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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 | A21
L O C A L
G O V E R N M E N T
A W A R E N E S S
W E E K
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101:
E V E R Y T H I N G YO U N E E D TO K N OW W I T H LO C A L E L EC T I O N S A P P R O AC H I N G T H I S Y E A R , I T ’ S I N D E E D H A N DY T O K N OW H OW LO C A L G OV E R N M E N T AC T U A L LY W O R K S . BY I N A P AC E , LO C A L J O U R N A L I S M I N I T I AT I V E R E P O RT E R
Be aware, because it’s Local Government Awareness Week this May 10 to 16. In reading this article, we hope you will come away more aware about local government. Focusing on local government elections, (this year is set for Oct. 17), everyone has the opportunity to vote for their community’s new mayor, new council and new regional district directors, as well as school trustees, just like they do every four years. So what do these terms mean, and what do these people do? How do they affect you, and what can you do about it? Let’s dig in.
● A community with a population of more than 50,000 must have a mayor and eight councillors ● A city or district with a population of 50,000 or less must have a mayor and six councillors ● A town or village must have a mayor and four councillors Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford explained that the council primarily provides the framework and operation of public services; think things like fire safety, road maintenance, land use, business licensing and even clean drinking water. In other words, services many people use day-to-day.
MUNICIPAL COUNCILS Firstly, let’s clarify “municipality;” this means any defined administrative area of local government, and that could be a city, a town or a small village. There are 161 municipalities across B.C. Running each municipality is an elected council consisting of five to 11 councillors depending on the municipality’s population size.
REGIONAL DISTRICTS As well as a municipal council, there are also regional districts, 27 of which operate across B.C. Regional districts are federations composed of municipalities, electoral areas (areas which don’t have their own municipalities), and sometimes Treaty First Nation communities. Continued on page A23
What does local government do in West Vancouver? The District of West Vancouver helps deliver many of the services residents rely on every day—from parks, community centres, and local roads, to planning, building permits, fire and rescue services, arts and culture, and public spaces. Learn more about District services, Council, and opportunities to get involved at westvancouver.ca.