September 2026 on the Shore
Set yourself down for a chat about politics on the North Shore.
Photo: Ghislaine Courcelles
Our summer vacay
We hope you all had a great summer. We took the summer off from newslettering so we could have some fun. It’s super to be back. During this run-up to the October municipal election, you’ll be hearing from us more often than once a month, on the assumption that’s why you’re here with us, Martyn, Heather and Duncan.
Heather: went hiking (that’s Ghislaine who takes the amazing photos on the left and Amy on the right)
Duncan: Rode around with kids on an Evo e-cargo bike from the library. Fun, fun, fun…Who needs daddy’s t-bird anyway?
Diane and Martyn: toured the east coast and took local transit. Photo: Diane
Who’s running in the municipal elections coming in October 2026?
It’s a bit early to make a full list because nominations don’t close until Sept 12th, but here’s who we know is running right now. If I’ve missed anyone, please email hello@betternorthshore.
Notes (for supernerds only 🦹)
Years are counted to the end of the current term in November 2026. Council terms ran for three years up to and including the 2011 election, and for four years from 2014 onward. A change of office does not break a continuous run, so Buchanan's move from councillor to mayor counts as unbroken service. Total council age sums all seven members, mayor included. Total council age is not a ‘thing’ except I thought it might be fun. Is it? write in: hello@betternorthshore.ca
¹ Little: District councillor from 2005 to 2014, out of office for one term, then mayor from 2018. The 2008 record already lists him as a sitting councillor, so his total may begin earlier than 2005.
² Buchanan: City councillor from 2011 to 2018, then mayor from 2018.
³ Sager: West Vancouver councillor from 1983 to 1990 and mayor from 1991 to 1996, then out of office for 26 years before returning as mayor in 2022.
⁴ Muri: unbroken service since 1996. Her wins in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022 are confirmed by CivicInfo BC's election archive. Her earlier wins in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2005 are drawn from her own 2022 candidate statement; no official District record for those years was available.
⁵ Bell: City councillor since 2011. Both figures cover his City service only. He also held office in the District of North Vancouver over several earlier decades, which is not counted here.
⁶ Lambur: first elected in a 2016 by-election, so his first term ran two years rather than four.
⁷ Cassidy: elected 2014, defeated 2018, elected again 2022.
⁸ Gambioli is not seeking re-election in 2026.
⁹ Thompson is not seeking re-election to council in 2026; she is running for mayor.
Source: CivicInfo BC past election results archive (2008–2022), municipal council profiles, and where noted, candidate statements.
Community events
OG ideas are clearly not working. What can we do to make housing more affordable in every neighbourhood, for every generation? Hear what four young council candidates have to say. Central Lonsdale Legion. Doors at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required. Here’s who you’ll meet:
Council meetings next week
There are no council meetings in the City of North Van, or in West Van.
District of North Van
A public hearing is scheduled for the Roche Point Park Dedication in Seymour.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — 7:00 p.m District Hall or online
Public input deadline: To speak in person or online, contact the Corporate Officer at signup@dnv.orgbefore 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Roche Point Park location. Image: Google Maps
Why it matters: Roche Point contains one of the only intact old-growth forests inside the urban containment boundary, and citizens have been trying to protect it since 2012. While the dedication of lands as a park is not required for District-owned land to be used and enjoyed for park purposes, as it has been, a dedication protects this irreplaceable habitat, supports the District’s goals to protect and enhance biodiversity (including pollination, forests, soil, and clean water), and provides climate resilience benefits, including carbon sequestration and natural cooling infrastructure.
After the park dedication, if the District wants to use any portion of the lands for non-park purposes, a referendum or alternative approval process would be required to reverse the dedication of a portion or all of the lands. This is a real trade-off: the loss of district-owned land for affordable housing, or potentially well over $100M in theoretical land-sale value foregone, in favour of a permanent park that shelters the biodiversity only an old-growth forest is home to.
Because of this forest's special nature, the trade-off is worth it.
Join us for a conversation about climate solutions, finding joy in taking action, and imagining hopeful climate futures inspired by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's book "What If We Get It Right?"
This introductory discussion is a chance to connect with others, share perspectives, and learn about the new online Book Club for Climate Optimists which will discuss the book in more detail.
📆 Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1:30 p.m.
📍 Lynn Valley Library - Drop in
Book Club for Climate Optimists!
An online book club Mondays at 7:00, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, and Nov. 30
Register online, in person or by phone, and you will receive the Zoom link on the day of the meeting
Ride the R2 from Park Royal to Brentwood - starting Monday!
Transportation options on the North Shore - tailored to newcomers
This session offers practical information about sustainable transportation in the District of North Vancouver. Learn about the North Shore's diverse multi-modal transportation options, including walking, cycling, public transit, and shared mobility.
📆 Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m.
📍 Capilano Library - 3045 Highland Boulevard
After the presentation, participants will complete an optional post-workshop survey to better identify confidence levels, motivations, and barriers to accessing and using different modes of transportation. The survey will take about 60-90 minutes, depending on participant engagement, questions, and/or discussion length.
Where on the Shore?
The first person to email us the location of this double-sided stone sculpture will receive a Better North Shore T-shirt. (Past winners are ineligible) hello@betternorthshore.ca Photo: Heather Drugge
Better North Shore — Chat Server
Join the conversation on Discord. We talk about housing, transit, cycling, municipal politics, and everything North Shore. 👉 Join the BNS Discord
If this newsletter and our stories resonate with you and your values, please forward this to a few friends and suggest they join our email list. We're building a group of like-minded people who want to see the North Shore positively embrace and manage the many changes we face. Thanks, we really appreciate it.
