Hardy council hopefuls respond to rapid fire questions

By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, October 9 2026​

Over 100 people showed up at the Port Hardy Civic Centre to see municipal council candidates introduce themselves and answer questions.

The All-Candidates meeting was hosted by the Port Hardy Fish and Wildlife Society with 10 of the 12 candidates attending. Incumbent Councillor Janet Dorward and hopeful David Grainger were not present. Dorward did send opening and closing statements to be read at the meeting.

With strict and short timelines candidates fielded a number of questions. They were given a minute to tell the crowd why they were running.

Don Braithwaite

I come originally from Campbell River. Don’t hold that against me.

I’ve lived up here now for about five years. My dad had Gulf Airlines back in the 70s. So, we’ve been around here our whole lives, my wife is from here. Thought we’d give this a go. It’s a great place, really love it. I ran for council 26 years ago in Campbell River. I ran 175 votes short of getting in and I just figure with the young kids I have; it’s time to try again.

I also worked in all the major industries, fish farming, logging and mining.

Alfred Gagnon

I’ve been here in Port Hardy for since I’m 17 years old. So, I’ve spent a lot of time here, and I’ve seen the community change dramatically, especially when our mine closed, and I saw also how resilient the people of Port Hardy are.

There’s a way to go into the future thinking that possibly we’ll have more industries up here coming to our town. This town of Port Hardy has been very resilient through the years, going through all the changes and the times that we have gone through with it. I raised two kids up here and a lot of people probably have met my kids, Kendra and Sebastian. They are now living in Courtenay. 

Athena Guy 

Let’s just get right to it. What I would bring to this community is awareness. I’ve learned a lot from the people in this community, I’ve seen a lot of struggles, I’ve seen a lot of getting along. I’ve seen a lot of mishaps and misunderstandings. And one of the things that I realize is that there’s just a little bit of a disconnect where we kind of put our perception, where we focus on things. So, that’s what I would bring, is an awareness to kind of shift our perspective, so we can kind of see things differently, so we can make the changes to go forward.

Adam Ireton

My wife and I moved here in 2006. We were here on a short-term contract and have made Port Hardy our home since then. I’ve been involved with the community in several different ways over those years with the Rotary Club, volunteering with sports, the Chamber of Commerce and so on. My wife and I also own a small business in town, so we’ve seen the struggle that a small (business faces)

I think that I would be a valuable member to the council. With my business background and the experience that I’ve had dealing with the 

Doug Kerr. 

I’m a resident of Port Hardy and a business owner in Port Hardy.

I retired from the Coast Guard Lighthouse Service in 2025. Before that, I owned a photographic and framing business in Courtenay.

I moved to Vancouver Island in 1988 and have had the privilege to have lived and participated in several communities, including Port Alberni, Campbell River and the Courtney/Comox area.

I’ve participated in various organizations over the years, including Lions Club and the Comox Valley Art Gallery Board of Directors.

If I’m elected, I welcome the opportunity to serve within the town of Port Hardy and help create a thriving and exceptional community. 

Angela Porter 

My husband and I own Port Hardy Building Supply in town. I was born here, raised here, moved away, moved back. Raised my children here, my grandchildren are being raised here, my roots here are deep.

There’s a lot of things that a lot of you have come to me in the last couple of days and told me that you’d like to see changed. And I believe that all of us are on the same page from my conversations with these other people.

I think that it’s going to be a good race this year, and I think that all of you have some really tough decisions to make, and I hope that you make them fully conscious of what you’ve read, what you see, and what you know, not based on other people’s opinions or persuasions.

We have to become part of the rest of everything else to make sure that everything is going to work together.

Gavin Scott 

I would like to thank everyone for being here. I’m not here for myself. I’m here for you. I will work with council and the mayor to bring new ideas. I have lived all over Canada. My first husband was military. 

I would like to bring economic ideas where we form partnerships like Grace Manor in Edmonton, where the Salvation Army built a seniors’ housing with the town.

I’d like to bring those ideas of working with the provincial government, the federal government, and other governments. 

We can’t do this alone. We can only do this together. And if we continue to think that we’re a remote community that can survive by just being ourselves, that’s not the mentality that’s going to work. We have to become part of the rest of everything else to make sure that everything is going to work together. So, by bringing in other money, we are not responsible as taxpayers for everything.

David Summers 

I’ve operated a fishing charter business here in Port Hardy for the past 20 years, and over the last several years, my wife and I have made Port Hardy our full-time home. 

We’re raising our two daughters here, who are now 2 and a half and 10 months old.

If elected, there are four areas I want to focus on. First, I’ll be a fierce advocate for our resource industries and small businesses. Forestry, fishing, mining, tourism, and the many businesses and workers that support them are fundamental to our community and region.

Second, I want to focus on building family housing. If we want to attract young families, skilled workers, entrepreneurs, doctors and nurses, we need homes for them. Housing is both an economic and a community issue.  

Third, I’ll work toward getting our emergency room open 24 hours a day and make sure our community’s voices are heard loud and clear by both Island Health and the provincial government. 

Finally, I want to help find practical, compassionate solutions to our downtown challenges. I’m running because I believe in this community, I know what Port Hardy is capable of, I know what challenges we face, and I believe we can bring new ideas to help Hardy prosper.

Brian Texmo 

I’m 39 years old. I’ve spent all 39 of my years in Fort Hardy. I love this community. I’m out in the community as much as I can through volunteerism. I run business, two businesses in town, North Island Power and North Island Wild. I have so many friends in this town that I care about and family. I want to see Port Hardy do well. I want to see Port Hardy succeed.

I want to see it continue to grow, but I’m also not going to neglect the fact that there’s some serious issues that we’re all seeing around town that need to be resolved and we need to heavily advocate for. And that’s what I’m here for. I’m not afraid to have the hard conversations. I’m not afraid to listen. I’m not stubborn. I will change my mind. I’ll listen to each and any one of you. You can come and talk to me anytime you want, and that’s what I’m there for. I’m here to represent you guys, and that’s what I’m running for is because I care.

John Tidbury 

I would like to start by saying thank you to the citizens of Port Hardy and who put their trust in me and voted for me in the last election and to everyone who has taken the time to be here tonight, thank you. It is truly an honour to serve the people of Port Hardy. I hope to have the opportunity to continue serving our community. Being a member of council has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, every time I sit around the council table, I am reminded of the responsibilities we have to the people of the community. I enjoy working together with my fellow council members, listening to different ideas, discussing issues, and making decisions that will help move Port Hardy forward at the end of the day, which is what we’re here to do, to work for the people of Port Hardy and for the future of the community.

Janet Dorward

Good evening, everyone. I’m sorry I can’t be there with you tonight. Our family recently welcomed a new grandchild, and I’m away helping his parents give him the very best start in life. As much as I want to be there for tonight’s discussion, this is one of those moments when family come first, and I hope you’ll understand. I’m asking for your support for a fourth term on Port Hardy Council, because I continue to care deeply about this community and its future.

Over the past term, I’ve been proud to work alongside council, district staff, community organizations, and residents on issues that matter to Port Hardy - from recreation, infrastructure, better communication with our residents, and the local economy, to advocating for housing and healthcare. There is still a lot of work ahead.