Residents of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (TteS) will be going to the polls in three weeks to fill a vacancy on council after Colleen Mosterd-McLean stepped down earlier this year.
Chief Rosanne Casimir says there are three candidates – Evelyn Camille, Geraldine Collins, and Joshua Gottfriedson – running to fill the vacant seat. People will be able to vote online because of COVID-19 concerns.
“We have many members who are quite concerned about having this election or any kind of an election during a pandemic, especially with the increased numbers,” she said. “You know regardless, I know that steps have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety and you know I’m definitely encouraging individuals to do the online voting.”
Nominations happened on Oct. 27, according to Casimir. Two other candidates – Morning Star Peters and Natika Shore – declined nominations.
“When I went to the nominations, it was very different. There were very limited numbers – just like a handful of people that were in attendance there,” Casimir said. “You know, everyone is definitely being very cautious and taking this pandemic seriously, which is good.”
This election comes about one month after the provincial election which was held on Oct. 24.
“Its taken quite a bit here. We had the first wave of the pandemic so we had delayed it until it was safe to do so,” Casimir said.
Tk’emlúps Chief and Council were elected to a three year term over the Remembrance Day weekend in 2018. The next general election is about a year away but Casimir says there wasn’t really any plan to not fill the vacant seat despite COVID concerns.
“It falls within our custom election code as well as the motion that was brought forth from council,” she added.
Election Day is Nov. 28, with Advanced Polls set for a week earlier on Nov. 21.