New councils are now in office in Campbell River, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, after the general local elections on October 17 and inaugural meetings in early November.
Campbell River
The City completed a final review of the results on October 21 and officially declared the mayor- and council-elect. Kermit Dahl was elected mayor with 5,171 votes.
The six elected councillors, in the order reported in the City’s official announcement, are Laird Ruehlen (5,334 votes), Susan Sinnott (4,508), Lucas Schuller (4,402), Joëlle Samson (4,197), Brittany Colville (4,079) and Ben Lanyon (3,960). The City said one additional ballot found during the review changed some vote totals but did not change who was elected.
A total of 9,224 ballots were cast, representing approximately a 29 per cent voter turnout, the City said.
The newly elected mayor and council were to be sworn in at the inaugural meeting at 7 p.m. on November 2 at the Tidemark Theatre, 1220 Shoppers Row, a meeting the City said would be open to the public. The first regular council meeting for the new council was set for November 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 301 St. Ann’s Road.
Port Hardy
The District’s official notice of election by acclamation, issued under section 98 of the Local Government Act, declared Pat Corbett-Labatt elected mayor by acclamation. An election by voting was held for six council seats.
On October 20, Chief Election Officer Heather Nelson-Smith declared the following six candidates elected as councillors: Brian Texmo, Janet Dorward, Adam Ireton, John Tidbury, David Summers and Doug Kerr. The official declaration form published by the District does not include vote totals.
Port McNeill
The Town’s official declaration of election by acclamation named James Furney as mayor and Shelley Downey, Janice Ellis, Bill McQuarrie and Leighann Ruel as councillors, all elected by acclamation. No vote was required for those offices.
Campbell River council’s next regular meetings, on the City’s official 2026 schedule, are November 12 and November 26, both at 6 p.m.
Sources: City of Campbell River, official 2026 municipal election results, Oct. 21, 2026; City of Campbell River, 2026 council meeting schedule; District of Port Hardy, notice of election by acclamation and election by voting; District of Port Hardy, declaration of official election results, councillors, Oct. 20, 2026; Town of Port McNeill, declaration of election by acclamation.
