Family of Dan Cumming, former Chair of Squamish Lillooet Regional District, past President of UBCM, the inaugural Chair of the Municipal Insurance Association of BC, has notified UBCM of his recent passing. A private service will be held later this month to commemorate his life.
Mr. Cumming served as chairman of the Squamish Lillooet Regional District from 1979 through 1995 and was a tireless representative for the citizens of the region. Cumming is also the first UBCM president to serve two consecutive terms between 1985 and 1987.
Cumming's leadership of the provincial liability task force that led to the creation of the Municipal Insurance Association of BC in 1987 was one of many significant contributions during his political career. In the mid-1980s, liability insurance premiums had increased five-fold for many of B.C.’s local governments, deductibles were soaring, and policy limits were falling. Most concerning was the lack of available coverage for certain major liability exposures.
Having accepted that a solution was not going to emerge from private industry, B.C. local governments turned to each other for support. The Union of B.C. Municipalities created a task force that returned with the recommendation to establish a self-insurance pooling program, resulting in the creation of the MIABC in 1987. Dan served as the inaugural chair of the MIABC from 1987 to 1990 and was honored with the MIABC Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 UBCM Convention.
“Dan was a builder whose contributions to B.C.’s system for local government have endured to the benefit of residents in every community in our province,” said Councillor Laurey Anne Roodenburg, UBCM president. “He is fondly remembered by UBCM, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Cumming become a chartered accountant in 1950 and was conscripted into the RAF in 1955. After completing his service term in 1958, he moved with his young family to Sri Lanka. In 1965 he permanently relocated to British Columbia, and over the following years, he and Celia visited much of the world together. He was particularly intrigued by the far North and joined many expeditions above the Arctic Circle.
Weekends were spent shushing down the slopes at the early beginnings of Whistler Mountain, wading through a salmon-filled river, walking a steep draw in pursuit of the elusive Blue grouse in the Chilcotin, or camping on an isolated mountain top.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Ducks Unlimited, a charity near to Dan’s heart.