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2024 BC Election: Chilliwack, Hope, and the Eastern Fraser Valley ridings, candidates, and polling info

Everything you need to know about the upcoming provincial election in Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, and Hope.

Author

Grace Kennedy
September 23, 2024

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On Saturday, Oct. 19, British Columbian voters will head to the polls to select their new provincial government.

Below, we’ve collected everything voters in Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope and the rest of the eastern Fraser Valley will want to know about the election, including who is running, how to vote, and upcoming all-candidates meetings. You can find your riding below.

Don’t know which riding you are in? Find out here.

You can find our other election hubs here: Abbotsford & Mission | Langley

Chilliwack North

Chilliwack’s ridings have been slightly changed from four years ago. The former Chilliwack riding is now Chilliwack North, and extends both further west and further east than its predecessor. Chilliwack North is centered on the city’s downtown, but also includes Greendale, Fairfield, Rosedale, and Popkum.

For information on each of the three major parties, check out our general election hub here.

You can find information on how to vote, who your candidates are, details on all-candidates meetings, and links to past stories below.

Candidates

The deadline for candidates to submit papers to run in the election was Sept. 28. Four candidates are running for Chilliwack North: nuclear physicist Tim Cooper, NDP incumbent Dan Coulter, school board trustee Heather Maahs, and lawyer Dan Grice. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order below.

Tim Cooper - BC Greens

Incumbent: No

Tim Cooper is a professor emeritus at UFV in physics and engineering. He began his academic career in England at Exeter University, and received his PhD in nuclear physics at the University of Alberta. He joined UFV in 1992, and received a faculty of science teaching prize in 2015. Cooper is now retired, and has presented more than 200 talks on climate change.

Dan Coulter - BC NDP

Incumbent: Yes

Dan Coulter was first elected to the legislature in 2020 with the NDP, winning with 42% of the vote. He currently serves as the Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit. Before his entry into provincial politics, he was the chair of the Chilliwack school board during one of its most tumultuous terms. Coulter was previously a local union president and millwright, and was injured in a workplace accident in 1999.

Heather Maahs - BC Conservatives

Incumbent: No

Heather Maahs is currently a Chilliwack school board trustee, and was first elected to the role in 2008. She has been aligned with Chilliwack’s socially conservative trustees. In 2022, 37% of voters cast a ballot for Maahs.

Dan Grice - Independent

Incumbent: No

Dan Grice is a lawyer running as an independent candidate in Chilliwack North. He says he opposes the NDP’s “attacks on professional independence” but it also against the Conservative’s plans to change university funding models. Before he entered law, Grice was an electoral reform organizer and has co-authored a paper on e-voting for Elections Canada.

Upcoming events

Find upcoming all-candidates meetings and townhalls here.

  • Thursday, Oct. 10: The Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce hosts an all-candidates meeting for Chilliwack North at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Thursday, Oct. 10. Admission is free. Details online.

Election coverage

Find our stories about the provincial election here. (The most recent stories will be at the top of the list.)

How to vote

If you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, and have lived in British Columbia since April 18, you are eligible to vote in the upcoming provincial election.

There are four ways to vote: at a district electoral office, by mail, on advance voting days, or on Oct. 19.

By mail

Voting by mail is available to all voters in BC—there are no special requirements to get a mail-in ballot. The ballots are issued with step-by-step instructions.

People can request a mail-in voting package online or by phone before 8pm on Sunday, Oct. 13. This is to ensure there is enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you, and for you to mail the ballot back.

Elections BC must receive your mail-in vote no later than 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19. Late votes will not be counted. Voters can return their package in the postage-paid return envelope, by dropping it off at their local district electoral office, or by dropping it off at an advance voting or general polling station.

If you do not register in advance, you will need to prove your identify and residential address by either uploading acceptable ID to Elections BC’s secure upload system or including photocopies in your voting package. (Details on how to register in advance at below.)

Advance voting

Advance voting will take place over the Thanksgiving long weekend, from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16. (Advance voting is closed on Thanksgiving Monday.) Voting is open between 8am and 8pm each day.

Like voters on election day, advance voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

Election Day

General voting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 8am to 8pm across BC. Voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

District electoral office

People who don’t want to wait in line during advance voting or on election day, and don’t want to register to vote by mail can go in person to one of Elections BC’s district electoral offices. Offices are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. They are open longer during advance voting, and are open until 4pm on election day.

There is one district electoral office for each riding. Their locations are available online.

Register in advance

Although it is not required, Elections BC strongly suggests voters register for the election in advance. Registered voters will be mailed information about the provincial election, include details on where to vote locally and when to vote. People can register online, by phone, or by mail.

Registration closes on Monday, Oct. 7. People who did not register in advance are still able to vote. They simply won’t receive a Where to Vote card in the mail.

Teens who are not yet eligible to vote can register as a future voter, so they are automatically added to the provincial voters list when they turn 18. Details are online.

Where to vote

In British Columbia, any voter can vote at any polling station for the provincial election. These are the ones in Chilliwack North.

Advance voting

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of advance voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16, unless otherwise noted.

  • Evergreen Hall (9291 Corbould St., Chilliwack)

  • Rosedale Traditional Community School (50850 Yale Rd., Chilliwack) *Only open Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12

Election day

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of election day voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19.

  • Bernard Elementary School (45465 Bernard Ave., Chilliwack)

  • Central Community Church (46100 Chilliwack Central Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Chilliwack Senior Secondary School (46363 Yale Rd., Chilliwack)

  • East Chilliwack Elementary School (49190 Chilliwack Central Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Evans Elementary School (7600 Evans Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Evergreen Hall (9291 Corbould St., Chilliwack)

  • First Ave Church (46510 First Ave., Chilliwack)

  • Greendale Elementary Community School (6621 Sumas Prairie Rd., Chilliwack)

  • McCammon Traditional Elementary School (9601 Hamilton St., Chilliwack)

  • Rosedale Traditional Community School (50850 Yale Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Strathcona Elementary School (46375 Strathcona Rd., Chilliwack)

Are we missing something? Send us an email.

Chilliwack-Cultus Lake

The former Chilliwack-Kent riding has also shifted. It is now called Chilliwack-Cultus Lake, and no longer extends north of the Fraser River. Now, Chilliwack-Cultus Lake extends north only as far as Highway 1. The riding includes much of Sardis, as well as Vedder, Yarrow, Cultus Lake, the Chilliwack River Valley, Promontory, and the Eastern Hillsides.

For information on each of the three major parties, check out our general election hub here.

You can find information on how to vote, who your candidates are, details on all-candidates meetings, and links to past stories below.

Candidates

The deadline for candidates to submit papers to run in the election was Sept. 28. Two candidates have announced they are running for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake: NDP incumbent Kelli Paddon, and Stó:lō filmmaker and administrator Á’a:líya Warbus. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order below.

Kelli Paddon - BC NDP

Incumbent: Yes

Kelli Paddon was first elected to the legislature in 2020 with the NDP, when the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding was Chilliwack-Kent. She won with 36% of the vote. Since 2022, she has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equality. Before her entry into provincial politics, Paddon was involved in policy and government relations for Community Living BC. She was also previously a youth employment counsellor and community support worker.

Á’a:líya Warbus - BC Conservatives

Incumbent: No

Á’a:líya Warbus is the director of cultural communications at Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw, an organization negotiating the treaty process for six nations in the Chilliwack area. She is also a filmmaker, and a professor in the Indigenous Digital Film department at Capilano University. Warbus is the daughter of former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Lewis Point.

Upcoming events

Find upcoming all-candidates meetings and townhalls here.

  • Thursday, Oct. 10: The Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce hosts an all-candidates meeting for Chilliwack North at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Thursday, Oct. 10. Admission is free. Details online.

Election coverage

Find our stories about the provincial election here. (The most recent stories will be at the top of the list.)

How to vote

If you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, and have lived in British Columbia since April 18, you are eligible to vote in the upcoming provincial election.

There are four ways to vote: at a district electoral office, by mail, on advance voting days, or on Oct. 19.

By mail

Voting by mail is available to all voters in BC—there are no special requirements to get a mail-in ballot. The ballots are issued with step-by-step instructions.

People can request a mail-in voting package online or by phone before 8pm on Sunday, Oct. 13. This is to ensure there is enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you, and for you to mail the ballot back.

Elections BC must receive your mail-in vote no later than 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19. Late votes will not be counted. Voters can return their package in the postage-paid return envelope, by dropping it off at their local district electoral office, or by dropping it off at an advance voting or general polling station.

If you do not register in advance, you will need to prove your identify and residential address by either uploading acceptable ID to Elections BC’s secure upload system or including photocopies in your voting package. (Details on how to register in advance at below.)

Advance voting

Advance voting will take place over the Thanksgiving long weekend, from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16. (Advance voting is closed on Thanksgiving Monday.) Voting is open between 8am and 8pm each day.

Like voters on election day, advance voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

Election Day

General voting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 8am to 8pm across BC. Voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

District electoral office

People who don’t want to wait in line during advance voting or on election day, and don’t want to register to vote by mail can go in person to one of Elections BC’s district electoral offices. Offices are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. They are open longer during advance voting, and are open until 4pm on election day.

There is one district electoral office for each riding. Their locations are available online.

Register in advance

Although it is not required, Elections BC strongly suggests voters register for the election in advance. Registered voters will be mailed information about the provincial election, include details on where to vote locally and when to vote. People can register online, by phone, or by mail.

Registration closes on Monday, Oct. 7. People who did not register in advance are still able to vote. They simply won’t receive a Where to Vote card in the mail.

Teens who are not yet eligible to vote can register as a future voter, so they are automatically added to the provincial voters list when they turn 18. Details are online.

Where to vote

In British Columbia, any voter can vote at any polling station for the provincial election. These are the polling stations in Chilliwack-Cultus Lake.

Advance voting

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of advance voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16, unless otherwise noted.

  • The'í:tselíya - S.A.Y. Health Centre (7256 Chilliwack River Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Tyson Elementary School (45170 South Sumas Rd., Chilliwack) *Only open Friday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 13

  • UFV Chilliwack Campus (45190 Caen Ave., Chilliwack) *Only open Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16

  • Yarrow Community Centre (4670 Community St., Chilliwack) *Closed Friday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 13

Election day

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of election day voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19.

  • Chilliwack Fish & Game Association Hall (48685 Chilliwack Lake Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Cultus Lake Community School (71 Sunnyside Blvd., Cultus Lake)

  • G.W. Graham Secondary School (45955 Thomas Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Mt. Slesse Middle School (5871 Tyson Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Promontory Heights Community School (46200 Stoneview Dr., Chilliwack)

  • Ryder Lake Hall (49265 Elk View Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Sardis Elementary School (45775 Manuel Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Stitó:s Lá:lém Totí:lt School (5337 Tyson Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Unity Christian School (50950 Hack-Brown Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Vedder Middle School (45560 South Sumas Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Watson Elementary School (45305 Watson Rd., Chilliwack)

  • Yarrow Community Elementary School (4595 Wilson Rd., Chilliwack)

Are we missing something? Send us an email.

Fraser-Nicola

The Fraser-Nicola riding is the largest in the Fraser Valley, extending on the north side of the Fraser River to Hatzic Lake in the west. The riding now captures more western communities than it did before, covering Dewdney, Deroche, Lake Errock, Harrison Mills, Agassiz, and Hope. The riding extends north through the Fraser Canyon through Yale, Boston Bar, Lytton and up to Lillooet. The riding also captures Manning Park in the east and Merritt in the northeast.

For information on each of the three major parties, check out our general election hub here.

You can find information on how to vote, who your candidates are, details on all-candidates meetings, and links to past stories below.

Candidates

The deadline for candidates to submit papers to run in the election was Sept. 28. Three candidates are running for Fraser-Nicola: Indigenous advocate Francyne Joe, former Mission councillor Tony Luck, and environmentalist Jonah Timms. BC United incumbent Jackie Tegart will not run again. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order below.

Francyne Joe - BC NDP

Incumbent: No

Francyne Joe is a member of the Nlaka’pamux First Nation and a human resources leader at the First Nations' Emergency Services Society of BC. She is a former president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and was an advocate in the fight against violence towards Indigenous women.

Tony Luck - BC Conservatives

Incumbent: No

Tony Luck is a real estate agent and former BC Hydro employee. He was a member of Merritt’s council until 2022, and lost a bid for Merritt’s mayoral role in 2022. Luck also served as a Mission councillor between 2011 and 2014, and ran unsuccessfully for Mission’s mayoral seat in 2014. He is involved in a number of organizations, including the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Nicola Valley, and the UFV Alumni Association.

Jonah Timms - BC Greens

Incumbent: No

Jonah Timms is a Lillooet resident, moving there to work with BC’s Ministry of Forests as a First Nations Relations Advisor. He has previously worked in Alberta conducting FireSmart surveys, with Parks Canada in Jasper, and with the Government of New Zealand doing invasive species work on remote islands. He ran in the 2020 election with the BC Greens, and lost with 13.1% of the vote.

Upcoming events

Find upcoming all-candidates meetings and townhalls here.

  • Sunday, Oct. 6: The Boston Bar North Bend Enhancement Society is hosting an all-candidates meeting on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:30pm at the Boston Bar Community Hall. All three candidates will be in attendance.

  • Sunday, Oct. 6: The Lytton and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates meeting on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 4:30pm at the Parish Hall. For more details, email [email protected].

Election coverage

Find our stories about the provincial election and related issues here. (The most recent stories will be at the top of the list.)

How to vote

If you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, and have lived in British Columbia since April 18, you are eligible to vote in the upcoming provincial election.

There are four ways to vote: at a district electoral office, by mail, on advance voting days, or on Oct. 19.

By mail

Voting by mail is available to all voters in BC—there are no special requirements to get a mail-in ballot. The ballots are issued with step-by-step instructions.

People can request a mail-in voting package online or by phone before 8pm on Sunday, Oct. 13. This is to ensure there is enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you, and for you to mail the ballot back.

Elections BC must receive your mail-in vote no later than 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19. Late votes will not be counted. Voters can return their package in the postage-paid return envelope, by dropping it off at their local district electoral office, or by dropping it off at an advance voting or general polling station.

If you do not register in advance, you will need to prove your identify and residential address by either uploading acceptable ID to Elections BC’s secure upload system or including photocopies in your voting package. (Details on how to register in advance at below.)

Advance voting

Advance voting will take place over the Thanksgiving long weekend, from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16. (Advance voting is closed on Thanksgiving Monday.) Voting is open between 8am and 8pm each day.

Like voters on election day, advance voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

Election Day

General voting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 8am to 8pm across BC. Voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station. Voters can either:

  • Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address. (Examples: BC Driver’s License, BC Identification Card, BC Services Card with photo, a Certificate of Indian Status, etc.) OR

  • Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address. (Examples: birth certificate, passport, Canada Child Tax Benefit statement, student card, bank statement, Where to Vote card, residential lease, report card) OR

  • If you don’t have identification, you can have another person vouch for your identify. (Elections BC specifies which people can vouch for another voter.)

A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website.

All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote.

District electoral office

People who don’t want to wait in line during advance voting or on election day, and don’t want to register to vote by mail can go in person to one of Elections BC’s district electoral offices. Offices are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. They are open longer during advance voting, and are open until 4pm on election day.

There is one district electoral office for each riding. Their locations are available online.

Register in advance

Although it is not required, Elections BC strongly suggests voters register for the election in advance. Registered voters will be mailed information about the provincial election, include details on where to vote locally and when to vote. People can register online, by phone, or by mail.

Registration closes on Monday, Oct. 7. People who did not register in advance are still able to vote. They simply won’t receive a Where to Vote card in the mail.

Teens who are not yet eligible to vote can register as a future voter, so they are automatically added to the provincial voters list when they turn 18. Details are online.

Where to vote

In British Columbia, any voter can vote at any polling station for the provincial election. These are the ones in the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon for the Fraser-Nicola riding.

Advance voting

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of advance voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm from Thursday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 16, unless otherwise noted.

  • Agassiz Agricultural Association Hall (6800 Pioneer Ave., Kent)

  • Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley (47585 Trans-Canada Hwy., Boston Bar) *Only open Thursday, Oct. 10 and Friday, Oct. 11

  • Leq'á:mel Community Hall (43101 Leq'a:mel Way, Lake Errock) *Only open Thursday, Oct. 10

  • Lytton Parish Hall (140 7th St, Lytton)

  • Royal Canadian Legion Branch (228 344 Fort St., Hope)

Election day

Elections BC has released a preliminary list of election day voting locations. These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 19.

  • Agassiz Agricultural Association Hall (6800 Pioneer Ave., Kent)

  • Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley (47585 Trans-Canada Hwy., Boston Bar)

  • Dewdney Elementary School (37151 Hawkins Pickle Rd., Dewdney)

  • Harrison Hot Springs Memorial Hall (290 Esplanade Ave., Harrison Hot Springs)

  • Harrison Mills Community Hall (1995 School Rd., Kent)

  • Leq'á:mel Community Hall (43101 Leq'a:mel Way, Lake Errock)

  • Lytton Parish Hall (140 7th St, Lytton)

  • Royal Canadian Legion Branch (228 344 Fort St., Hope)

  • Seabird Island Millennium Hall (2736 Sq'ewqel Dr., Kent)

  • Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation Band Office Gym (58700A St Elmo Rd., Laidlaw)

  • Silver Creek Elementary School (63831 School Rd., Hope)

  • Yale Community Centre (65050 Albert St., Yale)

Are we missing something? Send us an email.

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