Election & Voting Notices

The Chief Election Officer for the Peace River Regional District has declared the following persons as candidates in the 2023 Area C By-Election:

• Brad Sperling
• Suzanne Haab

The by-election will take place on February 25, with advance voting opportunities on February 15 and 22. To view more information, including candidate information and voting stations, visit prrd.bc.ca/getoutandvote.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has received nomination documents and a candidate bio for Brad Sperling, who is running for the position of Electoral Area Director for Area ‘C’ in the by-election on February 25, 2023. To review a list of current candidates and their nomination documents, please click here.

The nomination period for the the Area C By-Election is open until January 20, 2023 at 4pm. Nomination packages can be downloaded, picked up at the PRRD offices in Dawson Creek or Fort St. John during regular business hours, or requested via email to the Chief Election Officer.

Candidates have the option of returning nomination documents to the PRRD offices in Dawson Creek or Fort St. John; however, an appointment with the Chief Election Officer is required for Fort St. John submissions.

For more information about the upcoming by-election, visit prrd.bc.ca/getoutandvote.

The Peace River Regional District petition to the BC Supreme Court regarding the validity of the Electoral Area C Election was heard on November 22, 2022. The Court declared the election invalid due to issuance of ballots to electors from outside of Electoral Area C who were ineligible to vote, and has directed that the Area C Director position is vacant.

The PRRD will hold a by-election, as soon as possible, to fill the Area C Director position.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is committed to upholding public trust in the democratic process and ensuring that elections are conducted in accordance with legislated procedures. We apologize to the candidates and voters who participated in the Electoral Area C election.

Area C Election Invalidated

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has completed counting the ballots for all five assent voting opportunities included in the 2022 General Election. The final results are as follows:

The PRRD thanks all voters, candidates, and Election Officials across the Peace region who participated in the 2022 election. For more information about the assent votes, visit prrd.bc.ca or call the PRRD at 250-784-3200.

Following a review of the preliminary election results declared on October 15, 2022, the election results for Electoral Area B are:

The final vote count has changed slightly from the preliminary count after the reconciliation of ballots and careful review of voting books. The final result remains the same, with Jordan Kealy as the elected candidate for Electoral Area B. The Peace River Regional District thanks all residents who voted and participated in the Electoral Area B 2022 election, and for your patience as our staff worked to review ballots and voting materials.

Following a recount of the preliminary election results declared on October 15, 2022, the election results for Electoral Area C are:

After careful review of election records, the Chief Elections Officer has determined that it is necessary to submit an application to challenge the validity of the election due to evidence of persons voting when not entitled to vote in Electoral Area C. Elections documentation indicates that a small number of electors from outside of Area C voted in the election by mistake. There is no evidence to indicate this was done purposefully to undermine the validity of the election. However, due to the closeness of the election results, the small number of ineligible ballots may have determined the overall election result and the validity of the election must be challenged.

Upon review of this application, the Supreme Court will decide whether a new election must be held in Area C only. This application will not challenge the validity of the election in Area B or any of the five assent votes. Suzanne Haab will take office as Electoral Area Director for Area C until such time as the Supreme Court issues a decision.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is committed to upholding public trust in the democratic process and ensuring that proper elections protocols are followed. We apologize to the candidates and voters who participated in this election and look forward to implementing a fair resolution as decided by the Supreme Court. As this matter is before the Court, the PRRD will not be commenting further until after the Court has made its ruling.

The polls closed at 8:00 pm today – thank you to everyone who came out to vote in the General Local Election for the Peace River Regional District.

Preliminary Results are as follows:

Electoral Area B Director – Candidates: Jordan Kealy and Jeff Kitt

Electoral Area C Director – Candidates: Suzanne Haab and Brad Sperling

Electoral Area D Director Leonard Hiebert was acclaimed. (Leonard Hiebert was the only candidate nominated in Electoral Area D)

Electoral Area E Director Dan Rose was acclaimed. (Dan Rose was the only candidate in Electoral Area E)

Assent Voting Results for the four region-wide assent voting opportunities; Global Geopark Grant in Aid, Dinosaur Museum Grant in Aid, Sport and Cultural Events Grant in Aid, and Regional Connectivity Service, plus the assent voting opportunity in Electoral Area B only, for the Fort St. John Library Financial Contribution Service, will be reported not later than Wednesday.

October 15, 2022 is general voting day and the last opportunity for eligible electors across the Peace region to vote on 5 different assent votes and Electoral Area candidates for Areas B and C. Voting locations and hours of operation are available on the PRRD website in both a written and interactive map format. Candidate elections are being held only in Area B and Area C, and a list of the candidates and their submitted biographies is also available on the PRRD website. Electors in Areas E and D may still vote on the proposed assent bylaws.

All electors across the region will be eligible to participate in four assent vote opportunities, including if they live inside the municipalities of Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Taylor, Pouce Coupe, Tumbler Ridge, Hudson’s Hope, and Fort. St. John. Electors residing in Area B will also be asked to vote on the establishment of a financial contribution service for the Fort St. John Public Library. More information about all five of these assent voting opportunities is available on the Peace River Regional District (PRRD)’s website.

For more information regarding regional assent voting opportunities, candidate elections, and general voting day locations, visit our website at www.prrd.bc.ca/getoutandvote or call the PRRD at 250-784-3200.