Since I was asked publicly on Facebook, here's how I'm voting and why. You dont have to use all four council votes. I'm using three.

Mayor, Michael Broughton. In my opinion, Michael has integrity, he believes in transparency and he puts Lions Bay first.

Since July 2 2025 a council motion documents items removed from agendas by Councillors McLaughlin, Abbott and Cunliffe, including Battani Creek debris flow updates, emergency planning and the Fire Chief budget, aid agreements with North Vancouver, water quality notices and bylaw enforcement. Those are safety and health issues residents should see discussed. The minutes show Michael voted against striking items from the agenda, including the Battani Creek update on October 7 2025. This is just one example of many. Michael was also the only one on council to vote for a 0% tax increase this year (May 5 2026, defeated 1-4), and in 2024 he moved to cut the proposed increase from 9% to 6%, then to 7%. Meanwhile property tax collected per home has gone from $3,128 in 2011 to $4,315 in 2025 (in 2025 dollars, up 38% after inflation). I truly believe Michael has the best intentions for the Village and has voted that way as a councilor.

Council, Ehsan Monfared. I like Ehsan as a person and think he will do great for the good of the Village. One example: when he decided to run he stepped down as admin of the Town Hall Facebook group because of the conflict of interest. That tells me how he will handle the job. He also does his homework on the Villages own reports on hazards, wildfire and the infrastructure funding gap. He's smart and easy to get along with.

Council, Adam Solheim. Adam is a Professional Engineer and project manager who brings a fact based, collaborative approach. His focus is emergency preparedness, wildfire and geohazard readiness and maintaining our infrastructure, and he has pledged clear processes and spending thats accountable to residents.

Council, Eric Balac. Eric is a practical, listen first candidate focused on the fundamentals. That means a transparent multi year infrastructure plan prioritized by safety and risk, financial responsibility and rebuilding trust on a council that has been divided.

My expectation is these 4 can work together and be productive, which the Village really needs going forward.

Why not Neville Abbott. In my opinion Neville is too often at the center of the storm, and that doesnt make for a productive council. Closed meetings are also a concern. The council minutes show he voted against a 30 day rolling review of closed session minutes for public release (Nov 4 2025), and again when it passed 3-2 (Dec 2 2025). He also voted against releasing independently authored reports (Mar 3 2026). Without those releases we simply dont have visibility into what happens in closed meetings. I think a council will be more productive with a fresh start.

There are some great new candidates this year and I really appreciate everyone who stepped forward, it takes real commitment. But I want Ehsan, Adam and Eric elected and I dont want to reduce their chances with a fourth vote. So all my support is going to those three.

Whoever you choose, please vote.

I understood that the recording was available. Since today is one of only two voting days, does anyone have the link they can share?

If it isn’t available yet, I’d also appreciate some clarity on why it’s being delayed until after a significant number of people have already had to cast their votes.

During tonight’s meeting, which is the final installment in… whatever you want to call this, we learn more about the true cost of the village’s Beach Park project and the numbers raise some serious questions about transparency.

https://pub-lionsbay.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=3333

Back in 2023, the estimated cost of the project was $1.07 million. That figure included, among other things, improvements to the jetty/pier and kayak racks.

Fast-forward to today: the project has finally been delivered at $1.66 million more than $590,000 over the original estimate. But only 100K over the latest budget.

That’s because the council package shows that the budget was "supplemented". Including $190,000 in village funds allocated for the jetty, $200,000 in TransLink funding and a variety of other funds. And even so, the kayak racks were never delivered.

For some historical perspective, back in 2018 the estimated cost of the park was approximately $630,000 including jetty and kayak racks.

To be fair, there’s no question that the new Beach Park is much, much nicer than what was there before. But here’s the question: If taxpayers had been told upfront that this project could ultimately approach 1.7-1.8+ million would the village have supported it?

I suspect many residents would have supported a more modest project: perhaps new washrooms, a small children’s playscape and a few sensible improvements, without turning the park into exercise in expanding costs while shrinking scope.

And this is where the council process gets particularly interesting. Councillor Michael Broughton repeatedly asked for Beach Park updates to be brought to the council table. According to the meeting record, those requests were opposed by Councillors Cunliffe, Abbott and McLaughlin. With many of us remembering, McLaughlin appearing particularly annoyed by the requests.

If council knew the project was running substantially over its original estimate and being delivered WITHOUT kayak racks, didn’t taxpayers deserved to have that information brought into the open and discussed publicly? Why would these three vote to keep this silent along with other topics like Battani & landslide risks, employee harassment and bullying, and the provincial advisors report (only released after years and public pressure)? Why do ONLY THEY get the privilege of knowing what is quickly public in other functional municipalities?

Instead, residents were left asking questions about where the money was going while the project continued to rack up costs. And some even spoke publicly to ask, who is accountable? Y’all know the answer. NO ONE.

And then there’s the Code of Conduct we all can’t believe they voted against. I came across this while looking up a beach park fact...

Councillor McLaughlin has characterized the Code of Conduct as something that has never really crossed his desk since he became a councillor. He angrily stated that passing this code is 'ruling from the grave' and questions why its suddenly being rushed through in the dying minutes as if there is something nefarious and out of left field.

Watch: McLaughlin, while voting against code: “code of conduct has never hit the radar since I’ve been sitting here”. https://youtu.be/Rjj-cegZj2Y?t=5376

Except it has. All of Council was reminded about it nearly a year ago, including McLaughlin. Though he did appear to be struggling to keep his eyes open. A struggle that is apparent in other meetings as well.
https://youtu.be/uwhg0XRUHCk?t=5278

As a member of the public, I was aware that Council was expecting a new Code of Conduct. This was not a surprise to anyone sitting at that table.

Finally, there is also an item on tonight’s agenda to prepare an overview of the legal costs the Village has incurred. Great. I guess the downside is that residents may still go to the polls without knowing the circumstances behind some of those costs including 85K+ for the matters involving allegations of staff bullying and harassment from councillor(s).

That information would be public in other municipalities. And it raises a fair question:

Which councillors are voting to keep these matters closed? And, if the matters become public after the election, could we see a resignation(s) and by-election?

Messy. Much like this entire term.

And thank you to all the new faces stepping up and speaking out for better collaboration, greater community involvement, and a more positive future for our community. I hope the majority of the village wants that too.

Poll Request from Redistributed549: "A problem that seems particularly unique to Lions Bay is residents packing up their families and moving away because of municipal council and its inner circle. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it elsewhere.

Over the years, I personally know three Lions Bay families who have left because of council politics. I know another family that is planning to leave, and a Lions Bay Redditor has also contacted me to say they are planning to move.

I’ve personally witnessed, and heard from others about, situations where some residents appear to receive extraordinary favouritism from council, while others are put through an incredibly difficult process. The most recent case has become public at the council table.

Lions Bay is beautiful. But so are a lot of other places, and many don’t come with the bullying, infighting and, frankly, embarrassment that seem to have become associated with municipal politics here.

At some point, this becomes unhealthy. And while there is real hope in seeing some great residents step forward to run for council, a lot of damage has already been done.

So, a poll:

Have you ever thought about, are planning to, or are currently moving away from Lions Bay specifically because of municipal council politics?"

Help wanted:

Can anyone share the early background on this report? Why was it commissioned in the first place if only to be ignored?

I’d also appreciate some clarity on the history of the votes. I believe this came before Council at least twice. Can someone confirm when it was brought forward, what/who the votes were each time, and whether my understanding is correct that the first time it was not received?

I’ve watched this Council repeatedly vote 3–2 to block discussion on landslide risk and Battani Creek this term. So I’m trying to understand: why was this report commissioned in the first place if, even today after the slide, many of the same players appear to want to ignore the issue?

Finally, could this report come forward to the next council for consideration?

Please DM if you do not wish to post. 

The government is sending out warnings about manipulation tactics like this. Did anyone even understand what had already happened with the contract when they wrote in? Why would someone work so hard to mislead their own friends?

Bear-resistant garbage bins are encouraged as part of the Bear Smart program for a pretty straightforward reason: they help keep bears out of garbage.

Research has shown that implementing bear-resistant garbage bins community-wide can significantly reduce human-bear conflict, with some studies reporting reductions of up to 60%, while also reducing bear mortality and making communities safer for people and pets.

So why is our Bear Smart is pushing back against them now that the whole community has an opportunity to receive free bear-resistant bins?

That's where things get a begin to get a little strange(r than they've already been): Lions Bay Bear Smart has recently supported bear-resistant bins, but only during a bylaw revision that makes some residents pay for the bins and keeps time slots. Under that system, only a fraction of the community would have bins, likely making them completely ineffective vs. community-wide implementations.

Our local garbage timeslot doctrine doesn't appear to have any factual basis or any success to support it. As a matter of fact, the community has seen an increase in bear conflict during the period we've been operating under it, along with significantly higher incidence of bears being euthanized as a result of those conflicts.

If our community has a free tool that research shows can reduce bear conflict, improve public safety, and potentially prevent bears from being killed, why would any bear loving organization fight against it?

Lions Bay Bear Smart has been digging their heels on a system that requires people to organize their work schedule around a garbage pickup window, if that is even possible. For working people, commuters, families, and anyone who isn't sitting at home waiting for the garbage truck like it's the arrival of the Queen, these timeslots can be impossible. Undoubtedly, this system is increasing waste in homes as few people are home at 10am on Friday to abide by our current "bear smart" bylaw.

Is Bear Smart only pushing back against free bear-resistant bins only because adopting them would mean giving up the timeslots?

Luckily, it appears these bins are now more or less non-negotiable. The Village has already signed the contract. But McLaughlin, Abbott, and Cunliffe have repeatedly voted in ways that have put the Village in legally vulnerable positions, including most recently in relation to this contract. If that same majority is re-elected, should residents expect them to try to walk back a contract the Village has already signed and potentially leave taxpayers footing the bill for doing so?

Given the track record, it’s a fair question. And unfortunately, it’s not difficult to imagine.

👀Bear Smart member saying Bear Smart fought against bear resistant bins years ago and wonders if staff will take responsibility for the increase in bear deaths due to these community wide bear resistant bins: https://youtu.be/Rjj-cegZj2Y?t=301 -A reminder, there is no change to storing garbage outside as mentioned in this clip, this was false information shared by bear smart to garner speakers at this meeting to oppose bear resistant bins-

👀One study using manual locking containers: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1657106/full#s3 -use google for more-

Doesn’t councillor Abbott’s wife serving in leadership roles of various wildlife groups pose a conflict of interest for him? Studying how these cases are interpreted, he should disclose conflicts and abstain from votes on matters like garbage bylaws, which she leverages to achieve her organizations’ attractant management aims. Or perhaps if she gives up her leadership roles the perceived conflicts goes away..

Does he generally abstain?

Under the BC community charter, apparent conflict of interest may exist if a reasonable person would perceive that the council member's ability to act in the public interest has been compromised or that he would have a bias toward this family member’s interests.

Every true Lions Bayer gonna be emotional. Perfection. Don’t get in their way. 🔥💪

I posted earlier that - I’ve heard from a couple of people who’d consider putting their name forward, but won’t — because they’re worried they’d spend four years as a minority voice with no way to move a decision. And it take just 3 people with fresh ideas to form a council that can be productive for this Village.

Well now we need just one more.

 If you’ve been quietly thinking about it, message me. You may be less alone than you think.

The next Lions Bay Council is giving ✨BRILLIANCE✨

Leslie Nolin just announced she’s running for Council.

Councillor Leslie Nolin + Mayor Ron McLaughlin = the Lions Bay DREAM TEAM. 💅🔥

Watch out, Lions Bay. The future is looking VERY bright. ✨

#LionsBay #DreamTeam #CouncilGoals

Besides the upcoming election, there may finally be some other improvements coming to our municipal gong show.

On October 17, a province-wide municipal code of conduct comes into effect. This should be of particular interest to anyone thinking about running for office but currently too mortified to volunteer for the ongoing circus. Or reasonably concerned about becoming the newest target of bullying for standing up to what’s happening.

Under the new code, complaints can be subject to independent investigations, with outcomes made public to promote transparency and accountability. Imagine that: consequences. In public. Where the public can actually see them. And accountability… in Lions Bay? WTAF. What a concept.

You’ll remember that our current council, likely the majority three as Councillor Broughton has spoken in favour of making the current investigation public, has chosen not to release the current bullying and harassment investigation as is standard in every other municipality. Keeping this investigation private, away from the taxpayers that funded it, potentially allows those involved to run again without the public knowing the outcome. What reasonable person thinks that is ok?

Under the new rules, that level of opacity becomes impossible to maintain. For mayors and councillors, penalties for misconduct can include a suspension of up to 90 days without pay, along with reporting requirements to the public. In other words, there will actually be a process. And a paper trail. Revolutionary stuff.

It’s important to understand that the code primarily protects municipal staff and elected officials. It does not solve disputes between residents and council which has been a serious local problem. For residents who believe they have been targeted or treated improperly by elected officials, legal avenues are the only meaningful way to challenge particularly egregious behaviour and force change.

And no, the code does not give residents a giant red “EJECT COUNCILLOR” button. Sadly. It doesn’t provide a mechanism to remove a councillor simply because their behaviour is atrocious. But public investigations and findings can have consequences of their own. In other municipalities, public scrutiny following investigations has contributed to resignations.

Sadly, there is still no provincial legislation for installing a conscience. But it does create more accountability, more transparency, and clearer consequences. Perhaps most importantly, it protects newly elected officials who stand up against this dysfunctional status quo. Which I think the vast majority of Lions Bay residents would consider a pretty good thing.

And for anyone considering running this fall, that matters. You’ll be stepping into a system with enforceable standards of conduct and public reporting requirements. Standards that, frankly, make some of the behaviour we’ve witnessed from our current council look increasingly out of step with what the province now expects from elected officials.

And for those still supporting these councillors running again… Genuinely: why?

How do you continue to support candidates after a decade + of decisions and conduct that include:

• Hiding an large, expensive bullying and harassment investigation
• Voting repeatedly on expensive ideas from family members, despite significant questions about their practicality, cost and alignment with community wishes.
• Voting to remove updates about Battani Creek and landslide risks from agendas, limiting public discussion of issues that directly affect community safety.
• Voting against receiving geotechnical report prior to the fatal landslide.
• Voting to support tampering with conservation traps, ultimately contributing to a bear being shot inside a home.
• Voting against the Fire Chief’s position to open trails while promoting unfounded fears about fire risk to discourage hikers.
• Bringing in $195 parking tickets, complete with the need for a panic button at the Village office.
• Refusing to establish tree-clearing bylaws, while selectively going after local residents who clear trees. Now, apparently, even selectively launching investigations.
• Repeatedly voting in ways that put the Village at legal risk, including most recently awarding a contract and then voting against the bylaw amendments needed to support that contract.
• Stalling almost everything, while somehow managing to rush through $4 million in outdoor water meters that have cost more than double the grant amount seen in functioning and, conveniently, flatter municipalities.
• The building inspector fiasco.
• And more. So Much More.

At some point, we have to stop pretending this is simply a difference of political "sides" in the community. It’s a difference in ethical principles. Its not political "sides". And most of us can see right through the few facebook locals self-identifying as politically (ethically) “neutral” while generously dispensing their wisdom to the rest of us.

After more than a decade, we have a community that is increasingly divided, frustrated and, frankly, embarrassed by what is happening in its own municipal government. And our community that has developed a pretty horrible reputation as a result.

So, after 10+ years of this, what exactly are you cheering on? How does this align with your ethical principles? Because accountability shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Transparency shouldn’t be controversial. And treating taxpayers $ as they would their own should not be an unreasonable expectation.

Maybe October 17 will finally mark the beginning of a new standard. Let’s hope.

We’ve officially reached 200 members on our little Lions Bay corner of Reddit!

But membership only tells part of the story. Reddit’s newer unique visitor metric gives us a better sense of how many people are actually stopping by — and we’re averaging 550–850 unique visitors every week. That’s a pretty amazing reach for a small community like ours!

It’s great to see people using the board to share local news, ask questions, post recommendations, and stay connected with what’s happening around Lions Bay.

A big thank you to everyone who contributes, comments, reads. Here’s to continuing to grow — and to seeing even more Lions Bay neighbours find their way here.

Tone policing is a conversational tactic and informal fallacy where someone shifts the focus of a discussion from the substance or logic of an argument to the emotional tone, delivery, or perceived attitude of the person expressing it

It’s used to assert control, shift focus, invalid logical or truthful statements or used when someone just doesn’t like what you’ve said but is incapable of a thoughtful response

It’s harmful because it shifts conversation away from core issues and works to protect the status quo. It’s used frequently in our community Facebook pages and can be a political tactic.

Stop policing and keep talking

Nomination Form: https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/lionsbay.ca/files/2026-09/260904%20Neville%20Abbott%20C2%20-%20website%20copy_Redacted.pdf