Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the first live edition of 2026 BC Municipal Votes. It’s Friday, August 21st, and we are coming to you live. I’m Christopher Brown, and I’m very excited to welcome you to this new series focused entirely on municipal politics in British Columbia. For the next several weeks, we’re going to be taking you across the province and looking at the people, the communities, the campaigns, and the issues that will define the 2026 BC municipal elect

Greater Sudbury’s Ward 9 is a community facing many of the same questions confronting municipalities across Ontario: roads and infrastructure, property taxes, development, public services, and the future of local neighbourhoods. But municipal politics is ultimately about something much more immediate — the decisions that affect people where they live. Tonight, we sit down with Ward 9 council candidate Eddie Astgen. Why is he running? What does he believe Ward 9 needs most? An

Lacombe is a city with a small-town character — a community balancing growth, opportunity, and the everyday challenges that come with both. At the heart of those decisions is city council, where local issues can have a very personal impact on the people who live here. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with City of Lacombe Councillor Torie Goings. We'll talk about life in municipal leadership, the issues facing Lacombe, the challenges of growth, and what it takes t

Every day, Saskatchewan’s mayors and councillors make decisions that shape the future of their communities. But with the demands of municipal government, there’s often little time to step back, share experiences, and focus on becoming a stronger leader. That’s the goal of SUMA's Council Summer School — an exclusive professional development opportunity created specifically for elected municipal leaders. Two immersive days last week, Mayors and Councillors from across Saskatche

Crime and public safety are among the most pressing concerns facing communities across Canada — and for municipal leaders, those concerns are often felt first and closest to home. Last week, Stony Plain Mayor William Choy and members of council took those concerns directly to Ottawa, meeting with Ruby Sahota, the federal Secretary of State for Combating Crime. The conversation focused on public safety and the challenges municipalities are facing on the ground — and what role

Lac Ste. Anne County is a place where rural life, agriculture, tourism, and growth all meet. But keeping a community like this moving forward isn't simple. Behind the quiet roads and beautiful lakes are decisions about infrastructure, development, services, and the future of a changing municipality. Today on Cross Border Interviews, we sit down with Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Jurgen Preugschas. We'll talk about what it's really like to lead a rural municipality — the challeng