B.C. municipal election 2018: Elkford

Candidates

To be announced.

Boundary

A Rocky Mountain community located just north of Sparwood, Elkford is found in the Elk Valley, near B.C.’s border with Alberta.

Population (2016)

2,499

History

First, the Elk Valley was populated by the Ktunaxa peoples.

But permanent settlement didn’t happen there until the start of the 20th century.

Most were interested in coal mines, opting for places such as Michel, Middletown and Natal, but some, such as pioneer Mathias Baher, ended up in Elkford.

Baher owned a major share of the land that would form the town of Elkford. Sewer and water lines came in following the sale of some of these lands to the Fording Coal Company.

Elkford was incorporated as a district in 1971.

With coal forming a key part of its economy, Elkford has undergone boom and bust. But the community has found appeal with people looking to buy vacation homes there.

Median total income of couple economic families with children (2015)/B.C. median

$132,608/$111,736

Political representation

Federal

Wayne Stetski (NDP)

Provincial

Tom Shypitka (BC Liberal)