when the path forward isn't easy, but I believe the opportunities ahead of us are far greater than the challenges we face.

“So to everyone here tonight, and to everyone watching at home: thank you for putting your trust in us, thank you for believing in our community, and thank you for giving me the extraordinary honour of serving as your Mayor.

“Now, let's get to work.

“Thank you, and good night.”