British Columbia municipalities host candidate forums ahead of elections

Municipal election preparations are underway in several British Columbia communities through various candidate engagement events.

In Surrey, the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of seven nonpartisan “open-house” sessions for civic slates ahead of the 2026 municipal election. Running from September 9 to September 21, these informal meet-and-greet events are designed to allow voters in Cloverdale, Clayton, and Campbell Heights to hear from candidates. Each session will include one-minute introductions, a short discussion of Chamber-selected questions, and networking opportunities.

In Penticton, the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce has scheduled two all-candidates forums ahead of the October 17 municipal election. A mayoral candidates forum will be held on September 23 at the Cleland Theatre, featuring a moderated question-and-answer format. This will be followed by a council candidates forum on September 24 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, where candidates will present their platforms before a period of one-on-one engagement with the public.