Dawson Creek residents thinking about running for city council or the regional district board can learn what it takes at a free information session on July 29, 2026. The Peace River Regional District and the City of Dawson Creek are hosting the event ahead of the October 17 General Local Election.
The session runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre, 10401 10 Street. It will walk people through eligibility rules, the nomination process, what council and board members actually do day to day, the time involved, and how elected officials are paid. A separate session is being held in Fort St. John on July 28 for residents in that area.
Anyone who cannot attend either meeting can pick up a nomination package starting July 31 at the Peace River Regional District office at 1981 Alaska Avenue. The formal nomination period opens September 1 at 9 a.m. and closes September 11 at 4 p.m., giving hopefuls only a short window to file paperwork. The district says candidates must be at least 18 years old, hold Canadian citizenship, have lived in B.C. for at least six months, and get signatures from two eligible voters.
The push for more candidate interest comes as voter turnout in the region has been low. In the 2022 election, only 12.1 percent of eligible voters cast ballots for regional district directors, well below the provincial average of 26.7 percent for regional districts. Dawson Creek itself saw 25.1 percent turnout, trailing the B.C. municipal average of 29.2 percent.
All four electoral area director seats and every municipal council position across the region will be on the ballot this year. In Dawson Creek, the mayor’s chair and six councillor spots will be up for grabs, with current terms set to expire in October 2026.
