Advance voting for the 2025 federal election opens this Friday, April 18 for four days.
Voters will be asked to choose one of seven candidates for the Courtenay-Alberni riding: Brian Cameron (Liberal Party); Thomas Gamble (People's Party of Canada); Gord Johns (incumbent, NDP); Teresa Knight (Animal Protection Party of Canada); Chris Markevich (Green Party); Kris McNichol (Conservative Party of Canada); Jesse Musial (Christian Heritage Party of Canada).
Residents should have received their voter information card in the mail by April 11. Information on where to vote is included on the card. Those who don't receive their card may update voter information online at elections.ca or by calling their nearest Elections Canada office by April 22, 6 p.m. EDT.
People may also register when they go to vote, provided they have appropriate identification.
Voting in advance:
Advance voting takes place over Easter weekend: Friday, April 18, Saturday, April 19, Sunday, April 20 and Monday, April 21.
Advance voting in Tofino will only take place at Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Road. The poll will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21 inclusive.
Courtenay-Alberni returning officer Dennis Lissimore said it isn't possible to hold advance voting in both Tofino and Ucluelet for the federal election, even though the advance days were split evenly during the last provincial election. Tofino was chosen because communities such as Ahousaht and Opitsaht First Nations and Hot Springs Cove are only accessible by boat via Tofino docks.
Residents wishing to vote early in Tofino on Saturday, April 19 need to know they will be sharing a venue with the community Easter egg hunt. Families will be gathering at the site of the former bike park at the community hall for a 10 a.m. event.
There is no parking available at the Tofino Community Hall and people will need to walk to the voting centre.
Vote now, in person and by mail:
People who can't make it to their advance voting times in their home riding may vote at any Elections Canada office anywhere in Canada, anytime before April 22 at 6 p.m. EDT. There are Elections Canada offices in Port Alberni (4994 Argyle St.) and Parksville (Parksville Community Centre, 223 Mills St.). Both are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
To find other Elections Canada offices across the country, visit the Elections Canada website at www.elections.ca and search by postal code. Offices are open seven days a week.
People may also vote by mail if they apply to Elections Canada by April 22, 6 p.m. EDT. There is a form to fill out on the national website, elections.ca.
Voting on election day, Monday, April 28:
Ucluelet voters may cast their votes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day at the Ucluelet Athletic Club Hall, 1510 Peninsula Road.
Tofino voters may cast their votes at the Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Rd. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
