The B.C. Conservatives have removed Joachim Agou as their candidate for the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding due to inappropriate social media content. An offensive comment by Agou in a post dated September 7, 2025, depicted a car hitting pro-Palestinian protesters in Switzerland, with Agou’s remark suggesting the driver should have reversed. Additionally, Agou shared a meme in November 2024 featuring Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and right-wing European leaders advocating to “Make the west great again.” Another meme Agou posted on June 26, 2025, portrayed Trump on Air Force One mistaking London for a different location.
Following media scrutiny, the controversial posts have been deleted. Agou avoided questions from reporters during a scheduled meet-and-greet with Victoria residents at a café on Fort Street. He declined to clarify whether he authored the posts, deleted them, planned to resign, or regretted his statements. Agou bypassed the coffee shop without engaging with residents and left the area in his car.
B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson dismissed Agou as a candidate shortly after being questioned by reporters about the social media content. Initially unaware of the posts during an 11 a.m. news conference in Surrey, Doerkson expressed disagreement with the comments upon hearing the details and promptly took action to remove Agou as a candidate.
Doerkson stated, “There is no excuse for this. I will not tolerate it. The candidate in Victoria-Beacon Hill is no longer a Conservative candidate. If elected, he will not serve in the [caucus].” B.C. NDP candidate Amna Shah of Surrey City Centre condemned Agou for his racially insensitive and offensive remarks, demanding his dismissal.
This incident marks the first instance in this campaign where the B.C. Conservatives had to disqualify a candidate. Agou’s bio, previously available on the B.C. Conservative website, described him as a test and evaluation engineer in the defense sector, operating an engineering consulting and media company in Victoria. Agou’s potential candidacy as an Independent remains uncertain.