2026 Official Results: Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Government/Board of Education Local Elections

After the 2026 Local Election Campaign Period, Mail In Voting, Advanced Voting and General Voting Day -- the electors (voters) have now officially elected the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments' and Boards of Education for the 2026-2030 term 

1) District of Wells 

Mayor -- Jillian Merrick

Councillors' -- Josh Trotter-Wanner, Miriam Dumitra, Elyssia Sasaki,  Eric S Andersen

2) City of Quesnel 

Mayor -- Coralee Oakes

Councillors -- Tony Goulet, Scott Elliot, Mitch Vik, Jeremy Drew, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, Ryan Adams

3) City of Williams Lake 

Mayor -- Surinderpal Rathor

Councillors -- Scott Nelson, Paul French, Jason Ryll, Ruth Lloyd, Micheal Moses, Nathan Wiebe

4) District of 100 Mile House 

Mayor -- David Jurek

Councillors -- Dave Mingo, Donna Barnett, Ralf Holzapfel, Erin Filtness

5) Cariboo Regional District (Electoral Area Directors) 

Elected by acclamation (unopposed) on September 21st, 2026

Area A - Nicole Audet

Area D - Steve Forseth

Area F - Maureen LeBourdais

Area I - Jim Glassford

Area J - Tolin Pare 

Elected by voting

Area B - Robert Merz

Area C - Clint Cave

Area E - Melynda Neufeld

Area G - Al Richmond

Area H - Margo Wagner

Area K - Betty Anderson

Area L - Dan Parker

6) School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin)

Elected by acclamation (unopposed) on September 21st, 2026

Zone 2 (Cariboo RD Area "G") - William Shepherd

Zone 6 (City of Williams Lake) - Micheal Franklin

Zone 7 (Cariboo RD Areas J+K) - Jenny Philbrick

Elected by voting

Zone 1 (Cariboo RD Areas H+L & TNRD Area "E" within School District #27) - Ella Brown

Zone 3 (District of 100 Mile House) -- Michael Henshall

Zone 4 (Cariboo RD Areas D+F) -- Melissa Coates

Zone 5 (Cariboo RD Areas D+E) -- Mary Forbes

7) School District #28 (Quesnel) 

a) Lisa Boudreau 

b) Tony Goulet

c) Lisa Scott

d) Tarin Lefebvre

e) Mike Page

f) Julie-Anne Runge

g) Tracy Telford

2026 Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Elections Nomination Period - Day 8 of 8

Today (September 11th, 2026) is the FINAL day of the 8 day local elections nomination period that candidates can submit their candidate papers for formal approval to the Chief Election Officer or their Deputy of the local government or Board of Education that they are interested in seeking a position (Mayor, Councillor, Electoral Area Director or School Trustee).

NO nominations can be accepted after 4pm sharp today! The Chief Election Officers for the Districts of Wells/100 Mile House, the Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District and School Districts #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) and #28 (Quesnel) will then declare the unofficial list of candidates for the Offices of Mayor, Councillor, Electoral Area Director and School Trustee after 4pm today with the official candidate lists announced September 18, 2026 following the 7 day period for a candidate to either withdraw or if their nomination is to be challenged in the BC Provincial Court

The following individuals have filed, as of 5:00pm on Thursday, September 10th, 2026, with the Chief Election Officer or their Deputy for the Districts of Wells/100 Mile House, Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District or School Districts #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) or #28 (Quesnel) (information provided by CivicInfo BC's 2026 Local Elections Candidate Portal - click here)

Wells - none

Quesnel - 

Mayor: 

Incumbent - Ron Paull 

Candidates - Brian Waters, Coralee Oakes'

Councillor: 

Incumbents - Tony Goulet, Mitch Vik, Martin Runge, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, Deb McKelvie, Scott Elliott

Candidates - Ryan Adams, Mike Cave, Joni Davis, Jeremy Drew, Ben Freeman, Robert Leclerc, Susan McNeill, Linda Nelson, Duane Schultz, Chad Stump

School District #28 (Quesnel) - 

Incumbents: Tony Goulet, Lisa Boudreau, Julie-Anne Runge, Melissa Huska

Candidates: Vickie Campbell, Tracy Telford, Ben Freeman, Megan Graham, Kathy Beauvillier, Blanca Schorcht, Lisa Scott, Tarin Lefebvre

School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin): 

Zone 1 - Ella Brown, Eric DeVries, Sheri Elgersma

Zone 2 - William Shepherd

Zone 3 - Willow Macdonald (incumbent)

Zone 4 - Melissa Coates (incumbent) 

Zone 5 - Laura Zimmerman

Zone 6 - Mike Franklin (incumbent)

Zone 7 - Jenny Philbrick 

Williams Lake - 

Mayor: 

Incumbent: Surinderpal Rathor 

Councillor: 

Incumbents: Micheal Moses, Sheila Boehm, Scott Nelson

Candidates: Jason Ryll, Paul French, Dr. Rafiullah Sahibzada, Greg Jeannotte, Billie Sheridan, Whitney Spearing, Kayla Zaruk, Charlene Hays, Cianna O'Connor

100 Mile House - 

Mayor: 

Incumbent: Maureen Pinkney

Candidates: David Jurek 

Councillor: 

Incumbents: Dave Mingo, Marty Norgren, Donna Barnett

Candidates: Aaron Fulber, Norm Knutsen, Erin Filtness, 

Cariboo Regional District - 

Area "A" - Nicole Audet (incumbent Director)

Area "B" - Barb Bachmeier (incumbent Director); Heloise Dixon-Warren and Robert Merz (Director, Area "B" candidates)

Area "C" - John Massier (incumbent Director)

Area "D" - Steve Forseth (incumbent Director)

Area "E" - Melynda Neufeld (incumbent Director)

Area "F" - Maureen LeBourdais (incumbent Director)

Area "G" - Al Richmond (incumbent Director); Corey Gilmore and Michelle Spence (Director, Area "G" candidates)

Area "H" - Margo Wagner (incumbent Director)

Area "I" - Jim Glassford (incumbent Director)

Area "J" - Tolin Pare (incumbent Director)

Area "K" - Betty Anderson (incumbent Director); Bonnie Jean Bathgate (Director, Area "K" candidate)

Area "L" - Eric DeVries (incumbent Director); Jake McLean, Bo McKinney, Dan Parker (Director, Area "L" candidates) 

Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Government Meetings - Week of September 8-11, 2026

Following the BC Labour Day Long Weekend -- the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments will be holding meetings during the week of September 8-11, 2026, as follows:

Wells - Meetings of Wells District Council on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in Wells Council Chambers/Zoom (4243 Sanders Avenue)

Closed Session from 2-3pm to discuss HR matters and Strategic Planning

Open Session from 3:15pm to 4:30pm

When available - the Open Meeting Agenda can be viewed here

Williams Lake - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 6pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers (450 Mart St).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: Janda Group re Boitanio Mall Residential Housing Development Verbal Update

* September 1, 2026 Committee of the Whole recommendation for endorsement: Community Safety Concerns - Public Safety Feedback

* Closed Council Meeting - Sections 90(1a - appointment, 1c - labour, 1j - information prohibited from public disclosure) of the Community Charter

View the full Meeting Agenda here

100 Mile House - Following meetings to occur in 100 Mile House Council Chambers (385 Birch Avenue, 100 Mile House) on Tuesday, September 8, 2026

a) 100 Mile Development Corporation at 4:30pm.  On the Agenda: 

* VIC (Visitor Information Centre) Volunteers / Staffing 

* Development Corporation Budget Amendment 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

b) District Municipal Council at 5:30pm.  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: 108 Heritage Site 

* High Zone Booster Station 

* FireSmart August 2026 Report

* 5 Bylaws for Adoption 

* 100 Mile House Museum Lease Agreement 

* Closed/In-Camera Council Session -- Section 90(1c - labour) of the Community Charter

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Cariboo Regional District: 

a) North Cariboo Rural Directors' Caucus - Regular Meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 3:15pm in the CRD Quesnel Office (101-410 Kinchant St, Quesnel).  On the Agenda:

* Delegation: BC Transit 

* North Cariboo Community Committee Reports

View the full Meeting Agenda here

b) North Cariboo Joint Committee - Regular Meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 5:30pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St, Quesnel).  On the Agenda: 

* Quarter 2 Leisure Services Budget and Statistics Report

* Event Summary – Canada Day 2026

* 2027-2031 NCRP/North Cariboo Recreation and Parks Business and Financial Plans

* Proposed Letter of Support -- Quesnel Kangaroos Hockey Club's bid to host the 2027 Western Canada Savage Cup Hockey Championship

View the full Meeting Agenda here

c) Policy Committee - Regular Meeting on Thursday, September 10th, 2026 at 10:00am in the Cariboo RD Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Tangible Assets Policy

View the full Meeting Agenda here

d) Committee of the Whole (Cariboo RD Board) - Regular Meeting on Thursday, September 10th, 2026 at 1pm in the Cariboo RD Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Discussion Items -- NDIT Intake Application Deadlines (Dir. Forseth), Durrell Road Closure/Fire Protection Impact (Dir. Audet)

* Dissolution of Policy Committee Discussion

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Meeting will NOT be livestreamed but is open to the public to observe 

e) Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) - Regular Board Meeting on Friday, September 11th, 2026 at 9:30am in the Cariboo RD Boardroom.  On the Agenda: 

* Bylaw Amendments for 3 Readings/Adoption -- CCRHD Remuneration and Procedure Bylaws

* Information-only items

View the full Meeting Agenda here

f) Cariboo Regional District - Regular Board Meeting on Friday, September 11th, 2026 at 9:45am or upon recess/adjournment of the CCRHD Board Meeting - whichever occurs first - in the Cariboo RD Boardroom. On the Agenda: 

* Land Use Matters (Area Directors' only)

* Community Works Fund agreements with McLeese Lake Recreation Commission and Big Creek Community Hall 

* Agriculture Biosolids Use Prohibition 

* Committee Recommendation (South Cariboo Joint Committee) for endorsement

* Bylaws -- 103 Mile Water System Service Boundary Expansion Bylaw No. 5591, 2026 (3 Readings); 

Cariboo Regional District Board Procedure Bylaw No. 5590, 2026 (3 Readings/Adoption), Forest Grove Legion Property Tax Exemption Bylaw (3 Readings/Adoption)

* Closed/In-Camera Board Session - Section 90(2b - confidential negotiations between local government, provincial/federal governments and a 3rd Party) of the Community Charter 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2026 Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Elections Nomination Period - Day 3 of 8

Today (September 3, 2026) is the 3rd day of the 8 day local elections nomination period that candidates can submit their candidate papers for formal approval to the Chief Election Officer or their Deputy of the local government or Board of Education that they are interested in seeking a position for (Mayor, Councillor, Electoral Area Director or School Trustee)

CivicInfoBC's 2026 Local Elections Candidates Portal (click here) reports that the following individuals have filed with the Chief Election Officer or their Deputy for the Districts of Wells/100 Mile House, Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District or School Districts' #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) or #28 (Quesnel)

Wells - none

Quesnel - Brian Waters (Mayoral candidate), Ron Paull (incumbent Mayor); Ben Freeman (Councillor candidate), Tony Goulet (incumbent Councillor). 

School District #28 (Quesnel) - Tony Goulet/Lisa Boudreau (incumbent Trustees), Vickie Campbell and Tracy Telford (Trustee candidates)

School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) - none

Williams Lake - Surinderpal Rathor (incumbent Mayor)

100 Mile House - Maureen Pinkney (incumbent Mayor), David Jurek (Mayoral candidate), Aaron Fulber (Councillor candidate), Norm Knutsen (Councillor candidate) 

Cariboo Regional District - 

Area "A" - Nicole Audet (incumbent Director)

Area "B" - Heloise Dixon-Warren (Director, Area "B" candidate)

Area "D" - Steve Forseth (incumbent Director)

Area "E" - Melynda Neufeld (incumbent Director)

Area "F" - Maureen LeBourdais (incumbent Director)

Area "H" - Margo Wagner (incumbent Director)

Area "I" - Jim Glassford (incumbent Director)

Area "J" - Tolin Pare (incumbent Director)

Area "K" - Betty Anderson (incumbent Director)

Area "L" - Eric DeVries (incumbent Director)

UBCM 2025 - Day 1 of 5

Today - the 122nd (2025) Annual Convention of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) commences in downtown Victoria, BC and will conclude at noon on Friday, September 26th, 2025  The first two days of the Convention will be pre-Convention sessions of clinics and various other learning and networking opportunities with the formal part of the Convention commencing Wednesday and conclude Friday with an address from the Hon. David Eby - Premier of British Columbia.  The full Convention program can be viewed at https://www.ubcm.ca/convention-resolutions/2025-convention/program

Today -- I will be attending: 

* Local Government Engagement in BC-First Nation Treaty Negotiations 

* Libraries on the Front Lines 

* Resilient Local Leaders - Charting the Course to support Mental Health for Local Elected Officials 

* Electoral Area Directors' "Meet and Greet" 

Have a great day, 

SF

Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Government/Board of Education Meetings | Week of April 28 - May 2, 2025

During the week of April 28 - May 2, 2025 -- the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments/Boards of Education will be holding meetings, as follows:

School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) - Regular Board of Education Meeting at 6:30pm on Monday, April 28th, 2025 in the SD27 Boardroom (350 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda:

* Presentations -- 1) TWINQ (Teachers with International Teaching Qualifications) - Ms. Jennifer Loewen and 2) Peter Skene Ogden Structural Firefighting Program  

* Reports from Superintendent and Acting Secretary-Treasurer

* Reports from Finance and Educations Committees 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Williams Lake  -- All meetings below in the Rick Hansen Boardroom, Williams Lake City Hall (Basement - 450 Mart Street):

1) Special Council Meeting at  5:45pm on Tuesday, April 28th, 2025.  On the Agenda:

* Adopt 2025 Municipal Tax Rate Bylaw No. 2423, 2025

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2) Committee of the Whole Session at 6pm on Tuesday, April 28th, 2025.  On the Agenda: 

* Downloading of Costs Q1 2025 Update

* Temporary Overnight Sheltering Locations (351 Hodgson Rd, 97 1st Ave S (free parking lot), and RC Cotton site (Bagshaw Rd)) 

* Supporting Canadian and Local Procurement in Response to U.S. Tariffs - Update

* Lake Harvester Update (deferred from April 1, 2025 Williams Lake City Council Meeting)

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Cariboo Regional District -- 

1) Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District(CCRHD)/Regular Board Meeting on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 9:30am in the Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegations:  1)  PMT Chartered Professional Accountants re: 2024 CCRHD Audited Financial Statements  and 2) Interior Health re: helipad decision at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.

* Capital Expenditures Bylaws -- GR Baker Hospital Equipment 

View the full Meeting Agenda here 

Cariboo Regional District/Regular Board Meeting on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 following recess of the CCRHD Board Meeting in the Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegations:  PMT Chartered Professional Accountants re: 2024 Cariboo RD Audited Financial Statements

* Land Use Items (Permits, Bylaws, etc.) - Electoral Area Directors' only

* Esler Sports Complex 2nd Access Road Project – Community Works Fund Allocation

* NDIT Applications -- Horsefly River Roundtable Trail Boardwalk Replacement and Lightning Creek Ski Club Event Centre - Timing Phase 2 Expansion

* Recommendations from Committees/Commissions

* Closed/In-Camera Board Session -- Sections 92 (Resolution to close meeting in open meeting) + 90((1)(a)(c)(g)(j)(k) and 90(2)(b) [appointment, labour, litigation, information protected from public disclosure, negotiations and negotiations between local government and provincial/federal governments and a 3rd Party] of the Community Charter 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2025 Federal Election Advanced Voting Results: Cariboo-Prince George

Courtesy of Elections Canada:

After 4 Days of Advanced Voting in Cariboo-Prince George -- 12,380 voters took advantage of the Advanced Voting Opportunity in Vanderhoof, Prince George, Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House... (13.37% of the 92,577 eligible voters in Cariboo-Prince George cast an advanced ballot in the 2025 Federal Election)...

Emergency Operation Centre funding for Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments'

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- the following Cariboo-Chilcotin Local or Indigenous Governments have received Emergency Operations Centre or EOC Funding...

Wells -- $30,000 for equipment/training

Quesnel - $14,000 for training

Lhtako Dene Nation - $30,000 for equipment

Williams Lake First Nation - $29,352.87 for equipment

Cariboo Regional District - $13,875.90 for equipment and training

People in approximately 100 communities will be safer during emergencies with provincial funding that will better equip local governments and First Nations to respond to emergencies.

“As we move into the wildfire season, we know that many communities may need to activate their emergency operations centres (EOC) to respond and support people in their areas,” said the Hon. Bowinn Ma, BC's Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “Local emergency operations centres are crucial for co-ordinating emergency response to keep people safe. This funding will help communities support responders on the ground and better protect people in emergency situations.”

The Province is providing approximately $2.7 million to communities in B.C. for emergency-preparedness initiatives, such as new supplies for local emergency operations centres and conducting training and exercises to support staff and enhance capacity. Emergency operations centres are a vital part of local emergency response, bringing together representatives and leaders to co-ordinate actions and resources, and to support first responders.

“This funding will help to grow communications capacity in our Lhtako Dene Nation emergency operations command centre, which was established last year,” said Bruce McDonald, lands and natural resource manager, Lhtako Dene First Nation. “It will help us initiate reliable means of communication with neighbouring Nations in the Quesnel area so we can better support them during times of emergency and need.”

Funded through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), investments will support 80 projects in approximately 100 communities in the province, including:

• continued expansion of the emergency operations command centre through the purchase of new radios and supplies, and volunteer radio and EOC training for the Lhtako Dene First Nation;
• new equipment installation and emergency operations centre training for several communities in the Cariboo Regional District, including satellite connectivity for more reliable internet during emergencies;
• purchase and installation of equipment for two radio towers to enhance communication capability during emergencies, and community evacuation and EOC training for staff in the Sunshine Coast Regional District;
• a new trailer to transport supplies and equipment, and a new backup generator for community EOCs in Nlaka'pamux Nation; and
• new equipment, such as laptops and a mobile EOC kit, for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District emergency operations centre, which was activated for more than 80 days during the 2023 wildfire and spring flooding season.

“This funding will enhance the Akisqnuk First Nation community and staff to strengthen emergency-management education and response for both minor and major emergency situations,” said Thomas Dobbin, emergency program co-ordinator for Akisqnuk First Nation. “This initiative aims to foster greater collaboration and training opportunities with neighbouring local governments.”

The CEPF helps communities better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories. In addition to emergency operations centre equipment and training, other categories include disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, public notification and evacuation-route planning, Indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training, and emergency support services equipment and training. The CEPF is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) on behalf of the Province.

The Province has invested $369 million into the CEPF since it was established in 2017. More than $217 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through the CEPF for more than 1,970 projects. More than half of the funding has gone to communities since December 2022, demonstrating the Province’s commitment to ramping up defences against climate emergencies in B.C. Since 2017, approximately $14.9 million has been invested to support local emergency operations centres.

Learn more:

For information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cepf