After the municipal elections help your new council get to know hospice Palliative care

Have you congratulated your newly elected or returning local representatives? This is an opportunity to introduce your community hospice society, renew relationships and keep compassionate communities on the local agenda.

Following BC’s October 17 municipal elections, communities are welcoming new leaders alongside returning mayors, councillors and regional district directors.

For hospice societies, both change and continuity offer an opening. New representatives may be unfamiliar with your work. Returning representatives may welcome an update on the people you support, emerging community needs and opportunities to work together.

Three steps for hospice societies this week

1. Send congratulations.
Recognize newly elected and returning representatives, introduce your society and thank outgoing representatives for their service where appropriate.

2. Share your local impact.
Include a brief description of your services and two or three local figures: people supported, volunteers involved or hours contributed. Explain how your work supports people through serious illness, caregiving, dying and grief.

3. Invite a conversation.
Offer a short meeting or hospice visit after council’s inauguration. Identify one practical area for collaboration, such as accessible community space, caregiver supports, grief awareness, volunteer recognition or age-friendly planning.

Keep outreach nonpartisan and extend the invitation across council, regardless of party, slate or incumbency. Relationships built now can support collaboration throughout the term.

Resources to help you get started

Our 2026 BC Elections Resources page includes tools you can personalize:

• Media Toolkit BC Elections 2026: adapt the “Sample Email to Candidate” into a congratulations and introduction message.

• Local Candidate Meeting Guide: prepare a focused conversation and plan your follow-up.

• Community Impact Sheet: share a concise picture of your hospice society’s contribution.

A simple opening could be:

“Congratulations on your election to serve [community]. On behalf of [hospice society], we look forward to working with you to strengthen a compassionate community for people experiencing serious illness, caregiving and grief. We would welcome an opportunity to introduce our work and hear your priorities.”

Provincial election reminder: vote this Saturday

BC’s provincial election Final Voting Day is Saturday, October 24, 2026.

If you have not yet voted, make a plan and visit Elections BC for voting locations, identification requirements and accessibility information.

BCHPCA encourages eligible British Columbians to participate and consider how candidates will support access to hospice palliative care, caregivers, and grief and bereavement services.

Have you connected with your local representatives? Let us know what you are hearing and where BCHPCA can support