Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows voters will go to polls for the 32nd municipal election on Saturday, October 15 to choose their next mayor, councillors and school board trustees.
Maple Ridge: During the 2018 Municipal Elections, the estimated number of eligible voters was 60,081 however, only 20,123 ballots were cast. Meaning, there was a 33.52 per cent voter turnout.
According to Statistics Canada, the population of Maple Ridge is 90,990 as of 2021.
Pitt Meadows: During the 2018 Municipal Elections, the estimated number of eligible voters was 13866, however, only 5,575 ballots were cast. Meaning, there was a 40.21 per cent voter turnout.
According to StatCan, the population of Pitt Meadows is 19,146 as of 2021.
Election Day information
On the Election Day, voters can cast their ballots between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at any of the following locations:
- Albion Community Centre
- Fraserview Village Hall
- Garibaldi Secondary School
- Yennadon Elementary School
- Laity View Elementary School
- Maple Ridge Alliance Church
- Ridge Meadows Seniors Activity Centre
- Whonnock Elementary School
The Candidates
We reached out to mayoral candidates for Maple Ridge to ask questions about housing, the rise in shooting incidents, and the opioid crisis among other issues.
Here’s the list of mayoral candidates:
- Corisa Bell
- Dan Ruimy (Daniel Ruimy)
- Darleen Bernard
- Jacques Blackstone
- Mike Morden (incumbent)
Only two candidates, Darleen Bernard and Jacques Blackstone responded by the time of publication.
- Darleen Bernard
Housing: A resident of Maple Ridge for 13 years, here’s what she said about affordable housing.
“I want to see a cap put on housing and on rent. I am concerned with corporations coming in and buying our old buildings that are being used to house people and then turning around and raising rents to much higher levels. No REITS, no to institutional landlords. And for those looking for housing, I feel those that have lived in the community the longest should have priority over those coming in and buying our houses. And each investor is allowed to only buy one house as an investment and only if they meet the necessary requirements.”
Shooting incidents: Addressing the increase in shooting incidents, she said that the “police’s catch-and-release policy should be abolished” because officers are getting tired of having to release those responsible for shootings. You do the crime, you do the time.
Opioid crisis: Bernard does not support safe supply and injection sites but rather a treatment plan for those suffering from substance abuse.
Environment: She wants to put local rivers, streams and lakes and mountains in protective custody so nothing can be built there for the next 100 years.
Biggest concern: Her biggest concern is the healthcare system and she wants to work with those in authority to strengthen it. Bernard did not specify a plan.
She is financing her own campaign and said she believes by working together there can be change.
- Jacques Blackstone
A business owner in Maple Ridge, Blackstone is a resident of the district for 18 years.
Housing: He did not share a plan for affordable housing because according to him, Metro Vancouver’s housing market is open to the global market which dictates our rates. He is of the view that nobody should own secondary property in suburban or urban areas.
Shooting incidents: He shared that crime and violence stem from a broken system with poor education and a rampant drug problem. He didn’t share a plan.
Opioid crisis: “I support listening to all sides and maybe starting a new approach to this because it seems that all other approaches have failed. Time to think outside the box and not one that generates more funding for ‘reports.’”
Environment: When asked about the conservation of local streams and wildlife he said, “not my specialty, I’m all about nature and wildlife, but I’m also a reasonable person. I could answer this better once faced with the issue at hand.”
Biggest concern: Blackstone wants to make Maple Ridge a ‘destination’ which is not “another boring carbon copy municipality.” He also wants to ensure that the district is in control of its food supply.
- Corisa Bell
Corisa Bell is a single mother in her 40s and served on Maple Ridge city council from 2011-2018. She has been a two-term president of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and finds herself rooted in the community.
If elected, she will represent local needs at the Metro mayor’s table, according to her statement.
- Dan Ruimy
As a former member of parliament for Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows, Dan Ruimy has worked collaboratively with different levels of government and pledged to continue working collaboratively if elected mayor.
Working with senior levels of government can bring additional funding to develop smart and sustainable infrastructure and improve housing, transit and traffic, according to Ruimy.
- Mike Morden (incumbent)
The mayor of Maple Ridge since 2018, Mike Morden has lived in the district since 1986 with his wife and now grandchildren.
He recently retired from his business of 32 years and was a former member of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Under his leadership, the council tackled the pandemic and extreme weather events in the region. He pledged to continue doing the work and turn the “town of Maple Ridge into a vibrant urban city.”
