Kitimat has elected its first Dog Mayor, with Gus beating out fellow canine candidate Koko in a lighthearted campaign aimed at getting young people interested in local elections.
The District of Kitimat announced the results, with Gus receiving 569 ballots compared to Koko’s 435.
The campaign aimed to educate children about municipal government, the election process, and the importance of voting.
District staff visited local schools to deliver presentations, reaching more than 450 students of different ages. Unlike the official municipal election, the Dog Mayor campaign was open to voters of all ages.
The District says it will share the results with participating schools and thank students for helping make the initiative a success.
While the candidates’ campaign platforms promoted the program, the District plans to work with Gus on fun initiatives in the year ahead.
The campaign was also intended to encourage families to take part in the regular municipal election, following a voter turnout of just 21 per cent in Kitimat in 2022.
The District says the results and a survey about the program are available on the district’s website
