Burnaby's new city council sworn in at a ceremony attended by 500 people
Mayor Mike Hurley and eight councillors took their oaths of office at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown on November 12, beginning a four-year term. The 2026 election drew 50,326 ballots cast, the highest turnout in Burnaby's history.
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About 500 people gathered at the Crystal Ballroom of the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown on November 12, 2026, as Burnaby's newly elected mayor and eight councillors took their oaths of office to begin a four-year term. Freshet News reported the ceremony. BC Provincial Court Judge Gene Jamieson administered the oaths and described the occasion as "an act full of symbolism and accountability."
The ceremony capped an election that the City of Burnaby says set a record: 50,336 ballots cast, representing over 29 per cent of eligible voters, the highest turnout in Burnaby's municipal election history.
Who is on council
Mayor Mike Hurley is beginning his third mayoral term. Five councillors are returning from the previous council: Joe Keithley, Richard T. Lee, Maita Santiago, Daniel Tetrault and James Wang. Three councillors are new to council: Ryan Erwin, Cindy Lee and Kiran Singh.
Seven of the eight councillors ran with the BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association. Richard T. Lee ran with NEW Burnaby. Mayor Hurley ran with no elector organization, as the City's official results show.
What was said at the ceremony
The City of Burnaby's November 12 press release quotes Mayor Hurley: "It's an honour to begin this new term alongside returning and newly elected members of Council. Burnaby residents have placed their trust in us to work together, listen to our community and make thoughtful decisions about the city's future."
Freshet News, reporting from the Crystal Ballroom, quotes Judge Jamieson as telling those gathered that the act carries accountability alongside its symbolism. Jamieson noted that Burnaby has a strong electoral tradition and congratulated all those who stood for election.
Mayor Hurley, speaking after taking his oath, described himself as "deeply honoured" to be elected. He noted the number of people who put their names forward, saying it gave residents a wide range of perspectives to choose from.
What council promised during the campaign
The promise tracker on voche.me records each commitment the people now on council made during the 2026 campaign. Those promises are now being tracked against what council actually decides.
Mayor Hurley's platform carried three housing commitments. His campaign says he will build 1,000 affordable rental homes through the Burnaby Housing Authority, including townhomes for families. It also says he will speed up building permits to cut costs and get homes built faster, and that he will press the province to return zoning authority to cities and repeal Bills 25, 44 and 47.
The seven BCA councillors carry the party's 2026 platform. Its community facilities section promises to open the Cameron Community and Aquatic Centre, the Burnaby Lake Recreation Complex and the Brentwood Community Centre. It also promises to speed up the redevelopment of the Bonsor complex. Richard T. Lee's own platform says he will hold the property tax increase to 0% in the first budget.
None of these has a recorded decision yet. The first council meeting on November 24 will give residents an early look at what the new majority puts on the agenda. The Burnaby promise tracker will be updated as council votes on them through the four-year term, with each decision linked to its source.
The election by the numbers
The City of Burnaby's official results show 50,326 ballots cast in the October 17, 2026 election. The City's November 12 press release says that figure represents over 29 per cent of eligible voters, the highest turnout in Burnaby's municipal election history. The official results, from 172,156 eligible voters, named 16 people elected across the mayor, council and school board races.
Six candidates ran for mayor, 42 for the eight council seats, and 16 for the seven school board seats. The Chief Election Officer declared the official results on October 21, 2026.
What comes next for council and the school board
The next Burnaby City Council meeting is scheduled for November 24, Freshet News reports. The Burnaby Board of Education, whose seven newly elected trustees were sworn in at the same November 12 ceremony, holds its inaugural session the same evening. That meeting is on November 24 at 7:00 pm at the District Administration Office, 4054 Norfolk Street, according to the Board's events page. The public can attend.
How residents can get involved now
The City of Burnaby is accepting applications to join four advisory bodies before Friday, November 27, 2026: the Board of Variance, the Community Heritage Commission, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Committee, and the Transportation Committee. These bodies advise council on decisions and bylaws throughout the term. Members are volunteers drawn from the public. The City's application page is at Burnaby.ca/JoinAnAdvisoryBodyOrBoard.
Each councillor's page on voche.me tracks their votes and promises through the full term. The Burnaby promise tracker shows each person's commitments, the evidence recorded so far, and upcoming votes or decisions tied to those commitments.
Questions this story answers
When was Burnaby's new city council sworn in?
The new Burnaby City Council was sworn in on November 12, 2026, at a ceremony held at the Crystal Ballroom of the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown. About 500 people attended, according to Freshet News. BC Provincial Court Judge Gene Jamieson administered the oaths of office and described the event as an act full of symbolism and accountability.
Who are the members of Burnaby City Council for 2026 to 2030?
The council is Mayor Mike Hurley, who is beginning his third term, and eight councillors: Ryan Erwin, Joe Keithley, Cindy Lee, Richard T. Lee, Maita Santiago, Kiran Singh, Daniel Tetrault, and James Wang. Erwin, Cindy Lee, and Singh are newly elected. Keithley, Richard T. Lee, Santiago, Tetrault, and Wang are returning members.
How many people voted in the 2026 Burnaby municipal election?
The City of Burnaby's official results show 50,326 ballots cast in the 2026 election, from 172,156 eligible voters. The City's press release describes this as the highest turnout in Burnaby's municipal election history, at over 29 per cent of eligible voters.
What did Mayor Mike Hurley say at the swearing-in?
The City of Burnaby's press release quotes Hurley saying: 'It's an honour to begin this new term alongside returning and newly elected members of Council. Burnaby residents have placed their trust in us to work together, listen to our community and make thoughtful decisions about the city's future.'
What did Judge Gene Jamieson say at the ceremony?
Freshet News reports that BC Provincial Court Judge Gene Jamieson, who administered the oaths, described the ceremony as an act full of symbolism and accountability and congratulated those elected for earning the confidence of voters.
When is Burnaby City Council's next regular meeting?
According to Freshet News, the next scheduled Burnaby City Council meeting is November 24, 2026. The Burnaby Board of Education also holds its inaugural session that same evening at 7:00 pm at the District Administration Office, 4054 Norfolk Street, according to the Board's events page.
How can Burnaby residents join advisory boards?
The City of Burnaby is accepting applications to join four advisory bodies: the Board of Variance, the Community Heritage Commission, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Committee, and the Transportation Committee. Applications are due by Friday, November 27, 2026. Residents can apply at Burnaby.ca/JoinAnAdvisoryBodyOrBoard.
What promises did the new council make during the 2026 campaign?
Mayor Hurley's campaign platform included commitments to build 1,000 affordable rental homes through the Burnaby Housing Authority, to speed up permits for new home construction, and to press the province to return zoning authority to cities. BCA councillors carry a party platform that includes opening three community centres and redeveloping Bonsor. Richard T. Lee's platform promised a 0% property tax increase in the first budget. All promises are tracked at the Burnaby promise tracker on voche.me.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- City of Burnaby — Burnaby's new Council begins four-year term, November 12, 2026burnaby.ca
- Freshet News — Full of symbolism: New Burnaby city council sworn in, by Cornelia Naylor, November 12, 2026freshetnews.ca
- Burnaby Schools — Board of Education inaugural session, November 24, 2026burnabyschools.ca
- voche.me — Burnaby promise trackervoche.me
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