As the province moves toward the 2022 general election, chief election officers are being appointed for municipal governments and school districts.
On March 15, the Fraser-Cascade School District appointed Jaime Van Ness into the role. Van Ness is also the officer for all of the areas overseen by the Fraser Valley Regional District. The District of Hope has appointed Kelly Ridley as chief election officer, and Branden Morgan as deputy chief election officer.
The 2022 General Local Elections will be held on October 15, and the period for candidates to submit their nominations to these officials is Aug. 30 to Sept. 9.
The District of Hope comprises one mayor and six councillors. Fraser Cascade’s board of education comprises seven trustees, with a ward system. There is one trustee for Fraser Canyon, three for Agassiz/Harrison and three for Hope. One of the Hope roles is currently vacant.
Those who live within one of the eight Fraser Valley Regional District areas will also be voting for their area director.
Civic Info BC lists the election results for the 2018 municipal election. Voter turnout in Hope that year was 39 per cent, which is four per cent higher than the average B.C. municipal turnout that year. Out of an estimated 5,036 eligible voters, 1,996 cast a ballot.
Mayor Peter Robb won his seat with 64.78 per cent of the vote. Wilfried Vicktor received 26.2 per cent, and Cindy Young received 7.72 per cent.
There is currently only one woman on council in Hope, Heather Stewin, who also serves the community as a trustee with Fraser-Cascade. That’s well below the provincial average for representation of women on council, which is 35.2 per cent.
However, including Stewin, there are currently four women on the Fraser Cascade board of education.
READ MORE: Results of Coquihalla Elementary’s municipal vote a closely guarded secret
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