Harshan Ramadass Elected Fernie Mayor In British Columbia, Surinderpal Rathor Wins Second Term

Two Indo-Canadian leaders have been elected mayors in British Columbia following the declaration of results in Canada's 2026 municipal elections. India-born Harshan Ramadass won the mayoral race in Fernie, while Indian-origin Surinderpal Rathor was re-elected mayor of Williams Lake for a second term.

Residents of British Columbia voted on Saturday, October 17, in elections for mayors, municipal councillors, regional district directors, school board trustees, park boards in Vancouver and Cultus Lake, and the Islands Trust.

Ramadass defeated fellow councillor Kyle Hamilton to secure Fernie's mayoral seat, receiving 1,524 votes, or 54.5 per cent of the total. Hamilton received 1,194 votes.

“We’ve done it, Fernie. Tonight you have sent a clear message that our community is ready to move forward,” Ramadass said, according to local media outlet My East Kootenay Now.

“You’ve chosen a future built on collaboration, accountability and putting the interests of Fernie first,” he added.

Expressing gratitude to voters, Ramadass said he was honoured to become the town's next mayor and looked forward to working with the new council and the wider community to turn his vision into action.

“Thank you for believing in me, putting your trust in me and for giving me this opportunity,” he said.

In Williams Lake, Rathor secured 2,116 votes, defeating his opponent, Walt Cobb, by more than 1,000 votes. According to the Williams Lake Tribune, Rathor celebrated the victory by saying, “We won, we won!”

“Thank you for trusting me to continue serving as your mayor. To my wife, family, campaign team and this incredible community, thank you for believing in me,” he said, adding that he was ready to continue working for residents.

Rathor had lost mayoral elections to Cobb in 2014 and 2018. He was first elected to the Williams Lake city council in 1993 and became mayor in 2022 after serving as a councillor for more than two decades.

He immigrated from India at the age of 21 and arrived in Williams Lake in 1974. His re-election marks another term in local leadership, while Ramadass's victory gives him his first term as Fernie's mayor.

The results highlight the continued presence of Indo-Canadian leaders in municipal politics in British Columbia.