Peace River Regional District: electoral area directors
If you live outside a city, town or village in the Peace River Regional District (PRRD), your electoral area director is effectively your local council. The director sits on the twelve-member regional board and decides rural land use and zoning, fire protection areas, water stations, community halls and rural budgets. Seven municipalities appoint the other directors from their councils.[41][42]
Four electoral areas elect a director: B, C, D and E (there is no Area A). On October 17, 2026:[43][44]
- Area B (North Peace): Reid Graham is acclaimed.
- Area C (around Fort St. John): board chair Brad Sperling is acclaimed.
- Area D (the rural South Peace around Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe): twelve-year director Leonard Hiebert faces Orval Harris.
- Area E (the Chetwynd area): an open seat. Director Dan Rose is not running. Four candidates: Maureen Ethier, Julia Nelson, Richard Nicholls and Jason Young.
Not sure which area you live in? Use the PRRD's Vote Search Tool on its electoral map page.[45]
Also on the ballot: six referendums. Rural voters will decide whether to create new services: water services in Areas C, D and E, and community spaces at Golata and Osborn (Area B) and Jackfish Lake (Area E). These votes happen even in the acclaimed areas. See the issues below.[1]
When this was gathered. Everything on this page was gathered in September 2026. It is a snapshot and will only change for corrections. As of September 23, none of the six candidates in the contested areas had published a platform and no candidate forum was scheduled for any PRRD area.[46]
Click any candidate for a full profile with sources. Names are listed in ballot order (alphabetical by surname).
Key dates
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Advance voting | PRRD Dawson Creek Office, 1981 Alaska Avenue (any area). Area E also: District of Chetwynd Office, 5400 Hospital Road. The notice also lists the PRRD Fort St. John Office, 9505 100 Street.[1][2] |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Advance voting | Same places as October 7.[1] |
| Sat, Oct 17, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | General voting day | PRRD Dawson Creek Office (any area); District of Chetwynd Office (Area E).[2] |
| Sat, Oct 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | General voting, Area D community halls | Tower Lake Community Hall, 5018 226 Road; Doe River Community Hall, 3816 Rolla Road; Tate Creek Community Centre, 15439 Old Edmonton Highway.[2] |
| Sat, Oct 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | General voting, Area E community halls | McLeod Elementary School/Hall, 8025 265 Road (Groundbirch); Moberly Lake Community Hall, 6494 Lakeshore Drive.[2] |
| On voting day | Registration and ID | Register when you vote. Resident electors need two pieces of ID, one with a signature. Non-resident property electors also need proof of ownership. Mail ballots are offered; see the PRRD elections page.[3] |
Area D: rural South Peace (vote for one)
Tomslake, Farmington, Arras, Doe River, Tate Creek, Tower Lake and the rural area around Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe. The first contested general election here since 2014.
Orval HarrisArea D challenger. No public record found.
Leonard HiebertArea D director since 2014. Chaired the board twice.Incumbent
Area E: Chetwynd area (vote for one)
Moberly Lake, Groundbirch, Jackfish Lake and the rural area around Chetwynd. Open seat: nobody filed by September 11, so nominations were extended to September 14.[4]
Maureen EthierArea E candidate. Business co-owner. No public record found.
Julia NelsonChetwynd councillor. The only Area E candidate with elected experience.Richard NichollsArea E candidate. Trucking business part-owner.Jason YoungArea E candidate. Lives in Dawson Creek.
Area B: North Peace (acclaimed)
No vote for director. Area B voters still vote on the Golata and Osborn community-space referendums.
Area C: around Fort St. John (acclaimed)
No vote for director. Area C voters still vote on the water-service referendum.
At a glance
| Candidate | Running for | Status | Occupation | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orval Harris | Area D | First-time candidate | Sales representative, SLB, Fort St. John (disclosure) | No platform found |
| Leonard Hiebert | Area D | Incumbent since 2014; board chair twice | PRRD director; partner in safety consulting and a ranch (disclosure) | No 2026 platform found; rural outreach record |
| Maureen Ethier | Area E | First-time candidate | Co-owner and secretary, Burnt River Ventures Ltd (disclosure) | No platform found |
| Julia Nelson | Area E | Chetwynd councillor since 2022; first run for the PRRD | Realtor; assistant in MP Bob Zimmer's office; Chetwynd councillor | No Area E platform found |
| Richard Nicholls | Area E | First-time candidate | Part owner, Rafter N Resources Ltd (trucking) | No platform found |
| Jason Young | Area E | First-time candidate | General manager, Brogan Fire and Safety (disclosure) | No platform found |
| Reid Graham | Area B | Acclaimed; director since the Feb 2025 by-election | Regional manager, Enerflex Ltd. | Acclaimed; no platform needed |
| Brad Sperling | Area C | Acclaimed; director since 2014; current board chair | Self-employed carpenter (self-reported) | Acclaimed; no platform needed |
2022 results
Area B, 2022
| Candidate | Votes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Kealy | 243 | 61.4% | Elected |
| Jeff Kitt | 153 | 38.6% |
Kealy resigned after being elected MLA in 2024; Reid Graham won the February 2025 by-election, 204 to 102.[5][6]
Area C, 2022
| Candidate | Votes | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Haab | 234 | 50.3% | |
| Brad Sperling | 231 | 49.7% |
Recount figures. The B.C. Supreme Court declared the election invalid; Sperling won the February 2023 by-election, 264 to 254.[7][8]
Issues the next board inherits
Water service referendums
Area D. A "yes" to Water Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2603 does not bring piped water to homes. It gives the PRRD legal authority to plan and fund water sources, tank loaders and partnerships across Area D. The maximum annual tax is the greater of $1,000,000 or $0.3348 per $1,000 of improvements; the PRRD estimates $35.83 a year on $250,000 of buildings. Area D voters rejected a potable water service in 2015. The PRRD says it is "neutral."[9] Hiebert moved the bylaw's first three readings.[10]
Area E. The maximum is the greater of $500,000 or $0.2104 per $1,000 of improvements, about $19.57 a year on $250,000. The PRRD says "no immediate potable water service gaps have been identified in Electoral Area E"; the aim is coordination with Area D, Dawson Creek and Chetwynd.[11]
Area C votes on a water service too. The board voted in December 2025 to research potable water for Areas C, D and E; Dan Rose called it "biting off too much."[12]
Where candidates stand: no candidate in Area D or E has stated a position.
Community space referendums
The Jackfish Lake hall in Area E has been closed for safety reasons, with repairs estimated at about $352,000. The proposed service's maximum tax is the greater of $125,000 or $0.6487 per $1,000 of improvements, about $74.97 a year on $250,000, in a defined part of Area E.[13][14] Area B votes on community-space services for Golata and Osborn.[1]
Drought and the Kiskatinaw
The Kiskatinaw River supplies Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe and some rural residents. Northeast B.C. was declared out of drought in July 2026 after four years, but the Kiskatinaw basin "remains a concern."[15] Dawson Creek is choosing a new supply, priced at $194M to $272M.[16] About 50 Area D residents draw water from a line connected to the city's source.
Wind farms, Site C and Site E
Developers hold BC Hydro agreements for several new wind farms between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, including south of Taylor.[17][18] The board says it has been "brushed off" by the province[19] and backed the Agricultural Land Commission's concerns about Bill 14.[20] In July 2025 the board defeated Sperling's motion to give Area C half of the Site C grant-in-lieu of taxes.[21] BC Hydro's August 2026 presentation on a possible Site E dam drew objections from the board.[22]
Zoning
A new rural zoning bylaw drew strong opposition in public engagement.[23] In August 2026 the board abandoned it, on a motion moved by Pouce Coupe Mayor Danielle Veach and seconded by Reid Graham, over five municipal directors' opposition. The older zoning bylaws still have to be updated for provincial housing rules.[24]
Emergencies and budgets
The Old Fort landslide in Area C forced an evacuation order in April 2026.[25] The board has complained of provincial downloading under the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act.[26] The PRRD says its 2026 budget is 2.79 percent lower than 2025's.[27] In November 2025 the board approved a $20M new administration building in Dawson Creek.[28] Rural broadband is under a Regional Connectivity Strategy update.[29]
Directors' pay and attendance
Base pay for an electoral area director was set at $26,800 a year in 2019, indexed to inflation, plus meeting fees and allowances for the chair and vice-chair.[30] In 2025 area directors earned $39,000 to $91,000 before expenses, which ran from about $12,000 to $36,000.[31] In September 2026 the board limited electronic attendance to illness or unsafe travel, so directors from distant areas will be expected in the Dawson Creek boardroom or will need to send their alternates.[32]
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 referendum | Wind, Site C, Site E | Zoning and land use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orval Harris (D) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Leonard Hiebert (D) | Moved the Area D bylaw; personal position not stated | Criticizes provincial consultation on wind; voted for Area C's Site C share | Moved abandoning the rural zoning bylaw; votes lean toward landowners |
| Maureen Ethier (E) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Julia Nelson (E) | No public position found | No public position found | Asked for consultation on the Klinse-za park expansion |
| Richard Nicholls (E) | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| Jason Young (E) | No public position found | No public position found | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Hiebert | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Reid Graham | 1 |
No checkable campaign promises were found for: Julia Nelson, Brad Sperling. Their pages explain why.
Who knows whom
- Continuity at the top. Sperling and Hiebert have traded the board chair and vice-chair between them for most of 2020 to 2026.[33][34][35][36]
- Official residence. Two Area E candidates live outside the area: Julia Nelson in Chetwynd and Jason Young in Dawson Creek. That is legal.[1][37]
- Two offices at once. Julia Nelson would sit on Chetwynd council and the regional board if she wins, and works in the local MP's office.[38]
- Area directors as a bloc. The area directors voted together for Area C's share of Site C money and lost to the municipal directors. Hiebert was the only area director to vote for NCLGA dues.[39][40]
Sources cited on this page
- Peace River Regional District, Notice of Election by Voting (Sept 22, 2026). prrd.bc.ca/news/posts/notice-of-election-by-voting/
- Peace River Regional District, 2026 voting stations list (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/fw2acv0d/2026-gle-…
- Peace River Regional District, Elections and Voting page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 11, 2026, "PRRD extends nomination deadline for Area E director". energeticcity.ca/2026/09/11/prrd-extends-nomination-deadline-for-area-e…
- Alaska Highway News, Oct 16, 2022, Peace River Regional District election results (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20221101133932/https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/202…
- Energeticcity.ca, Feb 23, 2025, "Reid Graham wins Electoral Area B director by-election". energeticcity.ca/2025/02/23/reid-graham-wins-electoral-area-b-director-…
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 19, 2022, "Suzanne Haab wins recount vote in PRRD Electoral Area C". energeticcity.ca/2022/10/19/suzanne-haab-wins-recount-vote-in-prrd-elec…
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 23, 2022, "Supreme Court declared Area C election invalid". energeticcity.ca/2022/11/23/supreme-court-declared-area-c-election-inva…
- PRRD, Area D Water Service Establishment Bylaw (assent vote page). prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/voting-opportunities/are…
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Apr 16, 2026 (eScribe document 52422). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=52422
- PRRD, Area E Water Service Establishment Bylaw (assent vote page). prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/voting-opportunities/are…
- Energeticcity.ca, Dec 10, 2025, "PRRD explores potable water accessibility in electoral areas". energeticcity.ca/2025/12/10/prrd-explores-potable-water-accessibility-i…
- PRRD, Jackfish Lake Community Space Service Establishment Bylaw (assent vote page). prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/voting-opportunities/jac…
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 28, 2025, "PRRD seeks community input on future of Jackfish community hall". energeticcity.ca/2025/08/28/prrd-seeks-community-input-on-future-of-jac…
- CJDC-TV, July 16, 2026, "Northeast B.C. officially out of drought for first time in four years, but caution remains". cjdctv.com/news/article/northeast-bc-officially-out-of-drought-for-firs…
- 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, Mar 24, 2026, "Innergex moves forward with two Peace region wind energy projects". energeticcity.ca/2026/03/24/innergex-moves-forward-with-two-peace-regio…
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 21, 2025, "Up to 36 turbines: details of proposed wind farm south of Taylor revealed". energeticcity.ca/2025/11/21/up-to-36-turbines-details-of-proposed-wind-…
- Energeticcity.ca, May 8, 2025, "Regional board brushed off in conversation about local wind farm projects". energeticcity.ca/2025/05/08/regional-board-brushed-off-in-conversation-…
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 19, 2025, "Regional district writes letter to support ALC in opposing Bill 14". energeticcity.ca/2025/08/19/regional-district-writes-letter-to-support-…
- Energeticcity.ca, July 18, 2025, "Regional district talks funding reallocation for BC Hydro Site C". energeticcity.ca/2025/07/18/regional-district-talks-funding-reallocatio…
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 14, 2026, "PRRD board raised concerns about proposed Site E on Peace River". energeticcity.ca/2026/08/14/prrd-board-raised-concerns-about-proposed-s…
- Energeticcity.ca, Mar 27, 2026, "PRRD mulls zoning feedback following public engagement". energeticcity.ca/2026/03/27/prrd-mulls-zoning-feedback-following-public…
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Aug 13, 2026 (zoning bylaw abandoned) (eScribe document 54885). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=54885
- PRRD, Old Fort landslide updates. prrd.bc.ca/emergency-services/old-fort-landslide/
- Energeticcity.ca, Jan 26, 2024, "Peace River Regional District fed up with new emergency act legislation". energeticcity.ca/2024/01/26/peace-river-regional-district-fed-up-with-n…
- PRRD 2025 Annual Report (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/jxopd10w/prrd_annu…
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 21, 2025, "PRRD approves $20M budget for new admin building in Dawson Creek". energeticcity.ca/2025/11/21/prrd-approves-20m-budget-for-new-admin-buil…
- PRRD, Regional Connectivity Strategy. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/plans-reports-and-studies/regional-connectivi…
- PRRD Remuneration and Expense Bylaw No. 2354, 2019 (PDF). prrd.bc.ca/media/hodjtv02/renumeration-and-expense-bylaw-2354_2019.pdf
- PRRD 2025 Statement of Financial Information (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/vhzn3yjl/2025-stat…
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 21, 2026, "Regional district adopts bylaw limiting electronic participation for directors". energeticcity.ca/2026/09/21/regional-district-adopts-bylaw-limiting-ele…
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 13, 2020, "Sperling elected as PRRD board chair, Rose elected as vice-chair". energeticcity.ca/2020/11/13/sperling-elected-as-prrd-board-chair-rose-e…
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 10, 2022, "PRRD board chair, vice chair selected". energeticcity.ca/2022/11/10/prrd-board-chair-vice-chair-selected/
- Energeticcity.ca, Nov 17, 2023, "PRRD elects 2024 chair and vice chair". energeticcity.ca/2023/11/17/prrd-elects-2024-chair-and-vice-chair/
- CJDC-TV, Nov 24, 2025, "PRRD elects Brad Sperling as new chairperson". cjdctv.com/news/article/prrd-elects-brad-sperling-a-new-chairperson/
- Local Government Act, Part 3 (elections), B.C. Laws. bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/r15001_03
- Nomination package and disclosure, Julia Nelson, Area E (PRRD PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/adrjevx2/julia-red…
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, July 17, 2025 (eScribe document 47060). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=47060
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Aug 14, 2025 (eScribe document 47791). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=47791
- Peace River Regional District, Board of Directors page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/board/directors/
- Peace River Regional District, Committees page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/committees/
- Peace River Regional District, 2026 Candidates page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/candidates/
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 16, 2026, "PRRD reveals candidates for 2026 general election". energeticcity.ca/2026/09/16/prrd-reveals-candidates-for-2026-general-el…
- Peace River Regional District, Electoral Map and Voting Stations. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/elections-and-voting/electoral-map-and-voting…
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 23, 2026, "Candidate forums announced for municipal election candidates". energeticcity.ca/2026/09/23/candidate-forums-announced-for-municipal-el…