Dawson Creek city council is being asked to appoint key officials to oversee the 2026 municipal election, as preparations ramp up ahead of voting later this fall.
In a report to council, city staff recommend appointing a Chief Election Officer and two Deputy Chief Election Officers to manage all aspects of the vote, which is scheduled for October 17, 2026, at the Ovintiv Events Centre.
Two advance voting days are also proposed for October 7 and October 14.
Council appointed:
- Tabatha Young, Corporate Officer, as Chief Election Officer
- Janice Anderson, Deputy Corporate Officer, as Deputy Chief Election Officer
- Tanya Stedel, Records Management Project Coordinator, as Deputy Chief Election Officer
According to the report, the appointments are required under B.C.’s Local Government Act, which mandates municipalities to designate officials responsible for running elections.
City staff say putting those roles in place early is key to ensuring the vote is “organized, accessible, transparent, and compliant with legislative requirements.”
The election process involves a wide range of responsibilities, from managing nominations and ballots to setting up voting locations, training staff, and overseeing final results.
Previous elections have required about 25 workers on general voting day.
Unlike some previous elections, staff are recommending the appointment of two deputy chief election officers instead of one.
The report says other B.C. communities have adopted a similar structure to improve capacity and continuity during the election process.
Dividing responsibilities between two deputies would allow work to be split into policy and operations streams, helping track deadlines, manage logistics, and reduce the risk of errors.
Running the election is expected to require “several hundred hours” of staff time across planning, voting days, and post-election work, in addition to regular duties.
The city has budgeted $100,000 for the 2026 election.
Election information will be shared through the city’s website, public notices, and social media as the vote approaches.