Yellowknife voters will get a sustained, public look at the platforms of the city’s two mayoral candidates when Garett Cochrane and Melissa Syer take part in a 90-minute live broadcast at City Hall on Monday, Oct. 5.
Event details and partners
The broadcast, hosted by Cabin Radio editor Ollie Williams, will run from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and will be staged before a live studio audience in the city council chambers. Attendance is free but limited; advance registration is required through the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce website.
| What | Cabin Radio live mayoral broadcast |
|---|---|
| When | Monday, Oct. 5 — 7:00–8:30 p.m. |
| Where | City Hall council chambers, Yellowknife |
| Host | Ollie Williams, Cabin Radio editor |
The broadcast is being presented in partnership with a range of Yellowknife organisations, reflecting an effort to broaden reach and encourage voter engagement. Partners named by Cabin Radio include the Northern Mosaic Network, the NWT Seniors’ Society, the Yellowknife Women’s Society, the YWCA NWT and Alternatives North.
How residents can take part
Residents who cannot attend in person will be able to follow the event live through several outlets. The broadcast will air on Cabin Radio’s website and via the Cabin Radio app, and it will be streamed on Cabin Radio’s Facebook page. A recording will be available on demand after the show.
Cabin Radio encouraged the public to submit concise questions for both candidates in advance. As the organisers noted:
“Make sure your question gets to the point (they need to be short so we can fit plenty of them into the show) and is addressed to both candidates, giving each one a fair opportunity to answer.”
Questions are to be emailed to the host, Ollie Williams.
Broader election coverage
Beyond the mayoral broadcast, Cabin Radio plans additional coverage of the municipal contest. The outlet will conduct separate interviews with each city council candidate, while the broadcast partners will publish the results of a questionnaire sent to all candidates. Those initiatives are intended to give residents a fuller picture of the choices on the ballot ahead of Election Day, Oct. 19, 2026.
- Live debate with both mayoral candidates: Oct. 5, 7–8:30 p.m., City Hall council chambers.
- Separate interviews with council candidates to be published by Cabin Radio.
- Partner organisations to release questionnaire results for all candidates.
The mayoral contest in Yellowknife has been a focal point of civic discussion as the city addresses challenges ranging from housing and infrastructure to economic development and municipal finances. Events such as the Cabin Radio broadcast offer a chance for voters to compare candidates directly and assess how each intends to tackle local priorities over the next council term.
Residents interested in attending in person should register through the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. Those who wish to follow the proceedings remotely can listen or watch live via Cabin Radio’s digital platforms and access the broadcast on demand after the program concludes.
As election day approaches, opportunities for direct engagement — public debates, candidate interviews and questionnaires — will be important for ensuring Yellowknife electors have the information they need to cast an informed ballot on Oct. 19.
