1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?

I’m running because I believe Cranbrook needs experienced, practical leadership that is prepared to make decisions and get things done. I’ve spent my career building businesses, creating jobs, serving this community and representing Kootenay East in Victoria. I know Cranbrook, I know the people who live here, and I know the challenges we are facing.

I believe the city is at a crossroads. We have tremendous potential, but we also face rising costs, infrastructure pressures, public safety concerns and the need for responsible growth. I’m not running simply to occupy the mayor’s chair. I’m running because I believe my experience can make a difference and help move Cranbrook forward.

2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?

I bring a combination of business experience, community involvement and public service that I believe is well suited to the job.

I have more than 30 years of business experience, including owning and operating businesses and creating employment opportunities for people in our community. I also served as City Councillor, RDEK Director, & MLA for Kootenay East from 2017 to 2024, where I worked on issues including healthcare, public safety, housing, infrastructure, homelessness and economic development.

Being mayor requires more than having good ideas. It requires understanding budgets, weighing priorities, negotiating, building relationships and being prepared to make difficult decisions. It also requires knowing how to work with provincial and federal governments to bring resources and investment back to our community.

I have done that work. I understand government, but I also understand business and the importance of making sure taxpayers receive value for their money.

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?

Public safety, infrastructure, responsible growth and affordability would be among my top priorities.

People deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods and businesses. We need a proactive approach to public safety and stronger coordination between the RCMP, bylaw services and community partners.

We also need to deal with infrastructure before it becomes a crisis. Roads, water, wastewater and other essential services require long-term planning and responsible investment. Growth can be positive, but it has to be managed properly.

And we have to be realistic about what taxpayers can afford. Municipal government has a responsibility to deliver services while respecting the fact that every tax dollar comes from someone’s household or business. I would look carefully at spending, borrowing and priorities and ask a simple question: are residents getting good value for their money?

Finally, we need to make Cranbrook a place where businesses want to invest, families want to live and young people can see a future.

4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?

I want voters to know that I am not afraid to make decisions, but I am equally prepared to listen.

I have never believed that leadership means having all the answers. It means bringing people together, listening to different perspectives, examining the facts and then having the courage to make a decision.

My years in business taught me that decisions have consequences and that you have to live with the results. My years in public service taught me how important it is to build relationships and work with people who may not always agree with you.

I care deeply about Cranbrook. This is a community where I was born, raised a family, served and advocated for, and I’m running because I believe we can do better.

5. Anything else you would like to add?

This election is about the future direction of Cranbrook.

I believe we need to move beyond simply maintaining the status quo. We need a City Hall that is proactive, accountable and focused on results.

That means listening to residents, supporting local business, planning responsibly for growth, improving public safety and making sure major decisions are based on sound financial judgment.

I also believe Cranbrook should be optimistic about its future. We have tremendous assets, a strong business community and people who care deeply about this city.

If elected, I will bring experience, energy and a willingness to work. I will be accessible, I will ask tough questions and I will be accountable for the decisions we make.

Most importantly, I will never forget who I work for: the people of Cranbrook.

I’m asking for the opportunity to serve as mayor because I believe Cranbrook deserves leadership that is prepared to listen, prepared to act and prepared to be accountable. I believe we can build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Cranbrook together.

1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?

I have been honoured to serve as a Cranbrook City Councillor for the past four years, including serving as an alternate director with the RDEK/KERHD. My goal is to add value to our community, and, after a great deal of reflection, I felt that I could best serve our community by running for Mayor.

2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?

Because I have served as a City Councillor from 2022 to 2026, I am current and up to date on our community’s challenges, opportunities, and initiatives; this means that I’m ready to lead on Day One. I have exceptionally strong training and experience in governance leadership following my ten years on the board of StellerVista Credit Union (2016 – present), including four years as board Chair (2022-2026), where I served as the governance leader for our 7 branches, 100 employees, 18,000 members, and over $750 million in assets. I have deep relationships in our community and region through my work over the last nine years as the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies, where I have led our team in tripling our endowed funds, from $2 million to over $6 million, with granting of over $1.8 million to hundreds of local non-profits. The common thread linking my credit union and community foundation experience is careful and prudent stewardship of shared resources, which is exactly the type of experience that the next Mayor of Cranbrook needs.

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?

Community Affordability and Community Vibrancy are my campaign priorities. In terms of Community Affordability, the outgoing City Council has worked very hard over the last four years to address the infrastructure deficit, which was inherited from previous Councils; this was a key factor in the City tax increases we have seen. During the 2025 budget process, Council mandated a City-wide belt-tightening process, with all departments bringing cost-savings to the table; this was an organization-wide re-set, which means that the City is now running lean to offer to the current level of services. As a result, to improve affordability, we need to increase our revenue, by building more housing to broaden the residential tax base, growing our local economy to broaden the commercial tax base (including continued work to attract local industry), and bringing grants and investments to Cranbrook. On the Community Vibrancy side, I look forward to working with community partners to take action to beautify our community; continue to work on our multi-faceted, community-based approach to address the complex challenges of homelessness, addictions, and mental health; ensure that residents feel safe; and establish new ways to connect with residents.

4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?

I have been a hard-working, high-performing City Councillor, and I will be a hard-working, high-performing Mayor. If elected as Mayor, I commit to serving my full four-year term. I will always stand up for Cranbrook. I will be a strong voice for Cranbrook at the RDEK table, as a member of the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG) Board, and in terms of building relationships and advocating with other levels of government.

5. Anything else you would like to add?

Whether a person’s family has lived here for generations or has moved here from another part of BC, Canada, or anywhere in the world, we’re all members of this community; we all contribute to this community, and we all deserve to be respected, valued, and included. Let’s build our future together for an affordable and vibrant Cranbrook! Let’s make Cranbrook the best small city in BC and the best place to call home!

1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?

Fernie is a special place. I came here 20 years ago planning to stay for a summer. Instead, I set down my roots: I started several businesses, got married, and am now raising my family here. I’m running for Mayor because I want to ensure that we manage Fernie’s growth for future generations to be able to continue to enjoy what makes it special.

My guiding principle at the Council table has always been: how will this decision impact my daughter’s ability to live and work in Fernie when she is an adult? The next four years will require a Mayor who understands the complexity of our challenges, listens to the community, and has the political will to make difficult decisions now, rather than leaving them for our children and grandchildren.

2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?

Eight years on Council have given me a solid understanding of how the City operates, what it can and can’t control, and how to move a project from approval to delivery. I come prepared to every meeting, and I’ve built relationships regionally and provincially that matter when Fernie is competing for funding, or needing assistance.

I’ve also shown I’m willing to make hard choices. I refused to delay the firehall when doing so would have put a $7 million grant at risk. I supported increasing our reserve contributions to repair and replace aging infrastructure, even though it meant raising property taxes. I advanced housing projects despite strong neighbourhood pushback, and today over 200 dedicated rental units are under construction. For the last 8 years, I have consistently demonstrated my willingness to face the challenges head-on.

Outside of Council, I’ve spent nearly 20 years in entrepreneurship, running my own businesses. That work has taught me to listen, communicate clearly, and be accountable for results

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?

Fernie’s biggest challenge is deciding what we become next. Years of growth, shifting demographics, and inflationary cost increases have given us two competing identities, an historic resource community and a bustling tourism community. Finding harmony between these means tackling three priorities together.

Infrastructure. Our water and wastewater systems are aging and under strain, and the upgrades ahead are estimated at over $50 million. As Mayor, I will focus on securing funding and partnerships, delivering those projects, and planning now for the replacement of our aging facilities.

Housing. We need more diverse housing so people who work here can live here, and continue to live here once they retire. That means building on the rental projects already underway, ensuring we are building real homes, not just real estate assets.

Responsible taxation. Residents can’t carry these costs alone. I will advocate for a modernized funding model for resort communities at the provincial and federal levels, and work to expand our commercial and industrial tax base so the load is shared more fairly.

4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?

I believe in accountability. I’ll tell you what the City can and can’t do, and I won’t promise quick fixes to problems that took decades to build. Municipal decisions carry 40-year consequences, and they deserve that kind of thinking.

I also believe Fernie is at its best when residents act rather than wait. When the Community Centre closed, volunteers formed the Elk Valley Fieldhouse Society and went on to secure land, funding, and a construction partner. The City’s role is to clear the path for that kind of work, and as Mayor I’ll make sure we do.

5. Anything else you would like to add?

It has been an honour to serve Fernie for the last eight years as a member of Council. I’m ready to take the next step and lead our community as Mayor. I’m asking for your vote at the advance polls or on October 17th. You can learn more about my priorities at electkylehamilton.ca.

1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?

I have served on City Council for the past four years, and in that time, it has become clear that Fernie is at a critical turning point. We do not lack plans, consultants, or reports; we lack follow-through. Through my extensive conversations over past two months, I have also heard a clear message from residents: there is a trust deficit in local government. I am stepping up to rebuild that trust, bring an engineering-grade focus to our budget, and ensure we finally execute on the core services residents pay for.

2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?

Fernie deserves a mayor who has experience both around the council table and outside of it. Over the last four years, I have served as a city councillor while holding a demanding day job in engineering and finance at the mines. I manage complex budgets, tough trade-offs, and large teams for a living. Because of my time on council, I know exactly how our municipal government operates, where the bottlenecks are, and how to bring a practical, executive perspective to solve them. I have a proven track record of bringing rigor to decision-making, and I am ready to lead the council that the community chooses from day one.

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?

The most urgent challenge is our failing core infrastructure, specifically our wastewater capacity. Without solving the wastewater deficit, we cannot sustainably build the housing we desperately need. Second is livability—working families and seniors are being pushed out of the town they built because of rising costs and slow permitting. Third is the preservation of our vital community and recreation spaces, which are currently under severe strain. To solve these, we need the courage to stop treating every single issue as a priority so we can focus our tax dollars on fixing these foundational challenges once and for all.

4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?

I want voters to know that my campaign is driven by a simple, direct motto: Built on trust, people first. My platform is guided by five actionable principles:

1. Prioritize: Focus resources so things get built.
2. Deliver on Infrastructure: Get moving on wastewater and funded asset maintenance.
3. Make Fernie Livable: for seniors, working, and young families and everyone in between
4. Advance Recreation: Protect community spaces and support volunteer partnerships.
5. Open for Business: Deliver predictable planning and much faster permitting. Real leadership means having the courage to do hard things now, rather than deferring tough decisions to future generations.

5. Anything else you would like to add?

Advance voting opens today, October 7th, and runs again on Wednesday, October 14th at the Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre. General Voting Day is Saturday, October 17th. Whether your family has lived in Fernie for four generations or you arrived four months ago, your voice matters. It is time to bring courage, discipline, and execution back to City Hall. I ask for your vote so we can get to work.

1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?

We need to create a positive environment for City Council where all voices matter, and we have honest, open dialogue to make the best decisions for the community. I see the need for positive energy, a caring environment, and a bold vision for the community that is financially, environmentally, and socially responsible! One that lifts us up, connects the community together and moves us forward on a positive path together.

2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?

Collaboration is key to a stronger and healthier community, and the vision for a community starts at City Hall! City Hall is the cornerstone and sets the culture for bringing the community together to rally for a better community for all who live here.

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?

Economic Development:
Build the best Artisanal Business Hub in Western Canada – where locally owned businesses craft the best gear possible in a variety of industries- custom furniture, reuse/restore clothing, Agri-Food, custom Four Wheel Drive aftermarket parts, custom teardrop campers, climbing gear, forest firefighting innovations for personal protection, and more …craft light industry business owners share their productivity gains with workers, spend any free hours dedicated to community- helping nonprofits and local sports, they join local clubs, supporting a healthy local economy, providing local taxes, creating connected and distinctive shopping and craft experience for the community

Stronger Main Street:
Bringing Energy to Small Business Districts in Kimberley and Marysville – creating a push for not only a comprehensive shop local campaign but also working together to craft special events, art shows, music, and key attractions that bring in badly needed traffic to each of the business districts in Kimberley. Working in concert with the Chamber, Business Owners, Tourism Kimberley, and other stakeholders to create experiences that are memorable for people who live here and also attract commerce.

Protect what we love:
The Arts/Culture, Outdoors, Trails, Water and Kimberley Nature Park

4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?

Right now, we need positive, proactive leadership that is open and transparent with the community. We need regular communication with the community so you know what is going on, can be engaged in the process, and can support the community instead of being in the dark.

What I see as key right now is lifting up Kimberley’s greatness and moving it forward!

5. Anything else you would like to add?

Important to note that it will be imperative to get more grants to assist us in infrastructure projects (like roads, water pipes and more) – Grants are not raising taxes, so vital for us.

Get More Grants- We are accessing a multitude of grants to advance our infrastructure work, and I think that through collaboration, there are more opportunities, especially in economic development and social infrastructure.

1. What made you decide to run for mayor in this election?
2. What experience and skill set do you have that makes you a good choice for mayor?
3. From your perspective, what are the biggest or most important challenges the community faces that you would like to prioritize and address if elected?
4. What would you like voters to know about you so they can make an informed decision on election day?
5. Anything else you would like to add?