Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments/Boards of Education Meetings | Week of May 25-29, 2026

During the week of May 25-29, 2026 -- the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments/Boards of Education will be holding meetings: 

Wells: Meetings to be held in Wells Council Chambers/via Zoom (4243 Sanders Avenue, Wells) on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026:

i) Closed Session from 1:30pm - 3:00pm -- Sections 92 + 90(1a + l - appointment and strategic planning) of the Community Charter.  View the Closed Meeting notice here

ii) Open Session from 3:15pm to 4:30pm -- when available, the full Meeting Agenda can be viewed here

Quesnel: Regular Council Meeting in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St, Quesnel) on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 at 5:30pm.  On the Agenda: 

* Presentation: retiring City of Quesnel staff member

* Delegations: i) Quesnel Farmers Market; ii) Quesnel RCMP Detachment Project

* Reports from Committees' 

* BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement 

* Statement of Financial Information for year ending December 31, 2025 (includes remuneration/expenses for elected officials - Mayor/Councillors) 

* Hillside Hazard Development Permit Review

View the full Meeting Agenda here

School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin): Regular Board of Education Meeting on Monday, May 25th, 2026 at 6:30pm in the SD27 Boardroom (350 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: Lake City Secondary Capstone Program, Vice Principals Yvonne Davis & Nara Riplinger

* Report of the Superintendent

* Receive Committee of the Whole Report from May 11, 2026 meeting

* 2026/27 Initial Budget Approval 

* Long Range Facility Plan - for approval of submission to the BC Ministry of Education 

* Major Capital List - for approval of submission to the BC Ministry of Education 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Williams Lake: Regular Council Meeting in Williams Lake Council Chambers (450 Mart St, Williams Lake) on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 at 6:00pm.  On the Agenda: 

* Delegations: i) Williams Lake RCMP, ii) Peter Scholz, Cairnstone Planning on Behalf of NDIT re Verbal Update on Continuation of Northern Railway Services

*  Encroachment Agreement - 2 Lakeview Avenue - Stampeder Inn - Approval

* Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw - Zoning Bylaw Fine Schedule Updates

* 2025 Statement of Financial Information - for approval (includes remuneration/expenses for elected officials - Mayor/Councillors) 

* Development Cost Charges Bylaw Update Award

* Ratify email poll of Council - Recycle BC Statement of Work Amendment for Cariboo RD Area "E" Curbside Adjacency Agreement

* Williams Lake Public Art Committee 2026 Submission

View the full Meeting Agenda here

100 Mile House: Regular Council Meeting in 100 Mile Council Chambers (385 Birch Avenue, 100 Mile House) on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 

On the Agenda: 

* Delegations: 1) Caroline Slade – Dawson Road Maintenance Spring Update; 2) Victoria Walker re: concept on stabilizing 100 Mile Healthcare

* City of Prince George UBCM Resolution Support - Rural Homeowner Grant

* PSO Grad Parade Street Closure 

* 2025 Annual Report - District of 100 Mile House

* 2025 Statement of Financial Information (includes information for remuneration/expenses for elected officials - Mayor/Councillors) 

* Authorization for Asset Disposal 

* Discussion Item: UBCM Meeting Requests 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Cariboo Regional District: all meetings to take place in the Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake)

i) Central Cariboo Joint Committee - Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 5:30pm.  On the Agenda: 

* Delegations: i) Rob Gertzen from the Williams Lake Stampeders - CMRC Arena advertising and distribution of revenues; ii) Lorina Sundt, Operations Manager from the Williams Lake Stampede Association: update on the Association’s current activities and plans being made for the 100th Anniversary in 2 years

* For Information: CMRC Recipient of Polar Engineering Climate Action Award at 2026 Recreation Facilities Association of BC Conference

* For Action -- CMRC Naming Rights Draft Policy, CMRC Capital Budget Adjustment Request – Condenser to Compressor Report, CMRC Operating Budget Options 2026 Report and Esler Recreation Advisory Commission Spring Meeting Minutes and Recommendations

* Discussion Item: Indoor Sport Facility Task Force - Next Steps

* Closed Committee Meeting: Section 90(1k - negotiations) of the Community Charter

View the full Meeting Agenda here

ii) Central Cariboo Rural Directors' Caucus - Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 3:00pm.  On the Agenda: 

* For Action: WLFN Annual Pow Wow Sponsorship Letter 2026

* For Information: Victim Services Annual Report 2025

* Discussion Item: WL Fringe Fire Protection (portions of Cariboo RD Areas D,E,F immediately adjacent to Williams Lake - Dir. Forseth)

View the full Meeting Agenda here

iii) Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District - Regular Board Meeting -- Friday, May 29, 2026 at 9:30am.  On the Agenda: 

* Information Items

* Delegation: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Foundation 

* In-Camera Session: Sections (1e+j - land and information prohibited from public disclosure) of the Community Charter

View the full Meeting Agenda here

iv) Cariboo Regional District - Regular Board Meeting -- Friday, May 29, 2026 at 9:45am or upon recess/adjournment of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Board Meeting, whichever occurs first.  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: Forest Enhancement Society of BC

* Land Use Matters (Area Directors only)

* 2026 UBCM Convention – Provincial Appointment Book and Meeting Requests (Virtual)

* Advocacy Information – Mitigating Invasive Plant Spread in the Cariboo Chilcotin

* Recommendations from Committees' or Commissions' 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

RCMP ask for appropriate use of ORV/Off Road Vehicles

Courtesy of BC RCMP - "E" Division:

Police are reminding residents and visitors that off-road vehicles (ORVs) are regulated in BC, and improper use can result in fines, vehicle impoundment or seizure, and serious or even fatal injuries. 

At the beginning of every riding season, the Williams Lake RCMP see an increase in ORV activity in the area and want to ensure that operators are lawful and safe. 

Where you can ride:

• On Crown land where use is permitted 
• On private property with the landowner’s permission 
• On designated trails, recreation sites, or areas where motorized use is allowed 

Where you can’t ride:

• On public roads, streets, or highways, which includes trails and sidewalks, except in very limited circumstances such as: 
  • Crossing a road at a 90‑degree angle where it is safe and permitted 
  • Short incidental access on roads only where authorized by signage or local bylaws 
• Municipal bylaws and land‑use rules may further restrict where off‑road vehicles can be used. 

Registration

All ORVs used on Crown land or prescribed private land must be registered with ICBC and display a valid number plate or sticker. Operators must carry proof of registration while riding. 

Helmets

Helmets are mandatory for all drivers and passengers, regardless of age while riding or driving on: 

• ATVs 
• Dirt bikes / off‑road motorcycles 
• Snowmobiles 
  • Helmets must also be approved safety helmets and properly fastened

Seatbelts

Seatbelts must be worn at all times in side‑by‑sides and other ORVs equipped with seatbelts

• Operators must ensure all passengers are properly seated and restrained

Children under 16

Children under 16 must be under direct adult supervision unless they meet the legal requirements to operate independently.

• Fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds may be permitted to operate certain off-road vehicles without direct supervision if:
  • They have completed an approved training course for the vehicle class; and
  • They have written permission from a parent or guardian for unsupervised riding
• Children under 16 are not permitted to carry passengers

Operating an ATV, dirt bike or side‑by‑side in prohibited areas, without registration, or without required safety equipment may result in fines, vehicle impoundment or seizure, or charges under the Off‑Road Vehicle Act or other applicable legislation.

“Public streets are no place for off-road vehicles,” said Staff Sergeant Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake RCMP. “We encourage operators to know and abide by the rules to keep everyone safe this summer season.”

Associated links

• Off-Road Vehicles - Province of British Columbia

Water system upgrade work on Johnson Street and Pigeon Avenue

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake would like to advise residents of upcoming water system improvement works taking place from May 19 to July 31, 2026.

Construction and excavation work will occur on:

Johnson Street (Gibbon Street to Western Avenue)

Pigeon Avenue (Comer Street to Western Avenue)

To ensure the safety of crews and the public, traffic will be limited to one-way only:

Johnson Street: southbound only toward the hospital

Pigeon Avenue: northbound only

Residents and motorists should expect delays, detours, parking restrictions, temporary access interruptions and other impacts to vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout the construction period.

Water interruptions will also occur at times during the project. Affected residents will receive additional notice prior to any planned shutdowns.

Please use caution in construction areas and obey all traffic control personnel, signs, and devices. We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation during these important infrastructure upgrades.

NCLGA 2026 Convention goes from May 20-22, 2026

Starting today (May 20, 2026) until Friday, May 22 afternoon -- the 2026 NCLGA/North Central Local Government Association's Convention will take place in the City of Prince George and co-hosted between the City of Prince George, Regional District of Fraser Fort George and Lheidli T'enneh First Nation ... and the final one of the 2022-2026 BC Local Government elected term

In the next two days -- there will be tours for delegates, the annual Northern Health Forum to discuss healthcare related issues, different sessions covering Mental Health, Agriculture, Tourism, Recreation & Sport in Northern BC as well as NCLGA Delegates providing feedback on the UBCM/Union of BC Municipalities Governance Review of its' Executive Board structure

As well: 40 NCLGA Resolutions will be debated -- these can be viewed at https://nclga.ca/advocacy/2026-resolutions

View the full NCLGA Convention Guide at https://nclga.ca/uploads/NCLGA_Program_2605_PAGES_FINAL%20DIGITAL%20VERSION.pdf

Safe travels to those Mayors, Councillors and Area Directors travelling to Prince George today to attend the 2026 NCLGA Convention and happy learning and connecting!!

Cariboo RD, Quesnel, Williams Lake to host Candidate Workshops in June 2026

May 19, 2026

7:00am

In Late June 2026 -- the Cariboo Regional District, in partnership with the Cities of Quesnel and Williams Lake, will be hosting Candidate Workshops in Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House -- in advance of the 2026 Local Elections to be held in BC to elect new Mayors, Councillors and Area Directors on October 17, 2026, for prospective candidates. The workshop will be facilitated by former Golden, BC Mayor Christina Benty - full details on the workshops at https://www.cariboord.ca/leadwell

Elections BC, which administers local government election campaign financing rules for BC Local Elections, will be hosting a Information Session for those running in BC Local Elections this October on Thursday, May 28, 2026. Details: https://elections.bc.ca/session/local-can-session/information-session-financing-and-advertising-rules-local-candidates/

Other Information for Prospective Candidates - Mayor, Councillor, Area Director:

1) Elections BC - general timeline for BC Local Elections in October 2026. https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/2026-general-local-elections/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23534690058&gbraid=0AAAAACKxakdKNG14lXYgIpdGBtgpwuNV0&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlLDQBhDjARIsAPlIefGKbW4ii9V5VzHlPj_t7kQsCCpDBuiekSSe9dDFhWVo0rB7JW3W5ugaAofzEALw_wcB

2) City of Quesnel Local General Elections (Mayor/Councillors) 2026 -- https://www.quesnel.ca/city-hall/elections/2026-local-government-elections

3) City of Williams Lake Local General Elections (Mayor/Councillors) 2026 --https://www.williamslake.ca/562/Election-2026

4) Cariboo Regional District Area Director Elections 2026 --

https://www.cariboord.ca/regional-government/elections-and-voting/general-local-elections/

5) District of 100 Mile House Local Elections 2026 (Mayor/Councillor) -- https://100milehouse.com/city-hall/2026-elections

6) District of Wells Local Elections 2026 (Mayor/Councillor) -- https://www.wells.ca

2026 BC Rural Property Taxes (Province of BC, Cariboo RD, Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District)

May 18, 2026
2:00pm

Post as a result of concerns about huge increases to rural property taxes for 2026, as posted in a Williams Lake Facebook group -- explanation below:

Later this month (if you haven't received it already) -- rural residents' will begin to receive their 2026 property tax notices from the Province of BC via the Surveyor of Taxes...

By way of background:

The Cariboo Regional District consists of 4 municipalities (Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House) and 12 electoral areas with over 62,000 residents. It has over 124 budgets providing a range of local, sub-regional and regional services

Regional Districts do not have the authority to collect taxes directly. Instead taxes are collected by the Province of British Columbia (Province) for services provided by the regional district. The Province is responsible for collecting taxes in the Cariboo RD's 12 Electoral Areas. The Cariboo Regional District's member municipalities (Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House) collect taxes on behalf of the regional district.

Regional District Services can be explained in this way --

a) Regional Services are provided to all municipalities and electoral areas such as Administration, Libraries

b) Sub-regional services involve two or more jurisdictions such as Recreation, Arts/Culture, Victim Services

c) Local services are only provided to electoral areas and including such things like utilities (water/sewer), streetlights, fire protection, etc,

The 2026 tax notice is from the Province of BC, and includes taxes for schools, roads, policing and regional district services. The following items appear on your tax notice:

a) Provincial School Tax—collected by the Province for providing education in BC. 2026 Provincial School Taxes can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0124_2026

Provincial Rural Tax—collected to fund provincial services in rural areas including maintenance and snow removal for public secondary roads (not highways or private roads). 2026 Provincial Rural Tax details can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0125_2026

Police Tax—collected to fund police protection services to all rural property owners. 2026 Provincial Police Taxes can be viewed at https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0123_2026 (Column 3 - #1 is Residential Rate for 2026)

Local Services Area—local services are listed on your notice for services within a local service boundary, consisting of:

Cariboo RD Local Services - taxes rates for these can be viewed at https://www.cariboord.ca/media/bmnawuf4/2025-vs-2026-comparative-ad-valorem-tax-requisition-rate-details.pdf as well, the Cariboo Regional District's Budget Process can be viewed at https://www.cariboord.ca/regional-government/budget-and-finances/budget-process-and-feedback/

Finally -- each of the Cariboo RD's 12 Electoral Areas had 2026 Budget Flyers mailed to individual property owners. These can be accessed at https://www.cariboord.ca/regional-government/budget-and-finances/budget-2026/

Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District—provides capital funding to Northern/Interior Health Authorities for healthcare in our region on a cost share basis (usually 40% local ratepayers and 60% Province of BC). The Hospital Board is comprised of all members from the Cariboo Regional District Board (16 members) as well as Thompson Nicola RD Area "E" Director Jim Smith. The tax rate for the CCRHD in 2026 will remain the same at $75 per $100,000 of residential property assessment

BC Assessment Authority—a Crown corporation that sets all property assessment values in the province. Its costs are recovered by this tax.

Municipal Finance Authority—coordinates financial borrowing for all local governments in the province.

How are property taxes calculated --

Through the budget preparation process, the Cariboo Regional District determines how much funding is required to deliver services. This total funding amount is provided to the Province of BC, for rural/electoral area taxation, which is responsible for calculating and collecting taxes on behalf of the Cariboo Regional District. The Province uses a formula, which is based on property assessment data, to determine how much tax each property must pay. BC Assessment determines property values and these values are based on property location, size, age and other features such as comparable sales prices and real estate market information

Rural Taxes are due on July 2nd, 2026 and can only be paid at a ServiceBC office in Quesnel, Williams Lake or 100 Mile House. The Cariboo Regional District is NOT able to accept payment for Rural Taxes. You can also pay online at your financial institution or via eTaxBC -- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/etaxbc If you are looking for different payment options via the Province, contact them at 1-888-355-2700 or via their website at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-taxes The Surveyor of Taxes can be contact by phone at 1-888-355-2700'

Finally -- if you had questions about your rural property tax bill as it relates to either Cariboo RD or Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Budgets -- you can reach out to your local Cariboo RD Area Director or Municipal Director. To contact them, go to https://www.cariboord.ca/contacts-directory/

Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments' Meetings | Week of May 19-22, 2026

Following the Victoria Day Long Weekend - the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments will be holding meetings during the shortened work week of May 19-22, 2026

Cariboo Regional District -- 

1) North Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus -- Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 3:00pm in the Cariboo RD Quesnel Office (101-410 Kinchant St, Quesnel)

On the Agenda: 

* Request for Support from Gold Rush Cycling Club - 2026 BC High School Mountain Bike Championships

* Request for Support: North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association (FARMED) [Deferred from previous meeting]

* Contribution Agreement Renewal with City of Quesnel for Cemetery Services

* Discussion Items -- 2026 Canada Day Invitation - City of Quesnel; North Cariboo Grants for Assistance

* Reports from Liaison to North Cariboo Community Committees' 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2) North Cariboo Joint Committee -- Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 5:30pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St, Quesnel).  

On the Agenda: 

* Indigenous Acknowledgement at Committee meetings

* 2026 Q1 Budget Update

* Movie Night in the Park (LeBourdais Park) 

* Financial Impact of Reduced ARC Admission Fees for Adults Aged 70+

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Finally -- Cariboo-Chilcotin Mayors, Councillors and Area Directors will be in the City of Prince George from May 20-22, 2026 to attend the 2026 North Central Local Government Association's (NCLGA) AGM/Convention (the last one for the 2022-2026 local government elected term) 

View the full AGM/Convention Agenda here

At the 2026 NCLGA Convention -- NCLGA Delegates will consider 40 Resolutions (2 from NCLGA Executive and 38 from NCLGA Members - Municipalities/Regional Districts) for consideration of endorsement.  View the full 2026 NCLGA Resolution List here

Role of an Improvement District Board of Trustees - 2026 edition

This week (May 10-16, 2026) is Local Government Awareness Week in British Columbia...

Today - we will review Improvement Districts....

Improvement Districts were created before the time of Regional Districts' and as far back as the 1920's, generally in Rural BC for specific services (ie: water/sewer, fire protection) within a defined service area.  According to CivicInfo BC records -- there are 189 Improvement Districts in British Columbia today with none remaining in the Cariboo-Chilcotin (there were 3 at one point --Glendale, Lexington and one at Hagensborg, all operating a water system but since have dissolved in favour of the nearby Regional Districts' -- Cariboo/Central Coast RD's as well as into the City of Williams Lake) 

Part 17 (Sections 673-734) of the Local Government Act apply as the legislation for Improvement Districts' in BC - click here while you can have a comprehensive overview of Improvement Districts', as provided by the Province of BC - click here

Improvement Districts' have a Board of Trustees - exact numbers depend on what is contained in the Improvement District's Letters Patent - and they generally have monthly meetings plus an Annual General Meeting each year.  They are also required to have designated a Corporate Officer & Financial Officer as part of their staffing - click here

Unlike Municipal Councils/Regional District Boards' -- they are not afforded the same opportunity to attend local government training opportunities like Area Associations, LGLA, UBCM or FCM but the Province of BC has created an Improvement District Trustee Handbook - click here

One of the recent challenges to Improvement Districts' is that Districts' who operate water system and consequently are subject to Provincial drinking water rules are finding it difficult to operate their water systems to BC standards WITHOUT provincial or federal government grant support.  That support is not forthcoming as provincial/federal government financial grants for water/sewer systems are only provided to Municipal Councils or Regional District Boards'.  Many Municipal Councils'/Regional District Boards' have brought up this issue at the Resolution Debates at Union of BC Municipalities Conventions and unfortunately have seen their Resolutions defeated.... but I'm sure the conversation will continue onward...

I want to thank everyone who serves in the Improvement District system - whether at the governance table or at a Staff level.  Your contributions are not recognized publicly in a substantive way but should be, given the amount of time you put into the Improvement District governance structure...

Role of a Regional District Board - 2026 Edition

This week is BC Local Government Awareness Week 2026 (May 10-16, 2026) and today, I look at the role of a Regional District Board...

Prior to 1965, local governance matters for those living outside incorporated communities was handled directly by Victoria but the Provincial Government of W.A.C Bennett in 1965 - the then Municipal Act was amended to establish the Regional District governance model for those living in unincorporated communities in order to allow local governing to occur at home, rather than directly from Victoria...

According to the Province of BC - there are 27 Regional Districts' in British Columbia today from Fort Nelson down to Sparwood, over to Vancouver Island and up the Coast of British Columbia.  Primary provincial legislation for Regional Districts' is the Local Government Act however there are aspect of the Community Charter that apply to Regional Districts' as well including the sections covering closed meetings and conflict of interest.  Regional Districts' have what is referred to as corporate powers which means that RD Boards' don't have the ability to regulate as Municipalities do.  If a RD Board wanted to, for example, create a Tree Bylaw in a rural area -- the Regional District Board would have to seek permission of the Provincial Cabinet to have that power conferred onto that Regional District (which rarely occurs).  The full list of the 27 Regional Districts' of BC can be viewed here

The 3 primary roles of Regional Districts' are:

1) Local Government for Unincorporated Communities within Electoral Areas

2) Establish/Maintain sub-Regional Services for Electoral Areas/Municipalities

3) Be a Framework for Regional Discussions or Services benefitting ALL residents', whether they live in the Electoral Areas or Municipalities 

A more lengthy description about Regional Districts' from the Province of BC can be viewed here.  One primary difference between Municipalities and Regional Districts' is that every Regional District (RD) "service" is firewalled meaning funds from that RD Service can NOT be moved into another Service as RD Services are taxed on the basis that money is collected for that specific service or money collected must be returned to those in the service area for that particular RD Service.  RD Services can take the form of (again, not meant to be an exhaustive list):

1) Water/Sewer Services
2) Street-lighting
3) Fire Protection
4) Grants in Aide/Grants for Assistance
5) Recreation
6) Economic Development
7) Administration -- Electoral Area (Rural) or General (Regional) 

Each of the 160 Electoral Areas in BC elect a Director to represent that Electoral Area at the local Regional District Board table every 4 years.  It is sometimes described that Area Director is the "Mayor" for that Area however that is factually incorrect -- he/she is the representative for that Area but the "Mayor" for that Area is the local Regional District Board Chair.  RD's can also be described as a ward form of local government wherein there is a representative for each "ward" or Electoral Area in each of the 27 Regional Districts.  The balance of Electoral Area Directors' to Municipal Directors' in each RD can range from Metro Vancouver RD (1 EA Director to 39 Municipal Directors') to Cariboo RD (12 EA Directors to 4 Municipal Directors).  Only the Central Coast RD has all Electoral Area Directors' and no Municipal Directors'.  EA Directors' are required, by provincial legislation, to have an Alternate Director appointed, in case they are not able to attend meetings which is different from municipal councils' wherein should a Councillor be absent, there are enough of their colleagues to help manage their affairs of that community whereas an Electoral Area needs to have a representative at all times for local government affairs - whether it is the elected Area Director or their appointed Alternate to ensure the business of local government for that Area goes on.  There is debate about the role of the Alternate Director, given technology options of today however many Electoral Area Directors' still value the role and this was last debated in January 2019 with no consensus achieved...

Meanwhile, the Cariboo RD Board adopted a Best Practice for Alternate Directors' which was created in 2019 and you can read here

Unlike Mayors being elected every 4 years -- their Regional District counterparts - the Board Chair and Vice-Chair - are elected annually at the RD Board meeting after November 1st.  Every Director, whether a Municipal/Electoral Area, of a Regional District Board has one vote.  A majority of those votes elects the Regional District Chair.  This also applies for the Regional District Board Vice-Chair (also applies to Regional Hospital Districts' annually).  In most cases -- the Chair, doing his/her job, will be checking in with their colleagues year round to support them.  In turn, Chair elections can a mundane exercise.  However, an upset RD Board or RHD Board can result in the Chair being challenged and lobbying then begins... but this occurs very infrequently in the 27 Regional Districts' of British Columbia.  The RD Chairs' in the Central Interior of BC are:

1) Regional District of Fraser Fort George -- Lara Beckett (RDFFG Area "C" Director).  Been the Chair of the RDFFG Board since November 2022

2) Cariboo Regional District -- Margo Wagner (Cariboo RD Area H Director).  Has been Cariboo RD Board Chair since November 2017.  Only the 3rd women in 57 years to be Chair of the Cariboo Regional District.

3) Thompson Nicola Regional District - Barb Roden (Mayor of Ashcroft).  Only the 2nd women to serve as Chair of the Thompson Nicola Regional District (the 1st was the late Patricia Wallace, a Councillor with the City of Kamloops)

Each Electoral Area Director decides for themselves how they want to engage their electorate in their unincorporated communities and bring those issues to their local RD Board table and beyond to the Provincial/Federal Governments via the local MLA/MP respectively and ultimately - they will answer for all that goes right or wrong in their Electoral Area each election.  However, a cursory look at the 160 Electoral Areas state that local elections do occur every 4 years but it is not uncommon for an Electoral Area Director to be acclaimed for many years.  For example -- former Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area 'A' Director Ted Armstrong served for 40 years consecutively (1978-2018) while having to go through 3 Elections in 40 years and being re-elected in each of those occasions.  For myself -- I attend all local community meetings to keep them up to date on Cariboo Regional District matters plus attend community events.  I also try to drive around my own Electoral Area to keep up to speed on local matters plus engage on local social media groups to respond to inquiries plus answering phone calls/emails plus monthly reporting out.  Many of my constituents know how to get a hold of me very quickly - whether by phone, email or social media and my general commitment is returning of inquiries within the same day.  In Cariboo RD's Electoral Area D -- I have 10 "distinct" unincorporated communities from Commodore Heights in the south abutting the City of Williams Lake to the old Marguerite Ferry Landing in the North, Jackson's Hole in the East and Rudy Johnson Bridge to the West.

As one misunderstood item -- I often receive inquiries about why those living mere minutes outside of Williams Lake are not able to vote for Mayor/Council and I gently explain that they are not within the boundaries of the City of Williams Lake so they aren't able to vote accordingly but could if their property was included in the City's boundaries.  The last such attempt to include a portion of Cariboo RD Area D (Commodore Heights to Wildwood) was in 1996 and eventually was voted down as well as an effort in the early 2000's to merge Pine Valley into the City of Williams Lake boundaries and that too failed... 

Another sometimes misunderstood things about RD's is the complex voting rules at a Regional District table.  The voting rules are broken down primarily into two groups:

1) Corporate - Unweighted/Weighted
2) Stakeholder - Unweighted/Weighted

Corporate-Unweighted Voting is reserved for receipt of items or election of the Board Chair whereas Corporate-Weighted Voting is reserved for contract issues, acquisition of property, adoption of a financial plan and weighted votes are based on a formula that revolves around population size and the voting quotient for that RD which gets you a number of votes for that Director.  More Population = More Votes.  A Director can not have more than 5 Weighted Votes.  Anything over that allows, typically, an Municipality would then have more representatives at the RD Board table 

Stakeholder-Unweighted is reserved voting for those participants in a RD Service like Land Use Planning.

Stakeholder-Weighted is again reserved voting for those participants in a RD Service like Land Use Planning or Recreation in relation to "Administration/Operation" of a RD Service.  Voting is a combined votes of participants and a majority is them is required to pass a Resolution.  One example -- Central Cariboo Recreation at the Cariboo RD Board Table has a combined vote structure of 12 (Area D - 2; Area E - 2; Area F - 3; City of WL - 5).  A majority of 7 is required to pass a resolution in relation to "Administration/Operation" of the Central Cariboo Recreation Service

In terms of issues that RD Boards' are working on (but not an exhaustive list) may include:

1) Climate Change/Emergency Events -- Floods/Fires
2) Sustainable Communities and Infrastructure to support those Communities
3) Sustainable Funding for Electoral Area Services
4) Relationships with First Nations'
5) Relationships with Provincial/Federal Governments'
6) Provincial Land Use Decisions

Unlike Municipalities -- Each Electoral Area Director also maintains a contact list for MLA's/MP's or their staff and Provincial/Federal Ministry Staff in order to address issues that come up as RD Boards' usually meet once a month and issues can be solved more quickly through the establishment of these relationships which does take time to forge.

As mentioned yesterday in describing the role of a Municipal Council -- EA Directors' also partake in annual professional development opportunities like local Area Associations', UBCM, FCM and LGLA to stay up to date on Regional District matters as do their Regional District Staff to stay up to date on best practices, etc on their area of expertise (land use, finance, communications, Regional District administration, etc).  Also - RD Directors' (with the exception of one following an election year) get together each January in 3 of the 4 years in a term, typically in Richmond to discuss Electoral Area issues.  Example of Agenda -- click here

Finally - Regional Districts' also serve as Regional Hospital Districts (RHD's) as a separate entity, as per the Hospital District Act - click here.  In the 1990's - the Greater Vancouver Regional Hospital District was dissolved, in favour of creating "tax room" for TransLink (Metro Vancouver Transit Authority).  In the Cariboo-Chilcotin -- we have the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) which comprises all 16 Directors of the Cariboo RD plus Thompson Nicola RD Area E Director Jim Smith as the CCRHD partially falls into his Electoral Area.  RHD's provide for 40% capital for local hospital facilities, typically at the request of the local Health Authority (ie: Northern/Interior Health)

As an Electoral Area Director - as much as it sometimes can be frustrating some days, I do appreciate the support of my fellow Mayors/Councillors' in local government as their support is crucial for getting Electoral Area matters resolved.  Support comes from people like Kamloops Councillor Mike O'Reilly (he currently serves on the TNRD Board as well as Chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital District) and many, many other Mayors/Councillors & Electoral Area Directors' elsewhere in BC...

Other sources of information include:

1) UBCM Fact Sheets for Regional Districts -- click here
2) Local Government in BC - click here

Tomorrow, I will review the role of an Improvement District Board of Trustees

SF

Williams Lake Council Highlights - May 12, 2026 mtg

Present:

In WL Council Chambers -- Mayor Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Flaspohler, Lyons and Moses

Via Zoom: Councillors A. Delainey and S. Nelson

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm

Mayor Rathor recognized that the meeting was taking place on the traditional unceded territory of Williams Lake First Nation within Secwepemculecw 

Meeting Video - click here 

Meeting Agenda - click here

Meeting Agenda adopted

Minutes of the previous Council meeting were received/adopted

Delegation:

Brice O'Neill appeared before Council to provide recognition of Laker's Go Bus Society's 45 Years of Service to City of Williams Lake 

After his presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued 

Mayor Rathor thanked Mr. O'Neill for his time/information 

Business:

1) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT listings dated April 30 and May 7, 2026 

2)  Council approved Development Variance Permit No. 02-2026 for property at 4995 Cattle Drive

3) Council directed City Staff to provide public notice of a proposed Encroachment Agreement at #2 Lakeview Avenue (Stampeder Inn)

4) Council endorsed an application by the City of Williams Lake on behalf of the Accessibility Advisory Committee to SPARC BC’s 2026 AccessAbility Grant program for $500 toward a public bowling event at Cariboo Bowl to be hosted by the AAC and held during National AccessAbility Week to increase awareness of accessibility in the community

5) Council adopted the following Bylaws: 

* City of Williams Lake Tax Rate Bylaw No. 2434, 2026

* City of Williams Lake Officers Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 2435, 2026

* City of Williams Lake General Local Government Election Bylaw No. 2436, 2026

* City of Williams Lake Sign Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 2437, 2026

6) Council endorsed a letter from the City of Prince George dated April 28, 2026 requesting support for co-sponsorship of their proposed 2026 resolution submission to UBCM on the NorthernRural Homeowners Grant

7) Council received for information -- 

* Response Letter from Minister Bailey regarding Significant Projects in Williams Lake 

* Response Letter from Minister Sharma regarding Prolific Offenders 

* Proclamations, Lighting Requests & Flag Raisings, as per Council Policy #235

* Council Information Package, as of May 12, 2026

Members of Council reported on their recent activities

And then Council adjourned at 6:50pm

TNG Public Advisory re: Chilcotin National Congress

Courtesy of Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is reminding the public that the self-styled “Chilcotin National Congress” (CNC) has no authority to represent the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, communities or people.

TNG is issuing this public advisory in response to reports that the CNC is engaging government, industry, other First Nations and the public with various schemes and assertions that are implausible on their face and disconnected from reality.

These efforts appear to be driven by Zsuzsanna Hegedus, who is non-Indigenous, and not Tŝilhqot’in, but claims authority from the CNC as “Chilcotin Ambassador” and “Chief Justice of the Universal Supreme Court”, among other fictitious titles. Ms. Hegedus has been deemed a “vexatious litigant” by the BC Courts and goes by a number of aliases, including Susan Holland and Wyavanna Muslishas. She claims authority variously from the CNC, the
“Universal Supreme Court of the Tŝ’ilhqot’in”, and the “Federal Chilcotin State Government”, none of which hold any legitimate authority to represent the Tŝilhqot’in Nation.

We are aware of reports that the CNC and Ms. Hegedus have: distributed flyers claiming BC and Canada have consented to pay $13 trillion to the CNC; offered “shareholder agreements” to several First Nations claiming to be pre-approved for $35M in loans; purported to charge a $20 toll for all persons entering the Chilcotin
State; issued numerous orders, judgments and declarations of the so-called “Universal Supreme Court of the Tŝ’ilhqot’in”; and approached a mining company to negotiate a deal for mining on Tŝilhqot’in lands, among many other schemes.

TNG has issued this public advisory out of concern that the CNC and Ms. Hegedus are damaging the reputation of the Tŝilhqot’in people, confusing the public and engaging in various schemes and
representations without lawful authority.

TNG encourages all Tŝilhqot’in members to share their views and opinions; however, only the elected leaders of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation have the authority to represent the Tŝilhqot’in people.

Please exercise caution if approached by the CNC and Ms. Hegedus. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact: Communications@tsilhqotin.ca.

Nexwechanalhyagh (we thank you all)

Role of a BC Municipal Council - 2026 Edition

All this week during "Local Government Awareness Week 2026" - I will reviewing the 3 primary types of local government in BC (Municipal Council, Regional District Board of Directors' & Improvement District Board of Trustees) during 2026 Local Government Awareness Week.... starting with Municipal Councils' today...

Municipal Councils' are the governing body of an incorporated community.  This can range in population from 217 (District of Wells) up to 675,218 (City of Vancouver).  Incorporated communities can take various forms from small Villages, Districts', mid sized Towns/Cities right up to big Cities like Vancouver/Surrey.  According to CivicInfo BC -- there are 162 municipalities in British Columbia today.  It should be noted that a local government is not a true "order of government" as recognized in the Canadian Constitution but the "child of the Province or Territory" and thus a Municipal Council's powers are ones delegated by the Province or Territory to a municipality.  

Within the Cariboo-Chilcotin: there are 4 Municipal Councils (District of Wells, City of Quesnel, City of Williams Lake, District of 100 Mile House)

Primary provincial legislation for Municipal Councils' is the Community Charter.  Legislation for the Charter was passed in the BC Legislature back in 2004.  Before then, Regional Districts/Municipal Councils' shared both the former Municipal Act and current Local Government Act before the Charter was passed in 2004. However, there are certain aspect of the Local Government Act that apply to both a Municipal Council and Regional District Board, depending on the topic.  Aspects of Land Use Decision Making and Local Elections/By-Elections and Referenda -- apply to both a Municipal Council/RD Board via the Local Government Act.  Municipal Councils', through the Charter, have what is called "natural person powers" which allows them to respond much more quickly to the general needs of an incorporated community

The primary role of a Municipal Council is outlined here but generally speaking - a Municipal Council looks out for the needs of its' community and advocates for the same to the provincial/federal governments & others or provides for local services desirable for that incorporated community

Distinct roles on a Municipal Council:

a) Mayor -- CEO/Head of Municipality. Role defined at Section 116 of the Charter.  View here. 

Please note that there is a bill (legislation) before the BC Legislature to remove the power of the Mayor as Head/Chief Executive Officer of a Municipality, resulting from governance challenges in Kamloops.  The proposed legislation for a Provincial Code of Conduct for all local governments in BC as well as making technical amendments to the Community Charter, Vancouver Charter and Local Government Act is expected to be law by the end of May 2026

b) Councillor -- Member of a Municipal Council.  Number of Councillors can range from 4 to as many as 10, depending on size of a Municipal Council.  Role definition can be viewed here

c) Chief Administrative Officer (also known sometimes as City Manager or Administrator) -- Always granted, through an Officer's Bylaw, the primary responsibility to administer the operations of a Municipality, based on passed Council policies or Resolutions of a Council and serves as its' Chief Policy Advisor..  In the typical Council-CAO system of local government, Local Government Staff work for the CAO directly and the CAO works for Council as a whole as its' "sole employee"

Also, a Municipality is required by the Charter to have a Corporate Administrator and Financial Administrator (typically known as the Corporate Officer and Chief Financial Officer).  These statutory positions also apply to Regional Districts'.  More on this here

Some of the common challenges facing a Municipal Council in BC include:

a) Sustainable Infrastructure, Staffing, Finances
b) Healthy Local Economy/Jobs

c) Housing

d) Public Safety 

e) Emergency Preparedness (Fire, Floods, etc.) 

Many BC Municipal Councils' lobby for the above noted items via their local Area Association (NCLGA, SILGA, AKBLG, LMLGA or AVICC); UBCM/Union of BC Municipalities and FCM/Federation of Canadian Municipalities.  Almost every local municipal council in BC is a member of either an Area Association, UBCM or FCM... Some members of a municipal council may even serve on an Area Association, UBCM or FCM Board ... 

In addition to that - Municipal Councils, via the Mayor, maintain healthy/productive relationships with their rural neighbour(s) [Regional District Area Director(s)), local MLA or Member of Legislative Assembly & MP or Member of Parliament] to lobby for issues that are either provincial or federal in nature...

Also: Members of a Municipal Council (Mayor/Councillors') participate in annual training sessions at their local Area Associations, UBCM, FCM or LGLA/Local Government Leadership Academy to stay up to date on trends in local governments.  

Links to Training Materials:

a) UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) -- https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/convention/past-conventions.html
b) FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) -- https://fcm.ca/en/resources
c) LGLA (Local Government Leadership Academy) -- https://lgla.ca/resources/

This is not any different from professional development that local government staff undertake on an annual basis to stay current in their profession via courses/seminars offered through the BC Local Government Management Association or their professional associations' ... 

More on things that face a Municipal Council on a yearly basis can be viewed at:

1) UBCM/Union of BC Municipalities Fact Sheets for Municipal Councils' - click here (Updated in Fall 2018)

2) Local Government in BC - click here.  Written by Robert Fish & Eric Clemens with the last update in 2008.  Mr. Clemens sadly passed away in 2008

Finally - it is said that local government is the closest to the people and the easiest to access (Mayor/Councillors) as they are members of the general community as well... and while they don't have the easiest job to make decisions that is bound to upset somebody -- it is fair to say that they try their level best, based on the information they have at hand and how they personally feel on an issue and vote accordingly.

And at the end of the day -- Mayors' and Councillors' have to face the electorate every 4 years in a "job performance review", if they seek re-election, to see if they are worthy to continue on... and the electorate is always correct when they vote in general local elections' (even if the elected officials don't agree personally with the decision at election time) and I'm sure people generally thank the 162 Municipal Councils' in BC and the job they do year round, even if people may disagree respectfully with their decisions, from time to time...

There are local general elections in BC this October (October 17, 2026) where one can run to become either Mayor or Councillor in a municipality.  Check in with your local municipality as to the full details... 

Tomorrow: I will review Regional Districts' and the role (sometimes misunderstood) they play in the unincorporated communities they represent, outside of Municipalities and their Municipal Councils'...