2026 Municipal Elections

We asked the 2026 candidates the following:

How would you help ensure Golden’s trails remain accessible, well maintained and sustainable for years to come? Please share any relevant work you’ve done and the specific steps you would champion on council, including how you would support the community organizations responsible for trail stewardship.

 

Justin Baun

“Thank you for reaching out! I believe our biking trails and your club are a valuable asset to our community. I myself with my family enjoy this activity during summer months. I also believe that this helps our tourism industry. For instance my wife’s brother and his family are avid bikers, they used to plan their vacations to Fernie travelling from Alberta to bike. Now that they’ve experienced our trail systems they now come here every summer. I’m not sure what council currently does for your group all I can say is I would be supportive in terms of keeping the trails sustainable and maintained for the future. ”

 

David Ratzlaff

“Biking and walking trails are extremely important for a community.  I am not sure how cycling and walking can coexist with each other but what I have seen in my neighborhood the trails get equal use.

I would ask that every development has trails as an added addition to every project.
We as a family have developable land that is currently being used for both activities and we encourage even more use.  This would then show us what future development of the site could look like
Another major issue is biking and walking along Golden Upper Donald from the new RV site to the roundabout.  This is a very dangerous road and a solid plan is needed.  If we need to designate a path on our property we would be willing to set that up.”

 

Calvin Beauchesne

“I’m open to any way of helping to ensure Golden’s trails remain accessible, well maintained and sustainable. To me cycling is a low impact, health activity that allows people to get out and enjoy nature and the mountains.

I see mountain biking as being much less impact than motorized cycling. I was on the Board of Directors of Wildsight Golden from 2022-2024. I think being Bear Aware is important, educating people with signage and encouraging people to carry bear spray. I see the Town as acting as a liaison between private landowners and the cycling club when trail maintenance is going on on public land near private land. Working with Tourism Golden to help promote our mountain biking to a wider group of people. “

Janet Crandall

“I believe Golden’s trails are an important part of what makes this a great place to live. They support outdoor recreation, bring people together and contribute to our visitor economy. Keeping them accessible and well maintained takes ongoing investment and a great deal of work behind the scenes.

I’m a strong supporter of the Golden Cycling Club and appreciate the tremendous contribution it makes through trail building and maintenance. My own contribution has primarily been through The Golden Star, where we try to give the club’s work and activities coverage whenever we can, both in print and online. That helps raise awareness, recognize volunteers and encourage community support.

On council, I would champion regular conversations with the club and other trail stewardship organizations to understand their priorities, maintenance needs and challenges. I would support clear agreements that identify responsibilities, practical municipal assistance and predictable funding where feasible, while helping organizations pursue grants and partnerships.

I would also advocate for maintaining existing trails alongside considering new ones, planning for drainage and erosion, protecting sensitive areas and improving signage and connections. Accessibility should include a range of opportunities for different ages, abilities and activities.

Many trails extend beyond municipal boundaries, so collaboration with landowners, First Nations, the CSRD and other partners matters. Council cannot do this alone, but it can be a dependable partner. The organizations caring for our trails should have a voice in planning and the support to keep doing their valuable work.”

 

Stuart Angus

“I  will support thru the Trails Alliance, along with the other partners to provide support to The Golden Cycling Club in its trail maintenance programme.

Although there are relatively few trails within the Town of Golden boundaries, I do recognize the impact that these trails have on the town, the recreational opportunities for the residents, and by extension the businesses within the town that benefit either directly, or indirectly.

As you will know, one council member will serve on the Trails Alliance & I would be happy to be that person should the new Mayor wish that to be the case.”

 

Wesley Routley

“The trails in Golden and Electoral Area A are tangible assets to our community, with real social and economic value, and they wouldn’t exist without the continued work by the Golden Cycling Club. Whether it’s built infrastructure, natural assets, or a blend of those realms like our trails, we have an obligation as a community to ensure the long-term sustainability of our services for future generations. GCC has proven time and again that they’re willing and able to do the meaningful work of asset management, capital planning, and intentional reconciliation with the First Nations on whose unceded territories we live, work, and play.

Sustaining our trails’ accessibility and maintenance requires energy and funding. Conversations with residents these past few weeks have highlighted the tensions around tax increases; those pressures are compounded by provincial and federal cuts to programming and other tax requisitions. As a resort municipality, Golden is in a unique position to pilot creative funding solutions for our built and natural services. In the same meetings that we’re advocating for the visitor economy to contribute equitably to our built assets like water and wastewater, I feel that hybrid assets like our trails should also be mentioned.

That advocacy work with the Province has been a focus of my efforts over the past two years, particularly toward tax equity and legislative changes. I’m committed to continuing that advocacy with the Province, including alternative funding mechanisms that allow resort municipalities like ours sustain the services we rely on and enjoy.

Great places to bike and enjoy the landscape are great places to live, so thanks to you, the Board, and the GCC membership for your continued passion and contribution. Folks are welcome to reach out if they have any questions!”

James Bjarnason

“I would like to continue to see the trails in and around Golden maintained and kept accessible. They are a large draw for outdoor enthusiasts both inside and outside our community. I would work with community organizations to support the needs of the community in regards to the trails. Honestly it would be nice to see a bit of expansion of the trail system, but that would be determined by where we are in maintaining (costs and volunteers) our current trails.”