Incumbent Lee Pratt is the mayor of Cranbrook by acclamation.
Pratt ran unopposed. Incumbent councillors Mike Peabody, Norma Blissett, Ron Popoff, Danielle Eaton Cardozo and Wesly Graham were re-elected, along with newcomer Wayne Price.
Below is the full list of mayoral and councillor candidates in Cranbrook.
Candidates
Mayor:
Lee Pratt (incumbent)
Council:
Norma Blissett (incumbent)
Danielle Eaton Cardozo (incumbent)
Jordan Fiorentino
Wesly Graham (incumbent)
Melodie Hull
Mike Peabody (incumbent)
Ron Popoff (incumbent)
Wayne Price
Curt Rasmussen
Randy Tapp
Boundary
Cranbrook is located in the East Kootenay region, about 150 kilometres from B.C.’s border with Alberta. It’s south of the St. Mary River and communities such as Kimberley and Fort Steele.
Population (2016)
20,047
History
One of Cranbrook‘s earliest settlers was Col. James Baker.
In 1883, he had bought up much of the land around an area known as Joseph’s Prairie, which he renamed Cranbrook after his hometown in England.
Chief Isadore of the Ktunaxa would run his cattle through that land, and he seethed after Baker came along and shunted him aside.
Baker, meanwhile, was bothered that Isadore wouldn’t just leave.
Tensions grew until 1887 when Superintendent Sam Steele arrived with almost 80 North-West Mounted Policemen to confront what was believed to be a potential uprising among the Indigenous people.
Two Indigenous people were arrested amid allegations of killing a miner. Isadore released them, and Steele urged that they be brought back for trial.
They were acquitted over a lack of evidence. Steele also found that no one carried out an inquest, that the miner hadn’t been buried and no one had pushed for justice in the miner’s death for years.
Baker would go on to serve as a member of the legislature for 15 years.
The railway is also a key feature in the history of Cranbrook.
Baker played a key role in ensuring that the BC Southern Railway would be routed through Cranbrook instead of nearby Fort Steele.
Tracks began to be laid in 1898, and Cranbrook started to grow as a rail depot and a hub of business activity.
The early 20th century also saw forestry activity rise up alongside other industries.
Cranbrook was incorporated as a city in 1905.
Median total income of couple economic families with children (2015)/B.C. median
$117,792/$111,736
Crime Severity Index (CSI) — 2016
RCMP – municipal/B.C.
71.53 (-5.68)/93.63 (-0.71)
RCMP – rural
40.31 (+11.75)/93.63 (-0.71)
Violent Crime Severity Index (VCSI) — 2016
RCMP – municipal
75.82 (-21.36)/74.86 (-9.81)
RCMP – rural
37.10 (+66.82)/74.86 (-9.81)
Political representation
Federal
Wayne Stetski (NDP)
Provincial
Tom Shypitka (BC Liberals)