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Growth, Gridlock, and the Ballot Box: Squamish Prepares for the 2026 Civic Election

· 6 min read

As the District of Squamish approaches its October 2026 general local election, the community finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. What was once a quiet resource town has evolved into one of the Sea to Sky corridor’s fastest-growing communities, bringing long-simmering tensions to the forefront of local politics.

The Fault Lines Shaping the Debate

Public sentiment regarding the current council majority is sharply divided across several contentious fronts:

  • Mobility and Parking Mandates: Council’s push to lower parking minimums for multi-family developments and convert road lanes into protected cycling corridors has polarized residents. Proponents argue that prioritizing active transit reduces housing construction costs and aligns with climate targets. Critics counter that in a town defined by wet Pacific Northwest winters, outdoor gear hauling, and limited regional transit, policies disincentivizing private vehicles are out of touch with daily realities.
  • Infrastructure Deficits vs. Growth Management: Frustration has grown over aging recreation facilities—particularly the lack of a second ice sheet or pool at Brennan Park—with many residents feeling residential development has outpaced municipal capacity. Defenders of council emphasize that capital spending has targeted deferred, non-negotiable core infrastructure, including extensive wastewater treatment plant upgrades, two new fire halls, and modernized public works facilities.
  • Industrial Relations and Woodfibre LNG: Council’s historically adversarial stance toward Woodfibre LNG (WLNG)—including its 2024 refusal of a permit for the workforce floatel—won praise from climate advocacy groups like My Sea to Sky. Woodfibre sued the District in November 2025, alleging misuse of municipal powers, and critics argue these disputes constituted expensive jurisdictional overreach against a provincially approved project. Meanwhile, ongoing discussions surrounding a 10-year municipal tax agreement with WLNG remain debated between those seeking immediate tax relief and those skeptical of long-term concessions.
  • Fiscal Accountability: Compounded property tax increases and budget overruns on major civic capital works have spurred calls for stricter fiscal discipline. Council’s frequent use of the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for municipal borrowing has similarly drawn criticism from residents seeking binding referendums.

The Sitting Council: Records

Where the sitting council stands, from their votes and their own words:

The 2026 Contenders

With Mayor Hurford stepping aside, three candidates have put their names forward for mayor, while several contenders compete for six council seats:

The Mayoral Race

  • Jenna Stoner (jennastoner.com): Running on policy continuity, prioritizing the upcoming Official Community Plan (OCP) review, below-market housing partnerships, and climate resilience.
  • Sean Easton (seaneaston.com): Non-profit director (co-founder of DWIFT Housing, leader of Zero Ceiling since 2017) pitching a pragmatic alternative focused on workforce home-ownership, cutting municipal bureaucracy, and delivering family amenities.
  • Daniel Deal (danieldeal.ca): Running an independent campaign challenging status-quo governance and appealing to taxpayers frustrated by recent spending trends.

Council Challengers and Platforms

  • Incumbents in the Field: Eric Andersen, John French (johnfrench.ca), Andrew Hamilton (andrewforsquamish.ca), and Chris Pettingill (chrisforsquamish.ca).
  • Fiscal & Industry Pragmatists: Laura Prosko (lauraprosko.com) (proposing a property tax freeze, halting downtown parking cuts, and reviewing industrial tax yields), Janice DesJardins (janicedesjardins.com) (aiming for zero property tax increases, with referendums on major capital projects), and Sean Goodwin (focusing on infrastructure maintenance, growth boundary expansion, and relocating downtown social services).
  • Affordability & Tenant Advocates: Sarah Ellis (sarahellisforsquamish.ca) (non-profit and workforce rental delivery) and Kieran Brownie (tenant protections, living-wage workforce retention, and vehicle-dwelling realities).
  • Governance, Culture & Community: Anders Ourom (legal rigor, planning process oversight), Ian Brown (ianbrownsquamish.com) (seniors’ transit and arts/culture funding), Shaun Veltkamp (shaunveltkamp.com), Luc Perreault (lucperreault.ca), alongside independent contenders Chris Ryan and A. John Lowe.

Key Election Dates and Candidate Forums

Voters will have several opportunities to hear candidates debate the issues ahead of general voting day:

All-Candidates Forums & Events

  • SORCA Outdoor Recreation All-Candidates Meeting Location: Capilano University (CapU) Multi-Purpose Room
    Focus: Trails, recreation infrastructure, and public access.
  • Squamish Legion Meet & Greet Location: Squamish Legion (40194 Glenalder Pl., Garibaldi Highlands)
    Format: Informal community drop-in and conversation.
  • Joint Engagement Committee Municipal All-Candidates Meeting Location: Brennan Park Recreation Centre
    Organizers: Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Squamish BIA, and Tourism Squamish, in partnership with The Squamish Chief. Covers both mayoral and councillor candidates.
  • OurSquamish Candidates Quiz Night Location: Brackendale Art Gallery
    Format: Fast-paced, quiz-style forum exploring policy issues and local civic knowledge.

Voting Schedule

  • Advance Voting: October 7 (8:00 am – 8:00 pm) and October 8 (12:00 – 8:00 pm) at The 55 Activity Centre; October 10 (8:00 am – 8:00 pm) at Totem Hall; October 15 (12:00 – 8:00 pm) at Brennan Park.
  • General Voting Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026 (Polls open 8:00 am – 8:00 pm) at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
  • Mail Ballots: Must be received by 8:00 pm on October 17. Municipal Hall is a drop-off point. Details at squamish.ca.