While the relaunch of AHSA is focused right now on our upcoming Salmon Arm local elections, there’ll always be a potpourri of local and regional posts. The Tabs at the top (the look of AHSA) as well as the content of posts will shift after these important local elections.
General Election Day is on October 17th 2026. We’re in the official nomination period (Sept 1st – 11th) now to formally register as candidate.
I’ve posted a series of tips to help prep for leadership on the Salmon Arm council. You can easily access all those posts by clicking on Tips below a relevant post content 👇 or in the Category Cloud in the far right column 👉
Got some soleful eyes (or more likely OK where’s dinner) pet shots? It’s time to refresh my stock of “… Stare at you until you vote” photos for use here on Aim High leading up to the election. Email me at twlavery at gmail.com and I’ll add your images to the photo carousel Thx
Elections are all about available choices & options in real time. It’s helpful to recognize that candidates don’t run with or even against perfection. It’s more about candidates’ abilities to make the best decisions for SA amidst complex and often imperfect options. Given that, its so important to understand who our candidates are #SalmonArm
Candidates will have their own election campaign channels but here’s a link to contact info they provided in their nomination filings. Note: A few candidates haven’t provided any links at least to date. https://www.salmonarm.ca/526/General-Local-Election
Aim High will also link to other All Candidates meetings, forums & questionnaires as they’re announced. Stay tuned as our local election is set to soon ramp up.
Meanwhile, now’s the time to submit any Qs for candidates you may have. Use the Contact Tab at the top right to submit your own Qs. Questions should be worded in a general way so that all candidates for mayor or council or school trustee can respond. Thx
Running from today Mon Sept 14th to Fri at noon, UBCM provides invaluable opportunities for local government elected officials to learn, connect and decide on policy initiatives for the future. The learning aspect is done through keynote speakers, seminars and panels on current issues relevant to local governments. There’re also opportunities to meet with provincial ministers and various ministry staff. UBCM is an incredible opportunity for the newly elected to *start* to get up to speed as well as a venue for more seasoned politicos to refine their understandings and even contribute to leadership on these provincial directions. #SalmonArm has been active in all these aspects!
In terms of policy direction, there are 229 resolutions up for debate/adoption. They can be found here https://www.ubcm.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/2026%20UBCM%20Resolutions%20Book.pdf One aspect that is often unclear to the public is that voting on these resolutions is based on those who actually attend the conference resolutions sessions. It’s not a function of what any local government table may have supported or not.
The procedural process for dealing with these resolutions is too lengthy to detail here but it works. The process culminates with UBCM reporting back to the membership the responses from higher levels of govt to the adopted resolutions.
The full UBCM program schedule is here. https://www.ubcm.ca/2026/program For me, UBCM has been the most valuable learning tool I’ve had!
The campaign period starts on Sept 19th after the deadline for candidates to withdraw is reached. Here’s what’s next Aim High wise!
Aim High will be a community hub (hopefully there’ll be others) that features 3 portals to Q&As being asked in the community: (1) A go-to for links to what other media (SA Observer, FriAM etc) and community organizations are posting (2) Qs from the public that are sent to AHSA. See https://timlavery.ca/candidates-qas/ for how to submit to Aim High. My commitment is to ensure that these questions are fair, respectful and apply to all of the candidates. (3) A few short questions from me – mainly on governance-related matters – to all candidates in all of the 3 local races. These Qs will start to rollout in the next ten days or so after the start of the campaign period and will be batched up here as posts.
Contact me using the Contact tab above
From close of the nomination period – all in one spot … from https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7476/DECLARATION-OF-CANDIDATES—September-11-2026
I’ll update this list regularly as public announced statements are made and/or nominations are filed and posted – in order (as best as can be determined). If you’re a candidate who’s publicly announced but I’ve missed you, please let me know! The official final confirmed list will be updated in mid-September.
Here’s the link for publicly announced Candidates for Salmon Arm Council seats (6 positions) https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/08/announced-candidates-for-salmon-arm-council/
Here’s the link for publicly announced Candidates for Salmon Arm’s two SD83 Trustee positions https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/08/announced-candidates-for-salmon-arms-school-district-83-trustee-seats/
I’ll update this list regularly as public announced statements are made and/or nominations are filed and posted– in order (as best as can be determined). If you’re a candidate who’s publicly announced but I’ve missed you, please let me know! The tally of those who have formally filed will be updated at the end of each day as the Chief Elections Officer updates the list (see link below). The official final confirmed list will be updated in mid-September. There are 6 positions on Salmon Arm council.
The nomination period to officially submit papers is Sept 1st – 11th. We’re likely to see further candidate announcements by the end of the 11th. During this formal nomination period, the Chief Elections Officer will regularly post at the end of each day who has filed their nomination papers. Here’s the city election page link to Who has formally filed! Also listed there is contact campaign info, websites and social media platforms that candidates may have provided.
See https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/10/hx-of-candidates-for-salmon-arm-council/ for the number of candidates who have run in our past local elections since 2008.
Here’s the link for publicly announced Candidates for Salmon Arm Mayor https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/08/announced-candidates-for-salmon-arm-mayor/
Here’s the link for publicly announced Candidates for Salmon Arm’s two SD83 Trustee positions https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/08/announced-candidates-for-salmon-arms-school-district-83-trustee-seats/
Aim High Salmon Arm 