No anxiety, but still plenty of work for Metro Vancouver's acclaimed mayors

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News No anxiety, but still plenty of work for Metro Vancouver's acclaimed mayors Thirty-six mayors across B.C. are unopposed in the upcoming municipal elections, so they won't have to spend their energy campaigning. Author of the article: By J.J. Adams Published Sep 21, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 3 minute read Join the conversation Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard leans on a railing outside the Vancouver Convention Centre. PHOTO BY ARLEN REDEKOP /PNG Article content There’s no resting on their laurels — or even their couches — for Bowen Island’s Andrew Leonard and Belcarra’s Jamie Ross. Article content They’re the only two mayors in Metro Vancouver who have been acclaimed and won’t need to sweat over an election campaign over the next month. Across the rest of B.C., there’s 34 municipalities with acclaimed mayors or lone mayoral candidates, ranging in size from populations of 99 eligible voters (Village of Zeballos), up to nearly 31,000 (City of West Kelowna). Article content Article content Article content So what does that look like for these politicians? Walks in the park? Drinks at the pub? Rolling 20-sided polyhedral dice in epic board game sessions? Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “I mean, (playing) Dungeons and Dragons would be nice,” Leonard laughed during a free moment in downtown Vancouver on Thursday, where he was attending the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual meeting. “The work continues … (But) not having to focus on a campaign, it’s really allowed me some space to recharge and fill up my batteries, because the job does take something. So to be able to keep my heart open and keep positive and do the things that recharge me for the next four years has been really valuable. Article content “I’m fortunate to be able to not have all of the intensity and campaign stress of an election, and actually just continue governing.” Article content Leonard will recharge on the job, so to speak. Instead of knocking on doors, he’ll spend the time co-ordinating with his staff to set up orientation and training for new council members — elections will be provincewide on Oct. 17 — along with continuing…