The countdown is on: Kamloops votes October 17, 2026.
It is hard to believe that it’s been three years since the last general local election, when some Kamloopsians celebrated and some lamented. Low voter turnout—said some. Big egos!—said others. According to Gisela Ruckert (a local electoral reform advocate), we predominantly voted for incumbents, and the mayor won thanks to vote-splitting under first-past-the-post. Does it matter? That depends on what question you’re trying to answer. And while I hope the election goes your way and the city functions just the way you imagine it, I also hope that our team at Transition Kamloops can once again shed light on where the 2026 mayoral and council candidates stand on issues close to our hearts.
We definitely appreciate all the candidates’ openness and willingness to engage with us. We also appreciate all the current councillors, including the ones who were not endorsed by Transition Kamloops, as they continue having conversations with us on how we can bring our visions closer together. Curious how they answered in 2022? Click here to find out.
While I have you here, let’s start the Kamloops general local election countdown with some good news. If you feel that municipal councils could be more representative of the community, there is a glimmer of hope. Check out Gisela’s article on current electoral reform opportunities.
Photo credit: Elwira Rosiak. A Westsyde bus stop improvised with lawn chairs, standing in for the bench and shelter that aren’t there, often leaving riders in pools of water after rain or snowmelt.
