B.C.’s municipal elections saw the incumbents ousted in the province’s two largest cities.
In Vancouver, Pete Fry defeated Ken Sim in the mayor’s race. Fry, who is with the Green Party, appears poised to preside over a council where no one party has a majority.
At 82 years old, Doug McCallum won the contest for the city’s top job in Surrey, beating out Brenda Locke. The contest between the two candidates was a rematch of the 2022 race, with opposite results.
Here’s what happened Saturday.
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Sim concedes defeat
Ken Sim has conceded that he will not serve a second term as Vancouver’s mayor.
Addressing a room full of supporters, Sim’s remarks generally had a restrained, grateful tone.
“Obviously, tonight voters wanted to go in a different direction, not just in the mayor's office, but with council, park board and school board as well. I think it's, you know, it's important that we acknowledge that,” he said.
“Being elected to the office of mayor, it's been the highlight of my life. When I'm on my deathbed, I'll look back at this time, and it's probably the most meaningful thing I've been involved with.”
Addressing a room full of supporters, Sim’s remarks generally had a restrained, grateful tone.
“Obviously, tonight voters wanted to go in a different direction, not just in the mayor's office, but with council, park board and school board as well. I think it's, you know, it's important that we acknowledge that,” he said.
“Being elected to the office of mayor, it's been the highlight of my life. When I'm on my deathbed, I'll look back at this time, and it's probably the most meaningful thing I've been involved with.”
Fry wins mayoral race
CTV News projects Pete Fry has been elected Vancouver mayor, toppling incumbent Ken Sim after a single term.
“We’re not going to let you down,” Fry told a crowd of cheering supporters.
“We’re not going to let you down,” Fry told a crowd of cheering supporters.
“You know, we love this city a lot, and we’re here to work for the city, to fight for the city.”
The Green Party of Vancouver mayoral challenger—the son of longtime local Liberal MP Hedy Fry—has served on council since 2018, and was one of Sim’s most vocal critics over the last four years.
So far, the makeup of the council Fry will lead remains unclear.
Read more here.
Read more here.
‘I love Surrey’: McCallum
A jubilant crowd of supporters greeted mayor-elect Doug McCallum in Surrey after the 82-year-old defeated incumbent Brenda Locke.
“We will address your affordability, we will address your safety, and we will address your infrastructure,” the 82-year-old McCallum said.
CTV News projects that McCallum will have a majority on council giving his Safe Surrey Coalition a strong mandate.
“I Iove Surrey. That's why I ran. I love Surrey, but I even love the people of Surrey more,” McCallum continued as supporters cheered and chanted.
“We will address your affordability, we will address your safety, and we will address your infrastructure,” the 82-year-old McCallum said.
CTV News projects that McCallum will have a majority on council giving his Safe Surrey Coalition a strong mandate.
“I Iove Surrey. That's why I ran. I love Surrey, but I even love the people of Surrey more,” McCallum continued as supporters cheered and chanted.
McCallum defeats Locke in Surrey
Surrey residents have elected Doug McCallum to serve as their mayor again.
After losing to Brenda Locke by less than 1,000 votes in 2022, McCallum has defeated Locke in this year’s election to return to the office he held from 2018 through 2022 and for nine years in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Locke appears to concede
Surrey mayoral incumbent Brenda Locke just gave a subdued address, thanking supporters and appearing to concede.
"Four years ago, the people of Surrey gave me an honor of serving as mayor. It has been the privilege of a lifetime," Locke said.
"To every resident who put their faith in me, I am so deeply grateful. Thank you all. I will always love this city and remain committed to its success."
"Four years ago, the people of Surrey gave me an honor of serving as mayor. It has been the privilege of a lifetime," Locke said.
"To every resident who put their faith in me, I am so deeply grateful. Thank you all. I will always love this city and remain committed to its success."
She did not congratulate challenger Doug McCallum, who currently has a commanding lead—though the race has not been called.
Mack wins Langley City mayoral race
City councillor Delaney Mack has won her bid to unseat incumbent mayor Nathan Pachal.
Pachal will leave the mayor's office after a single term, having been elected in the last municipal contest in 2022.
Langley City voters were also asked to weigh in on a non-binding "community opinion vote" regarding community centre and pool expansion plans.
Mood subdued at ABC headquarters
CTV News’ Penny Daflos is at ABC’s headquarters in Vancouver tonight, as early polls show incumbent mayor Ken Sim and most of his council candidates trailing the opposition.
Peter Meiszner, a council candidate, said this election feels very different than four years ago when ABC was a brand new party that swept to power due to an “overwhelming appetite for change.”
Despite the early results, Meiszner said he hasn’t given up hope.
“I'm still optimistic, and I feel like, you know, we did our best on the campaign. We worked incredibly hard. We connected with an unprecedented number of Vancouverites,” he said.
Peter Meiszner, a council candidate, said this election feels very different than four years ago when ABC was a brand new party that swept to power due to an “overwhelming appetite for change.”
Despite the early results, Meiszner said he hasn’t given up hope.
“I'm still optimistic, and I feel like, you know, we did our best on the campaign. We worked incredibly hard. We connected with an unprecedented number of Vancouverites,” he said.
Delta elects Melissa Granum as the city’s new mayor
Melissa Granum has been elected Mayor of Delta, defeating George Harvie and Dylan Kruger.
Harvie was running for a third consecutive term as mayor, and Kruger previously sat as councillor under Harvie’s Achieving for Delta banner.
Granum ran with Delta First, and her platform focused on restoring trust in city council.
The mayor-elect has never sat on council or run for mayor in Delta and comes from a public safety background.
Lundgren elected mayor of Langley Township
Political newcomer Jay Lundgren has knocked off incumbent Langley Township mayor Eric Woodward in a race that focused heavily on taxes and municipal spending.
Lundgren criticized Woodward for the township's borrowing of funds during his term and called for a forensic audit of the municipal budget.
Woodward defended the borrowing, which funded projects like the ice arena expansion at Langley Events Centre, a new fire hall in Brookswood and improved roads. He told CTV News the township's rapid growth would generate revenue to pay down debts.
First elected in 2022, Woodward served a single term in the mayor's office.
Township of Langley City Hall. CTV News
Sturko stumping for Locke
Voting day in the provincial election isn't until next weekend, but one party leader was making her presence known in Surrey Saturday evening.
CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko joined CTV News Vancouver's Michele Brunoro at incumbent Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke's event in the city Saturday night.
"She's just been a fantastic mayor, in my view," said Sturko, who's running to return to the legislature in Surrey South.
Sturko said Locke has invested in infrastructure in her riding, and argued the incumbent would be a strong advocate for Surrey if she's re-elected.
"Overall, the way that Brenda has advocated for this community, going to Ottawa … I think it was awesome, but I don't think the province has stepped up the way that it should," Sturko said.
CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko speaks to CTV News Vancouver's Michele Brunoro on municipal election night. CTV News
Coquitlam chooses Craig Hodge as mayor
Coquitlam voters have chosen Craig Hodge as their next mayor.
He takes the helm from Richard Stewart, who served as Coquitlam mayor for nearly two decades and did not seek re-election.
Hodge is a 15-year city councillor, and his platform focused on increasing public safety and protecting parks while keeping taxes low.
Little wins third term in North Vancouver district
Mike Little has been re-elected as mayor in the District of North Vancouver.
Little served three terms on council before being elected as mayor for the first time in 2018. This time around, he beat out four other candidates, none of whom had held public office before.
Little served three terms on council before being elected as mayor for the first time in 2018. This time around, he beat out four other candidates, none of whom had held public office before.
West Vancouver elects Kirk LaPointe as mayor
Kirk LaPointe has been elected mayor of West Vancouver.
LaPointe defeated incumbent mayor Mark Sager, who served for two non-consecutive terms.
LaPointe, a former journalist and a fierce critic of Sager’s, has never held public office before. In 2014, he ran for mayor of Vancouver—coming in second behind Gregor Robertson.
LaPointe’s platform focused on ensuring the city manages public money with more transparency and giving locals more of a voice.
The new mayor previously held the position of senior vice president of news for CTV News.
The new mayor previously held the position of senior vice president of news for CTV News.
Brad West re-elected as Port Coquitlam mayor
Port Coquitlam residents have voted to give Brad West a third term as mayor.
He was first elected in 2018 after serving as a city councillor for three terms.
West ran uncontested in 2022 and won by acclamation. This time around, he had two challengers in Connor Fesenmaier and Pasquale Zampieri, neither of whom have been in municipal government before.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)
Focus on public safety
Concerns about crime and street disorder were once again front and centre as candidates campaigned in B.C. cities.
Pollster Mario Canseco, speaking on CTV News’ live election special, said affordability and housing have historically been the main concerns for voters—but that politicians of all stripes can capitalize on promising to improve public safety.
“It is becoming more of an issue everywhere,” Canseco said, adding that incumbents can benefit from touting their progress while those hoping to unseat them can appeal to constituents seeking change.
In Vancouver, Ken Sim and ABC literally put public safety on the ballot—adding two plebiscite questions.
“I don’t agree with the premise of having the plebiscite,” former Vancouver Park Board chair Aaron Jasper told the CTV News election panel.
“But it's a fantastic organizing tool. If people are concerned about the issue, they're going to come out for that.”
Pollster Mario Canseco, speaking on CTV News’ live election special, said affordability and housing have historically been the main concerns for voters—but that politicians of all stripes can capitalize on promising to improve public safety.
“It is becoming more of an issue everywhere,” Canseco said, adding that incumbents can benefit from touting their progress while those hoping to unseat them can appeal to constituents seeking change.
In Vancouver, Ken Sim and ABC literally put public safety on the ballot—adding two plebiscite questions.
“I don’t agree with the premise of having the plebiscite,” former Vancouver Park Board chair Aaron Jasper told the CTV News election panel.
“But it's a fantastic organizing tool. If people are concerned about the issue, they're going to come out for that.”
'I couldn't be more proud': Sim
Incumbent Vancouver mayor Ken Sim spoke to CTV News Vancouver's Penny Daflos from his ABC Vancouver watch party Saturday night.
Sim praised his party's candidates for council, park board and school board.
"Everyone's gelling and coming together," Sim said. "I couldn't be more proud of the team."
He said he's heard from voters about "two big challenges" facing the city: public safety and affordability, and said he believes his party has the right plans to continue improving them.
He also noted that the mayor's office has limited power without a dedicated team on city council and the other elected boards.
"While the mayor, the position of mayor, gets all the attention, it only represents one vote in that chamber," Sim said. "If you don't have, you know, the votes with you, it makes it impossible to get things done. And then when you look at school board and park board, there are so many things that overlap."
Ken Sim speaks to CTV News Vancouver's Penny Daflos on election night. CTV News
38 mayors win by acclamation
While results are still pending across most of the province, some municipalities have known for weeks who their next mayors will be.
The following candidates ran unopposed and were acclaimed as the winners.
- Anmore mayor: Doug Richardson
- Belcarra mayor: Jamie Ross
- Chetwynd mayor: Allen Courtoreille
- Clinton mayor: Roland Stanke
- Comox mayor: Nicole Minions
- Cumberland mayor: Vickey Brown
- Duncan mayor: Mike McKinlay
- Fraser Lake mayor: Sarrah Storey
- Hazelton mayor: Julie Maitland
- Hope mayor: Victor Smith
- Invermere mayor: Al Miller
- Kent mayor: Susan Spaeti
- Lillooet mayor: Laurie Hopfl
- Logan Lake mayor: Robin Smith
- Masset mayor: Barry Pages
- Mission mayor: Jag Gill
- Montrose mayor: Mike Walsh
- Nakusp mayor: Tom Zeleznik
- New Denver mayor: Leonard Casley
- New Hazelton mayor: Gail Lowry
- Port Hardy mayor: Pat Corbett-Labatt
- Port McNeill mayor: James Furney
- Prince Rupert: Herb Pond
- Salmo mayor: Payton McKellar
- Sidney mayor: Peter Wainwright
- Silverton mayor: Tanya Gordon
- Telkwa mayor: Derek Meerdink
- Tumbler Ridge mayor: Darryl Krakowka
- Valemount mayor: Owen Torgerson
- Vanderhoof mayor: Kevin Moutray
- Warfield mayor: Frank Marino
- Zeballos mayor: Bob Berthelotte
- Bowen Island mayor: Andrew Leonard
- Lantzville mayor: Mark Swain
- West Kelowna mayor: Stephen Johnston
- Barriere mayor: Rob Kerslake
- Northern Rockies mayor: Rob Fraser
- Sun Peaks mayor: Jason White
Locke concerned about voter confusion
Brenda Locke, who is running for re-election as mayor of Surrey, has said she is worried voters will be confused by overlapping municipal and provincial elections.
“I’m concerned,” she said, ahead of the election.
CTV News’ Michele Brunoro, reporting from Surrey today, said some voters she spoke to at the polls had turned up at the wrong places with the wrong voting cards.
Locke’s main competition in the mayoral race, polling suggests, is long-time rival Doug McCallum.
‘High fives and honks’
Vancouver mayoral candidate Pete Fry said he’s been overwhelmed by the positive response he’s encountered on the campaign trail.
“It's been really positive engagement, non-stop high fives and honks and people jumping out to take selfies with me today. It's been a bit overwhelming,” Fry told CTV News as the polls closed.
“I think we’ve run an incredibly positive campaign. Lots of joy and happiness along the way. So, I’m feeling pretty good about our city and the people in it.”
Ahead of the vote, polls suggested Fry was incumbent mayor Ken Sim’s biggest competition for the city’s top job.
Polls close
The polls have closed in British Columbia, where voters have cast their ballots to elect their next municipal governments.
Cities including Vancouver, Richmond, and Burnaby reported increased or record turnout at advance polls ahead of election day.
CTV News anchors Mi-Jung Lee and Nafeesa Karim are hosting a live special with results and analysis that will be streaming on on CTVNewsVancouver.ca, Crave, YouTube, TikTok and X.
Reporters will be also providing updates from campaign headquarters across Metro Vancouver through the evening.
Cities including Vancouver, Richmond, and Burnaby reported increased or record turnout at advance polls ahead of election day.
CTV News anchors Mi-Jung Lee and Nafeesa Karim are hosting a live special with results and analysis that will be streaming on on CTVNewsVancouver.ca, Crave, YouTube, TikTok and X.
Reporters will be also providing updates from campaign headquarters across Metro Vancouver through the evening.
Trio of new mayors confirmed
Harshan Ramadass has been elected as the new mayor of Fernie, succeeding Nic Milligan and edging out Kyle Hamilton in a two-candidate race.
Hadden J Kelloway defeated incumbent Amy Cardozo in the race for mayor of Sparwood.
In Golden, residents have elected Kristi Cooper as the town’s new mayor. She defeated Wes Routley in another two-candidate race.
All candidates had just completed terms sitting on their respective councils.
Fernie, Sparwood and Golden are in the Mountain Time Zone, closing their polls an hour earlier than the majority of B.C.'s municipalities.
Hadden J Kelloway defeated incumbent Amy Cardozo in the race for mayor of Sparwood.
In Golden, residents have elected Kristi Cooper as the town’s new mayor. She defeated Wes Routley in another two-candidate race.
All candidates had just completed terms sitting on their respective councils.
Fernie, Sparwood and Golden are in the Mountain Time Zone, closing their polls an hour earlier than the majority of B.C.'s municipalities.
Tough to stand out with multiple elections ongoing
The convergence of municipal and provincial elections has created confusion for some voters, and left candidates struggling to stand out.
Two council candidates in Kelowna found some unique ways to cut through the clutter. CTV News Vancouver's Isabella Zavarise spoke to them last week.
Countdown to live special
Pollster Mario Canseco, who will join a CTV News panel bringing you analysis and results, shared a behind-the-scenes photo while rehearsal was underway.
Anchors Mi-Jung Lee and Nafeesa Karim are hosting special coverage of the municipal elections when polls close.
Canseco will be joined by former Vancouver city councillor George Affleck, former Vancouver Park Board chair Aaron Jasper.
Spotlight on Surrey
In the next four years, Surrey is projected to become the largest city in British Columbia.
Who will lead it through that symbolic milestone will be decided tonight.
Incumbent Mayor Brenda Locke is facing challenges from six other candidates, including former mayor Doug McCallum, who she unseated in 2022.
As was the case back then, policing and public safety are key issues for the candidates, who also include former MLA and Surrey councillor Mike Starchuk, current councillor Linda Annis, 2024 B.C. Conservative provincial candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa, Troy Van-Vliet and Igal Ammons II.
Langley Township mayoral race all about the money
When CTV News Vancouver's Michele Brunoro spoke to the candidates for Langley Township mayor last week, she found the race was all about the money.
Incumbent Eric Woodward is defending his record on tax increases and borrowing to pay for major civic projects like the ice arena expansion at Langley Events Centre, a new fire hall in Brookswood and improved roads.
Challenger Jay Lundgren, a political newcomer, says the municipality is experiencing a "leadership crisis" and has called for a forensic audit and increased transparency on spending.
Public safety a priority in Richmond race
Richmond is another Metro Vancouver city with several names on the mayoral ballot.
Alexa Loo, Rob Howard, Kash Heed and Dickens Cheung are among the seven candidates vying to take the city's top job after long-serving mayor Malcolm Brodie announced he would not run again.
CTV News Vancouver's Kraig Krause spoke to those four candidates last week, and all of them cited public safety as a key concern for the city's voters.
Burnaby mayoral election preview
In 2022, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley won re-election unopposed.
This time around, things are very different. There are six candidates on the ballot, including the incumbent.
Housing, homelessness, public safety and city spending were among the key issues in the campaign.
CTV News Vancouver's Kevin Charach spoke to three of the candidates on Friday.
Here's what Vancouver kids voted for
Municipal election results are still hours away, but the City of Vancouver has already released the results from one group of voters: kids.
Kids Vote returned for the third time this year, asking children in preschool through Grade 3 to cast ballots at Vancouver Public Library branches throughout the adult voting period (Oct. 3 through 17).
A record 1,047 children voted this year, up 121 per cent from the 473 ballots cast back in 2022. The program was launched during the 2018 municipal election.
Here's what kids voted for, according to preliminary results shared by the city at 4 p.m. Saturday:
Where do you like to go for fun in Vancouver?
- Swimming pools: 36 per cent (370)
- Beaches, parks or playgrounds: 32 per cent (327)
- Libraries: 27 per cent (277)
- Community centres: 6 per cent (58)
Which quality would you want a leader to have?
- Kindness: 38 per cent (397)
- Fun: 31 per cent (321)
- Honesty: 18 per cent (191)
- Good ideas: 12 per cent (128)
What do you wish you could spend more time doing?
- Art, reading, music and movies: 35 per cent (358)
- Playing with friends: 28 per cent (288)
- Sports, swimming and exploring outside: 23 per cent (239)
- STEM (science, technology, engineering and math): 14 per cent (149)
What is most important to you in Vancouver?
- Fire fighters, ambulance and police: 40 per cent (409)
- Gardens, parks and nature: 28 per cent (290)
- Libraries, theatres and fun events: 16 per cent (169)
- Parks, pools and community centres: 16 per cent (167)
Final Kids Vote results will be published on the city's website once ballots from all library branches are counted.
A child holds up a "future voter" sticker in this image shared by the city. City of Vancouver
Long line at Vancouver polling station
There’s currently a long line at Collingwood Neighbourhood House in East Vancouver, as captured by CTV News Vancouver reporter St. John Alexander.
The city says St. Paul’s Anglican Church is also busy.
Officials suggested voting at the following locations instead: John Norquay Elementary School, Killarney Community Centre, Gordon Neighbourhood House and Lord Roberts Elementary School.
A line of voters is pictured outside the Collingwood Neighbourhood House on Vancouver election day.
A line of voters is pictured outside the Collingwood Neighbourhood House on Vancouver election day.
Kareem Allam casts vote
Mayoral candidate for the Vancouver Liberals Kareem Allam shared photos of he and his wife casting their ballots.
He said running in this election has been “the honour and privilege of (his) life.”
There are another seven hours remaining for British Columbians to vote.
Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam casts a vote in the municipal election. . @kareemformayor/X
Pete Fry campaigning on Commercial
Mayoral hopeful Pete Fry and Green Party supporters are campaigning on the corner of Commercial Drive and Broadway.
It’s a close race between Fry, currently a city councillor, and incumbent mayor Sim. The mayoral candidates of the other two progressive parties, OneCity and COPE, withdrew to avoid vote splitting on the left.
Ken Sim casts ballot
ABC’s Ken Sim, who is vying for a second term as mayor of Vancouver, shared on social media that he and his wife had cast their ballots.
“Our door knockers, including the team and me, are out across the city right now, talking with neighbours and reminding people to vote, as we have been doing for many months. Thank you to every one of you for the time, energy and heart you’ve given this campaign,” he wrote.
He encouraged anyone who hasn’t voted yet to do so. Polls are open until 8 p.m.
Mayor Ken Sim and his wife Teena vote in the Vancouver municipal election. . @KenSimCity/X
Four-legged mayoral race in Kitimat
Residents of the District of Kitimat will not just be voting for human representatives—they will also choose a dog mayor.
The dog election was conceived to encourage higher voter turnout after only 21.7 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in 2022.
On the ballot are Gus, who hopes to achieve a “better, and fuzzier future” and Koko, who wishes to implement dog days at the local pool.
Kitimat Dog Mayor candidates Gus, left, and Koko, will be on the ballot this October. (kitimat.ca)
Reminder to return mail-in ballots in Victoria
The City of Victoria is reminding voters who have mail-in ballots to return them to any voting place or the drop box at City Hall, after a Canada Post mix-up meant the ballots were delivered late.
Last week, it was discovered 2,300 mail-in ballots were sitting in a Canada Post warehouse for days, and they were not delivered to voters with enough time for them to be mailed back by election day.
City of Vancouver reports busy first hour
The City of Vancouver says polling stations were busy for the first hour of voting, but as of 9 a.m. things had calmed down.
It says most voting places across the city are experiencing lower volume and lines are moving quickly.
A map of places to vote in Vancouver can be found here.
It says most voting places across the city are experiencing lower volume and lines are moving quickly.
A map of places to vote in Vancouver can be found here.
Provincial vote also taking place
Advance voting in the provincial general election is also taking place, continuing until Oct. 21 ahead of final voting day on Oct. 24.
NDP Leader David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years early and in the middle of the planned municipal election period has been denounced by local and opposition politicians.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution at its annual convention last month imploring Eby not to call an election during the local campaign period, but days later he set off the provincial vote.
Read more: B.C. votes for mayors and councillors before general election next week
NDP Leader David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years early and in the middle of the planned municipal election period has been denounced by local and opposition politicians.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution at its annual convention last month imploring Eby not to call an election during the local campaign period, but days later he set off the provincial vote.
Read more: B.C. votes for mayors and councillors before general election next week
Ward systems on offer
Voters in B.C.’s two biggest cities are one again being offered a chance to return to a ward system—the kind used in every other major Canadian city—after Saturday’s election.
Mayoral candidate Doug McCallum’s Safe Surrey party has pledged to split Surrey into eight voting wards if elected.
The Vancouver Liberals have also promised to hold a referendum on whether to restore a ward system in Vancouver.
Read more on the proposals here.
Big advance voting turnout in Vancouver, Surrey
Many people had already cast ballots before Saturday—including more than 103,000 Vancouver voters, who broke multiple advance voting records.
The number of early ballots cast exceeded advance voting in Vancouver’s 2022 election by 60 per cent.
In Surrey, some 52,600 people voted early this year—up from 35,701 in the previous election.
Surrey officials noted there were 10 advance voting locations this year, four more than the six offered in 2022.
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