With municipal elections set for later this year, the Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce is hoping to help prospective candidates better understand what it takes to serve in local government.
The Chamber is hosting a free workshop titled So You Want to Run for City Council on June 10, aimed at residents considering a run for Kamloops council in the 2026 municipal election.
The session will feature former Mayor and Councillor of Central Saanich Allison Habkirk, who brings more than 30 years of local government experience.
Chamber Executive Director Acacia Pangilinan said the idea is to give potential candidates a clearer understanding of what municipal government actually does and what the role of a councillor or mayor involves.
“We really felt like it would be great for folks who are considering running for council to have a bit of an education session on what the role of local government actually means,” Pangilinan told Radio NL.
The Chamber previously hosted a similar workshop ahead of the last municipal election and Pangilinan said there was strong interest from community members considering a run for office.
“Our boardroom was full of people who were considering running and some who ended up running,” she said.
Pangilinan noted one of the key lessons from the previous session was helping people understand the distinction between municipal, provincial and federal responsibilities.
“People who put their name forward really have great intentions and good ideas and they want to help the city that they love,” she said. “But sometimes some of the areas of focus maybe don’t lie with the municipal government. Sometimes it’s with the provincial government or the federal government.”
She added the workshop will also focus on governance, the relationship between council and municipal staff, and the practical realities of campaigning and serving in office.
Habkirk’s experience as a longtime local government leader made her a natural fit to facilitate the session, according to Pangilinan.
“She really understands how things work, how council works and that relationship between council and staff and what are some of the obligations that go with being an elected member of a local council,” Pangilinan said.
The free workshop runs June 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Chamber office on Victoria Street. Registration is encouraged due to limited space, though organizers say they may move to a larger venue if demand is high.
