Squamish's new council is sworn in Tuesday: what happens, who gets which job, and what comes next
Mayor Sean Easton and six councillors take their oaths on Tuesday, November 3 at 6 p.m. at the Squamish Valley Golf Club, not Municipal Hall. Six of the seven are new to council. On the same night they hand out the first jobs: who fills in as mayor each month, who speaks for Squamish on the regional board, and who sits on the library, community forest and Land Back boards.
What changesAnyone can go, but seating is limited, so the District suggests watching the livestream. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. Two weeks later, on November 17, the new council casts its first real votes, and the 2027 budget, now drafted at a 10.4% tax increase, is one of the first big decisions.
Where and when
Tuesday, November 3 at the Squamish Valley Golf Club, 2458 Mamquam Road. The meeting opens at 6 p.m. and the swearing in ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. This one meeting is not in Council Chambers.
- Go in person: it is open to everyone, but seating is limited. Overflow seating will be in the lobby, and the District is asking people to watch the livestream if they can.
- Watch live: District of Squamish livestream on YouTube. The video stays there afterward.
- Follow by phone or WebEx: 604 449 3026, access code 2773 519 7595.
- Agenda: inaugural meeting agenda and our meeting page.
A community welcome and reception follow the meeting.
How the night goes
- A procession of the new council, led by bagpiper Devin Biln and members of the RCMP.
- A Squamish Nation blessing from Allan Harry.
- Judge Sutherland swears in Mayor Easton, then each councillor. Every member also signs on to council's code of conduct.
- Council adopts the agenda and makes its first appointments (below).
- Mayor Easton gives his inaugural address, and each councillor speaks.
- The mayor and each councillor can invite one community member to speak to council for up to three minutes.
The first jobs council hands out
The agenda leaves every name blank, so these are decided on the night. We will post who got what.
- Acting mayor: a councillor for each month from November 2026 to December 2027, who stands in when the mayor is away.
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board: Mayor Easton holds 5 votes and two councillors hold 4 votes each, plus three backups. It is the regional government for Squamish and the areas around it.
- Squamish Library Board: one councillor.
- Community Forest Board: two councillors.
- Land Back Task Force: three councillors.
- 2027 meeting schedule: regular council meetings at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, Municipal Hall, usually the first and third Tuesday, none in August and one in September.
Who is being sworn in
Easton beat Jenna Stoner by 175 votes, 3,681 to 3,506, with 45% of voters turning out. Eric Andersen is the only returning councillor; Sarah Ellis topped the council vote with 4,499.
- Mayor Sean Easton: co executive director of Zero Ceiling, a non profit working to end youth homelessness. Promised to freeze property taxes for 2027.
- Eric Andersen: grew up in Squamish; background in forestry, wood products and transportation. Focus on jobs and businesses keeping pace with growth.
- Janice DesJardins: long time volunteer whose family has been here since 1912. Wants zero based budgeting and to strive for zero tax increases.
- Sarah Ellis: executive director of Housing Squamish. Focus on homes people can afford to rent or own.
- Luc Perreault: civil engineering technologist, public works inspector and former firefighter. Focus on infrastructure and transparency.
- Laura Prosko: runs the Central Lonsdale business association in North Vancouver. Focus on housing, small business and the Woodfibre and FortisBC partnerships.
- Shaun Veltkamp: Squamish business owner for more than 20 years. Focus on housing, green spaces and trades jobs.
What comes next
- November 17: the first regular council meeting, and the first votes. We post how each member voted the same night, and you can vote on the same questions first.
- The 2027 budget: staff have drafted a 10.4% property tax increase, and this council decides it, with adoption expected early in 2027. That is the first big test of the tax promises above.
- Promises: we track 67 promises and every campaign position against how each member actually votes.
- New to how council works? Our plain guide covers the first 100 days.