British Columbians go to the polls on Saturday, October 24. The MLA we send to Victoria from Powell River-Sunshine Coast will vote on the laws that govern our watersheds, forests, and coastline for the next four years. SCCA wants you to know exactly where each candidate stands before you mark your ballot.
Who Is Running
Three candidates are running in Powell River-Sunshine Coast. Each profile below draws on the candidate’s campaign page, with links to local news coverage so you can dig deeper.
John Henderson, Conservative Party of BC
John Henderson is finishing his second term as Mayor of the District of Sechelt. He is a chartered accountant and former chair of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest and the Sechelt Sewage Facilities Commission, and he served on the BC Ferries board from 2004 to 2008. John has lived in Sechelt for 23 years.
Campaign page: conservativebc.ca/candidate/john-henderson
Learn more: Coast Reporter profile | Powell River Peak | My Coast Now
Griffin Leonard Lea, BC Green Party
Griffin Lea is a Canada Post letter carrier, theatre producer, and actor with a background in labour advocacy, arts and culture, and community organizing. Griffin’s political priorities include electoral reform, workers’ rights, non-market housing, public healthcare, public transit, renewable energy, and environmental protection. He was born and raised on Vancouver Island, where he lives.
Campaign page: bcgreens.ca/candidates-2026/griffin-leonard-lea
Learn more: Powell River Peak | Coast Reporter election coverage
Randene Neill, BC NDP
Randene Neill was elected MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast in 2024 and has also served as BC’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. Before politics, she spent nearly two decades as a journalist at Global BC and worked as a communications consultant for the BC Parks Foundation. She has lived in Pender Harbour since 2020.
Campaign page: randeneneill.bcndp.ca
Learn more: Coast Reporter profile | Powell River Peak | My Coast Now
Attend Our Environmental All-Candidates Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., online via Zoom
Join the meeting on Zoom
Randene Neill (BC NDP) has confirmed she will attend. John Henderson (Conservative Party of BC) has tentatively confirmed. Griffin Leonard Lea (BC Green Party) has declined our invitation.
The SCCA has hosted environmental all-candidates meetings since 2011 so voters can hear candidates answer, in real time, the issues that matter most to this region. The meeting goes ahead with whoever shows up. Bring your questions and hold them to their answers. [A recording will be posted at thescca.ca after the meeting.]
Read the SCCA Candidate Q&A
SCCA asked every candidate six questions on the provincial decisions that shape life on the Coast: watershed protection, climate-ready infrastructure, community forests and the allowable annual cut, local tools to protect ecosystems, the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Act, and changes to the BC Clean Energy Act. Their answers are posted in their own words HERE. Read them side by side, because the differences tell you more than any campaign flyer.
How to Vote
Advance voting runs October 16 to 21, and general voting day is Saturday, October 24. Find voting locations and everything else you need at elections.bc.ca.
Advance voting locations:
| Voting Place Name | Voting Place Address | Voting Place City | Dates Open |
| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 | 747 Gibsons Way | Gibsons, BC | Fri-Wed Oct 16-21 |
| Holy Family Roman Catholic Church | 5700 Nickerson Rd | Sechelt, BC | Fri-Sat Oct 16-17, Mon-Wed Oct 19-21 |
| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 | 12829 Lillies Lake Rd | Madeira Park, BC | Fri-Sun Oct 16-18 |
| Powell River Rec Complex | 5001 Joyce Ave | Powell River, BC | Fri-Wed Oct 16-21 |
*Advance voting locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the dates noted above.
Final voting day locations (Saturday, October 24th):
| Voting Place Name | Voting Place Address | Voting Place City |
| Langdale Elem School | 1551 Johnson Rd | Langdale, BC |
| Cedar Grove Elem School | 1196 Chaster Rd | Gibsons, BC |
| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 | 747 Gibsons Way | Gibsons, BC |
| Sunshine Coast Freemasons | 1319 Roberts Creek Rd | Roberts Creek, BC |
| Chatelech Secondary | 5904 Cowrie St | Sechelt, BC |
| Holy Family Roman Catholic Church | 5700 Nickerson Rd | Sechelt, BC |
| Halfmoon Bay Elem School | 8086 Northwood Rd | Halfmoon Bay, BC |
| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 | 12829 Lillies Lake Rd | Madeira Park, BC |
| Powell River Rec Complex | 5001 Joyce Ave | Powell River, BC |
| Powell River Seniors Centre | 6792 Cranberry St | Powell River, BC |
| Kelly Creek Comm School | 2341 Zilinsky Rd | Powell River, BC |
| Westview Elem School | 3900 Selkirk Ave | Powell River, BC |
| Cousin’s House | 5180 101 Hwy | Sliammon, BC |
| Northside Comm Rec Centre | 9654 Larson Rd | Lund, BC |
| Texada Island Comm Hall | 4913 Gillies Bay Rd | Texada Island, BC |
| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 | 2099 Legion Rd | Texada Island, BC |
*Final voting places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on Saturday, October 24.
SCCA is a nonpartisan registered charity. We do not endorse candidates or parties. We just make sure you have the facts.
Get informed. Then vote.