2026 municipal elections

Ryan Adams seeks Quesnel council seat, promising ambitious vision and stronger community engagement

Sep 24, 2026 | 10:14 AM


QUESNEL — Ryan Adams says he wants to bring fresh energy, stronger communication, and an ambitious vision for growth to Quesnel City Council as he campaigns for a seat in the upcoming municipal election.

Adams, who has called Quesnel home for the past decade, says his decision to run stems from a desire to give back to a community that has provided opportunities for both him and his family.

“My wife and I moved up from the Okanagan 10 years ago,” Adams said. “She was born and raised here, so it was nice to come back. We settled in, bought a house, built a career and made a lot of friends here.”

With a background in economics and financial management, Adams believes his professional experience would be an asset around the council table. Much of his career has been spent working in commercial lending and financial management roles.

He currently serves as General Manager of Community Futures North Cariboo, an organization focused on supporting local economic development. Prior to returning to Community Futures, Adams spent four years as Chief Financial Officer for the North Cariboo Heritage Museum and Heritage Trust.

In addition to those responsibilities, Adams is serving as interim Chief Executive Officer for Nazko Economic Development, working alongside Nazko First Nation leadership on economic initiatives.

Adams is also active in the non-profit sector as treasurer of the Quesnel Community Foundation, which provides grants to organizations and projects aimed at strengthening the community.

Outside of his professional and volunteer commitments, Adams recently joined the Canadian Rangers, a reserve unit of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Despite the variety of roles he holds, Adams says community involvement is what inspired him to enter municipal politics.

“I’m definitely of the opinion that it’s up to us to build community,” he said. “If we want to see that growth, we have to be part of that growth.”

Adams said he sees an opportunity to help move Quesnel forward by setting higher goals and pursuing a more ambitious agenda.

“I think Quesnel has felt, at least to me, a little run-of-the-mill,” he said. “Things have been ticking along as they have been, and I see an opportunity to step in and help push that along a bit quicker.”

A key focus of his campaign is improving communication between council and residents. Adams believes stronger connections with the community will help ensure citizens feel informed and involved in local decision-making.

“I’d like to provide a lot more communication and connectivity to the constituency, to residents,” he said. “I feel that’s been kind of missing, and I feel that I could definitely help with that.”

As the campaign continues, Adams says his motivation remains rooted in his appreciation for the city he now calls home.

“It’s been a great host city for me,” he said. “I wasn’t born here and I didn’t grow up with the culture, but now that I am here, I absolutely love Quesnel. I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and I’m really excited to work to help grow this community.”

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com