B.C. municipal election 2018: Smithers results

Taylor Bachrach has been re-elected mayor of Smithers.

Bachrach finished with 64 per cent of the vote, well ahead of rival Randy Bell.

Incumbents Frank Wray, Gladys Atrill, and Greg Brown were re-elected to council. They will be joined by newcomers Casda Thomas, Lorne Benson and John Buikema.

Candidates

Mayor:

Taylor Bachrach (incumbent)

Randy Bell

Council:

Gladys Atrill (incumbent)

Colin Bateman

Lorne Benson

Phil Brienesse (incumbent)

Greg Brown (incumbent)

John Buikema

Tim Sharp

Casda Thomas

Frank Wray (incumbent)

Ryan Zapisocki

Boundary

The Town of Smithers is located in the Bulkley Valley in B.C.’s north, about 75 kilometres south of Hazelton.

Population (2016)

5,401

History

The Wet’suwet’en people were first to inhabit the Bulkley Valley.

They’re known as the “people of the Lower Hills.”

Then, fur traders and missionaries would arrive in the mid-19th century.

Col. Charles Bulkley, an engineer, would lead an exploration team in a failed mission to build a telegraph line that would connect North America with Asia.

Nevertheless, the valley would be named for its leader.

The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was built in northern B.C. in the early 20th century, and mineral deposits would help lead to the founding of Smithers in 1921, making it B.C.’s first incorporated village.

It would become a town just over four decades later.

The community was named for Grand Trunk Pacific Railway chair Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers.

Agriculture, mining and tourism are its central industries today.

Median total income of couple economic families with children (2015)/B.C. median

$115,302/$111,736

Crime Severity Index (CSI) — 2016

RCMP — municipal

124.13 (-9.61)/93.63 (-0.71)

RCMP — rural

31.90 (-38.23)/93.63 (-0.71)

Violent Crime Severity Index (CSI) — 2016

RCMP — municipal

130.80 (-14.24)/74.86 (-9.81)

RCMP — rural

45.21 (-43.01)/74.86 (-9.81)

Political representation

Federal

Nathan Cullen (NDP)

Provincial

Doug Donaldson (BC NDP)