The race in context
Six council seats, thirteen candidates. Two mayoral candidates. Mayor Darcy Dober (councillor from 2020, mayor from 2022 with 83 percent of the vote) is not running. Councillors Jerimy Earl and Charlie Parslow are not running. Turnout in 2022 was about 25 percent, or 2,227 voters.[1]
The 2022 council results, with six elected, were:[1]
2022 council results
| Candidate | Votes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Sudnik | 1,352 | 60.7% | Elected |
| Kyle MacDonald | 1,250 | 56.1% | Elected |
| Amy Kaempf | 1,096 | 49.2% | Elected |
| Gregg Apolonio | 1,080 | 48.5% | Elected |
| Jerimy Earl | 1,075 | 48.3% | Elected |
| Charlie Parslow | 1,061 | 47.6% | Elected |
| Sue Kenny | 958 | 43.0% | |
| Aaron Rogers | 848 | 38.1% | |
| Johanna Martens | 742 | 33.3% | |
| April Cire Floriant | 643 | 28.9% | |
| Raistlin Van Spronsen | 479 | 21.5% |
Six elected (bold). Source: Energeticcity.ca, October 16, 2022.[1]
Issues the next council inherits
Water supply
The Kiskatinaw River, the city's only water source since 1942, has been in a multi-year drought. Council declared a State of Local Emergency in October 2025 and renewed it in January 2026. The Phase 1 feasibility study presented in August 2026 priced the options: stay on the Kiskatinaw ($55M in maintenance plus $85M if overland pumping is needed), the Pine River ($194M), the Peace River at Clayhurst ($255M), or the Peace River at Taylor ($272M).[2]
Where candidates stand: Kyle MacDonald lists water security as a platform plank. Monica Rogers supports a long-term project ("no band-aid fixes"). Mike Sudnik mentions "water supply and security." Raistlin Van Spronsen lists sustainable water solutions. On council, MacDonald seconded the 2025 emergency declaration, Amy Kaempf co-moved the late item adding it, and Gregg Apolonio seconded the feasibility-study funding. No candidate has taken a position on the Pine River versus Peace River options or on financing a project priced at $194M to $272M.
Budget and taxes
The 2026 budget is $92M with a 5.45 percent tax-rate increase (the first draft was 6.5 percent), about $113 more for the average homeowner, and a recognized $10M-a-year infrastructure deficit.[3][4]
Where candidates stand: Kyle MacDonald moved the January 2026 budget package and Mike Sudnik seconded it. Gregg Apolonio voted against the package but for the final rate. Amy Kaempf moved the final 5.45 percent budget. Dwaine Dilworth ("responsible spending") and Angela Healey ("It's taxpayer money") campaign on spending without naming a number. Steven Reynolds proposes growing the tax base by recruiting businesses rather than "asking more" of residents. Judy Kucharuk's "scarcity mindset" essay questions treating spending beyond "absolute survival infrastructure" as waste.
Tax exemptions and downtown incentives
Council adopted a revitalization tax-exemption bylaw, including a $3M, ten-year exemption for a Saulteau First Nations-backed travel centre on Highway 2 (April 2026).[5][6] MacDonald moved it, Sudnik seconded it, and Apolonio and Kaempf voted for it. In 2024 Apolonio (with Parslow) voted against the Downtown Incentives Action Plan, which included the revitalization tax exemption.
Crime and policing
A 2022-23 citizen movement ("Citizens Take Action" and the Community Action Group) asked council for more RCMP. Council reviewed the cost of added officers in 2024 and voted in December 2024 to keep the contract at 25 members.[7][8]
Where candidates stand: Dilworth and Reynolds were in the December 2022 business-owner delegation that asked for a dedicated RCMP unit. MacDonald and Kaempf voted in December 2024 for adding RCMP members rather than holding at 25; Apolonio and Sudnik are not recorded as opposed to holding at 25. Kucharuk supported RCMP carbines in a 2018 column. Healey says "we can be compassionate while also expecting accountability." Van Spronsen wants to "look together at RCMP resources." Sudnik mentions mental health and addiction services.
Homelessness and the Nawican shelter
The Nawican Friendship Centre shelter, now operated with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, is seeking to relocate about 300 metres and expand from 17 to 24 beds after neighbourhood complaints.[9]
Where candidates stand: no candidate has taken a position on the relocation. Healey and Van Spronsen both list "compassionate, practical solutions to mental health, addictions and homelessness." Healey is a long-time Nawican volunteer. In 2023 Dilworth objected to funding safe-injection sites instead of treatment programs. Kaempf voted against a 2019 letter supporting safer supply and inhalation sites.
Public transit
Council debated cancelling BC Transit service during the 2026 budget deliberations.[10] Van Spronsen, a daily rider, delivered a petition of nearly 500 signatures against elimination in February 2026.[11] Council renewed the BC Transit agreement in June 2026.[12]
Animal control
Council decided in a closed meeting in May 2026 to end the SPCA animal-control contract. Of the three incumbent candidates, Apolonio commented to CBC; Kaempf and Sudnik did not respond.[13]
Where the candidates stand
A one-line summary per candidate and issue, compiled from votes, statements and campaign material as of September 25, 2026. "(M)" marks the mayoral candidates. Follow the candidate's name for the details and sources behind each line.
| Candidate | Water supply | Taxes and budget | Crime and policing | Shelter and homelessness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwaine Dilworth (M) | No public position found | "Responsible spending, necessities first"; no number | "A safe community" plank; in the 2022 delegation asking for a dedicated RCMP unit | No position on relocation; 2023: objected to funding safe-injection sites over treatment |
| Kyle MacDonald (M) | First platform plank; seconded the emergency declaration; met the Premier (Jan 2026); no stated option | Moved the Jan 2026 budget package (final rate 5.45%); voted against the 2025 budget and the splash park | Voted to add RCMP members (Dec 2024); Crime Stoppers president | No public position found |
| Gregg Apolonio | Seconded feasibility-study funding; no stated option | Voted against the Jan 2026 package, for the final 5.45% rate; for the splash park; said SPCA contract cost "too much" | No stated position; not recorded as opposed to holding RCMP at 25 (Dec 2024) | No public position found |
| Rob Atkinson | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Colleen Bice | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Angela Healey | No public position found | "It's taxpayer money"; no number | "Compassionate while also expecting accountability" | No position on relocation; "compassionate, practical solutions"; long-time Nawican volunteer |
| Amy Kaempf | Moved Stage 3 restrictions and the emergency late item; no stated option | Moved the final 5.45% budget; for the splash park; said in 2018 the city "should not increase taxes" | Voted to add RCMP members (Dec 2024) | No position on relocation; voted against a 2019 safer-supply letter |
| Judy Kucharuk | No public position found | "Scarcity mindset" essay questions treating non-survival spending as waste; no number | No 2026 position; 2018 column supported RCMP carbines | No public position found |
| Steven Reynolds | No public position found | Grow the tax base by recruiting businesses rather than "asking more" of residents; no number | In the 2022 delegation asking for a dedicated RCMP unit | No public position found |
| Monica Rogers | Supports a long-term solution, "no band-aid fixes"; no stated option | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Juanita Shields | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Barb Slowinski | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Mike Sudnik | Met the Premier (Jan 2026); mentions "water supply and security"; no stated option | Seconded the Jan 2026 budget package; voted against the splash park | Mentions mental health and addiction services; not recorded as opposed to holding RCMP at 25 (Dec 2024) | No public position found |
| Karen Tom | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Raistlin Van Spronsen | Lists sustainable water solutions (added at his request); no stated option | No number; wants expanded transit service | "Look together at RCMP resources" and policing personnel | No position on relocation; "compassionate, practical solutions" |
Promises and delivery
For candidates who have held office, we compared what they said they would do when they last ran with what the minutes, grant announcements and news show happened during their term. "Delivered" needs a source showing it happened and that the candidate had a documented role (moved, seconded, voted for, applied or lobbied). Council and board decisions are collective, so credit is shared. Follow a name for each promise, its source and what happened.
| Candidate | Delivered | Partly delivered | In progress | Not delivered | Reversed | No record found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg Apolonio | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Amy Kaempf | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
No checkable campaign promises were found for: Kyle MacDonald, Mike Sudnik. Their pages explain why.
Who knows whom
Several candidates share nominators, agents or boards. A nomination signature or an agent role is not an endorsement of a platform, but it shows who knows whom.
- Former councillor Paul Gevatkoff is Dwaine Dilworth's financial agent and (likely) Colleen Bice's nominator. Dilworth is a past president (2017) of the South Peace Oilmen's Association and Gevatkoff is a director.[14][15][16]
- Blair Lekstrom (likely) nominated Rob Atkinson.[17]
- The Chamber of Commerce board supplies Monica Rogers (past president), Colleen Bice (director) and Kyle MacDonald (council liaison).[18]
- MacDonald's financial agent John Vetter comes from the crime-prevention organizations (South Peace District Crime Prevention Association, Crime Stoppers). Dilworth and Steven Reynolds were both in the 2022 citizen crime delegation.[19][20]
- Gregg Apolonio's page promoted a MacDonald meet-and-greet.[21]
Sources cited on this page
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 16, 2022, "Darcy Dober new mayor of Dawson Creek in landslide victory". energeticcity.ca/2022/10/16/darcy-dober-new-mayor-of-dawson-creek-in-la…
- CBC News, Aug 12, 2026, "Dawson Creek water pipeline cost nearly triples". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-water-pipeline-cost-ne…
- CBC News, Dec 30, 2025, "Dawson Creek considering tax increase for 2026". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-considering-tax-increa…
- CJDC-TV, Feb 4, 2026, "Dawson Creek residents could see a lower proposed tax increase than expected". cjdctv.com/news/article/dawson-creek-residents-could-see-a-lower-propos…
- CBC News, Apr 15, 2026, "Dawson Creek Highway 2 travel centre tax break". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-highway-2-travel-centr…
- Council minutes, Apr 13, 2026 (Highway 2 travel centre tax exemption). dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/160497/
- Northern Beat (Rob Shaw), Jan 13, 2023, "Dawson Creek residents combat crime 'crisis'". northernbeat.ca/news/dawson-creek-residents-combat-crime-crisis/
- Energeticcity.ca, Apr 17, 2024, "Dawson Creek council discusses costs to add additional RCMP to address crime". energeticcity.ca/2024/04/17/dawson-creek-council-discusses-costs-to-add…
- CBC News, Aug 12, 2026, "Dawson Creek homeless shelter seeking to address issues". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-homeless-shelter-seeki…
- CJDC-TV, Dec 17, 2025, "Dawson Creek council weighs future of BC Transit during first 2026 draft budget review". cjdctv.com/news/article/dawson-creek-council-weighs-future-of-bc-transi…
- Council document 158268 (Feb 1, 2026 transit petition). dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/158268
- Dawson Creek council minutes, June 15, 2026 (BC Transit agreement renewed) (civicweb document 162838). dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/162838/
- CBC News, May 28, 2026, "Why is Dawson Creek council cutting SPCA animal control?". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/why-is-dawson-creek-council-cutting…
- Nomination package, Dwaine Dilworth (City PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dawsoncreek-013-ca/media/cmdnmnkc/dilwort…
- Nomination package, Colleen Bice (City PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dawsoncreek-013-ca/media/0mpludtl/bice-co…
- South Peace Oilmen's Association, past presidents list. southpeaceoilmen.ca/past-presidents/
- Nomination package, Rob Atkinson (City PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dawsoncreek-013-ca/media/3mwkfdz2/atkinso…
- Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce, Board and Staff page. dawsoncreekchamber.ca/about/board-staff/
- Nomination package, Kyle MacDonald (City PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dawsoncreek-013-ca/media/0ywl2o11/macdona…
- Council minutes, Dec 5, 2022 (business owners' crime delegation). dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/130670/
- Gregg Apolonio, Councillor, City of Dawson Creek (Facebook page). facebook.com/people/Gregg-Apolonio-Councillor-Elect-City-Of-Dawson-Cree…