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The FINAL candidates for the 2026 local elections

Sep 3, 2026 | Elections 2026, Politics

By George Le Masurier

H ere is the final list of candidates who have filed local government positions this year. Nominations are now closed.

Updated October 7, 8:58AM.

With voting day on October 17, 2026 coming up, we’ll be keeping this community informed and engaged throughout the campaign. Here’s a running list of declared candidates across the Comox Valley, with links to their campaign sites so you can follow along.

A special thank you to the 42 candidates who have set up campaign Facebook pages and the 30 who have built websites — your effort in communicating with the electorate digitally is genuinely appreciated.

Key: 🔄 Re-running | 🌱 New candidate
Facebook followers shown as (current ↑/↓ change since campaign start). New candidates who started at zero shown as (+total).

🏙️ ═══ CITY OF COURTENAY ═══
Est. population: 28,420 — est. 25,785 eligible voters

Mayor — 3 candidates:

🔄 ▶️ Bob Wells
https://mayorbobwells.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/MayorBobWells (1,431 ↑2) | https://www.instagram.com/comoxvalleybob/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/comoxvalleybob/

🌱 ▶️ Trish McPhail
https://votetrish.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594360798780 (+765)

🌱 ▶️ Manno Theos
https://www.facebook.com/manno.theos (Personal page) | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1727635108510122 (Private group — 94 members) | https://www.instagram.com/mannoformayor/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/manno-theos-654837164/

Council — 20 candidates (6 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Evan Jolicoeur
https://evanjolicoeur.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/evanjolicoeur2026 (1,078 ↑122) | https://www.instagram.com/evanjolicoeurcourtenay/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/evjay/

🔄 ▶️ Wendy Morin
https://www.wendymorin.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/wendymorincouncillor/ (891 ↑63) | https://www.instagram.com/cvrivergal/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-morin-5b4048103/

🔄 ▶️ David Frisch
https://www.facebook.com/ElectDavidFrisch (438 ↓1) | https://www.instagram.com/frisch.david/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-frisch-37b02a98/

🌱 ▶️ Phil Adams
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573324320206 (529 ↑31)

🌱 ▶️ Darin Tufts
https://www.facebook.com/p/Darin-Tufts-for-Courtenay-council-61594215522970/ (+230) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-tufts-50b3412b4/

🌱 ▶️ Kitty Pitt
https://kittyforcourtenay.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/p/Kitty-Pitt-For-Courtenay-Council-61594593062287/ (+144) | https://www.instagram.com/councillor.kitty/

🌱 ▶️ Davina Singh
https://www.davinaforcourtenaycouncil.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593965494237 (+118) | https://www.instagram.com/davina.for.council/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/davina-singh-0ab2a3235/

🌱 ▶️ Dick Clancy
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594766996771 (+109)

🌱 ▶️ Kam Singhania
https://www.facebook.com/p/Kam-Singhania-for-Courtenay-Council-61594269334218/ (+82) | https://www.instagram.com/kamal.singhania1/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamal-singhania-6035b925/

🌱 ▶️ Rosanna Chamberlin
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594501356435 (+66) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosanna-chamberlin-8183133b/

🌱 ▶️ Erik Eriksson
https://erikeriksson.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/ErikErikssonForCouncil (63 ↑1)

🌱 ▶️ Jessie Lightburn
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593097444849 (+45) | https://www.instagram.com/jessie_burning_light/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-lightburn-32a36948/

🌱 ▶️ Thomas McDevitt
https://vote4thomas.lovable.app/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594500672887 (+32) | https://www.instagram.com/vote4thomas/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmcdevitt10/

🌱 ▶️ John Dacombe
https://johndacombe.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593266858598 (+30) | https://www.instagram.com/john.dacombe/

🌱 ▶️ Dave Mellin
https://davemellin.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-mellin-0b477843/

🌱 ▶️ Guancarlo “Benny” Benvenuti
https://www.facebook.com/guancarlo.benvenuti/ (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/guancarlo2000/

🌱 ▶️ Jin Lin
https://www.facebook.com/maplepoolcampsite/ (Personal page)

🌱 ▶️ Kelly Matthews
https://kellyscottmatthews.nationbuilder.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/kelly.matthews.54540 (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/kellyscottmatthews/

🌱 ▶️ Vasil Beaton
https://www.facebook.com/vasil.beaton.7 (Personal page)

School Trustee Area 1 — 3 candidates (2 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Shannon Aldinger
https://www.facebook.com/shannon.aldinger.2025 (Personal page) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-aldinger-00848b43/

🌱 ▶️ Kendall Packham
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2152873905262642/ (+66) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-packham-610bb63a5/

🌱 ▶️ Maria Sanchez
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594516904709 (+33) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-sanchez-79567022/

🌊 ═══ TOWN OF COMOX ═══
Est. population: 14,806 — est. 12,678 eligible voters

Mayor — Uncontested:

🔄 ▶️ Nicole Minions
https://nicoleminions.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/comoxforgenerations/ (1,192 ↑34) | https://www.instagram.com/nicole.in.comox/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-minions-999b1217/

Council — 11 candidates (6 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Dr. Jonathan Kerr
https://healthycomox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/HealthyComoxBC (471 ↑89) | https://www.instagram.com/healthycomox/

🔄 ▶️ Steve Blacklock
https://steve4comox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/Steve4Comox (372 ↑8) | https://www.instagram.com/steve_comox/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenblacklock/

🔄 ▶️ Ken Grant
https://kenforcomox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594344254164 (+114) | https://www.instagram.com/kengrant1160/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-grant-85005b19/

🔄 ▶️ Jenn Meilleur
https://www.jennmeilleur.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/civicjenn (87 ↑30) | https://www.instagram.com/civicjenn/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennmeilleur/

🔄 ▶️ Chris Haslett
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594129513373 (+2) | https://www.instagram.com/chrishaslettcomox/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-haslett-86854b42/

🔄 ▶️ Maureen Swift
https://www.facebook.com/maureen.swift.16/ (Personal page) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-swift-82393564/ | https://www.instagram.com/swift_maureen/

🌱 ▶️ Lisa Bourgeois
https://lisaforcomox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/lisaforcomox/ (+126) | https://www.instagram.com/lisa4comox/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacbourgeois/

🌱 ▶️ Jessica Wegg
https://www.yestojess.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wegg.comox.council/ (+118) | https://www.instagram.com/jessica.wegg.comox | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicawegg/

🌱 ▶️ Neil Ladell
https://neil4comox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594386715622 (+25) | https://www.instagram.com/neil4comox/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-ladell-45882910/

🌱 ▶️ Vivian Chislett
https://www.comoxvotes.ca/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-chislett-65859359/

🌱 ▶️ Ruby Sidhu
https://ourcomox.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/rubybrars (Personal page)

School Trustee — Uncontested:

🌱 ▶️ Jennifer Fisher
https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.fisher.1227 (Personal page)

🌲 ═══ VILLAGE OF CUMBERLAND ═══
Est. population: 4,447 — est. 3,480 eligible voters

Mayor — Uncontested:

🔄 ▶️ Vickey Brown
https://www.facebook.com/VickeyforCumberland/ (613 ↑20) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickeybrown/

Council — 7 candidates (4 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Sean Sullivan
https://www.facebook.com/electseansullivan/ (584 ↑7)

🔄 ▶️ Troy Therrien
https://www.votetroy.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/votetroytherrien (232 ↑81) | https://www.instagram.com/therrien_troy/

🔄 ▶️ Nick Ward
https://nickforcumberland.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/nickforcumberland (195 ↑19) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickwardbc/

🔄 ▶️ Neil Borecky
https://cumberlandborecky.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/councillor.borecky/ (118 ↑8) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-borecky-468082304/

🌱 ▶️ Ellian Bell
https://ellianbell.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/ellianforcumberland/ (+292) | https://www.instagram.com/ellianbell/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellian-bell-58373b22/

🌱 ▶️ Zanoni Agnew
https://www.facebook.com/people/Zanoni-Agnew-for-Cumberland-Council/61591297644757/ (+48) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanoni-agnew-b8975b90/

🌱 ▶️ Kevin Snaden
http://www.snaden.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577962355211 (+7) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/snaden/

School Trustee — Uncontested:

🌱 ▶️ Laurel Rankin
Pending | https://www.instagram.com/laurelincontext/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-rankin-49a819101/

🗺️ ═══ CVRD ELECTORAL AREA A — Baynes Sound / Denman & Hornby Islands ═══
Est. population: 7,926 — eligible voters not available

Director — Uncontested:

🔄 ▶️ Daniel Arbour
https://danielarbour.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/danielarbour.ca (1,076 ↑41) | https://www.instagram.com/danielarbour.ca/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/arbourdaniel/

School Trustee (Area 4) — Uncontested:

🔄 ▶️ Chelsea McCannel-Keene
No campaign links

🗺️ ═══ CVRD ELECTORAL AREA B — Lazo North ═══
Est. population: 7,392 — eligible voters not available

Director — 2 candidates (1 seat):

🔄 ▶️ Richard Hardy
https://www.richhardy.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085505266263 (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/richhardyareab/

🌱 ▶️ Arzeena Hamir
https://www.arzeena.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/arzeena.hamir (1,391 ↑49) | https://www.instagram.com/arzeena_hamir/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/arzeena-hamir/

School Trustee (Area 5) — Uncontested:

🔄 ▶️ Michelle Waite
https://www.facebook.com/MichelleWaiteTrusteeforAreaB (228 ↑4) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-waite-b1a89231/

🗺️ ═══ CVRD ELECTORAL AREA C — Puntledge / Black Creek ═══
Est. population: 9,158 — eligible voters not available

Director — 3 candidates (1 seat):

🌱 ▶️ Norm McPhail
https://www.facebook.com/NormMcPhailCandidateforAreaC2026ComoxValley (+159) | https://www.instagram.com/nmcphailareac/

🌱 ▶️ Ariel Becherer
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592000729860 (+104) | https://www.instagram.com/ariel_for_area_c/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-becherer-ab60a22a3/

🌱 ▶️ Gillian Anderson
https://www.gillianandersonforareac.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594313758458 (+12)

School Trustee (Area 6) — Uncontested:

🌱 ▶️ Nicole Bergot
https://www.facebook.com/nicolebergot (Personal page) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolebergot/

🏝️ ═══ ISLANDS TRUST — DENMAN ISLAND ═══

Trustee — 4 candidates (2 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Sam Borthwick
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-borthwick-abb90532/

🌱 ▶️ Perri Gorrara
https://www.facebook.com/perri.gorrara (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/perrigorrara/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/perri-gorrara-a0243913/

🌱 ▶️ Steve Hawkins
https://www.facebook.com/stephen.hawkins.545 (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/stevehawkinsyvr/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hawkins-b3535511/

🌱 ▶️ Noah Ross
https://www.facebook.com/noah.rass.777 (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/congress_of_things/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-ross-62196786/

🏝️ ═══ ISLANDS TRUST — HORNBY ISLAND ═══

Trustee — 6 candidates (2 seats):

🔄 ▶️ Alex Allen
(No social media found)

🌱 ▶️ George Buvyer
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594452624220 (Personal page)

🌱 ▶️ Ronaldo Cruz
https://www.facebook.com/cruzronaldo (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/ronaldocruz1/

🌱 ▶️ April Lewis
https://www.facebook.com/april.lewis.7902 (Personal page) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-lewis-14370919/

🌱 ▶️ Pat Mullan
https://www.facebook.com/pat.mullan.3 (Personal page)

🌱 ▶️ Jeffrey Rabena
https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.rabena (Personal page) | https://www.instagram.com/jeffreyrabena/

Voting day: October 17, 2026. Advance voting: October 7 and October 14.

Official candidate information:

 

 

 

 

 

Advance polls open on Oct. 7

Come here for advance voting times and locations for each jurisdiction

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4 Comments

  1. Rusty Tannant
    Rusty Tannant on 09/17/2026 at 2:41 pm

    Hi there,

    Since there are so many people up for election in the October municipal elections, I am having trouble figuring out the platform each of them have…their political affiliations, background, etc. Do you happen to know of a resource with that information, so that I can make a better choice at election time?

    thank you,
    Rusty Tannant

    Reply
    • George Le Masurier
      George Le Masurier on 09/17/2026 at 3:28 pm

      Hi Rusty — Yes, Decafnation has sent a survey to all candidates. We will publish their responses on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

      Reply
  2. Loys Maingon
    Loys Maingon on 09/08/2026 at 5:35 pm

    That must be a regular “u” to “i” keyboard typo – Guancarlo “Benny” Benevuti, must be “Giancarlo” – my Italian is rusty, but not that rusty, and I still like reading the poetry of Dante and Petracha”.

    Now about those electoral lists…. Will there be a “None of the above” option, which was at least provided in the East Block countries during the “collapse”, or do we have to run that as a name on the ballots? We could register a candidate as “Nulli Suprae” – as the true representative of an alienated public?

    The serious problem is that we are all looking to elect a “representative government”, but I am not sure that any of the candidates are really representative of our collective concerns.

    Very seriously, I am not being facetious. The election of the AfD in Germany should ring alarm bells. We need candidates who talk about what brings us together, and what we share, who talk about our common interests, talk about what we have in common, and our common future. Sadly I am not seeing that

    Reply
    • Kimi Nakamura
      Kimi Nakamura on 09/09/2026 at 7:06 am

      Great points! Come out to Kelly Matthews Campaign launch event this Saturday at Creekside Commons, 2202 Lambert Drive. 4pm. Kelly lives in our co-housing community and is running for Courtenay Council. Co-housing is Living the model of sharing and working together. I have been here 10 years and in my humble opinion it is a model for how our society can live in a more co-operative frequency.

      Reply

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