Because compassionate communities are built locally and Hospice is community.

With British Columbians heading to the polls for the 2026 General Local Elections, BCHPCA has launched a new collection of election resources to help hospice societies, candidates and community members bring hospice palliative care into the local conversation.

Municipalities may not fund healthcare directly, but their decisions shape how communities care for people. Local governments influence community planning, transportation, housing, volunteerism, emergency preparedness, age-friendly initiatives, public spaces and local partnerships, all of which can affect people living with serious illness, caregivers and those experiencing grief and bereavement.

Hospice societies are already deeply rooted in these communities. Each year, they support thousands of British Columbians through grief and bereavement programs, caregiver education, volunteer services, compassionate-community initiatives, and home and residential hospice care.

Our new 2026 BC Local Election Resources provide practical tools to help make this work visible and begin meaningful, non-partisan conversations with local candidates.

The resource page includes:

• A Municipal Candidate Toolkit
• A Local Candidate Meeting Guide
• A customizable Community Impact Sheet
• A Social Media Toolkit
• Community engagement ideas
• Suggested questions for candidates and voters
• Additional advocacy and knowledge resources

Hospice societies can use these tools to invite candidates for a visit, host a candidate coffee or open house, attend an all-candidates meeting, share their community impact, or begin building relationships that continue well beyond election day.

Community members can also use the page to learn about hospice and ask candidates how they will support caregivers, healthy aging, grief and bereavement initiatives, and compassionate communities.

Election day is Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Hospice is community. Let’s make sure care, compassion and connection are part of the local election conversation.

Explore the 2026 BC Local Election Resources

BCHPCA is available to help members and community partners prepare for candidate meetings, adapt the resources and share what is happening in their communities.
Contact Pablita Thomas at pablita.thomas@bchpca.org for support.