Quesnel councillor Mitch Vik seeking re-election

Vik said he believes everyone has a stake in Quesnel’s success, whether they own property, operate a business or simply call the community home.

“We all have vested interests in Quesnel succeeding,” he said. “It’s really important that we have a sustainable community so our children stay in our community, grow in our community and get employed in our community.”

If re-elected, Vik said adapting to economic changes will be one of his primary focuses during the next council term.

He pointed to ongoing challenges facing the forestry sector, including tariffs affecting wood producers, and said Quesnel must be prepared to diversify its economy as traditional industries evolve.

“Our industrial base is shifting. It’s changing radically,” Vik said. “As this landscape shifts, we have to be ready to pivot.”

Part of that strategy, he said, involves attracting new industrial partners and supporting opportunities created by growth in the mining sector.

“We need to encourage other industrial partners to set up shop in Quesnel,” he said. “There are opportunities with the advances and progress of mining in our community.”

Vik added that maintaining employment levels will be critical as the local economy changes. He said the city should work closely with educational institutions and community partners to identify future workforce needs and ensure residents have access to training opportunities.

One area requiring immediate attention, he said, is staffing for the new seniors extended-care facility currently under development in Quesnel.

“We’re opening a seniors extended-care facility in the next couple of years with 221 beds,” Vik said. “The ramifications for the employment needs to run a facility of that scope are significant. We’ve got to be ready for that.”

Public safety is another issue Vik said will remain a top priority if he is returned to council.

He described community safety as a longstanding challenge and said council must continue working with local, provincial and federal partners to address concerns.

“We’ve really got to be committed to keeping an eye on that file,” Vik said.

Among the ideas he hopes to explore are monitoring the local impacts of recent federal bail reform measures, strengthening partnerships with the Crown and expanding recruitment efforts for the local RCMP detachment.

Vik noted the city has successfully partnered with Northern Health to recruit healthcare professionals and believes a similar approach could help attract more police officers to the community.

“We’ve been very successful in recruiting medical professionals to Quesnel,” he said. “Why not expand that and work with the local RCMP detachment to bolster our numbers through successful recruitment?”

He also suggested Quesnel could benefit from establishing a Citizens on Patrol program, similar to one operating in Williams Lake.

“Our friends to the south in Williams Lake have had a very successful Citizens on Patrol network going for years,” Vik said. “We don’t have that in Quesnel, and I’d like to see that change.”

Voters will head to the polls on October 17, 2026.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Quesnel councillor Mitch Vik seeking re-election

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