2025 Canmore Town Council Elections: Key Issues & Candidates & Results 

Canmore Town Council plays a vital role in shaping the future of our mountain community. Made up of one mayor and six councillors, this elected team guides everything from housing affordability and sustainable development to climate resilience and local services. With four-year terms, council members are tasked with tackling Canmore’s biggest issues — balancing growth with preserving our Rocky Mountain environment, keeping housing attainable for residents, and ensuring the town remains vibrant, livable, and welcoming.

The next general municipal election in Canmore is scheduled for October 20, 2025, when the town will elect one mayor and six town councillors.

In the mayoral race, there are two confirmed candidates: the incumbent Sean Krausert and Ed Russell. Mayor Sean Krausert was previously elected toTown Council twice prior to taking the seat as Mayor for these past 4 years. Ed Russell was elected to Council in 2007 and served until 2012. He was re-elected to Council in 2013 and served until 2017.

The list of council candidates consists of 12 people. Tanya Foubert, Jeff Mah, and Wade Graham are all seeking re-election, having served this past 4-year term. Karen Marra and Jeff Hilstad are also seeking re-election. They have both served proudly on Council since 2017. If re-elected this will be their third term. Rob Seeley is also running for a council seat. He has served on Town Council twice previously from 2013- 2021.

Whereas, Jen Marran, Javan Mukhtarov, Jonathan Hazzard, James Strickert,
Rob Murray, and Laura Finlay come new to the platform, hoping to bring their ideas and input to the council table.

The elected officials will be making key decisions that directly impact daily life in our mountain town. Council will be weighing in on housing affordability strategies, long-term growth and development plans, and whether to continue or adjust the vacancy tax on under-used homes. They’ll also guide investments in infrastructure and local services, from roads and transit to
parks and recreation facilities. With wildfire risk and climate change top of mind, council will shape policies for safety, sustainability, and resilience, all while working to keep Canmore a vibrant, welcoming community for residents and visitors alike.

Big Issues on the Horizon

The next four years are shaping up to be important ones for Canmore. Here are some of the challenges and opportunities council will be working through:

• Housing Affordability: Finding ways to make Canmore more livable for full-time residents is a top concern. Council will be talking about creative solutions to help locals find and keep housing.

• Growth & Development: With limited land and a lot of interest from developers, decisions about where and how Canmore grows will stay front and center. Balancing the need for homes and jobs with protecting our mountain landscape is no small task.

• Vacancy Tax & Livability: Whether or not to continue with a tax on empty homes is another big discussion. It ties directly into the goal of making sure housing is available for people who live here full-time.

• Climate & Wildfire Preparedness: Living in the Rockies means we have to think about wildfire risk, emergency planning, and long-term climate resilience. Council will need to prioritize keeping the community safe and sustainable.

• Local Services & Infrastructure: From roads and sidewalks to recreation spaces, council is responsible for making sure Canmore’s infrastructure keeps up with both residents and visitors — without overburdening taxpayers.

At the end of the day, Town Council is where the big decisions about Canmore’s future get made. Whether it’s approving a major development, adjusting taxes, or funding community programs, the choices they make ripple through daily life here in the valley.

So when election time rolls around, it’s worth paying attention. These seven people will help shape the Canmore we all call home for the next four years.

Every decision in the Town Council is made by majority vote, meaning that a minimum of 4 members will need to agree for any motion to be passed and put into action.

In an effort to help the community make informed decisions in the upcoming 2025 Canmore
Municipal Election, I invited all candidates running for Town Council to take part in a brief recorded individual interview. The candidates were given a list of 9 questions that touched on some of the most pressing issues that Canmore is currently faced with.

You can view these interviews on the CanmoreAlberta.com YouTube Channel.

Please take a look and get familiar with the candidates so that you can vote for one mayor and six councillors who will work together over the next four years engaging in important conversations and making choices that shape the future of our town.

Your vote matters — help shape Canmore’s future by staying informed and voting in the upcoming municipal election on October 20, 2025.

AND THE WINNERS ARE.....

The 2025 Municipal Election results are in!

Your Mayor is Sean Krausert.

Your Councillors are:

Jeff Mah
Rob Murray
Tanya Foubert
Jeff Hilstad
Wade Graham
Jennifer Marran

All results are unofficial until Friday, October 24 at noon.

Voter turnout:

4802 voted
12,380 eligible voters
39% voter turnout

Mayor Candidates Total Votes
Sean Krausert 3009

Ed Russell 1651

Council Candidates Total Votes
Jeff Mah 2710

Rob Murray 2667

Tanya Foubert 2574

Jeff Hilstad 2393

Wade Graham 2316

Jen Marran 2263

Karen Marra 2112

Javan Mukhtarov 2074

Rob Seeley 1870

Jonathan Hazard 852

Laura Finlay 797

James Strickert 694

Thank you to the all the candidates who put themselves forward to take on the job and congratulations to our new Town Council members.