Forum aims to connect voters with dozens of local candidates
Voters in Nanaimo will have the chance to meet most of the people seeking a seat on city council and listen to debate among mayoral contenders when the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce hosts a Civic Engagement Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
The event will bring together most of the 40 candidates running for council and all four mayoral candidates, the chamber says, opening with a public meet‑and‑greet and followed by a seated forum in the Mt. Benson Ballroom.
Julie Sperber, the chamber’s incoming chief executive officer, said the evening is intended to give residents a direct opportunity to talk to candidates and to shape the questions put to them during the panel portions.
“So the first hour is going to be a a meet‑and‑greet, almost trade show style, where all of the candidates that are joining us will have their own six‑foot table and will be able to talk with the general public who are coming in to learn more about their platforms and who they are,”
Format designed to let many voices be heard
After the initial meet‑and‑greet, attendees will move into the ballroom for a structured forum. The event will be moderated by local CHEK News reporter Kendall Hanson.
According to the chamber, the forum sequence includes short introductions from councillor candidates, a mayoral debate, then a rapid‑fire question period for councillor hopefuls. Counsellor candidates will initially be given 15 seconds each to introduce themselves and offer one key message for voters.
The mayoral segment will move into a debate format, with each candidate asked three or four questions to discuss. Councillor candidates will then return for a randomized rapid‑fire section; candidates will be able to raise their hand to add answers to questions they feel fall within their expertise or platform.
Sperber said the chamber has circulated a question form for attendees and intends to distil submissions so the forum reflects community priorities. She added the chamber plans to align about 40 per cent of questions directly with business and economic topics, while also incorporating broader community input.
What to expect and how the night will run
- Venue: Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Mt. Benson Ballroom
- Date/time: Tuesday, Sept. 29 (evening start; first hour a meet‑and‑greet)
- Participants: most of the 40 council candidates, and all four mayoral candidates
- Moderator: Kendall Hanson, CHEK News
| Segment | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meet‑and‑greet | Trade‑show style | Each candidate at a six‑foot table |
| Councillor introductions | 15‑second spot | One key message per candidate |
| Mayoral debate | Moderated Q&A | Three or four questions in debate style |
| Councillor rapid‑fire | Randomized questions | Candidates may volunteer to answer extra questions |
For voters, the structure offers both informal and formal opportunities: residents can circulate among candidate tables to talk platforms and priorities in person, then watch how those same individuals handle timed introductions and on‑stage questioning. The chamber’s effort to solicit questions in advance aims to make the forum responsive to community concerns while still enabling a portion of the discussion to focus on business and economic issues.
As the municipal campaign progresses, forums such as this one provide a concentrated snapshot of how candidates present themselves and defend their positions under time pressure. With dozens of council hopefuls on the ballot, the meet‑and‑greet component may be the only practical chance for many voters to speak directly with more than a handful of contenders.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber has asked attendees to submit questions through its form; organisers say they will attempt to distill and prioritise those submissions when preparing the panel questions.
Residents planning to attend should arrive early for the exhibit‑style portion to maximise face‑to‑face time with candidates before the seated forum begins.
