Bulkley Valley-Stikine candidates: Conservative incumbent Hartwell and NDP newcomer Abel both confirmed for October 24
Conservative incumbent Sharon Hartwell and BC NDP newcomer Frankie Abel are both on the ballot for Bulkley Valley-Stikine in the October 24 provincial election, with a third candidate from the Christian Heritage Party also confirmed.
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Conservative incumbent Sharon Hartwell and BC NDP newcomer Frankie Abel are both confirmed on the ballot for Bulkley Valley-Stikine in the October 24 provincial election, The Interior News reported on October 5.
Hartwell won the riding two years ago with 52 per cent of the vote, according to The Interior News. Before entering provincial politics, she spent 20 years in local government, including as mayor of Telkwa. She told The Interior News that communities in the region need growth, stability, and certainty, and that they are not seeing those things at the moment.
Sharon Hartwell has named a new hospital in Smithers, seniors housing in small communities including Atlin, and water infrastructure improvements as her campaign priorities.
Frankie Abel is a Gitxsan mother of two who has worked as a cultural safety and strategic initiatives lead for a provincial Crown corporation. Her background includes community engagement, First Nations partnerships, and support coordination for vulnerable adults. She told The Interior News she has the lived experience of a northerner and understands the hardships that northern residents face. Abel is running for the first time as a provincial candidate.
Abel's stated priorities include closing service gaps for First Nations and northern communities, improving transportation access, and increasing Indigenous representation in leadership. She said she came from humble beginnings and has personal knowledge of the challenges northern residents face.
A third candidate is also on the ballot: Ed Ewald of the Christian Heritage Party. The riding covers communities including Smithers, Telkwa, the Hazeltons, and Atlin, stretching across a large portion of northwest BC.
Nominations across all 93 BC ridings closed on October 3, 2026 at 1 p.m. Voting day is October 24. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in the riding can confirm their registration and find their voting place at elections.bc.ca.
Questions this story answers
Who is running in Bulkley Valley-Stikine in the 2026 BC election?
Three candidates are confirmed for Bulkley Valley-Stikine: Sharon Hartwell for the Conservative Party of BC, Frankie Abel for the BC NDP, and Ed Ewald for the Christian Heritage Party. Voting day is October 24, 2026. You can read Hartwell's and Abel's profiles on this site.
Who is Sharon Hartwell?
Sharon Hartwell is the incumbent MLA for Bulkley Valley-Stikine, running for re-election with the Conservative Party of BC. She won the riding two years ago with 52 per cent of the vote, according to The Interior News. Before entering provincial politics, she spent 20 years in local government, including as mayor of Telkwa. She has stated that her priorities include a new hospital in Smithers, water infrastructure, and seniors housing in small northern communities.
Who is Frankie Abel?
Frankie Abel is the BC NDP candidate for Bulkley Valley-Stikine. Abel is a Gitxsan mother of two who has worked as a cultural safety and strategic initiatives lead for a provincial Crown corporation. Her background includes community engagement, First Nations partnerships, and support coordination for vulnerable adults. She is running for the first time as a provincial candidate.
What are the key issues in Bulkley Valley-Stikine?
Both candidates have spoken about the cost of living in northern communities and access to services. Hartwell has named a new hospital in Smithers and seniors housing in places like Atlin as priorities. Abel has raised transportation access, service gaps in First Nations communities, and the cost of living in the north as her main concerns. These are the candidates' own stated positions as reported by The Interior News on October 5, 2026.
When did nominations close for Bulkley Valley-Stikine?
Nominations across all 93 provincial ridings closed on October 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. Pacific time. The final candidate list for Bulkley Valley-Stikine was confirmed after that deadline. The October 24 election is 19 days away. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21.
Where can I vote in Bulkley Valley-Stikine?
Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Elections BC has voting locations across the riding, including in Smithers and surrounding communities. You can find your specific voting place and confirm your registration at elections.bc.ca.
Has Sharon Hartwell served as MLA before?
Yes. Sharon Hartwell won Bulkley Valley-Stikine two years ago with 52 per cent of the vote, according to The Interior News. Before that, she spent 20 years in local government, primarily as mayor of Telkwa. She is seeking re-election for the Conservative Party of BC in the October 24, 2026 provincial election.
What did Frankie Abel say about her campaign priorities?
Abel told The Interior News that she has the lived experience of a northerner and understands the hardships people in the region face. She has focused on closing service gaps affecting First Nations and northern populations, improving transportation access, and increasing Indigenous representation in government. She is a Gitxsan mother of two and has worked in community engagement and cultural safety.
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