Congratulations to everyone who put their name forward to serve their community. Whether contesting a seat or acclaimed to one, every person willing to take on that responsibility deserves our thanks, regardless of the outcome on October 17th.
District of Sechelt
Three candidates for mayor. 19 for council, an unprecedented number for Sechelt.
Town of Gibsons
Two candidates for mayor. 10 for council.
Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD)
Three directors acclaimed in Egmont/Pender Harbour (Area A), Elphinstone (Area E), and West Howe Sound (Area F). Contested races in Halfmoon Bay (Area B) and Roberts Creek (Area D).
Why Vote?
Local governments control land use planning, development permits, official community plans, and infrastructure like water systems and stormwater management. These decisions determine where growth happens, how close it gets to sensitive habitat, and how well our water systems hold up as the climate changes.
Forestry and watershed management fall outside that jurisdiction. But local governments can team up and advocate for them. Councils and boards that push for watershed protection gain real influence over land-use decisions beyond their formal control. Advocacy is one of the most powerful tools local elected officials have on environmental issues they can’t directly govern.
Sue Big Oil is another example: Gibsons and Sechelt have both passed motions to join the campaign holding fossil fuel companies accountable for climate costs. The SCRD has considered it more than once but has not yet joined. Who sits on these councils and boards decides whether that advocacy happens at all, and how far it goes.
Where to Find More Information
- Elections BC: official candidate information and voting details
- scrd.ca, gibsons.ca, sechelt.ca: local candidate specifics
- Coast Reporter: candidate profiles and video interviews
SCCA Environmental All-Candidates Meetings
Since 2011, SCCA has hosted all-candidates meetings focused on the environmental issues facing the Sunshine Coast. Hear directly from the people who will decide how our local governments engage on these issues. With so many candidates running in Sechelt and Gibsons this year, we’ve extended each meeting to two full hours.
Save the Dates
SCRD
Sunday, October 4, 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Town of Gibsons
Monday, October 5, 2026
Doors 5:30 p.m., meeting 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109, 747 Gibsons Way
District of Sechelt
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Doors 5:30 p.m., meeting 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre, 5604 Trail Avenue
Stay tuned to thescca.ca for our environmental candidates Q&A, going out soon.
Climate change and biodiversity loss don’t pause for election cycles. Every vote cast is a chance to shape how much of a voice our region has on the environmental issues that matter most. Election Day is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Get informed, then vote.