Gus wins Kitimat’s first Dog Mayor election

Gus wins Kitimat’s first Dog Mayor election

Published 3:07 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Kitimat has elected its first Dog Mayor, and the top dog is Gus.

After a spirited campaign featuring promises of more fire hydrants, dog days at the pool and pet-friendly emergency sirens, Gus was declared the winner on Oct. 19, collecting 569 votes to rival Koko’s 435.

The newly elected Dog Mayor has promised to lead with poise and integrity. The office comes with little executive authority.

Behind the lighthearted contest was a more serious goal: getting more Kitimat residents interested in municipal elections.

After voter turnout declined in three consecutive municipal elections, participation rebounded to 32 per cent on Oct. 17, up from just 22 per cent in 2022. Whether Gus and Koko had anything to do with the improvement remains unknown.

Cameron Orr, the district’s business and communications manager, said the Dog Mayor campaign was designed to get children excited about voting, with the hope they might encourage their parents to cast ballots in the municipal election as well.

Adults were welcome to vote for their favourite canine candidate, too.

The race itself was hardly a textbook example of democracy. Rather than holding an open nomination process, the district recruited Gus and Koko through word of mouth, looking for large, child-friendly dogs comfortable with public appearances such as the Canada Day Parade.

The district envisioned the winner as a community ambassador who could help keep interest in local elections alive.

Now that the ballots have been counted, the district plans to share the results with local schools and thank students for participating. It also hopes to involve Gus in community initiatives over the coming year.