Leonard Hiebert
Candidate for Electoral Area D Director (incumbent). All regional district candidates
| Area | Electoral Area D (South Peace) |
|---|---|
| Status | Incumbent since the 2014 by-election; acclaimed 2018 and 2022. First contested general election since 2014[1] |
| Occupation | Income sources disclosed: PRRD director; security guard, Ovintiv Events Centre; partner, Good Sheppard Safety & Consulting; partner, Good Sheppard Ranch[2] |
| Ties to the area | Of Tomslake since about 2008 (self-reported)[3] |
| Board roles | Chair 2022-23 and about 2024-25; vice-chair 2023-24 and since November 2025 |
| 2025 pay | $91,312.20 plus $35,714.42 in expenses, the highest on the board (includes the chair's allowance)[4] |
Background
From his PRRD biography (self-reported): experience "focusing on management, agriculture, and paramedic in the oil and gas industry"; has managed hog farms; lived in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and Dawson Creek before settling in Tomslake.[3] His 2026 disclosure lists four income sources: PRRD director; security guard at the Ovintiv Events Centre; and partner in "Good Sheppard Safety & Consulting" and "Good Sheppard Ranch."[2]
Electoral history
- Alternate to Area D director Wayne Hiebert ("no relation"), who stepped down in October 2013; served as interim director.[5]
- Won the 2014 by-election and the November 2014 general election (vote counts not found).[6]
- Acclaimed in 2018 and 2022.[1][7]
Board record
Leadership. Chair November 2022 to November 2023, chosen by secret ballot over Dan Rose;[8] vice-chair 2023-24;[9] chair again from about November 2024 to November 2025 (a PRRD message was signed "Leonard Hiebert, Chair," and he chaired the August 2025 board meeting);[10][11] vice-chair since November 2025.[12] He chairs the Electoral Area Directors' and Rural Budgets Administration committees and is the PRRD's NCLGA regional representative.[13] He was an NCLGA director-at-large in 2021-22.[14]
Attendance. Present at all but four of 69 board meetings from October 2022 to August 2026; his alternate sat in on the other four.[15]
Recorded opposed votes (the minutes only record names when a vote is split):
- Against capping directors' UBCM minister meetings at three (May 2023, defeated), against reconsidering the cap (May 2024) and against raising it to eight (May 2025).[16][17][18]
- Against a Section 57 notice on title for unpermitted buildings (June 2023, carried).[19] In April 2024 the minutes record him both moving a Section 57 notice for unpermitted construction and voting against it; it carried.[20]
- Against refusing an OCP amendment that would redesignate about 8 hectares from Agriculture to Low Density Residential (June 2024); the refusal carried.[21]
- Against adding $151,209 to the 2026 capital budget for 911 services (February 2026, carried).[22]
- The only vote against receiving a North Wind Wellness Centre Society letter on repurposing Site C infrastructure (March 2026), although he is the PRRD's liaison to that society.[23]
Other votes. Voted for Sperling's defeated Site C grant-in-lieu motion (July 2025).[24] The only electoral area director to vote to renew NCLGA membership (August 2025): "If I'm not at the table having those discussions … I can't really say that it wasn't beneficial."[11][25]
Rural zoning. In August 2026 he moved the committee recommendation to abandon the proposed rural zoning bylaw after residents objected; the board abandoned it.[26][27]
Area D water. Moved the first three readings of the Area D Water Service Establishment Bylaw (April 2026), the referendum on this ballot.[28]
Treaty Land Sharing Network, 2023. A June 2023 committee meeting on the network drew more than 1,000 people and was shut down for overcapacity. As chair, Hiebert signed the board's public apology and a July 2023 letter to the chiefs of Doig River, Halfway River, Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations saying "we do not tolerate racism of any kind." The board withdrew its support for the network.[29][30]
Pay. Remuneration $46,588 (2022), $90,702 (2023), $63,379 (2024) and $91,312 (2025), plus expenses of $10,458 to $35,714 a year.[31][32][33][4]
Public record on rural issues
- 2014: "Right now, there's a severed tie (between rural residents and the PRRD) that needs to be rebuilt... Bringing democracy back to the rural communities is something that needs to be done."[6]
- 2022: credited his roundtables with the livestreaming of board meetings: "Now that we're recording those meetings, they can actually see how we get to those conclusions."[34]
- Emergency Act, 2024: "We're going to eat this one from the public because they haven't done any public outreach."[35]
- Wind projects: "no matter what we say or do, he's going to do what he wants anyway… we can't let up on it now" (January 2025, of the minister);[36] "It's unfortunate that our government still hasn't learned how to do proper consultation" (May 2025).[37]
- Blueberry River agreement, 2023: "a step forward that will guide decision-making in the spirit of reconciliation, stewardship and partnership."[38]
- Rail, 2025: supported studying a Dawson Creek to Alberta rail link.[39]
- Rural fire truck, 2026: "Residents outside of city boundaries deserve reliable, modern emergency response."[40]
- Community meetings: held an Area D series in Pouce Coupe, Kelly Lake, Arras, Farmington, Doe River and Tate Creek in spring 2026: "Community meetings with residents are all about listening."[41]
2026 campaign and platform
No campaign page, platform or statement found as of September 23. News coverage lists him as the incumbent facing Orval Harris.[42]
Promises and delivery
From his 2022 re-election announcement (he was then acclaimed) and his 2014 interview before his last contested election.[34][6] In 2022 he also said board meetings began to be recorded after someone suggested it at one of his roundtables; the recordings exist, but no minute links the change to him, so his role rests on his own account. Unverified
| What they promised | When | What happened | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell service for the pockets of Area D that have none: "we're working on getting those done." | July 2022[34] | Voters approved a regional connectivity service in 2022.[43] He chaired the board's broadband committee in 2022-23 and 2024, which funded a connectivity strategy.[44][45] The board dissolved the committee in August 2025, and a consultant's network plan was due in August 2026.[11][46] No new tower, fibre or service in Area D was found. | In progress |
| Get face-to-face contact with residents "back on track again" after COVID. | July 2022[34] | He hosted six Area D community meetings in October 2024 and six more in spring 2026.[47][41] None were found from late 2022 to mid-2024. | Delivered |
| "More town hall meetings with rural residents" and two-way communication. | Feb 2014[6] | Town halls are documented from 2024 on (see above). Nothing was found for 2014 to 2022 beyond his own account of earlier roundtables. | Partly delivered |
| "If it is for rural people, let's keep it with the rural director" rather than a full-board vote. | Feb 2014[6] | He now chairs the rural directors' committees,[13] but no motion of his to change which rural matters go to the full board was found, and rural items such as Area C's Site C share still go to the full board.[24] | No record found |
| No rural building bylaw: "That's a definite 'No'." | Feb 2014[6] | Since 2014 building permits have been mandatory only in set areas, including around Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe, and voluntary elsewhere.[48] He voted against a 2023 notice on title for unpermitted buildings,[19] and in 2024 the minutes record him moving such a notice and then voting against it.[20] In August 2026 he moved the committee recommendation to abandon the new rural zoning bylaw after residents objected.[26] | Partly delivered |
What the record shows
Facts. Twelve years in office, chair twice and vice-chair twice; chairs both rural committees. Near-perfect attendance. Has not faced voters in a general election since 2014. Moved the Area D water referendum. Signed the 2023 apology letters to four Treaty 8 First Nations. His recorded dissents are mostly procedural, plus two Section 57 title notices (including one he moved) and the 911 top-up. 2025 pay and expenses of about $127,000, the board's highest.
Our reading (inference, not fact). His political identity is rural outreach and pushing back on provincial processes (wind farms, the Emergency Act), combined with regional networking (NCLGA). His votes on Section 57 notices and the OCP redesignation suggest leniency toward rural landowners on land use.
Questions worth asking. Does he personally support the Area D water referendum? Why did he move the April 2024 Section 57 notice and then vote against it? Where does he stand on the new zoning bylaw and on wind projects in Area D?
Sources cited on this page
- Alaska Highway News, 2018, "Incumbent directors unchallenged in the Peace River Regional District" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20190317110734/https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/201…
- Nomination package and disclosure, Leonard Hiebert, Area D (PRRD PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/uvsklryu/c2-nomdoc…
- Peace River Regional District, Electoral Area D Director page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/board/directors/electoral-area-d-director/
- PRRD 2025 Statement of Financial Information (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/vhzn3yjl/2025-stat…
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 30, 2013, "PRRD Area D director Wayne Hiebert steps down". energeticcity.ca/2013/10/30/prrd-area-d-director-wayne-hiebert-steps-do…
- Alaska Highway News, 2014, "Area D director Leonard Hiebert seeks re-nomination" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20190507112815/https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/reg…
- 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, 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/
- PRRD, Season's greetings signed by the chair and vice-chair (Wayback Machine, 2025). web.archive.org/web/20250408093339/https://prrd.bc.ca/seasons-greetings…
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Aug 14, 2025 (eScribe document 47791). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=47791
- CJDC-TV, Nov 24, 2025, "PRRD elects Brad Sperling as new chairperson". cjdctv.com/news/article/prrd-elects-brad-sperling-a-new-chairperson/
- Peace River Regional District, Committees page. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/committees/
- Dawson Creek Mirror, 2021, "Hiebert named as director-at-large to North Central Local Government Association board" (Wayback Machine). web.archive.org/web/20210726184815/https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/loc…
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, May 30, 2024 (eScribe document 37943). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=37943
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, May 18, 2023 (eScribe document 28449). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=28449
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, May 2, 2024 (eScribe document 37395). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=37395
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, May 1, 2025 (eScribe document 45525). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=45525
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, June 29, 2023 (eScribe document 29134). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=29134
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Apr 4, 2024 (eScribe document 36204). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=36204
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, June 20, 2024 (eScribe document 38469). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=38469
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Feb 26, 2026 (eScribe document 54097). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=54097
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Mar 19, 2026 (eScribe document 54137). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=54137
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, July 17, 2025 (eScribe document 47060). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=47060
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 19, 2025, "PRRD electoral areas argue against continued NCLGA membership but get outvoted". energeticcity.ca/2025/08/19/prrd-electoral-areas-argue-against-continue…
- PRRD Electoral Area Directors' Committee minutes, Aug 6, 2026 (zoning bylaw) (eScribe document 54852). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=54852
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Aug 13, 2026 (zoning bylaw abandoned) (eScribe document 54885). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=54885
- PRRD Regional Board minutes, Apr 16, 2026 (eScribe document 52422). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=52422
- Energeticcity.ca, July 18, 2023, "PRRD issues apology to June 8th Committee of the Whole attendees". energeticcity.ca/2023/07/18/prrd-issues-apology-to-june-8th-committee-o…
- Energeticcity.ca, July 20, 2023, "PRRD board issues direct apology to four Treaty 8 First Nations". energeticcity.ca/2023/07/20/prrd-board-issues-direct-apology-to-four-tr…
- PRRD 2022 Statement of Financial Information (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/sl4leceb/2022-stat…
- PRRD 2023 Statement of Financial Information (PDF). media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/staffprrd-010-ca/media/33tadem2/prrd_2023…
- PRRD 2024 Statement of Financial Information (PDF). prrd.bc.ca/media/ssxgyvsn/prrd_2024statementoffinancialinformation.pdf
- Energeticcity.ca, July 27, 2022, "Leonard Hiebert runs for third term as Electoral Area D director". energeticcity.ca/2022/07/27/leonard-hiebert-runs-for-third-term-as-elec…
- 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…
- Energeticcity.ca, Jan 24, 2025, "Regional board pushes for input on future local wind projects". energeticcity.ca/2025/01/24/regional-board-pushes-for-input-on-future-l…
- 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-…
- B.C. government news release, Jan 2023, Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement. news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023wlrs0004-000043
- Energeticcity.ca, Sept 18, 2025, "The regional district is considering supporting increased rail infrastructure". energeticcity.ca/2025/09/18/the-regional-district-is-considering-suppor…
- Energeticcity.ca, Feb 15, 2026, "PRRD and City of Dawson Creek welcome new rural fire truck". energeticcity.ca/2026/02/15/prrd-and-city-of-dawson-creek-welcome-new-r…
- Energeticcity.ca, Mar 5, 2026, "Residents get opportunity to talk local issues at community meeting series with PRRD". energeticcity.ca/2026/03/05/residents-get-opportunity-to-talk-local-iss…
- The Broken Typewriter, Sept 15, 2026, "Election 2026: Challenges ahead for Peace Region incumbents". brokentypewriter.ca/p/election-2026-challenge-ahead-for
- Energeticcity.ca, Aug 31, 2022, "Five PRRD service bylaws up for voter approval in local government election". energeticcity.ca/2022/08/31/five-prrd-service-bylaws-up-for-voter-appro…
- PRRD Broadband Internet and Mobility Committee minutes, Nov 23, 2022 (eScribe document 24078). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=24078
- PRRD Broadband Internet and Mobility Committee minutes, Jan 26, 2024 (eScribe document 34413). pub-prrd.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=34413
- PRRD, Regional Connectivity Strategy. prrd.bc.ca/our-government/plans-reports-and-studies/regional-connectivi…
- Energeticcity.ca, Oct 2, 2024, "Electoral Area D director to host community meetings in October". energeticcity.ca/2024/10/02/electoral-area-d-director-to-host-community…
- PRRD Building Bylaw No. 2131, 2014 (PDF). prrd.bc.ca/media/syrnci3h/building-bylaw-2131_2014.pdf