Quesnel Council to hold a Special Meeting on Jan 6, 2026 at 5:30pm

While most of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Governments or Boards of Education are still on Winter Recess, Quesnel Council will be holding another Special Meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 5:30pm to discuss: 

* Johnston Bridge Repairs

* 2026 Early Capital Approvals

View the full Meeting Agenda here

The following day (Wednesday, January 7, 2026) at 9:00am in the Fraser River Meeting Room within Quesnel City Hall (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St) --> Quesnel Council's Financial Sustainability/Audit Committee will be holding a regular meeting.  On the Agenda: 

* 2026 Property Assessments - Non-Market Change/Impact on 2026 City of Quesnel Budget/2026-2030 5 Year Financial Plan 

* 2026 Capital Budget – Final Review and Recommendation to Quesnel Council 

* 2026 Operating Budget - First Review

* Closed Committee Meeting -- Section 92 + 90(1c + 1k - labour/employee relations + negotiations) of the Community Charter 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Quesnel City Council meets today/Dec 30th, 2025

Today (December 30, 2025) at 10:00am in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant Street) -- Quesnel City Council will hold a rare Christmas Break Special Meeting to consider a Temporary Use Permit for a 3 year term - Emergency Shelter at 395 Elliot Street as well as considering to adopt City of Quesnel (New) Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025

Full Meeting Agenda here

Special Williams Lake Council Highlights - Oct 28, 2025 mtg

Present in Williams Lake Council Chambers: 

Mayor SPS Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Flaspohler and Nelson (entered the meeting at 12:07pm)

Present via Zoom: 

Councillors A. Delainey (entered the meeting electronically at 12:08pm), J. Lyons and M. Moses 

Meeting called to order at 12:00pm

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

Resolved: That the rules be suspended and Section 9(3) of Council Procedure Bylaw 2343, 2021 be set aside for this meeting only to permit more than 2 Members of Council to join the meeting remotely 

Meeting Agenda adopted - click here

Meeting Video here

Business:

1) Council adopted "City of Williams Lake Permissive Tax Exemptions Bylaw No. 2432, 2025"

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors S. Boehm and A. Delainey 

2) Council reviewed proposed 2026-2028 Fee for Service applications and after discussion, authorized the following: 

a) That all current Fee for Service arrangements be maintained at current rates (status quo)

b) That new Fee for Service applications be rejected (3) 

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors S. Boehm and S. Nelson

c) That the rejected "Williams Lake BIA Green Team" Fee for Service application (new) be permitted to apply for a Community Grant (previously Grant in Aide) 

d) And that the necessary Council Policy or Policies be waived

And then Council adjourned at 12:40pm

Special Williams Lake Council Highlights - July 8th, 2025 mtg

Present in WL Council Chambers: 

Acting Mayor J. Flaspohler and Councillors Boehm, Delainey and Nelson 

Present via Zoom: 

Councillors J. Lyons and M. Moses 

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm-- Acting Mayor Flaspohler recognized that the meeting was taking place on the traditional unceded territory of Williams Lake First Nation within Secwepemculecw

Resolved: In accordance with Section 9(5) of Council's Procedure Bylaw -- that Section 9(3) of Council's Procedure Bylaw be waived to permit more than 2 Members of Council to attend the meeting remotely

Meeting Agenda approved - click here

Meeting video - click here

Business:

1) Public Hearing -- Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2427, 2025 (845 Eleventh Avenue North (former Poplar Glade Elementary site)

The Deputy Corporate Officer explained the purpose/intent of Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2427, 2025 for property at 845 Eleventh Avenue North (former Poplar Glade Elementary site)

Members of the Public then addressed Council in respect of Bylaw #2427, 2025

After some time and calling 3 times for the public to address Council regarding Bylaw #2427, 2025 -- the Acting Mayor declared the Public Hearing adjourned.... 

2) Special Council Meeting 

Following a Public Hearing held earlier in the evening -- Council unanimously agreed to give 3rd Reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2427, 2025 for property at 845 Eleventh Avenue North and forwarded the Bylaw to the Ministry of Transportation & Transit for approval, as per Section 52 of BC's Transportation Act

And then Council adjourned at 6:43pm and a short recess, proceeded to their Committee of the Whole meeting

Special Committee of the Whole Session (Williams Lake City Council) - June 5th, 2025 mtg

Present: 

Mayor Rathor (Chair); Councillors Boehm, Delainey (via Zoom), Flaspohler, Moses and Nelson

Guests:

Cariboo RD Area Directors' Steve Forseth/Betty Anderson (Areas "D" + "K") and the Cariboo RD Regional Community/Economic Development Manager Beth Holden

Meeting called to order at 12:00pm

The Chair recognized that the meeting was taking place on the traditional unceded territory of Williams Lake First Nation within Secwepemculecw and welcomed Cariboo RD Area Directors Steve Forseth + Betty Anderson to today's meeting of the Committee

Meeting Agenda adopted - click here

Delegation:

Harold Stolar, District Manager Natural Resource Operations Cariboo-Chilcotin and Josh Pressey, Regional Executive Director Cariboo Region appeared before the Committee to provide a BC Ministry of Forests Update - presentation here

Following the presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued

Committee Resolution:

That the presentation and update from Ministry of Forests representatives Harold Stolar, District Manager Natural Resource Operations Cariboo-Chilcotin and Josh Pressey, Regional Executive Director Cariboo Region on regional operations be received for information and that Staff be directed to prepare a UBCM Resolution be prepared on reducing the approval process for Forestry Permits to 90 days all-in and that letters of support for the UBCM Resolution be sought from the Cariboo Regional District and local First Nations...

And then the Committee adjourned at 12:55pm

Special Williams Lake Council Highlights - June 3, 2025 mtg

Present:

Mayor Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Delainey, Flaspohler, Lyons, Moses and 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 and welcomed Cariboo RD Area "D" Director Steve Forseth to tonight's meeting

Meeting Agenda approved  - click here

Meeting Video - click here 

Business:

1) Analysis of State of Local Emergency - Community Safety

Report of the Director of Protective Services/Fire Chief was presented to Council 

Discussion ensued thereon...

Resolved: 

THAT the May 30, 2025 report of the Director of Protective Services as well as the email, dated June 3rd, 2025 from the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Public Safety/Solicitor-General be received; no further action in respect of a Local State of Emergency in Williams Lake be taken at this time and Staff be directed to bring forward a report on the actions of the Provincial Team involving public safety in Williams Lake as soon as possible and that the CAO/Chief Administrative Officer meet with the Williams Lake RCMP Detachment Commander (Insp. Rob Lake) on the actions of the Provincial Team 

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillor S. Nelson 

Council adjourned at 7:23pm and then proceeded to their Committee of the Whole meeting to be held in the Rick Hansen Boardroom

Special Williams Lake City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025 at 6pm (Local State of Emergency/Community Safety)

Later tonight (June 3, 2025) at 6:00pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers at 450 Mart Street (and the meeting is open to the public to observe)-- Williams Lake City Council will be holding a special meeting to review a Staff report, as directed back on May 27, 2025, about the possibility of declaring a Local State of Emergency to deal with local Community Safety issues in Williams Lake

Meeting Agenda: https://williamslake.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=1501

If you are not able to attend the meeting in-person -- you can watch the meeting on YouTube, either live or later, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkdp2ZlBb1E

Special Williams Lake Council Highlights - April 22nd, 2025 mtg

In Council Chambers — Mayor Rathor; Councillors Nelson and Moses 

Via Zoom — Councillors Boehm, Delainey and Flaspohler 

Absent: Councillor J. Lyons

Members of the public

Media: Williams Lake Tribune 

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 Agenda adopted - click here

Meeting Video here

Resolved: 

1) City Policy be waived to permit more than 2 Members of Council to attend Special Meeting remotely via Zoom for this meeting

2) Members of the Public be permitted to address Council 

18 Members of the Public as well as Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA L. Doerksen then addressed Council 

Business:

Council discussed community concerns regarding Homelessness and Community Safety in Williams Lake and after hearing from the public 

1) At the request of Councillor Nelson -- Council directed that the RCMP be requested to: 

a) conduct proactive patrols in the downtown core of Williams Lake

b) Have Zero Tolerance for Open Drug Use in the Downtown Core and near schools

Staff were requested to: 

a) coordinate a meeting with Interior Health to discuss an Action Plan in regards to full wrap-round addiction response services for the Williams Lake Health Region 

b) install porta-potta's and be accessible 24/7 in the downtown area as a trial program 

c) coordinate with the Province of BC to request funding for more RCMP/Security Services for community safety in Williams Lake

And that emergency funding for additional RCMP/Security up to $100,000 be approved with funding to be allocated from the General Reserve

2) At the request of Councillor Flaspohler -- Council directed Staff to report back on how other BC Communities addressed the topic of homelessness/community safety and provide recommendations to Council for its' consideration

3) At the request of Councillor Moses -- Council directed Staff to:

* organize meetings between Council and local organizations that deal with the topic of homelessness, addiction services, etc. for purposes of collaboration and how Council's actions can align with their services... 

* organize meetings with local Cariboo-Chilcotin First Nations/Cariboo-Chilcotin Metis Association to hear their perspective on homelessness challenges in Williams Lake 

* write to Interior Health requesting that they appear before Council to present information on their integrated RCMP/Mental Health services (Policing Crisis Team) and see if this program would be a good fit for Williams Lake 

* follow-up with UBCM regarding Mental Health/911 System

* That Council take a larger role in supporting the work of the Social Planning Council (Thrive Poverty Strategy) 

And then Council agreed to adjourn at 8:51pm 

Special WL Council Highlights - June 17th mtg

Present: 

Mayor SPS Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Delainey, Flaspohler, Lyons, Moses and Nelson

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm 

Meeting video here

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

Meeting Agenda adopted

Delegation:

The Honourable David Eby - Premier of British Columbia appeared before Council, via Zoom, to discuss the current situation with the potential closure of the Atlantic Power Co-Gen Plant in Williams Lake

Following his presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued... 

The Mayor thanked the Premier for his time/information and for being graciously willing to appear at the Special Council meeting...   

Presentations to Council:

Council received presentations from:

* Paul French, President - Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce

* Representatives from United Steel Workers (USW) Local 1-2017

* Representatives from Tsi Del Del Biomass Ltd.

* Lorne Doerkson, MLA Cariboo-Chilcotin

* Sean Gillespie, Atlantic Power & Utilities (Williams Lake) Ltd

* Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area "D" Director Steve Forseth

* 2 Members of the Public

Business:

Council considered In-Camera Report #01-2024 (click here) from the Special In-Camera Meeting of Williams Lake City Council of June 12th, 2024 and then approved the following Resolution:

That In-Camera Report #01-2024 regarding Council's concerns around the lack of progress from the Provincial Government on the Atlantic Power & Utilities (Williams Lake) Ltd. proposal to ensure the financial viability of the company's operations in Williams Lake, together with the report of the Manager of Economic Development dated June 14, 2024 regarding an update on Atlantic Power's contract negotiations, be received for further discussion and community and stakeholder dialogue

Council adjourned at 7:32pm

Special Willliams Lake City Council Meeting Scheduled for June 17 on Atlantic Power Corporation

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake will be holding a Special Council Meeting on Monday, June 17 at 6 p.m. to address a lack of progress in a path forward for Atlantic Power Corporation to continue operating.

In February of 2024, Atlantic Power gave notice to cease operations in January of 2025 due to an inability to be profitable under its current contract conditions with BC Hydro.

Atlantic Power opened in 1993 and is an independent power producer utilizing wood waste generated from sawmills and logging debris.

“The impacts of a closure of the facility are far greater than the 28 direct jobs and the loss of an important corporate citizen,” said Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor.

“There are numerous community-based contractors and suppliers, as well as several Indigenous-led businesses that provide the wood fibre needed to produce this green energy. Council wants to host this special meeting to learn more about the community impacts so those issues can be brought forward to the Provincial Government, who is the key decision maker with respect to allowing a producing power plant to shutter when the Province is also purchasing power from other jurisdictions to keep up with demand.”

At the meeting, community members in attendance will be invited to speak to and to inform Council of how a closure would impact the community.

The Special Public Meeting will be livestreamed on the City’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/CityWL