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'...

BC Local Government Awareness Week 2026 | May 10-16, 2026

May 10, 2026

7:00am

From May 10-16, 2026 is Local Government Awareness Week in the Province of British Columbia

The 2026 Theme for this week is Financial Resiliency which is recognition around ensuring the financial sustainability of Local Government Services/Infrastructure that respects local ratepayers ability to pay, despite the impact of decisions of both the Provincial/Federal Governments as well as external costs to local government (BC Hydro, supply chain issues, RCMP Salaries, etc) that BC Local Governments' have no direct control or say over

More on this at https://www.ubcm.ca/resources/local-government-awareness-week

Within British Columbia -- there are 3 forms of local government: 

* Municipal Council (Mayor + Councillors)

* Regional District Board of Directors' (Electoral Area Directors + Municipal Directors) 

* Improvement District Board of Trustees

There are 161 Municipal Councils', 27 Regional District Boards' and 189 Improvement Districts within the Province of British Columbia 

There are 5 Area Associations, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to which they advocate for their local government members (Municipal Councils' or Regional District Boards') on a regional, provincial and federal basis.  I am a former President (2022-2023) of the North Central Local Government Association whose area covers from 100 Mile House to Fort Nelson and from Daajing Giids (previously Queen Charlotte Island) to Valemount or roughly 70% of the provincial land mass across Northern and Central British Columbia 

This coming week -- I will cover the role of a Municipal Council, Regional District Board and Improvement District.  Stay tuned for those posts on this blog... 

Later today (May 10, 2026) -- please watch my social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) where I will go into further detail on BC Local Government Awareness Week.... 

But thank you to BC Local Elected Officials + Local Government Staff who work hard together to ensure the needs of local communities are delivered on (water, sewer, parks, recreation, etc) throughout the year.... as well as the public who serve on Local Government Advisory Committees (Accessibility, Local Planning, etc.) and provide local elected officials with feedback to serve the public better... 

Finally: there are local elections in British Columbia including all 5 seats (Mayor + 4 Councillors) on the Districts of Wells and 100 Mile House Councils, all 7 seats (Mayor + 6 Councillors) on both Cities of Williams Lake/Quesnel Councils and the 12 Electoral Area Director seats on the Cariboo Regional District Board of Directors'.  There will be opportunities in mid June in North Cariboo (Quesnel), Central Cariboo (Williams Lake) and South Cariboo (100 Mile House) to understand the local election process, what you, as a candidate, should know if you plan to run in October's local elections... stay tuned for the details in the next number of weeks.... 

Steve Forseth

Director, Electoral Area "D"

Cariboo Regional District

Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments/Boards of Education Meetings | Week of May 11-15, 2026

During the week of May 11-15, 2026 -- the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments' or Boards of Education will meet, as follows: 

Wells - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 3:15pm to 4:30pm in Wells Council Chambers (4243 Sanders Avenue, Wells) or via Zoom.  When available, the full Meeting Agenda can be viewed here

SD #28 (Quesnel) -- Regular Board of Education Meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:00pm in the SD28 Boardroom (401 North Star Rd, Quesnel).  When available, the full Meeting Agenda can be viewed here

SD #27 Cariboo-Chilcotin -- Committee of the Whole session on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 4:30pm in the SD27 Boardroom (350 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Building Improvements

* "School of Choice" Update

* Daycare Update

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Williams Lake - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers (450 Mart St, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: Brice O'Neill re: Recognition of Laker's Go Bus Society's 45 Years of Service to City

* Development Variance Permit Application - DVP #02-2026 - Matt Jaccard / Mueller Electric Ltd. - Variances to Create Panhandle Lot & Allow for Existing and Future Buildings - 4995 Cattle Drive - Approval

* Encroachment Agreement - 2 Lakeview Avenue - Stampeder Inn

* 4 Bylaws for Adoption

* Letter from BC Finance Minister regarding Significant Projects in Williams Lake/Financial Support from Province of BC 

* Letter from BC's Attorney-General regarding Prolific Offenders 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

100 Mile House - Meetings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in 100 Mile House Council Chambers (385 Birch Avenue, 100 Mile House)

1) Special Closed Council Meeting at 4:30pm - as per Section 90(1L - Strategic Planning) of the Community Charter.  View more here

2) 100 Mile Development Corporation Board Meeting at 5:00pm.  On the Agenda: 

* 2025 Audited Financial Statements

* Annual Report

* Annual Directors' Resolutions

View the full Meeting Agenda here

3) Regular Council Meeting at 5:30pm.  On the Agenda: 

* 2025 Audited Financial Statements

* Creekside Seniors Centre NDIT Grant Application

* FireSmart Report - April 2026

* Bylaw Officer's Report - April 2026

* Server Replacement – Direct Award 

* 3 Bylaws for Adoption 

* Closed Council Meeting - Section 90(1a - appointment) of the Community Charter

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Cariboo Regional District -- 

1) South Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus -- Regular Meeting on Monday, May 11. 2026 at 11am in 100 Mile House Council Chambers.  On the Agenda: 

* Election of Vice-Chair

* Delegation: 100 Mile House RCMP

* Monthly Reporting from Liaisons to local community committees' in South Cariboo 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2) South Cariboo Joint Committee -- Regular Meeting on Monday, May 11. 2026 at 12pm in 100 Mile House Council Chambers.  On the Agenda: 

* BC Transit Service Review - 100 Mile House 

* Construction of Soccer Field Gate 

* Discussion Item: South Cariboo Recreation Centre Projects' (Media Centre/Outdoor Rink) 

View the full Meeting Agenda here 

Quesnel Council Highlights - May 5, 2026 mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Retirement Presentation - Donna Kopetski

Council recognized the retirement of 28-year employee Donna Kopetski. We wish Donna all the best in her retirement.

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2025 Audit of City Financial Records

KPMG Enterprise Partner, Corey Naphtali advised Council that the City received a clean audit report in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards and Council approved the 2025 Financial Statements.

Tourism and Event Inventory and Tourism Package Development

Andréa Khan from AK Consulting presented the findings of the Tourism and Event Inventory Package Development to Council. The project wrapped up six months of research and community engagement, carried out over four phases. The work resulted in a clear inventory of local tourism assets, a 15‑year pipeline for potential event bids, an economic development model, and the success of the North Cariboo Tourism Forum. It also kicked off the development of four experience packages and produced a practical toolkit to help keep the work moving forward.

In a report brought forward following the presentation, Council endorsed the Tourism & Events Inventory and Package Development Report and directed staff to move ahead with implementing the initiatives outlined in the report. Council also supported seeking out funding opportunities to help move these initiatives forward as they become available.

Three Rivers Community Forest Lease Agreement

Council approved the five-year lease agreement with the Three Rivers Community Forest for the use of office space in the Forestry Initiatives centre of City Hall.

2026 Local Government Election

Council approved the first three readings of the City of Quesnel Election and Other Voting Procedures Bylaw No. 1984, 2026, and appointed Laura Long as the Chief Election Officer, and Joel McKay and Kari Bolton as Deputy Chief Election Officers for the 2026 general local election.

2026 voting opportunities anticipated to be scheduled are as follows:

• Advanced Voting – 8 am to 8 pm – October 7 and 10 – City Hall
• General Voting Day – 8 am to 8 pm, October 17 – City Hall, Correlieu School and Dragon Lake School

Please watch the City of Quesnel Website at: https://www.quesnel.ca/city-hall/elections/2026-local-government-elections for more information on the upcoming election.

Vaughan Sewers Replacement - Contract

Council awarded the Vaughan Street Sanitary and Storm Replacement project to Knappett Industries for $676,068 plus GST, with funding coming from the capital reinvestment reserve and sewer reserves. The project will replace and upsize about 100 metres of the existing storm sewer main, along with replacing the sanitary sewer main on Vaughan Street and in the lane north of the West Fraser Centre.

Bylaws

• Bylaw #1981 - City of Quesnel Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1981, 2026 - Final Adoption
• Bylaw #1982 - City of Quesnel 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw No. 1982, 2026 - Final Adoption

Announcements

• May is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month in Canada.
• May 5, 2026 - National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - Red Dress Day.

Preview into NCLGA 2026 Convention

From May 20-22, 2026 -- the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) will be holding its' Annual Convention in the City of Prince George which is a tri-partite effort between the City of Prince George, Regional District of Fraser Fort George and Lheidli T'enneh First Nation

During the Convention, there will be: 

* Annual Northern Health Forum

* Tours including at the Prince George Public Safety Operations Building and Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre, east of Prince George 

* 2026 Resolutions Session - 40 Resolutions up for debate including 

i) 2 from 100 Mile House (Nurse Practitioners/Health Care Professionals), 

ii) 3 from Cariboo Regional District, either jointly or individually (Highway 97 Upgrades, Public Mental Health funding support and Post Secondary Education) and 

iii) 2 from Williams Lake (Health Care Provider Crisis and Indigenous led Fibre Recovery for Wildfire Recovery)

Finally - City of Fort St John Councillor Tony Zabinsky, who is currently 2025-26 NCLGA 1st Vice President, is expected to become the 2026-27 NCLGA President at the 2026 NCLGA Convention and typically a NCLGA 1st Vice President rises to become NCLGA President at the annual NCLGA Convention, by way of acclamation

The DRAFT AGM Agenda can viewed here while the 2026 Resolutions can be viewed here

The 2026 NCLGA Convention is the last of the 5 Area Associations within British Columbia to hold their Annual Conventions prior to the 2026 Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Vancouver, BC from September 14-18, 2026

BC Cattlemen Association to apply for Intervenor Status re: DRIPA Legal Case from Pender Harbour

Courtesy of BC Cattlemen Association:

The BC Cattlemen’s Association intends to apply to intervene in the Pender Harbour and Area Resident’s Association (PHARA) court challenge of British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). 

PHARA filed the case in the BC Supreme Court on February 9, 2026, seeking a constitutional challenge of DRIPA and for the court to declare the legislation of no force and effect. 

The BC Cattlemen’s Association intends to apply for intervenor status in the case to seek leave from the Court to speak to the ranching industry interests in the matter. 

PHARA is seeking declarations from the Court that DRIPA is unconstitutional because it is: 

• Inconsistent with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, as it does not balance Indigenous and non-Indigenous interests, allow for justified infringements of Aboriginal rights by the Crown, or follow court-established processes for determining those rights; 

• Beyond provincial jurisdiction, as it intrudes into matters under Canada’s exclusive authority and creates the potential for Aboriginal rights to be recognized differently across the country; and 

• Alternatively, a violation of democratic rights protected by section 3 of the Charter, on the basis that DRIPA allows for agreements that transfer governance authority to bodies that are not accountable to the electorate. 

DRIPA is concerning for ranchers in British Columbia because it could jeopardize security of private land and Crown tenures that support our ranch operations. 

Yesterday, the Province of BC proclaimed BC Beef Day and hosted a delegation of ranching industry representatives from around the province. During a meeting with Premier Eby, the Association again urged the province to clarify its reconciliation plans and to ensure protections for landowners and tenure holders. 

“These are the very tenures that allow us to produce food for the public and steward the resources under our care,” explains Werner Stump, BCCA President. BCCA members are deeply concerned that co-governance between the provincial government and First Nations could impact vital water and land use tenures. Stump continues to say, “We are concerned that co-governance models erode the stability that tenures are meant to guarantee.” 

This application to intervene is not a challenge of Indigenous rights or reconciliation. Rather, it is about exploring whether the province has made a mistake in delegating decision-making responsibility not balancing non-Indigenous interests. BC Cattlemen’s Association supports fair and transparent reconciliation processes that strengthen relationships over the long term. 

Esk’et FN Hosts Gathering to Celebrate Children, Families, and Cultural Connection

Courtesy of Esk'etemc First Nation:

The community of Esk’et welcomed children and their families for a two-day gathering centered on celebrating children, strengthening families, and bringing together all Esk’etemc members to learn about their culture, their land, and their community.  

“Everything we do is for our children so they grow up strong and connected to their families, their land, and their future,” shared Esk’etemc Kukpi7 Fred Robbins.  

Stsmémelt re Esk’et is a program that reflects a shared commitment to ensure children grow up grounded in who they are, supported by their families, their community, and their culture and represents more than a single gathering. 

It is part of a broader journey within Esk’etemc to bring children home, back to family, community, and culture while creating space for healing and building strength across generations. Over the weekend, more than 300 people, including children, youth, adults, and elders, participated in a range of cultural and community-based experiences. 

The event started with a pipe ceremony and prayers followed with a Grand Entry, gifting ceremony, and two full days of land-based learning, traditional games, drumming, and songs. The gathering created meaningful opportunities for children and their caregivers who live both in community and in urban centres to meet each other and engage with Esk’etemc ceremony and traditions. 

“Ceremony is what keeps our people strong,” said Spiritual Headwoman and elected Esk’etemc Councillor Irene Johnson. “It brings us together, it grounds us, and it reminds our families and our children of who they are.” 

The experiences created through Stsmémelt re Esk’et reflect the importance of cultural continuity and the role of community in supporting families. By centering the focus on children, the program reinforces a path forward built on connection, identity, and ongoing support and care, highlighting the broader work underway within Esk’etemc to strengthen child and family well-being through community-led approaches rooted in culture, language, and land. 

“Stsmémelt re Esk’et is about how we take care of our children as a community,” noted Doreen M. Johnson, Stsmémelt re Esk’et Planner. “This event was just a small reflection of the work we’re doing to bring families back together and build something stronger for the future for all Esk’etemc.” For many families, the gathering created meaningful opportunities for coming back together again, and for some, for the first time. 

It reflected Esk’etemc’s vision of children growing up supported, families connected, and community moving forward together. 

To see a video of the two-day event, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LGG5PLjbug 

Day to Day Democracy Podcast interviews Cariboo RD Chair Margo Wagner

In Episode 7 of "Day to Day Democracy": a podcast which looks at serving in BC Local Government and co-hosted by former Kamloops Councillor Arjun Singh and current Vanderhoof Councillor Brian Frenkel -- they interview Cariboo Regional District Board Chair (and Cariboo RD Area "H" Director) Margo Wagner

They cover:

* What is a Regional District?

* Role of a Regional District Board Chair?

* Role of an Electoral Area Director

* Regional District Advocacy

* Understanding needs in an unincorporated community and how to respond?

* Communications during Emergencies/Non-Emergencies

* Cooperation with Indigenous Nations especially during emergencies

* FireSmarting in a rural, unincorporated community context

The episode can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRX4TwlkI98