Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the second live edition of BC Municipal Votes 2026. It’s Friday, September 4th, and we’re back with big news from municipalities right across British Columbia. But today, we’re taking a trip across the water — because we’re heading to Vancouver Island. And there is a lot to talk about. From Victoria and Saanich, to Nanaimo, Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni and communities all the way up and down the Island — we’re going to criss-c

Mississauga is changing. Today, 62 percent of its residents identify as a visible minority, and one in four identifies as South Asian. Yet the city has never elected an ethnic mayor. Now, Incumbent Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla is seeking to change that. But this campaign is about more than representation. It comes at a time when 46 percent of Mississauga residents surveyed say the city is moving in the wrong direction. Dipika Damerla says the answer is a city that works d

There are moments in municipal politics when you have to stop… take a step back… and ask a very simple question: What is going on? Because across Alberta, the alarm bells are starting to ring. Over the last several weeks, we have seen resignation after resignation from municipal councils across this province. Mayors. Councillors. A reeve. People who, just months ago, were elected by their neighbours to serve their communities for the next four years are now stepping away from

Across Western Canada, municipal leaders are facing challenges that increasingly reach far beyond the council chamber. On August 25 and 26, representatives from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba gathered in Edmonton for the annual Western Canadian Municipal Associations meeting. The issues were big: tariffs and rising construction costs, trade corridors, AI data centres, emergency preparedness, and the future of RCMP contract policing. Municipalities warn t

Join us live on Wednesday, September 2nd for the first special live shows dedicated to the 2026 Manitoba Municipal election. Guest includes: Councillor Colin Doyle, City of Portage La Prairie Councillor Shaun Cameron, City of Brandon Councillor Kathy Valentino, City of Thompson ------ Episode made possible by: https://amm.mb.ca/ ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswi

In Southern Alberta, there are community festivals — and then there is Taber Cornfest. Every August, just before the long weekend, the Town of Taber comes alive for one of the region's biggest free family celebrations. Live music. Food. Rides. Entertainment. And, of course, plenty of corn. This year's Cornfest was billed as the biggest and best yet — bringing locals and visitors together for a weekend that has become a cherished Southern Alberta tradition. And behind the cele

Crime is increasingly becoming a municipal issue — even though the laws governing it are largely made in Ottawa. Across Canada, mayors and councils are pressing the federal government for action on repeat offending, bail, addiction and public safety. Last week in Truro, Nova Scotia, Mayor Hinton met with federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser to discuss concerns about federal crime laws. Afterward, Hinton emphasized the need for all levels of government to

Across Western Canada, some of the decisions affecting local communities are being made far beyond the municipal council chamber. Municipal leaders from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba gathered at Fort Edmonton for the 2026 Western Canadian Municipal Association meeting, bringing some very big issues to the table. The escalating Canada-U.S. trade war, ongoing RCMP contract negotiations, infrastructure funding, and the development of economic corridors wer

Across Western Canada, some of the decisions affecting local communities are being made far beyond the municipal council chamber. Municipal leaders from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba gathered at Fort Edmonton for the 2026 Western Canadian Municipal Association meeting, bringing with them some very big issues. The escalating Canada-U.S. trade war, ongoing RCMP contract negotiations, the rapid growth of data centres, and the development of economic corrid