2026 Yellowknife Municipal Election

Working with Yellowknifers to Build a Better City

This October, Yellowknifers will choose a Mayor and Council they trust with the future of our home. This election is a historic moment. As Yellowknife celebrates its centennial in 2034, we know that the leaders’ residents choose now will shape our City’s future for the years, decades and generations to come.

That is why, I am proud to share that I am putting my name forward to become the next Mayor of the City of Yellowknife.

As Mayor I commit to Yellowknifers that I will:

• Grow Yellowknife strategically and sustainably
• Strengthen services and focus on critical infrastructure
• Lead pragmatically and be results driven

As a born-and-raised Yellowknifer who is also 2SLGBTQ+ and Métis, my love for this urban paradise in the bush I’ve always called home, is at the heart of my commitment to our community. My love and unwavering devotion for Yellowknife and its people got me to run for Council in 2022.

I have had the honour of serving as Deputy Mayor, chairing and being a member of multiple committees, while along with everyone on Council helping lead Yellowknife through emergencies and towards greater economic opportunity.

Together, we must tackle the challenges facing Yellowknifers—from housing pressures and aging infrastructure to strengthening public safety and community wellness—while accelerating the ambitious work already happening to leverage the opportunities coming from transformative Federal investment.

Over the course of the campaign, I will be sharing a vision that is bold in its ambition, and fiscally disciplined in its approach. Most importantly, I look forward to hearing about the issues that matter to residents across our City—from the doorsteps to the forums and everywhere in between.

I know the coming weeks of campaigning will bring insightful and constructive discussions about how we can build a better future for our community.

As Mayor of our community and our City, I will earn your trust with hard work, boundless optimism, and thoughtful determination.

Let’s move Yellowknife forward together.

Regards, Garett Cochrane

I’m running for Mayor of Yellowknife.

Ten years ago, I came to Yellowknife with the Canadian Armed Forces. I expected it to be another military posting. Instead, I fell in love with this place.

My husband and I decided to make Yellowknife home. We adopted two senior dogs from the NWT SPCA, eventually welcomed our daughter, and somewhere along the way the North stopped being a work posting and simply became home.

Over those ten years, I’ve also had the opportunity to see our community from a lot of different perspectives. I came here as a Naval Warfare Officer and served at Joint Task Force North, planning and executing military operations across the North. Since leaving the military, I’ve led the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, worked in business and the nonprofit sector, and most recently worked in municipal economic development.

Throughout all of those roles, I’ve learned that good leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice in the room. It’s about listening, bringing good people together, making thoughtful decisions and getting things done.

I believe Yellowknife is at a generational turning point: this is an important moment for us. We have real challenges to tackle — housing, affordability, infrastructure, downtown vitality and a changing economy. But we also have enormous opportunities ahead of us as attention turns to the North and investment follows.

I think Yellowknife should be ambitious about what comes next. I want us to be a city that works, a city with ambition, and a city people choose. That’s why I’ve decided to put my name forward to be Yellowknife’s next Mayor.

Over the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to getting out into the community, knocking on doors and listening. I want to hear what you love about Yellowknife, what frustrates you, and what you want our City to become.

I’d be honoured to earn your vote on October 19.

Melissa
Leadership for What’s Next

(Photo: Hannah Eden Photography)

I’m running again for Yellowknife City Council.

Yellowknife is changing quickly. The closure of the diamond mines is reshaping our economy, while major defence investments and other projects will be bringing new opportunities and some real challenges to our city to adapt.

There’s a lot we need to get ready for. Housing is a big one. We need drastically accelerate the pace we build homes for residents, use our land wisely, invest in infrastructure and make real progress on public safety.

We got a lot done in my first term, but honestly, it feels like I’m just getting started. There’s a lot more I want to do, and I think my experience, both around the council table and in my professional work, can be useful as Yellowknife goes through this period of rapid change.

I’m running for another term because I really believe there’s a lot of important work ahead of us, and I want to be part of getting it done.

(Photo by Hannah Eden Photography)

Now that crisp mornings and warm afternoons are in the air, I am writing this note to confirm that I fully intend to seek election as a Yellowknife City Councillor in the upcoming municipal election.

Since being appointed to Council last year, I have approached the role with a practical, resident-first mindset shaped by my long roots in the community, and continued volunteer and advocacy efforts.

Good governance, in my view, means clear priorities, careful use of public resources, and decisions that balance immediate needs with the long-term livability of our city.

Yellowknife is navigating uncertain times. With mine closures happening in real-time, ongoing remediation work at Giant Mine, significant federal investments in northern defence and sovereignty, and major projects advancing across the territory, the pressure on our community continues to grow.

At the same time, many residents and local businesses are feeling the strain of rising costs in their day-to-day lives, making it more important than ever that public decisions are thoughtful, balanced, and grounded in real community needs.

As our city continues to evolve, thoughtful planning, careful stewardship of public resources, and meaningful community engagement will remain essential.

Thank you for the trust and engagement so far. I’m ready to keep working for a well-run, balanced Yellowknife.

As many of you know, I have served on Yellowknife city council for three terms now, 11 years.

It’s definitely been an experience for sure. Lots of votes cast, lots of frustrations, lots of proud moments.

From the start all I’ve ever wanted to do was to make my city a better place. We’re never going to make everyone happy but I do try to make my decisions based on what I feel is best for YK as a whole.

This week I will submit my name to serve on Council for a 4th term. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Hi Yellowknife,

I am excited to announce I will be running for city council in the upcoming election.

For those of you who don’t know me I am the former MLA for Yellowknife North and a former lawyer at the City of Yellowknife.

In my spare time I enjoy organizing obscure community events and being a huge nerd about municipal politics.

I will work hard on city council while thoroughly enjoying the job. In the coming weeks I’ll share some ideas about how I think we can improve our amazing city. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat or share your ideas.

See you on the campaign trail!

Hello Yellowknifers,

I’m excited to share that I am running for Yellowknife City Council.

Yellowknife is home, and I care deeply about our community and our future. Through my work and involvement in our community, I’ve had the opportunity to see both the incredible strengths of our city and the challenges we face.

I’m running because I believe Yellowknife deserves strong, practical and thoughtful leadership, leadership that listens, works collaboratively and focuses on making our city an even better place to live, work, raise a family and build a future.

I’m ready to bring my experience, energy and commitment, and I would be honoured to have your support.

I’m looking forward to getting out, meeting with residents, listening to your ideas and hearing what matters most to you.

Thank you for your time, and consideration.

Hi Yellowknife, I’m Roberta Marie Campbell.

I’m running for Yellowknife City Council because I care deeply about our community and believe local government works best when residents are listened to, respected, and included.

I’ve lived and worked in Yellowknife, raised my family here, and seen firsthand both the strengths of our city and the challenges people are facing.

My campaign is focused on:
People • Community • Solutions

That means practical leadership, responsible spending, and working toward a safer, stronger Yellowknife.

I’m looking forward to listening, learning, answering questions, and hearing directly from residents throughout the campaign.

Listening to Yellowknife • Working for Yellowknife

— Roberta Marie Campbell
Candidate for Yellowknife City Council
Robertamariecampbell@gmail.com

Okay friends, it’s time to make the open secret public knowledge: I’m running for city council.

I know, I know what you might be thinking. “Isn’t Skye a bartender? A stand-up comedian or something? Didn’t she host a drag show like, last week?”

Yes to all of those things! But I’m great at wearing many hats, and it’s time to use those skill sets in a way that serves the city.

In my decade’s time as a bartender with the Explorer, I’ve been an unofficial concierge to the city.

I’ve been a sounding board and a bulletin board for everyone, so I have some front line knowledge on what we all love about our city as well as what we all want to see improve.

It’s a big moment for Yellowknife, and its a moment that needs to be met with a sense of service, courage to take big swings, and a good measure of good humour. Sounds like just the job I’m cut out for.

I love this city, and in my 13 years here I’ve been humbled by how much the city loves me right back.

I’m excited for this opportunity to do what I do best, in a way that is new, but somehow familiar: Serving Yellowknife.

(Photo: Hannah Eden Photography)

Well, Readers… I’m running for City Council

I’ll probably always be uncomfortable with the word “running.”

It makes it sound like a race.

For me, it isn’t.

I’m simply saying: I can help. Put me to work.

I’m a Mom. An Educator. A Reservist. A Small Business Owner. A Community Builder. A Relationship Broker.

And like many of you, I’m trying to raise a family, pay the bills, and build a long life in Yellowknife.

I’m a piece of all of you.
Children. Youth. Families. Seniors. Local businesses. People doing well. People struggling. People who agree with me. People who won’t.

You all matter.

My platform Ready YK has been about opening up the conversation before the press release comes out.

What can we afford? What is sustainable? What can we actually do?
I don’t want the conversation happening around you.

I want you in it.

And if you believe in that kind of Council, I’ll need your support.

Your Friend,
Keneisha Buddoo

(Photo: @MunyaVisualFactory)

Adult Learning Specialist with Aurora College.

No more details released by candidate to date.

Hi friends,

As many of you know, I’m throwing my hat in the ring once again for a Yellowknife City Council seat.

There is a lot a stake for Yellowknife over this next four-year term and truly over this next decade. I’m hoping to be a part of the team that sets the City’s direction, ensuring that we meet the moment.

On his election website, the former two-term councillor, current commercial realtor and executive director of the NWT Art Centre Initiative, lists his policy platform under the headings:

A return to smart growth: “Clear direction and oversight from Council will be needed to ensure we do not slide back into the anti-growth approach of the past decade.”

Addressing public disorder: “The goal is not to criminalize homelessness or addiction, it is to re-establish an expectation of respectful behaviour in the many public spaces in our city that we all share.”

Let’s Build On Our Strengths: “We cannot afford projects that require the City to do all of the work or that struggle against conditions we cannot realistically change.)

Rebecca Alty defeated Adrian Bell in the 2018 Yellowknife mayoral election, ending his time in council.

The nomination period closes at 3 pm on Monday, September 21st. Candidates may withdraw those papers at any time until 3 pm on September 23rd.

The nomination period closes at 3 pm on Monday, September 21st. Candidates may withdraw those papers at any time until 3 pm on September 23rd.