---
title: "BC NDP names Jesse Gervais as candidate for Nechako Lakes"
description: "The BC NDP has nominated Jesse Gervais, Director of Community Services for the District of Fraser Lake, to run in the Nechako Lakes riding for the October 24 provincial election."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/jesse-gervais-bc-ndp-nechako-lakes"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:07:04.844Z"
---

The BC NDP announced Jesse Gervais as its candidate for the Nechako Lakes riding on September 29, 2026, according to CKPG Today. Voting day is October 24.

Gervais currently serves as Director of Community Services and Deputy Corporate Officer for the District of Fraser Lake. He grew up in northern BC, left for a period, and returned to the region three years ago to be closer to family and find work.

His background is in rural development. He has worked with federal, provincial, and local governments on rural policy and community services.

"We haven't seen much of our MLA in the last several years, and it's noticed on the ground and people are pretty upset about it. I want to be the guy who shows up," he told CKPG Today.

## The riding

Nechako Lakes has been represented by John Rustad since 2009. Rustad led the BC Conservative caucus in the last legislature. He has announced he will not seek re-election in October, leaving an open seat for the first time in 16 years.

As of September 29, CKPG Today reported Gervais as the only declared candidate in the riding. Nominations close October 3, 2026 at 1 p.m. Pacific time, so additional candidates may still register before then. The riding covers a large part of north-central BC, including the towns of Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, and Fraser Lake, where Gervais works.

## Gervais's stated priorities

CKPG Today listed four areas Gervais says he will focus on: economic diversification for communities that have relied on forestry, protecting rural health-care services, adequate resources for schools, and highway and transportation maintenance. He says local presence matters to him.

"I want to be the guy who shows up," he told CKPG Today.

He has not released a detailed costed plan. As a nomination candidate, his positions represent his own campaign commitments, not adopted BC NDP policy, until the party endorses them.

## What voters in Nechako Lakes can do

Voters in Nechako Lakes can read Jesse Gervais's candidate profile at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/jesse-gervais](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/jesse-gervais). Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. Nominations close October 3 at 1 p.m. PT, after which Elections BC will publish the complete candidate list for the riding.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.