SOUTH OKANAGAN

Oliver2026 election guide

Meet the candidates, explore the issues and make an informed choice.

Regional view: Okanagan Lake from the Naramata Bench · Becks · CC BY 2.0 · Display crop & overlay

Plan your vote in OliverOctober 17, 2026 · Races, locations, ID and deadlinesView plan

1. Confirm your races

Mayor · 1 seat
Council · 4 seats
Water councillor — rural water service · 2 seats
SD53 — Oliver / Area C trustees · 2 seats
Officially elected by acclamation; no vote is required for this seat.

Your address and eligibility determine which races apply. Confirm rural, trustee and any special-service boundaries with the election office.

Water councillors represent the applicable rural water-service areas; this is not a general municipal council seat. Check your eligibility with the Town.

SD53’s Oliver trustee area includes the Town and RDOS Area C.

2. Choose when and where

General voting: October 17, 2026. Confirm the location and its hours before travelling.

Advance voting: October 7 and 8, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Oliver Community Hall.

General-day locations, individual opening hours and mail-ballot deadlines are not fully verified in this plan. Use the official source below or contact the election office.

3. Check ID and access

Check the official identification requirements for your registration and residency situation. Ask the election office about accessible entrances, assistance or special voting arrangements you need.

Official voting information for Oliver

Source checked September 28, 2026. This plan needs no account and stores no personal information. Confirm changes with the election office.

Voting questions for Oliver

Plain-language voter FAQ

General B.C. local-election rules, with voting information for Oliver. Confirm your circumstances with the election office.

Search voting questions9 answers

Who can vote as a resident?

You must be a Canadian citizen, 18 by general voting day, resident in B.C. for six months before registration, resident in the municipality or electoral area, and not legally disqualified. Renting does not exclude you.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 65

Can I register when I vote?

Yes. Eligible voters can register immediately before voting. Ask your election office what to bring.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 68

What identification do I need?

For resident registration at voting, bring two documents proving identity and residence; one must have your signature. If they do not establish residence, a solemn declaration can establish it. Confirm accepted documents locally.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 72

Can I choose fewer candidates than the maximum?

Yes. Do not exceed the ballot’s limit for an office. An unmarked contest records no vote. Follow the ballot instructions.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 139

Can someone help me mark my ballot?

Ask an election official. Assistance and translation have safeguards; candidates, their representatives and financial agents cannot help mark ballots.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 131

What if I own property but live elsewhere?

Separate non-resident property rules apply, including ownership duration and co-owner consent. Ask the election office to confirm eligibility.

B.C. Local Government Act, section 66

Are official voter guides available in other languages?

The Province of British Columbia publishes its local-election voter guide in Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, English, Farsi, French, Korean and Punjabi. These links open the Province’s PDFs. Confirm local voting arrangements with your election office. Automatic browser translations of this website are not official translations.

Province of British Columbia resource listing. Links and publisher labels checked September 19, 2026. The guide links these files unchanged; it has not independently reviewed every translation.

Which school-trustee area applies to me?

Use the race and boundary notes for Oliver below. Confirm your electoral area with the election office; choosing a community in this guide does not establish eligibility.

Mayor Race source
Council Race source
Water councillor — rural water service Race source
SD53 — Oliver / Area C trustees
Officially elected by acclamation; no vote is required for this seat.
Race source

Water councillors represent the applicable rural water-service areas; this is not a general municipal council seat. Check your eligibility with the Town.

SD53’s Oliver trustee area includes the Town and RDOS Area C.

Is this guide an official ballot? Do I need an account?

No. This is an independent research guide. Saving, comparing or sharing choices here does not cast a vote or register you to vote. Reading these answers needs no account, address or identification documents. Do not enter personal information in the search box.

Official voting information for Oliver

General rules checked September 19, 2026 against the Act current to September 15. Community source last checked September 28, 2026. Local arrangements and trustee eligibility need confirmation with the election office.

THE PEOPLE RUNNING

Explore the candidates

Choose a race, open a profile and compare the available evidence. Missing research does not establish a candidate’s views.

Election raceSearch candidates

For fairness, candidates are shown in a random order within each office. The order changes each time you refresh the page.

14 candidates shown

Mayor 2 candidates

Mayor

Aimee Grice

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Aimee Grice is running for Oliver mayor after eight years on council, according to her campaign.

2 reviewed public statements

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Her campaign describes regional and provincial municipal leadership and work at Venables Theatre. She emphasizes housing choices, infrastructure planning and a diverse local economy.

She wants to rebuild reserves and pursue funding before asking residents to pay more. She also calls for local healthcare advocacy and accessible public spaces; healthcare delivery remains a provincial responsibility.

Based on the candidate’s own account. Aimee Grice campaign website ↗ · Candidate biography ↗. 2026 campaign; page undated. Reviewed October 8, 2026.

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Rental housing · Campaign website

Proposes permit turnaround commitments, targeted fee waivers and time-limited tax exemptions for purpose-built rentals. Would explore ground leases on surplus Town land for non-profit and workforce housing.

Published: 2026 campaign; page undated. Reviewed: October 8, 2026.

Proposals, not adopted programs. Municipal land would remain publicly owned under the proposed leases.

Read the original source ↗

Infrastructure funding · Campaign website

Would finish asset management work, rebuild reserves and pursue grants and existing revenue tools before relying on property taxes alone. Wants residents to understand project funding and trade-offs.

Published: 2026 campaign; page undated. Reviewed: October 8, 2026.

Her infrastructure cost estimate is a campaign claim and is not presented here as independently verified.

Read the original source ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Mayor

Wayne Anderson

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Wayne Anderson is listed as a candidate for mayor in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 8 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council 7 candidates

Council

Jack Bennest

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Jack Bennest is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 9 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

Tom Szalay

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Tom Szalay is running for Oliver council after a long career in municipal administration.

1 reviewed public statement

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

His campaign says he served as Oliver’s municipal manager and chief administrative officer from 1990 to 2014, working with nine councils and six mayors. He describes returning three times after retirement to fill temporary management vacancies.

He presents that administrative experience as useful to a council with several new members. His campaign discusses the trade-offs between infrastructure renewal, service levels, taxes, conservation and the cost of new development.

Based on the candidate’s own account. Tom Szalay campaign biography ↗. 2026 campaign; page undated. Reviewed September 15, 2026.

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Water, infrastructure & development · Campaign website

Favours scheduled maintenance and upgrades over emergency repairs, and continued shared-service partnerships with RDOS. Suggests exploring tiered domestic-water pricing and balancing habitat protection with development. Supports growth contributing to the extra infrastructure capacity it requires.

Published: 2026 campaign; page undated. Reviewed: September 15, 2026.

Read the original source ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 10 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

Leigh Lougheed

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Leigh Lougheed is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 9 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

Warren Brown

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Warren Brown is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

Dermott Hutton

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Dermott Hutton is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 9 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

JP Vala

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

JP Vala is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified campaign links

Candidate background and priorities — Chamber guide, page 10 ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Council

Jennifer McConnell

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Jennifer McConnell is listed as a candidate for council in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Water councillor — rural water service 3 candidates

Water councillor — rural water service

Rick Machial

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Rick Machial is listed as a candidate for water councillor — rural water service in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Water councillor — rural water service

Bhupinder Dhaliwal

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Bhupinder Dhaliwal is listed as a candidate for water councillor — rural water service in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Water councillor — rural water service

Geoff Nickson

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Geoff Nickson is listed as a candidate for water councillor — rural water service in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

SD53 — Oliver / Area C trustees 2 candidates

SD53 — Oliver / Area C trustees

Robert Zandee

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Officially elected by acclamation; no vote is required for this seat.

Robert Zandee is listed as a candidate for sd53 — oliver / area c trustees in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

SD53 — September 21 declaration of election by acclamation ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

SD53 — Oliver / Area C trustees

Julie Davies

Listed nomination · checked September 28, 2026

Officially elected by acclamation; no vote is required for this seat.

Julie Davies is listed as a candidate for sd53 — oliver / area c trustees in Oliver. A fuller background and policy summary is still being researched.

Issue-position research in progress

Read candidate profile

Get to know the candidate

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

Verified photograph unavailable.

Where they stand

What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.

Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗

How to read these statements

Likes, follows, reposts and silence do not establish a position. Older material and changes over time are labelled. Read our research standards.

Background and voting record

No individual voting records or complete business disclosures have been verified for this section. Submit information or a correction ↗

Nomination source

SD53 — September 21 declaration of election by acclamation ↗

Official record · checked September 28, 2026

Have a source or correction?

Include this candidate’s name, Oliver, the exact statement and a dated original source. Information is privately reviewed before publication.

Submit information ↗

Official sources

Oliver — election and voting information ↗Official record · checked September 28, 2026
Oliver — September 21 declaration of election by voting ↗Official record · checked September 28, 2026
SD53 — September 21 declaration of election by acclamation ↗Official record · checked September 28, 2026