Pouce Coupe: mayor and council
Pouce Coupe is a village of about 700 people ten kilometres southeast of Dawson Creek. It elects a mayor and four councillors. On October 17, 2026 both races are contested: three candidates for mayor and seven for four council seats. Nobody was acclaimed.[2]
The whole sitting council is running again: Mayor Danielle Veach and Councillors Raymond Johnston, Kurtis Rabel, James Wall and Marcel Woodill. Former mayor Lorraine Michetti, who lost to Veach by five votes in 2022, is back for a rematch, and Dawson Creek businessman Frank Ripley is also running for mayor. The council challengers are Brianna Carriere, Chad Spencer and Tracey Winland.[30][31]
When this was gathered. Everything on this page was gathered in September 2026, before the October 1 all-candidates forum. It is a snapshot and will only change for corrections. The Village had not posted adopted minutes after April 14, 2026, so the council record for April to September 2026 comes from draft minutes printed in later agenda packages.
Click any candidate for a full profile with sources. Names are listed in ballot order (alphabetical by surname).
Key dates
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m. | All-candidates forum | Pouce Coupe Community Centre. The organizer is not named in the Village notice.[1] |
| Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Advance voting (the only advance day) | Village Office, 5011 49 Avenue.[2] |
| Sat, Oct 17, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | General voting day | Pouce Coupe Community Centre, 5010 52 Avenue. Voters register when they vote: bring two pieces of ID, one with a signature.[2] |
Mayor (vote for one)
Three candidates. Veach beat Michetti by five votes in 2022.
Lorraine MichettiFormer mayor, 2016 to 2022. Rematch with Veach.
Frank RipleyDawson Creek cobbler and manufacturer. First run.
Danielle VeachMayor since 2022. Runs on infrastructure.Incumbent
Council (vote for up to four)
Four seats. Seven candidates. All four sitting councillors are running again.
Brianna CarriereCouncil challenger. No public record found.
Raymond JohnstonTwo-term councillor. Majority's usual seconder.Incumbent
Kurtis RabelFirst-term councillor. Council's main fiscal dissenter.Incumbent
Chad SpencerCouncil challenger. Carpenter; 16 years in Pouce Coupe.
James WallFirst-term councillor. Author of the property-rights resolution.IncumbentTracey WinlandCouncil challenger. Little public record.
Marcel Woodill2022 poll-topper. Search and rescue deputy chief.Incumbent
At a glance
| Candidate | Running for | Status | Occupation | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine Michetti | Mayor | Former mayor (2016 to 2022); lost to Veach by 5 votes in 2022 | Bookkeeper; long tied to A & D Office Services Ltd., Dawson Creek | Transparency, consultation, infrastructure, financial stability |
| Frank Ripley | Mayor | First-time candidate | Cobbler; owner, Rip's Shoe Re-Nu and Rip's Cleats (Dawson Creek) | No platform found |
| Danielle Veach | Mayor | Incumbent mayor (elected 2022); councillor 2021 to 2022 | Educational assistant, School District 59 (self-reported) | Infrastructure, especially water and sewer |
| Brianna Carriere | Council | First-time candidate | Not found | No platform found |
| Raymond Johnston | Council | Incumbent (elected 2014 and 2022) | Parts technician (self-reported) | No 2026 statement found; infrastructure-first in 2018 |
| Kurtis Rabel | Council | Incumbent (elected 2022) | Student housing manager, Northern Lights College (self-reported) | No 2026 statement found; opposed every tax increase this term |
| Chad Spencer | Council | First-time candidate | Carpenter (self-reported) | "Local Roots. Stronger Community. By Working Together." |
| James Wall | Council | Incumbent (elected 2022) | Civil infrastructure drafting technologist (self-reported) | "Keep taxes affordable," outside funding, partnerships |
| Tracey Winland | Council | First-time candidate | Possibly lodge general manager (unconfirmed) | No platform found |
| Marcel Woodill | Council | Incumbent (2021 by-election; topped the 2022 poll) | Safety industry: medic, rescue technician, safety instructor (self-reported) | Second full term; "professional and respectful" campaign |
2022 results
Mayor, 2022
| Candidate | Votes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danielle Veach | 84 | 32.2% | Elected |
| Lorraine Michetti (incumbent) | 79 | 30.3% | |
| William (Bill) Plowright | 53 | 20.3% | |
| Edmond Boyer | 45 | 17.2% |
Share of the 261 mayoral votes. Source: Energeticcity.ca, October 16, 2022; confirmed by the Dawson Creek Mirror.[3][4]
Council, 2022 (four elected)
| Candidate | Votes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcel Woodill | 179 | Elected | |
| Kurtis Rabel | 170 | Elected | |
| James Wall | 170 | Elected | |
| Raymond Johnston | 154 | Elected | |
| Marlene Hebert (incumbent) | 104 | ||
| Barbara Smith (incumbent) | 75 | ||
| Richard Mineault | 73 |
Four elected (bold). No official 2022 turnout was found; 261 mayoral ballots against "about 570" eligible voters is roughly 46 percent (our estimate).[3][5]
Issues the next council inherits
Water supply and Dawson Creek
Pouce Coupe buys all its water from Dawson Creek under a water supply agreement. The Kiskatinaw River is "the sole source of drinking water for the City of Dawson Creek and Village of Pouce Coupe, serving approximately 15,000 people," and is in its fourth year of drought.[6] The Village's water operating costs rose 10.76 percent in 2025, and it consulted residents on raising taxes or utility rates.[7] Dawson Creek's supply decision, with options priced from $194M to $272M, will largely set Pouce Coupe's future water cost.[8]
Where candidates stand: no Pouce Coupe candidate has said anything about the pipeline options or the supply agreement.
Water and sewer infrastructure
The 2026 Infrastructure Master Plan will produce a water system capital plan and finish a sewer system capital plan.[9] The sewage lagoon bank, damaged in the 2016 floods, was stabilized in October 2025 with a $3,005,440 provincial grant.[10][11]
Where candidates stand: Veach makes water and sewer her main focus. Johnston has put infrastructure first since 2018. Michetti lists infrastructure repairs. Nobody has said how the capital plan will be paid for.
Property taxes
The council majority (Veach, Johnston, Woodill) passed a 10 percent increase in 2024, about 7 percent in 2025 and a 5 percent "blended rate" in 2026, with Rabel dissenting each time and Wall usually joining him.[12][13][14] CJDC-TV reported a 2024 plan for "10 per cent year-over-year" increases until 2028.[15]
Where candidates stand: Michetti cut taxes 25 percent in 2020 and calls later increases "unacceptable." Wall moved an "up to 15%" increase in 2023, then opposed the later ones. Rabel offered a 5 percent alternative that protected the library and museum.
Records requests and legal costs
The Village has spent more than $18,000 on outside legal help processing Michetti's Freedom of Information requests about the North Winds Wellness Centre and legal costs. Veach calls "repeat FOIs" a strain on a small staff; Michetti says the Privacy Commissioner ordered the Village to process her request.[16] The Village had not posted adopted minutes after April 14, 2026 when this was compiled.
Administration turnover
The Village has had several chief administrative officers since 2022, including an interim appointment in July 2023[17] and a new CAO in November 2024.[18] Council split the CAO and Corporate Officer roles in September 2025.[19]
Property rights and Indigenous title
In March 2026 council sent resolutions to the NCLGA and UBCM: Wall's on protecting fee-simple private property, Veach's asking for a "transparency framework" for Indigenous title negotiations, and one asking that local governments be exempt from the new PST on professional services.[20][21]
Other open items
- A proposal for the region to adopt Alberta time.[22]
- The fire hall expansion, with $250,000 from the regional district.[23]
- Phase 2 of the Village Office park playground, which council could refer to the 2027 budget.[24][25]
Where the candidates stand
A one-line summary per candidate and issue, compiled from votes, statements and campaign material as of September 24, 2026. Follow the candidate's name for the details and sources.
| Candidate | Water and sewer | Taxes | North Winds and records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine Michetti (M) | Lists infrastructure repairs; no position on the Dawson Creek supply | Cut taxes 25% in 2020; calls later increases "unacceptable" | Filed the FOI requests; wanted the centre at Farmington |
| Frank Ripley (M) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Danielle Veach (M) | Main focus; moved key lagoon motions (shared credit); master plan | Moved the 10%, 7% and 5% increases | Supports the centre; calls repeat FOIs a strain |
| Brianna Carriere (C) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Raymond Johnston (C) | Infrastructure-first since 2018; "facts before we spend" | Seconded or moved the majority's budgets | No public position found |
| Kurtis Rabel (C) | No public position found | Voted against every increase; grow the commercial tax base | No public position found |
| Chad Spencer (C) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| James Wall (C) | Moved the lagoon grant application; opposed 2023 engineering steps | Moved "up to 15%" in 2023; opposed 2024 to 2026 increases | Declared a conflict on North Winds items (reason not recorded) |
| Tracey Winland (C) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Marcel Woodill (C) | No public position found | Main seconder of the 10%, 7% and 5% increases | No public position found |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine Michetti | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Danielle Veach | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Raymond Johnston | 1 | 2 | ||||
| James Wall | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
No checkable campaign promises were found for: Kurtis Rabel, Marcel Woodill. Their pages explain why.
Who knows whom
- A 3-2 council. Since early 2023, Veach, Johnston and Woodill have formed the majority on budgets, tax rates, minutes and process, and Wall and Rabel the recorded dissent. All five are running again, so voters are effectively choosing whether to keep that majority.
- Spouses on council. Councillors Rabel and Wall are married, say so in their Village biographies, and usually vote together. They declare shared conflicts on Legion and arts items.[26]
- Official residence. The September 23 notice lists Ripley as living in Dawson Creek and Rabel, Wall and Woodill in Electoral Area D. This is legal: candidates only need to have lived in B.C. for six months.[2][27]
- The 2021 dispute. Woodill and Veach both voted in October 2021 to strip then-Mayor Michetti of her portfolios, a decision a court later reversed.[28][29]
Sources cited on this page
- Village of Pouce Coupe, Elections page. poucecoupe.ca/government/administration/elections/
- Village of Pouce Coupe, Notice of Election by Voting, Notice No. 10-1 (Sept 23, 2026). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/52236/
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 16, 2022, "Danielle Veach elected mayor of Pouce Coupe". energeticcity.ca/2022/10/16/danielle-veach-elected-mayor-of-pouce-coupe/
- Dawson Creek Mirror, Oct 2022, "Veach ekes out 5-vote win in Pouce Coupe mayoral race" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20221102235538/https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/loc…
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 10, 2022, "Pouce Coupe set for major mayoral race". energeticcity.ca/2022/09/10/pouce-coupe-set-for-major-mayoral-race/
- CBC News, Oct 2025, Kiskatinaw River drought. cbc.ca/lite/story/9.6958763
- Energeticcity.ca, Feb 10, 2025, "Input sought as Pouce Coupe faces water rate increase". energeticcity.ca/2025/02/10/input-sought-as-pouce-coupe-faces-water-rat…
- CBC News, Aug 12, 2026, "Dawson Creek water pipeline cost nearly triples". cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-water-pipeline-cost-ne…
- Energeticcity.ca, Jan 29, 2026, "Pouce Coupe to determine cost of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades". energeticcity.ca/2026/01/29/pouce-coupe-to-determine-cost-of-water-and-…
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 23, 2025, "Pouce Coupe completes lagoon bank stabilization project". energeticcity.ca/2025/10/23/pouce-coupe-completes-lagoon-bank-stabiliza…
- CJDC-TV, Nov 7, 2024, "Pouce Coupe receives a total of $3 million in funding to help with lagoon repair costs" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20241108030918/https://www.cjdctv.com/pouce-coupe-r…
- Village council minutes, Apr 3, 2024 (10 percent tax increase). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/42654/
- Village council minutes, Apr 9, 2025 (2025-2029 financial plan, first reading). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/47223/
- Village council minutes, Jan 14, 2026 (2026 plan Scenario A; firearms letter). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/49235/
- CJDC-TV, Apr 23, 2024, "Pouce Coupe financial plan proposes 10 per cent year-over-year tax increase until 2028" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20240425065718/https://www.cjdctv.com/pouce-coupe-f…
- CJDC-TV, June 2026, "Former mayor questions Pouce Coupe over FOI costs as village cites strain on small staff". cjdctv.com/news/article/former-mayor-questions-pouce-coupe-over-foi-cos…
- Village council minutes, July 2023 (interim CAO appointment). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/39519/
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 14, 2024, "Pouce Coupe appoints new chief administrative and corporate officer". energeticcity.ca/2024/11/14/pouce-coupe-appoints-new-chief-administrati…
- Village council minutes, Sept 17, 2025 (CAO and Corporate Officer roles). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/47271/
- Energeticcity.ca, Mar 24, 2026, "Pouce Coupe council calls on province to protect private property". energeticcity.ca/2026/03/24/pouce-coupe-council-calls-on-province-to-pr…
- CJDC-TV, Mar 27, 2026, "Pouce Coupe pushes province for clarity and certainty concerning private property rights". cjdctv.com/news/article/pouce-coupe-pushes-province-for-clarity-and-cer…
- Energeticcity.ca, June 29, 2026, "Village of Pouce Coupe gets opinions from PRRD members about moving to Alberta time". energeticcity.ca/2026/06/29/village-of-pouce-coupe-gets-opinions-from-p…
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 6, 2025, "PRRD approves $250K for Pouce Coupe fire hall expansion". energeticcity.ca/2025/10/06/prrd-approves-250k-for-pouce-coupe-fire-hal…
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 27, 2026, "Pouce Coupe Village Office park improvements include improved accessibility". energeticcity.ca/2026/08/27/pouce-coupe-village-office-park-improvement…
- Village agenda package, Sept 9, 2026 (park Phase 2). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/52234/
- Village of Pouce Coupe, Mayor & Council page (official biographies). poucecoupe.ca/government/administration/mayor-council/
- Village of Pouce Coupe, Notice of Nomination (Aug 2026, PDF). poucecoupe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vopc-2026-08-04-Notice-of-Nomi…
- Village council minutes, Oct 6, 2021 (mayor's portfolios removed). poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/32002/
- Energeticcity.ca, Mar 23, 2022, "Portfolio positions again return to Pouce Coupe mayor following court order". energeticcity.ca/2022/03/23/portfolio-positions-again-return-to-pouce-c…
- Village of Pouce Coupe, Declaration of Candidates (Sept 11, 2026, PDF). poucecoupe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Declaration-of-Candidates-1.pdf
- Energeticcity.ca, July 20, 2026, "Former mayor and current mayor of Pouce Coupe seek re-election". energeticcity.ca/2026/07/20/former-mayor-and-current-mayor-of-pouce-cou…