Candidate forums planned in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Voters in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will have several opportunities in the coming weeks to hear from candidates for mayor, city council and school trustee. Maple Ridge has two mayoral candidates, 17 candidates for six council seats and 16 candidates for five school trustee positions. Pitt Meadows has two mayoral candidates, 11 candidates for six council seats and five candidates for two school trustee positions.

On Sept. 23, the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce is holding traditional debate-style forums at Meadowridge School, 12224 240 St.: a Maple Ridge council forum from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a Maple Ridge mayoral forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Upcoming events include a Sept. 28 forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Whonnock Lake Centre, 27871 113 Ave., for Maple Ridge mayoral candidates and eight school trustee candidates. It is hosted by the Maple Ridge Teachers Association and the Whonnock Community Association.

On Oct. 5, the chamber will host a Pitt Meadows council-candidate community-engagement forum at Heritage Hall, 12460 Harris Rd., from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The event is described as similar to speed networking, with direct conversations rather than a traditional debate. A traditional debate-style forum for Pitt Meadows mayoral candidates follows at the same venue from 6:30 to 8 p.m. That evening, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Maple Ridge Teachers' Association will host a forum at Riverside Centre, 20575 Thorne Ave., for Maple Ridge mayoral candidates and the other eight school trustee candidates.

Webster's Corners Community Association will host a forum for Maple Ridge mayoral and council candidates at Webster’s Corners Elementary, 25554 Dewdney Trunk Rd., at 6 p.m. on Oct. 6. On Oct. 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Maple Ridge Teachers' Association and Whonnock Community Association will host a Maple Ridge council-candidate forum at Whonnock Lake Centre.