As required by the Local Government Act, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s Chief Election Officer has released the Declaration of Official Results for the Incorporation Assent Voting in Sorrento and Blind Bay.
The results indicate that residents, based on the projected impacts, do not believe that incorporation is in the best interest of the community at this time. Residents clearly prefer to remain unincorporated within an Electoral Area.
Eligible voters within the boundary of the proposed Sorrento-Blind Bay Incorporation Area had the opportunity to vote by mail, advance voting or general voting on the question:
"Are you in favor of the incorporation of the municipality of the District of Sorrento-Blind Bay?"
The official results for the Sorrento-Blind Bay Incorporation Assent vote area as follows:
Assent vote breakdown:
| Yes | No |
|---|
| Mail ballots | 13 | 91 |
| Advanced voting - April 20, 2022, Shuswap Lake Estates Community Hall | 50 | 690 |
| Advanced voting - April 20, 2022, CSRD Office | 7 | 37 |
| General Voting, April 30, 2022, Sorrento Memorial Hall | 53 | 418 |
| General Voting, April 30, 2022, Blind Bay Memorial Hall | 149 | 791 |
| Total number of valid votes cast | 272 | 2,027 |
The Sorrento-Blind Bay Incorporation Study was undertaken to determine what incorporation would mean for the communities, and to communicate the information to residents. Once informed, residents were given the opportunity to vote. The projected population of the area is approximately 5,600 people, however, a number of those would be underage or otherwise ineligible to vote.
“We are very pleased with the number of citizens who engaged with this process and took the time to cast their ballot,” says Jennifer Sham, Chief Election Officer. “The turnout clearly showed the level of interest in the community and that they appreciated the chance to have their say on this important decision.”
Sham also thanks the community for their participation and patience with this public engagement process taking place during the pandemic.
“We know COVID-19 posed additional challenges, so it is gratifying that so many people remained involved and came out for the vote to see the project through.”
Based on the result of the vote, the CSRD will now proceed with the default option of dividing Electoral Area C into two separate Electoral Areas, each to be represented by its own elected Director. This will take place as part of the October 15, 2022 General Local Government Elections.
Declaration of Official Results (PDF)