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 👉
There are 2 trustee positions for Salmon Arm on SD #83’s five seat board. 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.
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 Council seats (6 positions) https://timlavery.ca/2026/08/08/announced-candidates-for-salmon-arm-council/
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/
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/
Provincial advocacy is about working closely (and apolitically for the most part) with your MLA to mutually address specific local govt concerns with higher levels of government. It’s not just the issues that matter but the combined eforts to provide local context and solutions. It does make a difference when Ministers and top ministry staff are aware of our top concerns & priorities. #SalmonArm does that! It’s ongoing work to be seen as a reliable and trusted partner be it at UBCM or in ongoing interactions. Flashback #UBCM2019
Local govt elected politicos work on critical policies that those before them may have started and others will advocate for actions after they/you may no longer be there at the table. #UBCM2018 blast from the past! Proud to have worked closely with our #SalmonArm squad!
It’s a legitimate & typical Q that most councillor candidates ask about … and the answer is … it depends – and likely varies with who you ask! For me, for the city, it’s *usually* 15 – 20 hours per week incl. scheduled council meetings, chairing of assigned committees, touching base with residents and prep beforehand for all of that. The analogy of a rookie politico getting up-to-speed on key files being similar to trying to drink from a fire hose is more than apt. Reading & consulting on background aspects is full-on time consuming at the start. It’ll likely take a year or so for this initial phase. The time commitments didn’t change that much for me even after I managed to get a handle on core files. The hours simply transferred to more fully understanding other key issues of interest or emerging importance. The hours do change a titch depending on the time of year as well. They rarely go down. Budget deliberation time incl. prep often takes days – and that’s amidst all of the regularly scheduled meetings.
The red highlights are direct city-based meetings, inservice or input sessions. The green are my regional district commitments and the orange is mainly related to meetings with individuals. The different months are a good snapshot of my time spent.
So, Mondays are pretty well full-on afternoon council meetings (1pm for a few hours and sometimes 7pm for public hearings) or Planning time (8am- of varying length – usually 1 -2 hours). Mid-weeks for me are often touching base with staff, residents or prep’ing for other sessions. Your mileage may vary for sure but this is my typical weekly shift. Community events during the week and the weekends aren’t reflected here either.
There’s a corollary to Tip 6(a) Budget Decisions are the Key https://timlavery.ca/2026/06/24/6a-budgetary-decisions-are-a-starting-point/ that’s also about what the community and elected officials value. Rather than the aspirational wording of mission statements and campaign promises, budget line items reflect the actual oomf behind meeting (or starting to anyhow) those values & targets.
It’s still true that if it’s not in the annual budget it’s not going to get done. It’s also true that what’s of value needs to be budgeted for. If x,y or z is an espoused goal, it needs to be reflected in the budget.
Aim High Salmon Arm 