Mayor Brown gets emotional, says the village inspires her even on the hardest days

Mayor Brown gets emotional, says the village inspires her even on the hardest days

by | Nov 2, 2026

Screen capture of the Village Council meeting on Nov. 2, 2026

Mayor Brown gets emotional, says the village inspires her even on the hardest days

By

Calling the Village of Cumberland “pure magic,”Mayor Vickey Brown took the oath of office Monday night for a second consecutive term. She ran unopposed this year.

Four council members were also sworn in during the brief council meeting: incumbents Nick Ward, Troy Therrien, Sean Sullivan and first-time councillor Ellian Bell.

After agreeing on council appointments to boards and commission, Mayor Brown concluded the meeting with her inaugural address.

Addressing village residents, Brown said she is honored to serve this community along with this “caring and thoughtful team you have elected.”

And in thanking the family and friends of her elected council members, Brown said, “I apologize in advance for any ranting that may occur in your homes after meetings,” she said.

She also thanked voters, saying that democracy is not a given. It takes time and work, engagement, participation and critical thinking and, most of all, “consideration for our whole community’s needs.

Brown then urged the community to leave the campaign behind and shift into collaboration and team building mode, “So that we can successfully lay the foundation for decision-making for the next four years.”

But, she added, “It’s important to follow the work of the council between elections to understand the context within which we are making decisions.”

Brown said Cumberland is thriving in many ways and that the council will have to work hard to understand the challenges and demands that come with serving a community.

She acknowledged that many residents struggle due to the economic times, and that the village hall recognizes the need for more housing options and the demand for more services inside the village.

“We will do our best to balance those needs with the property tax hike,” she said.

“This organization is small and mighty and working largely with a residential tax base as a mechanism for funding our operations,” she said. “We are not perfect. We do not have nearly as much power as our residents hope, but we care deeply for this place.”

Brown then turned to recent provincial elections. Recently elected Mid-Island Pacific MLA Josie Osborne and new Courtenay-Comox MLA Will Cole-Hamilton were in the audience. Electoral Area A director Daniel Arbour also attended.

She said the change in government will have an unknown impact on the village.

“We appreciate this new government’s promise not to combine elections again, and their agreement to ensure autonomy for local government,” she said.

But she was also clear that the village depends on the province for funding to meet the community’s demand for services.

Then Brown concluded her address on a sometimes emotional note.

“This village is pure magic. I am grateful for each person who has chosen Cumberland for their homes.

“That’s why I’m here, because your love for this place inspires me even on the hardest days. This village makes me want to wake up every morning and continue to learn and grow as a leader. Thank you so much for the privilege of being your mayor.”

Earlier, councillors accepted positions on various regional boards and committees. Therrien will represent the village at the regional hospital district board and the regional waste management. Sullivan takes on the justice society. Ward returns to the Vancouver Island Regional Library board and Bell will represent at the heritage committee.

Brown will continue her position on the regional district board and its parks committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUMBERLAND POPULATION

The population of Cumberland, British Columbia is 4,447 according to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census (an 18.5% increase from 3,753 in 2016

Current estimates put the population around 4,974 to 5,066 residents. New census numbers are expected in February.

Cumberland had a population of 3,398 in 2011.

MINI HISTORY

Founded in 1888 by Scottish businessman Robert Dunsmuir, Cumberland (originally known as Union) was one of BC’s busiest mining communities until 1966. Time-worn cemeteries and heritage buildings pay tribute to that era, while colourful stories of miners, immigrants and the frontier continue to echo through this flourishing community – which has evolved into a popular hub for young families, artists and outdoor enthusiasts.

For more information on the Village of Cumberland visit this link.

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Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

by | Oct 25, 2026

Campaign contributed photo

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

By

The pre-election polls had it right this time, actually underestimating the severity of the beat-down the BC Conservative Party gave to the New Democratic Party, taking 64 of the Legislature’s 93 seats. The most generous polls had predicted a Conservative majority in the high 50s.

But Courtenay-Comox bucked the trend and elected NDP Will Cole-Hamilton in his provincial debut. The race was tight again in this evenly split swing riding, although Cole-Hamilton’s margin of victory (696) votes was more than 7 times the margin for Conservative Brennan Day to squeak into office in 2024.

“I have appreciated the opportunity to talk with people at the doorstep over these last few weeks – learning about the issues that matter to you,” Cole-Hamilton said in a social media post. “As I take on this new role, I want you to know that I will continue those conversations. I commit to being out on the doorstep, talking with community members, each and every month from now on.”

It was a somewhat surprising outcome considering the Conservative wave sweeping most of the province.

The difference this time was not vote-splitting on the right side of the political spectrum. The candidate for CenterBC, formed by former Conservative party members on a more centrist platform, managed to grab only 740 votes. That’s just slightly more than the 678 votes cast for two right-of-center, independent candidates in 2024

The biggest difference in this election was two-fold. First, Green Party support dropped by a whopping 4,320 votes from 7,202 in the last election. Second, incumbent Day lost 787 votes from his 2024 total.

There may also have been voter fatigue with the provincial vote overlapping the Oct. 17 local government election. This riding’s turnout dropped about 10 percentage points from 2024, or 5,033 fewer votes cast.

The provincial voter turnout also dropped by the same percentage, from 58.5 percent in 2024 to 48 percent this year.

Incumbent MLA and Cabinet Minister Josie Osborne held her seat in the Mid-Island Pacific riding by a  comfortable 1,615 votes. Osborne received 11,916 votes to the Conservative candidate’s 10,301 and 3,202 for the Green Party.

Some local commentators have suggested the lower turnout means that the Conservatives will govern for the next four years having been elected by just 24 percent of eligible voters. But another way to look at the Conservative victory is that 69 percent of ridings preferred a Conservative representative in Victoria.

And it’s only the number of seats in the BC Legislature that matters.

This election ends nine years of NDP governing and brings to power a party that just over a month ago had dwindled to 29 seats, was in disarray and controlled by a hard-right faction professing the code words “faith, family and freedom.”

Conservative Party leader Lorne Doerkson has promised to repeal the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act (DRIPA), triple natural gas production, eliminate ICBC’s no-fault insurance system and to push even harder on municipalities to build more housing units.

Doerkson also promised to remove restrictions on old growth timber logging. He frequently criticized the NDP government’s old growth protection strategies.

Voters who thought the NDP policies drifted too far right-of-center, will be pulling their hair out or setting it on fire until 2030.

British Columbia’s Constitution Act states that provincial elections are scheduled for the third Saturday in October of the fourth calendar year following the previous election. That makes it possible – if the Conservatives go the distance – that the next provincial election could again overlap 2030 local government voting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURTENAY-COMOX RIDING BY THE NUMBERS

29,722

Total valid votes cast in 2026

34,755

Total valid votes cast in 2024

4,320

Number of fewer votes for the Green Party in 2026 than in 2024

696

Margin of victory for Will-Cole-Hamilton

787

Number of fewer votes for Conservative Brennan Day in 2026 than in 2024

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Photo Caption orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Donec odio. Quisque volutpat mattis eros. And all that Jazz                WHAT IS THE ECOLOGICAL ACCOUNTING PROCESS...

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

by | Oct 23, 2026

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

By

As an overwhelming majority of Albertans gave a huge sign of relief this week after thoroughly rejecting Conservative Premier Danielle Smith’s ginned up referendum to have a referendum, British Columbians appear poised to elect our own BC Conservative Party.

NDP premier David Eby thought he could take advantage of the BC Conservative Party’s in-fighting between moderates and the hard-right wing, the Freedom Convoy loving extremists. He was wrong.

According to the latest Leger poll, Conservatives will go into Election Day – tomorrow – with more support than they had at the onset of the campaign. The polling firm predicts Conservatives will win 44 percent of the vote, compared to 39 percent for the NDP and 13 percent for the Green Party.

And 338Canada, which does not do polling but aggregates all the polls, is projecting a huge Conservative majority of 57 Legislative seats to the NDP’s 33 and three for the Greens. They say this with more than 80 percent certainty.

The Conservative surge through the campaign probably explains why the party’s leader and many of its candidates have been laying low in the election’s final days. This is no time for them to fumble, so they’re running out the clock.

The latest Angus Reid poll said that 75 percent of Conservative voters were certain of how they would cast their ballots on Saturday. But supporters of the other parties weren’t as committed, only 54 percent of NDP voters had decided and 41 percent of Greens.

That could swing the vote either way in ridings like Courtenay-Comox, which has a history of shifting between conservatives and progressives. In the last provincial election, two years ago, Conservative candidate Brennan Day won by a slim 93 votes, after a 1,320-vote surge in Green Party votes.

And it’s the undecided voters who are most likely to vote strategically. When the race is as close as the Courtenay-Comox riding, casting a ballot for the party you want may contribute to the election of the party you most do not want.

In other words, this election will most likely be decided in Courtenay-Comox, as it was in 2024, by how many of those who support Green Party policies decide to vote for the NDP because the thought of electing this particular version of the BC Conservative Party would be so much worse.

 

WHAT ABOUT ALBERTA?

What should British Columbians make of the Alberta secession movement? A very small number of Albertans who infiltrated the province’s United Conservative Party favored separation, but managed to create a year’s worth of political chaos.

Analysis of the voting shows that almost 25 percent of Albertans appeared to vote in for secession, but that two-thirds of those did not really want to separate from Canada. They were “sending Ottawa a message,” as Premier Smith implored them to do.

In other words, about 8 percent of voters really held the insane idea of forming their own country.

But was it insane? It wasn’t that long ago when British Columbians used to jokingly talk about forming a new country with Washington state, Oregon and California. It was all in fun, a dream about creating a progressive nation unburdened by Washington D.C. or Ottawa. Nobody took it seriously.

And yet, that’s how movements get started. In Alberta, it was the Freedom Convoy anti-vaccine crowd that got things rolling toward this week’s separation vote. It thrived in an environment of Trump’s tariffs and 51st state chatter, Premier Smith’s visits to Mar-a-lago and the long-standing complaint that Alberta sends more money to Ottawa than it receives back in equalization payments.

It’s ironic, because, according to U.S. data, 19 states send more tax money to Washington D.C. than they get back in any way. Progressive California leads the way, but Trump-loving states like Tennessee and Arkansas also run an Alberta-like deficit.

You don’t hear talk of those states wanting to split up America.

But could these same seeds be sown in British Columbia? The BC Conservative Party ousted leader John Rustad and elected Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who self-destructed in just 113 days of racist comments, misused public funds, hiring private investigators to spy on its own members, Draconian management and firings and more.

The party split into a CentreBC for moderates and OneBC for the extremists. The remaining BC Conservatives represent the middle ground, with tendencies toward both. It’s a dangerous mix that could evolve into who knows what for BC.

 

VIRTUAL MEDICAL CARE

Do you or someone you know suffer from Long Covid, Fibromyalgia or some other chronic disease? For those who do and live in non-metro communities like the Comox Valley, access to virtual group medicine has been a blessing.

The BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia provides these services, but is facing a provincial government cutback in funding. Starting Nov. 1, group sizes for specialist virtual medical visits will go from 50 patients per hour down to a payable maximum of 30, a 40 percent cut.

A Comox Valley patient of the BC-CLMF clinic, who contacted Decafnation, said they “want to cry thinking about possibly being bed-bound for seven weeks again (or worse).”

They said there are no other BC specialists who treat their condition on an on-going basis.

“The virtual care model lets me access healthcare from home. My health’s improving due to the BC-CLMC expertise, and gives me hope I might get into remission someday,” they said.

In a press release from LifelineBC, a patient-led advocacy group, co-founder Amanda Kanuka asked the government to at least delay funding cuts to Jan. 1 to allow clinics time to restructure their programming.

“At best, they (the government) will listen to clinicians about how these changes will directly impact patient care and … support the continued delivery of world-class cost-effective virtual medicine province-wide,” Kanuka said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BC ELECTION 2026
WHERE TO VOTE
TOMORROW

 

COURTENAY-COMOX

On Saturday, Oct. 24 — Airport Elem School — Arden Elem School — Brooklyn Elem School — Comox Comm Centre — Courtenay Elem School — Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club — Mark R. Isfeld Sec School — N.I.D.E.S – Tsolum School — Queneesh Elem School — The Salvation Army Community Church — United Mennonite Church Black Creek — École Robb Road, Comox

 

MID-ISLAND PACIFIC

Cumberland Rec Centre — Denman Island Seniors Hall — Hornby Island Athletic Hall — Royston Elem School

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Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

by | Oct 21, 2026

Graphics by Leif Jason

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

By

The Comox Valley has made it through another local government election cycle relatively unscathed. The social media trolls have vanished. The knives have been safely put away. And the winners have started preparing to take on the serious work of running our municipalities.

The final voting numbers indicate some positive signs that our communities will continue to evolve with grace and charm.

For example, more people turned out to vote this time. Comox and Courtenay saw significant voter increases and even Cumberland, which always leads the Valley in voter turnout, saw a slight increase.

More women ran for office this term, and more were elected than in previous years. This was driven in large part by the Town of Comox, where four women ran and were elected as councillors and the female mayor was acclaimed.

It’s a statistical anomaly, at least in the Comox Valley, to have four women and two men on council and a woman in the mayor’s office.

Overall, it looks like the number of women engaging in public office is trending up.

Here are some other thoughts about the 2026 election.

THE DECAFNATION SCORECARD

One way that Decafnation checks itself is to compare our endorsements with the actual election results. The premise is that if voters elected a high percentage of the candidates we recommended, that indicates we’re in sync with the community perspective – or should we say, the perspective of the community that votes, which is the one that counts.

This year, Decafnation scored 100 percent in Cumberland and Comox, and we missed on three out of seven positions in Courtenay – the mayor and two council positions. To be fair, while we recommended returning incumbent mayor Bob Wells to office, we hinted on Sept. 14 that Manno Theos would win – right after Trish McPhail filed and guaranteed a vote split with Wells.

We recommended the winners in Area B and the Board of School Trustees, but we missed in Area C where three previously unknowns competed.

Out of the 20 people elected to councils, Electoral Areas and school trustees, we had recommended 17, or 85 percent.

CHANGE IN COURTENAY

With only two incumbents returning to City Council and a new mayor for the first time in eight years, Courtenay might appear headed for big changes. There were certainly lots of ideas for change thrown out during the campaign.

But large ships like a city government change direction slowly, if at all. Much of council’s work is determined by the province and the work already set in progress by a previous council. Also, while there will be three new faces at the table, the four elected progressive councillors can vote to steady the course.

That’s good for the city and particularly for city staff. Getting used to a new boss is difficult for any group of employees, but in the public service new councils can sometimes make abrupt changes that cause unintended consequences. For example, a municipality might lose talented, valuable people, especially in the managerial positions.

We hope the balance of council and the mayor’s office will work together to avoid any staffing disruptions.

 

COUNCIL ABSENCES

One reader wrote in to say, “In light of your piece on Manno’s Greek sojourns, I started speculating on how much he is going to commit to actually showing up at the office, and looked up the Act.

“Consecutive Absences: Unexcused absence from four consecutive regular council meetings or absence for 60 days (whichever is longer/applicable under provincial/local rules) can lead to disqualification from office.”

But that’s unlikely to happen, right?

 

NOW, ABOUT THAT OTHER ELECTION

We have heard rumblings from our sources in Victoria that, win or lose in this election, Premier David Eby might be on his way out. Some insiders are saying he’s not the leader the NDP needs going forward.

And some other people are whispering in our ear about the potential for really close discussions between the Greens and NDP. Could that lead to something resembling a party merger? Crazy idea, but the NDP used to be the “green” party until they shot themselves in the foot.

Politics in BC is going to change, regardless who wins on Saturday. Old definitions and allegiances don’t work as well today as they did in the ‘70s and beyond. The issues are different, too, and the current party structures don’t appreciate that – maybe the Greens better than anyone.

 

WHEN DICK CLANCY WAS BORN

Newly-elected City Council member Dick Clancy becomes, at age 77, the oldest sitting Comox Valley public official in recent memory. So we thought to look up some notable local milestones and events that happened in 1949:

– Lewis Park Pool Opening: In Courtenay, a new community swimming pool was opened at Lewis Park, establishing a long-standing recreational hub for local families.

– Construction of Shakesides: Hamilton Mack Laing, a highly respected Canadian naturalist, writer, and ornithologist, built his iconic home—known as Shakesides—along the Comox waterfront. Upon his passing, the property and a significant trust were left to the Town of Comox to serve as a natural history museum.

– The Leung’s Building Construction: The prominent Leung’s Building downtown was under construction, as highlighted in the January 20, 1949 edition of the Comox District Free Press.

– Veterans’ Housing Expansion: Following the donation of the 10-acre “Cudmore land” by the City of Courtenay, major construction took off on a quarter-million-dollar housing development consisting of 40 new homes built specifically for returning World War II veterans.

Leif Jason contributed reporting and graphics to this story.

Decafnation welcomes comments on its stories. Please keep them to a maximum of 250 words.

 

 

 

 

 

PROVINCIAL ELECTION VOTING LOCATIONS

COURTENAY-COMOX

Former Leeward Liquor Store — Fri-Wed Oct 16-21 Courtenay-Comox Native Sons Hall — Fri Oct 16 — Sun-Mon Oct 18-19, –Wed Oct 21 Courtenay-Comox United Mennonite Church Black Creek 2 — Mon-Wed Oct 19-21

On Saturday, Oct. 24 — Airport Elem School — Arden Elem School — Brooklyn Elem School — Comox Comm Centre — Courtenay Elem School — Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club — Mark R. Isfeld Sec School — N.I.D.E.S – Tsolum School — Queneesh Elem School — The Salvation Army Community Church — United Mennonite Church Black Creek — École Robb Road, Comox

MID-ISLAND PACIFIC

Cumberland Rec Centre — Denman Island Seniors Hall — Hornby Island Athletic Hall — Royston Elem School

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Photo Caption orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Donec odio. Quisque volutpat mattis eros. And all that Jazz                WHAT IS THE ECOLOGICAL ACCOUNTING PROCESS...

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

by | Oct 20, 2026

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Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

By

Decafnation wholeheartedly recommends voters choose Will Cole-Hamilton to represent the Courtenay-Comox riding in the Provincial Legislature.

Cole-Hamilton, a law school graduate, former small business owner and two-term Courtenay City Council member, is running on the New Democratic Party ticket. He is by far the most qualified candidate.

During his recent City Council term, Cole-Hamilton chaired the B.C. delegation of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and was instrumental in creating the group’s first-ever policy on Department of Defense issues. Municipalities are often under pressure to make costly changes to accommodate DND activities, like expansions that come with a cost to local taxpayers.

Cole-Hamilton’s policy created a National Task Force to help municipalities like Courtenay and Comox get a fair deal with the DND.

That’s going to be important as the Comox Valley prepares for a $3 billion expansion at CFB Comox. His provincial and federal contacts and credentials position him to help local governments and businesses navigate this major change.

And, he has proven his expertise in government finances and his environmentalist sensibilities during his eight years serving the City of Courtenay.

We could go on about his personal qualifications, but there is another important reason to vote for Cole-Hamilton: To ensure this swing riding does not help the dangerous BC Conservative Party from forming the next provincial government.

Conservative Party incumbent MLA Brennan Day won in 2024 by just 93 votes, 13,481 to Ronn-Rae Leonard’s 13,388. The Green Party candidate, Arzeena Hamir, finished a distant third with 7,202 votes.

 

THE CONS ARE DANGEROUS

But this isn’t the same Conservative Party of two years ago. Since then, the Cons have been hijacked by a Maple-MAGA hard-right contingent that no longer represents small-c conservative values.

At the riding’s only all-candidates forum, Cole-Hamilton showed his calm, patient and thoughtful nature. He focused on the future. By comparison, his opponent Brennan Day expressed anger and focused on the past.

Day didn’t talk about what a Conservative BC government would do, because it’s not appealing. If you help to elect Day, here’s the kind of values you’ll be supporting, expressed by his colleagues:

Sheldon Clare said local politicians “need hanging.” Kristina Loewen compared pandemic rules to the Holocaust. Sharon Hartwell said the 2020 election was “stolen” from Trump. Bryan Tepper said the Jan. 6 riot in the U.S. Capitol was a “lie.” David Willians shared a map of Western Canada as a U.S. protectorate.

The list of shocking statements by Day’s Conservative colleagues is long, and they reveal the party’s strong contingent of Trucker Convoy and Maple-MAGA mentality.

This Conservative Party introduced a bill to repeal the BC Human Rights Code. All Conservatives voted for it. It failed because the NDP and Green voted against it, but if the Conservative Party is elected, they will toss out human rights in this province.

The Conservatives have pledged to prohibit public schools from offering sexual health education programs, such as SOGI. They want cops in schools, against the advice of the BC Civil Liberties Association, who believe it impacts marginalized and disabled students and potentially escalates behavioral issues. The party’s leader promises to repeal the provincial DRIPA on day one. 

Since his Conservative Party imploded with dysfunction and allegations of racism, homophobia and residential school denialism, Day has presented a ‘moderate’ image in the Comox Valley. But driving around in an EV car doesn’t change the fact that he has aligned himself with a hard-right movement that mostly still doesn’t believe in climate science or vaccines.

Elect the Conservative Party and you’ll also kiss ICBC goodbye. During his campaign in 2024, Day promoted his party’s plan to eliminate the ICBC monopoly on car insurance by opening the market up to private insurance.

Even if they don’t completely eliminate ICBC, insurance rates will skyrocket because the party plans to kill the current no-fault insurance system. It will be a gift to personal injury lawyers who will once again bilk ICBC with no significant benefit to the majority of vehicle owners.

Since the Horgan NDP government stabilized the Crown Corporation finances and Eby’s administration introduced the no-fault plan, rates have been frozen for seven years. Yet, in 2024, Day called ICBC a failed experiment. 

Even if you’re feeling critical of the NDP, this version of the BC Conservative Party is the worst-case scenario for British Columbians. And a vote for the Green Party in this riding is a vote that helps them get elected.

 

IT’S THE MONEY, HONEY

The Green Party’s logic is baffling. Why do they field candidates in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox where they guarantee a Conservative Party victory? It makes no sense, unless it’s a money grab. The Green Party gets an “annual allowance” distributed by Elections BC, a per-vote subsidy. The amount is calculated on the percentage of valid votes their endorsed candidates win in the election and was pegged at $1.89 per vote in 2026. The more candidates, the more votes, the bigger the party’s annual allowance.

Still, why not just run candidates in ridings where the Conservative are less strong. In some ridings, voting Green might be the correct strategic vote. But not here.

Marking your ballot for the Green Party candidate in Courtenay-Comox is a wasted vote. It achieves nothing – the Greens have no hope of winning this riding. And it hurts the greenest candidate running – Will Cole-Hamilton.

In fact, a vote for the Green Party in Courtenay-Comox riding only benefits the BC Conservative Party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROVINCIAL VOTING LOCATIONS

COURTENAY-COMOX

Advance voting — Former Leeward Liquor Store — Fri-Wed Oct 16-21 Courtenay-Comox Native Sons Hall — Fri Oct 16 — Sun-Mon Oct 18-19, –Wed Oct 21 Courtenay-Comox United Mennonite Church Black Creek 2 — Mon-Wed Oct 19-21

On Saturday, Oct. 24 — Airport Elem School — Arden Elem School — Brooklyn Elem School — Comox Comm Centre — Courtenay Elem School — Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club — Mark R. Isfeld Sec School — N.I.D.E.S – Tsolum School — Queneesh Elem School — The Salvation Army Community Church — United Mennonite Church Black Creek — École Robb Road, Comox

MID-ISLAND PACIFIC

 On Saturday, Oct. 24 — Cumberland Rec Centre — Denman Island Seniors Hall — Hornby Island Athletic Hall — Royston Elem School

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Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

by | Oct 17, 2026

The newly elected Comox Town Council, with Mayor Nicole Minions, far right. From left, Wegg, Ladell, Kerr, Bourgeois, Chislett and Meilleur

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

By

Progressive vote-splitting took its toll again in the Comox Valley. This time for the mayor’s chair in the City of Courtenay. Although the majority of voters did not want Manno Theos at the helm, he nevertheless won the race with 3,870 votes and 44.5 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Bob Wells finished second with 2,595 votes or 29.8 percent. Trish McPhail finished last with 2,185 votes or 25.1 percent. Together, they had 4,780 votes, which is 910 more votes than Theos.

There were 8,650 votes cast for the mayor’s race and 8,698 overall or 38.5 percent of eligible voters. That’s a 12.6 percent increase over 2022’s 25.9 percent.

Theos takes the mayor’s seat after losing a council bid in 2022, after serving 20 years in that capacity. The mayor’s race looked like a match between incumbent Wells and former council member Theos until first-time candidate Trish McPhail threw her hat into the ring on the final filing day, making it a three-way contest.

While the six-member council will retain a progressive majority with Incumbents Wendy Morin and Evan Jolicoeur and newcomers Kelly Matthews and Thomas McDevitt, there will be some other voices around the table this term.

Ex-Vancouver police Dick Clancy received the fourth highest vote total with 2,941 votes or 33.8 percent. And Rosanna Chamberlin claimed the last seat with 2,685 votes or 30.9 percent.

Incumbent David Frisch finished near the bottom of the 19 council candidates with just 17.9 percent of the vote.  

“With three incumbents not running, we knew Courtenay Council was going to look very different after election night,” poll-topper Morin told Decafnation. “It’s clear from the numbers that progressive values still dominant Courtenay. The majority of voters endorsed the direction of the outgoing council.

“But the balance is there for those with opposing views. It will be an interesting 4 years.”

 

COMOX

In Comox, it appears that four newcomers filing at the last minute caught the Old Block majority off guard. Expecting little competition and maybe several acclamations, the Old Block wasn’t prepared for the well-organized machine that boosted Dr. Jonathan Kerr and Jenn Meilleur into office in 2022.

And it resulted in a clean sweep this time.

“This is a historic night for Comox and it is a victory for all Comox residents who have said that they want a Comox Council that listens to them,” Kerr told Decafnation last night. Kerr topped the polls again with 81.3 percent of the vote.

Former Green Party federal candidate Jessica Wegg came next with 69 percent, followed by Jenn Meilleur, Lisa Bourgeois, Neil Ladell and Vivian Chislett.

Incumbent Chris Haslett was the top vote-getter from the Old Block, but he wasn’t close to making the cut. He trailed Chislett by 777 votes. Chislett had 51.8 percent to Haslett’s 34.8 percent. Ken Grant had 32.9 percent, Steve Blacklock had 31.1 percent and Maureen Swift finished last of the Old Block at 30.4 percent.

The total votes cast went up by 703 votes over 2022 and the turnout jumped from 29.2 percent to 36.4 percent this year.

“I am so excited for the Town of Comox and where the next four years will take us,” Wegg told Decafnation. “We can make Comox a fun place for people of all ages.”

It’s clear that Comox residents did not like the process for updating the town’s Official Community Plan and felt their feedback at two overflowing public hearings wasn’t taken seriously. The prospect of six-storey buildings lining Comox Avenue may not have appealed to residents.

Voters were also motivated by several proposed large developments that triggered the formation of neighborhood associations.

“Congrats to all of the Comox residents in their neighbourhoods who knocked on doors, shared information about the election,” Vivian Chislett told Decafnation. “It was democracy in action.”

Ladell agreed. “I really want to thank the community for putting their trust in me. It is the community’s voice that matters, and I am committed to that over the next four years,” he told Decafnation.   

“I’m genuinely grateful for the trust and support residents have shown us,” Bourgeois told Decafnation. “One of the best parts of this campaign has been meeting so many people, listening to their concerns and hearing their hopes for Comox. I’m excited about the opportunity to work alongside my fellow councillors, bring fresh perspectives to the table and continue those conversations. There’s a lot of work ahead, but tonight I’m feeling incredibly grateful and optimistic about what’s possible when we work together.”

This morning, Jenn Meilleur added her thoughts. “I’m feeling an enormous sense of gratitude and hope! Throughout this campaign, we met so many people who care deeply about Comox, have wonderful ideas for its future and truly want to be part of building what comes next. I think these results reflect a real appetite for a different kind of local governance that’s more collaborative, open to community participation, and willing to think creatively about our future.”

 

CUMBERLAND

Incumbents Nick Ward, Troy Therrien and Sean Sullivan were elected along with newcomer Ellian Bell. Incumbent Neil Borecky lost his seat, finishing with 618 votes.

Ward topped the polls with 1,049, followed by Troy Therrien with 936 and Ellian Bell with 848. Sullivan made the cut with 742 by 75 votes over fifth place Kevin Snaden. Ward won his seat in a by-election when former councillor Jesse Ketler stepped down.

Mayor Vickey Brown was unopposed and won by acclamation.

“Many thanks to all of the candidates for putting their name forward. Its so nice to have experienced councillors and another woman,” Mayor Brown told Decafnation. “Thank you Cumberland.”

Of the 3,480 eligible voters in the village, 1,492 cast a ballot, or 42.9 percent. That’s up one full percentage point over the 2022 election.

“Cumberland is a very intelligent community. They showed up and voted in a diverse and very capable and succinct council,” Sullivan told Decafnation. “The future is bright, as it always is in Cumberland.”  

 

ELECTORAL AREA B

After losing by 23 votes in 2022, Arzeena Hamir came back this year to challenge incumbent Richard Hardy and beat him handily 1,156 to 694 votes. Or, 62.5 percent of the vote to Hardy’s 37.5 percent.

“It’s great to be back,” Hamir told Decafnation last night. “I’m so looking forward to ensuring Area B has a strong voice both at the RD table and in working with Comox.”  

 

ELECTORAL AREA C

The race for Electoral Area C was thrown wide-open when 18-year veteran Edwin Grieve decided to retire. That left Ariel Becherer, Gillian Anderson and Normal McPhail to win over Merville and Black Creek voters.

McPhail, a retired RCMP superintendent, won the seat by 86 votes, 1,020 to 934 for second-place finished Ariel Becherer. McPhail had 45.9 percent of the vote, compared to Becherer’s 42 percent. Gillian Anderson finished with 270 votes.  

 

SCHOOL TRUSTEE

The only race for the School District 71 Board of Trustees this year occurred in Courtenay, where incumbent Shannon Aldinger, Kendall Packham and Maria Sanchez sought the two seats. Sanchez ran on the anti-vaxx, anti-SOGI platform.

Aldinger topped the polls at 4,940 and Packham finished well ahead of the challenger with 3,311. Sanchez missed the cut by 902 votes.      

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

PROVINCIAL ADVANCE VOTING LOCATIONS ON OCT. 24

COURTENAY-COMOX

Former Leeward Liquor Store — Fri-Wed Oct 16-21 Courtenay-Comox Native Sons Hall — Fri Oct 16 — Sun-Mon Oct 18-19, –Wed Oct 21 Courtenay-Comox United Mennonite Church Black Creek 2 — Mon-Wed Oct 19-21  

MI-ISLAND PACIFIC RIM

Cumberland Cultural Centre — Mon-Tue Oct 19-20

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More

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Photo Caption orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Donec odio. Quisque volutpat mattis eros. And all that Jazz                WHAT IS THE ECOLOGICAL ACCOUNTING PROCESS...

Will Cole-Hamilton bucks the trend, flips Courtenay Comox riding to NDP

More than four thousand fewer Green Party voters showed up this year and incumbent Conservative MLA Brennan Day lost 787 votes as the NDP won in Courtenay-Comox by about a three percent margin. The ‘blue wave’ was strong across the province, however, taking 64 of the 93 seats in the BC Legislature

THE WEEK: NDP trails BC Conservatives in polls, undecideds will determine outcome

This week: Province-wide polling indicates the NDP have fallen behind BC Conservatives heading into Election Day and that undecided NDP and Green Party voters will decide the outcome in swing ridings like Courtenay-Comox. Also, what should British Columbians think about the Alberta secession referendum? And if you suffer from Long Covid or other chronic diseases, funding cuts to virtual care may affect you

Voting stats show some positive trends in the local government elections

The Comox Valley’s 2026 local government election results show more women sought public office and were elected this year, especially in the Town of Comox. Plus overall voter turnout increased over the last municipal election in 2022. And, we look back to 1949, the year one new council member was born.

Decafnation recommends Will Cole-Hamilton for Courtenay-Comox riding

Will Cole-Hamilton is not just the “greenist” candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding, he also the best candidate. Decafnation recommends that you vote for him. His Conservative Party opponent’s colleagues are fostering a hard-right Maple-MAGA movement. And, please, don’t vote Green again, you’re just helping the Conservatives.

It’s a clean sweep in Comox! In Courtenay, Manno’s your new mayor after vote split

Comox voters wanted change, and they got it, electing four new council members and returning two incumbents, who had opposed the recent Official Community Plan update, which had triggered a grassroots movement for change. In Courtenay, voters got change whether they wanted it or not as Manno Theos won the mayor’s chair in a vote split between his opponents.

It’s U-Pick’em time tomorrow, choose carefully from this wild and crazy crop of candidates

The Post War and Boomer Babies forgot to do a bunch of stuff, or just left it undone because they were too scared to raise taxes. So, when the millennials came along in 2018 they started cleaning up the mess. Now the city may fall into the hands of a wild and crazy bunch of newcomers. So let’s talk taxes, debt, pools, water meters and, once again, the Puntledge Triangle.

How to decide who to vote for in a municipal election…

Town of Comox voters will choose between two opposing visions for the future when they cast their ballots on Saturday. One that values sustaining the town’s character through community-driven planning, where everyone feels heard and respected. The other values developer-driven planning with little regard for individual homeowners and neighborhoods.