How would Comox Valley local candidates move toward reconciliation?

Leading up to the 2026 municipal election in the Comox Valley, The Discourse surveyed readers to learn what they wanted to know from candidates running for council and mayor.

The top issues that readers said are on their mind were environment, reconciliation and housing.

Based on your feedback, we sent five reader questions to candidates for Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland and asked them to respond with a maximum of three sentences. There were so many insightful questions and comments made in the survey and we tried to pick ones that were specific to the community and top issues of interest.

Responses are listed with mayoral candidates first, followed by council candidates, each in alphabetical order by last name, and have been lightly edited for length, clarity and fact-checking.

As a reminder, Cumberland and Comox mayors are acclaimed but we still asked candidates for responses.

Q. Out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action, which calls do you want to ensure are addressed locally, and how?

City of Courtenay

Trish McPhail (Mayor)

Trish McPhail did not respond by the deadline.

“Since 2015, McPhail has advocated within School District #71 and the public at large for empowerment, inclusion, equity, and the eradication of anti-Indigenous racism.” (Comox Valley Record, Sept. 18)

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Manno Theos (Mayor)

Manno Theos did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Bob Wells (Mayor), incumbent

Although the majority of the 94 Calls to Action are targeted to Provincial and Federal Governments, I will continue to work closely supporting local First Nations through events like Community to Community forums, Spirit Walks (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), and National Indigenous Peoples Day.  I will ensure the city continues to support K’omoks First Nations specifically as they work towards the first modern treaty and continue to sincerely acknowledge the unceded lands during meetings and events.

Phil Adams

Phil Adams did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Vasil Beaton

Truth and reconciliation has to be more than words on a statement or a ceremony once a year. It has to involve relationships, respect and action. At the local level, I want to focus on the Calls to Action where municipal government can make a meaningful difference—particularly around education, Indigenous history and culture, respectful relationships with First Nations, and ensuring Indigenous perspectives are included in decisions that affect our communities. I would support working directly with the K’ómoks First Nation and other Indigenous partners to identify practical local priorities rather than having the City decide for Indigenous communities what reconciliation should look like.

Guan-Carlo (Benny) Benvenuti

Guan-Carlo (Benny) Benvenuti did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Rosanna Chamberlin

Rosanna Chamberlin did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Dick Clancy

Dick Clancy did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

John Dacombe

Only 5 of the Calls To Action are within the powers of municipal government: Relationship Building; Education and Training; Commemoration and Visibility; Archives and Records; and Framework Adoption. I believe the current Council has ensured that local government is addressing these issues well, and I would support that to continue.

Erik Eriksson

Erik Eriksson did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

David Frisch, incumbent

David Frisch did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Evan Jolicoeur, incumbent

We have committed to implementing them, and DRIPA. I successfully passed a motion asking the province to fund this work so that local governments and First Nations have the capacity to work collaboratively towards addressing the actions & objectives within both. Specifically I would focus on lobbying the provincial government to rapidly advance the calls within their mandate while continuing to resource training for local government staff and partners.

Jessie Lightburn

Jessie Lightburn did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Jin Lin

Jin Lin did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Kelly Matthews

Kelly Matthews did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Thomas McDevitt

Thomas McDevitt did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Dave Mellin

Dave Mellin did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Wendy Morin, incumbent

Education and Public Awareness (Calls 6–12, 57): I want to ensure the City continues to provide cultural competency and anti-racism training for staff and elected officials, partners with K’omoks First Nations and other local indigenous people on territorial acknowledgments and community education; and advances the Anti-Racism Strategy as adopted by council. Commemoration and Public Spaces (Calls 79–83): I want us to maintain collaboration with survivors and the indigenous community to promote reconciliation, honour Indigenous history in the naming of civic amenities, include and highlight K’omoks First Nation history in signage and public spaces; and support local events for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous People’s Day. Consultation and Relationship Building (Calls 43–44) and Social Equity and Health Support (Calls 18–24, 39–40): I supported Courtenay’s adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for government-to-government relationships and will promote culturally safe practices in City programs, housing initiatives, and community policing/bylaw services to gain improved outcomes for urban Indigenous people.

Kitty Pitt

Kitty Pitt did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Davina Singh

Davina Singh did not respond by the deadline.

“…many of whom had survived residential schools. Seeing the impact on the lives of these individuals, is why I feel strongly about reconciliation.” (Davina Singh campaign website)

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Kam Singhania

Kam Singhania did not respond by the deadline.

See their Facebook page.

Darin Tufts

Darin Tufts did not respond by the deadline.

See their Facebook page.

Town of Comox

Nicole Minions (Mayor, acclaimed)

Nicole Minions did not respond by the deadline.

“I attended some of the treaty work with the K’omoks First Nations; there have been some moments there that have really sat with me” (Comox Valley Record, Sept. 25)

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Steve Blacklock, incumbent

Steve Blacklock did not respond by the deadline.

“I promise to do everything I possibly can to support KFN to achieve their community goals and the nation’s continuing pursuit of true self-determination and self-government, free from the oppressive colonial laws of the Federal Indian Act.” (Steve Blacklock campaign website)

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Lisa Bourgeois

Lisa Bourgeois did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Vivian Chislett

Vivian Chislett did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Ken Grant, incumbent

Ken Grant did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Chris Haslett, incumbent

Chris Haslett did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Jonathan Kerr, incumbent

Many of the Calls to Action apply to municipal governments, but if I must pick just a couple, they would be:

Call 79: Commemoration and Heritage

Comox could integrate Indigenous history, local treaty relationships, and the contributions of Indigenous peoples into public parks, street names, civic spaces, and local museums and archives.

Call 92: Business and Reconciliation (Municipal Procurement & Operations)

The Town and our downtown Business In Action could apply economic reconciliation principles by ensuring local municipal contracting, procurement, and employment practices include Indigenous businesses and equitable community partnerships.

Neil Ladell

I believe that Comox Council should fully adopt UNDRIP in its commitment to working with the K’ómoks First Nation (action #43). Council should work to ensure that skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism is provided to Council and Town staff (action #57). More generally, Comox Council should ensure that reconciliation and respect are priorities of the Town through collaboration with K’ómoks First Nation, support for National Indigenous Peoples Day and Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and policies, and practices that reflect a commitment to reconciliation.

Jenn Meilleur, incumbent

Calls to Action 43 and 57 are particularly important for local government because they call on us to implement UNDRIP as a framework for reconciliation and to learn about Indigenous history, rights, laws and Indigenous-Crown relations. I participate whenever I am invited into learning and relationship-building opportunities with local First Nations, and I believe local governments need to recognize Indigenous governance in its fullness, including our government-to-government relationship with K’ómoks First Nation and the roles of hereditary leadership, Elders and Knowledge Keepers. I was proud to support the new pole at Iwus, the Glacier View roundabout, which brings Pentlatch history back into the landscape, and I want our work on reconciliation to continue shaping how we govern and make decisions.

Ruby Sidhu

Ruby Sidhu did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Maureen Swift, incumbent

Maureen Swift did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Jessica Wegg

Jessica Wegg did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Village of Cumberland

Vickey Brown (Mayor, acclaimed), incumbent

Most of the calls are directed at higher levels of government so at the Local government level I think our responsibility is to understand the history; the generational trauma of the Indian Act, the racism directed toward Indigenous people and step up when we see it and call it out.

I also think it’s critical that we support Treaties, land back, access to indigenous food and cultural practices.

Zanoni Agnew

Zanoni Agnew did not respond by the deadline.

See their Facebook page.

Ellian Bell

Ellian Bell did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Neil Borecky, incumbent

This is a huge discussion and it’s sad to see the current polarization surrounding many of these issues and this document. As a council member, I think it’s important to educate ourselves on a basic level regarding the legal backing for land claims and how First Nations governance fits into our community. It would be hard to pick and choose specific calls because ultimately the 94 Calls to Action work as a whole and as a council we must consider it as such, including our influence on other senior levels of government and partner agencies.

Kevin Snaden

I’d focus on Calls 43 and 57, which specifically involve municipal governments: using UNDRIP as a framework for reconciliation and making sure public servants understand Indigenous history, rights and Crown-Indigenous relations. In Cumberland, I think that means continuing a respectful working relationship with K’ómoks First Nation through consultation and practical partnerships around land, water and environmental stewardship, rather than relying on symbolism alone. I’m still learning, but projects like Kus-kus-sum show what reconciliation can look like when Indigenous leadership, local government and the broader community work together on something tangible.

Sean Sullivan, incumbent

Sean Sullivan did not respond by the deadline.

See their candidate listing on CivicInfo BC.

Troy Therrien, incumbent

Troy Therrien did not respond by the deadline.

Read their platform on their campaign website.

Nick Ward, incumbent

Call 43 – for all levels of government to adopt the UN Declaration as the framework for reconciliation, is, for me, the most fundamental and challenging call upon us as municipalities. To grapple with what that means in practice, and how to work together with the K’ómoks Nation and hereditary leadership as they progress through treaty, is work we must dedicate time and effort towards.