municipal politics

B.C. Premier David Eby signaled that the province won’t directly help out municipalities facing high property tax hikes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Premier David Eby signals no help for municipalities pondering large property tax hikes

UBCM, province are currently reviewing municipal financing system

 

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce hosted a mayoral all-candidates meeting on Sept. 28, 2022 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. From left to right, participants were Manjit Sohi, Troy Gaspar and Ross Siemens. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News file)

Abbotsford mayoral candidate Manjit Sohi disqualified for not disclosing financial paperwork

Council candidate Tim Felger also made list of 50 candidates for missing Elections BC deadline

 

Ross Siemens (left) and Dave Sidhu topped the polls for mayor and council respectively, and they also spent the most on their campaigns for election. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News file)

Abbotsford council candidates spent more than $260K on campaigns in 2022

Dave Sidhu spent the most of all candidates, newly released Elections BC documents show

 

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)

Health officer pushes back as B.C. town tries to step around drug decriminalization

Campbell River rejects plea to wait six months before forging ahead with drug use ban bylaw

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)
Montreal mayor Valerie Plante delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Big cities have a major role to play in protecting biodiversity, experts say

Increasing native plants and animals and decreasing contaminants, among actions cities can take

Montreal mayor Valerie Plante delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

Nativity scene banned from B.C. town’s city hall after decades-long run

Volunteer group hoping to get Terrace to change its mind after annual tradition rejected

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)
Ross Siemens, Abbotsford’s new mayor, was sworn into office Monday night (Nov. 7) at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Long-term flood mitigation a priority of Abbotsford council, says new mayor

Ross Siemens gives inauguration speech after being sworn in on Monday

Ross Siemens, Abbotsford’s new mayor, was sworn into office Monday night (Nov. 7) at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Irene Kelleher Totí:ltawtxw Elementary School on Eagle Mountain in Abbotsford is the city’s newest school. The new Abbotsford board of education will be inaugurated at a special meeting there on the evening of Nov. 15. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

New Abbotsford school board trustees to be inaugurated Nov. 15

New board comprises four incumbents and three newcomers

Irene Kelleher Totí:ltawtxw Elementary School on Eagle Mountain in Abbotsford is the city’s newest school. The new Abbotsford board of education will be inaugurated at a special meeting there on the evening of Nov. 15. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, shown here during his 2018 election-night win, chose not to seek re-election in October. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Flooding and a pandemic: Henry Braun reflects on his 8 years as Abbotsford mayor

‘You have to be there for the good and the bad,’ says outgoing mayor

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, shown here during his 2018 election-night win, chose not to seek re-election in October. (Abbotsford News file photo)
Sandy Blue has been a councillor in Abbotsford for the past eight years. Her family, friends and supporters joined her onstage after the farewell event giving her hugs. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Outgoing Abbotsford councillors congratulated for committee work, commitment to city

Brenda Falk and Sandy Blue each wrapping up eight years of service as councillors

Sandy Blue has been a councillor in Abbotsford for the past eight years. Her family, friends and supporters joined her onstage after the farewell event giving her hugs. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Rosemary Siemens performed her song Have a Little Faith for Abbotsford’s outgoing mayor Henry Braun as a surprise during his farewell ceremony on Oct. 24. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun receives a fond farewell

City of Abbotsford gives two-term mayor a warm sendoff

Rosemary Siemens performed her song Have a Little Faith for Abbotsford’s outgoing mayor Henry Braun as a surprise during his farewell ceremony on Oct. 24. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
City of Fernie city hall. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

‘I’m so excited to be out of this room’: Departing BC councillor laments experience as elected official

Morgan Pulsifer said he was disappointed by the way city staff, elected officials and service workers were treated in Fernie

City of Fernie city hall. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce hosted a mayoral all-candidates meeting on Sept. 28 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. From left to right, they are Manjit Sohi, Troy Gaspar and Ross Siemens. A fourth mayoral candidate, Dave Pellikaan, did not participate. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford mayoral candidate says council ‘punched above weight class’ during floods

Mayoral hopefuls take on business and development concerns at Chamber-led event

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce hosted a mayoral all-candidates meeting on Sept. 28 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. From left to right, they are Manjit Sohi, Troy Gaspar and Ross Siemens. A fourth mayoral candidate, Dave Pellikaan, did not participate. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
An all-candidates meeting takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Abbotsford Legacy Sports Centre. (Facebook photo)

All-candidates meeting in Abbotsford focuses on sports, parks, recreation and culture

Sport Abbotsford hosts session on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Legacy Sports Centre

An all-candidates meeting takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Abbotsford Legacy Sports Centre. (Facebook photo)
A house fire on Feb. 28 in Abbotsford. Firefighters are pushing for the city to hire more people so they can increase the number of firefighters available at any time in Abbotsford. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford firefighters sounding alarm over lack of resources

While calls have more than doubled over 10 years, hiring hasn’t kept up with that pace

A house fire on Feb. 28 in Abbotsford. Firefighters are pushing for the city to hire more people so they can increase the number of firefighters available at any time in Abbotsford. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Jas Anand is running for a spot on city council in the municipal election on Oct. 15. (Submitted photo)

Jas Anand seeks council seat in Abbotsford

Coffee house owner says he has a ‘passion for people’ instilled by his father

Jas Anand is running for a spot on city council in the municipal election on Oct. 15. (Submitted photo)
The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tiny home villages as solution to homelessness? 3 B.C. mayors say yes

Sites up and running in Victoria and Duncan, Port Alberni on its way to do the same

The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains, left, and Harry Bains, Surrey council candidate, right.
Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains, left, and Harry Bains, Surrey council candidate, right.
Tofino expects to break ground on a $78 million sewage treatment facility this month. (Westerly file photo)

B.C. tourism mecca finally poised to stop pumping raw sewage into the ocean

Shovels expected to hit the ground this month on Tofino’s much-delayed $78M sewage treatment facility

Tofino expects to break ground on a $78 million sewage treatment facility this month. (Westerly file photo)
Daybreak Farms general manager Kieran Christison thanked the community for their “eggstraordinary” support as the farm can now get started on upgrades. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).

City of Terrace backs northwest B.C.’s biggest egg producer to double output

Daybreak Farms wins big with approval to expand and modernize egg production

Daybreak Farms general manager Kieran Christison thanked the community for their “eggstraordinary” support as the farm can now get started on upgrades. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).