In Fort St John, British Columbia, residents have chosen a new mayor and supported the construction of a new pool and recreation center. Trevor Bolin emerged victorious over incumbent Lilia Hansen in the mayoral election, securing 65% of the votes. Bolin emphasized his commitment to safer communities, affordable housing, transparency in governance, and fiscal responsibility in his campaign.
Additionally, a referendum allowing the city to borrow up to $90 million for the development of a new aquatic facility and indoor fieldhouse received a 66% approval from voters. The overall project is estimated to cost around $185 million, with Bolin advocating for $30 million contributions each from the provincial and federal governments.
The voter turnout was significant, with nearly 4,500 individuals casting their votes, representing 27.5% of eligible voters, marking the highest participation rate in Fort St John in the last 25 years. Incumbent councillors Gord Klassen, Sarah MacDougall, Jim Lequiere, and Tony Zabinsky retained their positions, while Lucas Wuthrich and Kevin Stigners were newly elected to the council.
Hansen, a former Fort St John Chamber of Commerce executive director, served on the council since 2017 and became mayor in 2022. Reflecting on her time in office, Hansen expressed gratitude for the support received during her nine-year tenure.