Councillor

6 seats8 declared candidatesNominations close Fri, Sep 11, 4 pm

Sam Atwal Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Debbie Haggard Declared Incumbent

Incumbent city councillor, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 (2,193 votes). Seeking a third term.

Verified Sep 8· Source: official candidate list

Diljeet Hundal Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Janis Joseph Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Nina Kossenko Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Anna Perry Declared

Declared candidate, September 2026. Background will be added when candidate information is published.

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Cindy Solda Declared Incumbent

Incumbent city councillor, elected in 2022 (2,083 votes). Previously served on Port Alberni council from 2001 to 2014.

Verified Sep 8· Source: official candidate list

Tom Verbrugge Declared

Background not yet verified· Source: official candidate list

Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname with identical fields. Backgrounds contain verified public facts only; candidate-written statements are labelled as such. Report an error · Missing candidate? Tell us.

What the Councillor does

Port Alberni elects six Councillors at large — the whole city votes for all six seats and the top six vote-getters win. Together with the Mayor they form the seven-member Council.

Council's job, as a group, is to:

Set the City's annual budget and property tax rates
Pass bylaws — zoning, business licensing, parking, noise, and everything else the City regulates
Adopt and amend the Official Community Plan, and approve or refuse rezonings and development permits
Decide what services the City delivers (water, sewer, roads, fire, parks, recreation, the RCMP contract) and at what level
Hire and direct the Chief Administrative Officer
Appoint residents to advisory committees and boards

Each Councillor's individual duties under the Community Charter (s.115) are to consider the well-being and interests of the whole community, contribute to council decisions, take part in meetings and committees, and keep in-camera matters confidential. Councillors also represent the City on outside bodies such as ACRD committees, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Hospital District, the Alberni Valley Regional Airport and the library board. It is a part-time role with a stipend.

Where to vote

Advance · Oct 7 & Oct 14
Echo Centre, Dogwood Room
4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni · 8:00 am–8:00 pm

General Voting Day · Oct 17
Echo Centre, Cedar Room
4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni · 8:00 am–8:00 pm

How to vote in Port Alberni

Other races hereMayor

This list can change until nominations close on Fri, Sep 11 and the withdrawal deadline passes. Each candidate's verification date is shown on their card.