A longtime community member and two-term District councillor is seeking to be West Vancouver’s next mayor. Sharon Thompson announced her candidacy for Mayor in the October 2026 municipal election, citing strong encouragement from residents across the community, according to the news release by Thompson.
“With strong support from so many residents, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Mayor of West Vancouver,” Thompson said. “I’ve heard clearly from residents that they want a Mayor they know and can trust — someone with practical, relevant experience who listens, brings people together and gets things done.”
Thompson brings eight years of Council experience, a decade working with the Province and an education in Urban Studies from UBC to her campaign, according to the news release. She moved to West Vancouver as a young adult 40 years ago, married her husband Rex, and raised their three daughters in the community.
“My eight years on Council have reinforced for me that good local government is about listening, collaborating, planning and then acting,” Thompson said. “While I value the experience that comes from incumbency, I also believe good leadership means welcoming fresh perspectives and encouraging new voices to step forward.”
Thompson identified several priorities for her campaign: navigating provincial downloads and mandates, pushing for major transportation improvements, and ensuring West Vancouver is well represented as Metro Vancouver faces pressure to restructure. She also pointed to waterfront vibrancy with operators such as The Boatshed, Batch and Gatherwell Saunas, along with street-level concerns including traffic speeds, parking, unhoused individuals and multimodal transportation conflicts.
Long-term planning for the community’s arts, healthcare, infrastructure and amenities — many of which are overburdened or nearing the end of their useful life — is also a priority, according to the news release.
“Our amenities are an essential part of the vibrancy and quality of life that make West Vancouver special,” Thompson said.
“I look forward to engaging with residents over the next two months, hearing what matters to you and sharing my vision for West Vancouver. It would be a great honour to serve as your Mayor.”
If she continues to support a true citizen Planning Commission, not a department that puts developers interests first, she deserves to win.
A representative community group that has a “ground up” perspective is sorely needed on the North Shore.