Nelson has its first mayoral candidate for October’s local election.
Incumbent Mayor Janice Morrison officially filed her nomination papers Thursday afternoon and is currently unopposed in the race.
Morrison was first elected mayor in 2022, after previously serving as a councillor from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2014 to 2022.
In a statement announcing her bid for a second term, Morrison pointed to projects completed during her first term, including the new transit hub and the opening of Fairview Gardens in 2024.
“When I walk through Nelson, it makes me proud to see what we’ve accomplished together as a community over the past four years,” said Morrison.
She also highlighted the completion of the city’s Official Community Plan and its climate action plan, NelsonNext.
“Both are roadmaps grounded in the priorities Nelson residents actually named as important. And that work matters because it sets us up for the next four years: building.”
Looking ahead, Morrison said major infrastructure projects will be a priority in a second term, including replacing the aging water pipeline from the Five-mile Creek watershed, replacing the force main to the sewage treatment plant, expanding the sewage treatment plant and building a new fire hall.
“None of this is simple, or cheap. Nelson already carries a high tax burden, and I don’t believe the answer to funding this work is to keep asking residents for more,” she said.
Instead, Morrison said the city will need to pursue provincial and federal infrastructure funding and make careful use of its reserves to help pay for the work.
“Funding for one project often can’t simply be shifted to another if things change, so we stay flexible and planned, rather than reactive, to keep these projects affordable for all families,” she added.
She also pointed to Nelson’s changing economy, from its history as a mining, rail and forestry town to its current role as a service and tourism centre.
“That history is part of why I believe in planning for resilience now. And it’s why the work we do on our infrastructure and our environment isn’t separate from our economy — it’s the foundation of it.”
Public engagement is another priority. Morrison said residents need to remain involved as the city moves from planning into construction.
“I’m committed to keeping residents part of the conversation as we move from planning into building. With that foundation in place, and with real work still ahead, I’m asking the residents of Nelson for the opportunity to serve a second term as your mayor.”
Morrison has lived in Nelson for more than three decades and worked as a physical therapist at Kootenay Lake Hospital.
The nomination period closes Sept. 11, with voting day set for Oct. 17.
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include Morrison’s statement about her bid for a second term.
Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyNelsonNowNews Alerts.
