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By Victor Kaisar

Lillooet By-Election

District of Lillooet holding by-election on May 10

Mar 23, 2025 | 4:30 PM

LILLOOET, B.C. – Residents in the District of Lillooet are expected to head to the polls in about seven weeks to elect a new councillor.

The May 10 by-election is being held to fill the seat vacated by Councillor Rolf de Bruin, who resigned on Jan. 10. de Bruin was in his first term on Lillooet council after he got the most votes (569) among all councillor candidates in the 2022 municipal election.

“The primary reason for my resignation is the recent decision by a majority of Council to set the 2025 meeting schedule on days that I am unable to attend,” de Bruin wrote in a post on Facebook, noting the decision to resign was “not an easy” one.

“This decision demonstrates a lack of collaboration and willingness to work together to address important community issues.”

In October last year, de Bruin was appointed Chief Administrative Officer of the Líl̓wat Nation, near Pemberton. He is also a founding partner of the Fort Berens Estate Winery, and served as President and CEO until May 2024.

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“Representing our community has been a privilege, and I have worked hard to advocate for the needs and aspirations of our residents,” de Bruin added. “I hope my resignation will provide an opportunity for reflection and encourage a renewed commitment to fairness, integrity, and progress in our community’s leadership.”

“Despite the challenges I have faced, I remain hopeful that Lillooet will continue to grow and thrive, guided by leadership that prioritizes the needs of its residents and fosters collaboration and progress.

Nomination Period to Begin Tuesday

People who interested in replacing de Bruin on the District of Lillooet council can drop off their nomination papers between 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 25 and 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 4.

If only one candidate comes forward, that person will be acclaimed to council on Monday, April 14. If there is more than one candidate, residents will have two voting opportunities – on Wednesday, April 30 and on Saturday, May 10. Polling stations will be set up at the District of Lillooet Municipal Office at 615 Main Street.

Either way, the successful candidate will serve a little under two years in office, with the next municipal election in B.C. scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

You can find more information about the District of Lillooet’s by-election here.