“I’m running because I believe government should be held to the same standard as every household and business here: spend carefully and answer for every dollar.”

Nicole Charlwood is a former Nelson City Councillor, community organizer and policy advocate with more than 15 years of experience working on local issues across the Kootenays.

Nicole has called Blewett home for 25 years, where she raised her two children. Her connection to the region has shaped her focus on rural services, responsible resource management, water protection and making sure local communities have the tools they need to thrive.

She holds an honours degree in Economics with a specialization in International Trade and has worked in political organizing, insurance, tourism, electoral finance and social innovation. She has also served as a Senior Financial Officer with Elections Canada through three federal elections.

Nicole served on Nelson City Council from 2021 to 2022, where she worked on modernizing human resources practices and strengthening accountability in municipal operations.

She is also part of a team developing an integrated youth services model for rural and remote communities, helping bring mental health and wellness supports closer to home. Through that work, she helped secure $1.5 million in provincial funding and is working to expand that investment.

Nicole’s advocacy has also included presenting to the provincial budget committee on watershed protection and co-leading a proposal for a B.C. Food Security Act. Over the course of her organizing work, she has knocked on more than 10,000 doors and heard directly from residents about healthcare access, rural transportation, rising costs and the pressures facing local communities.

Nicole is running in Kootenay Central to bring her experience in financial oversight, frontline service delivery and policy advocacy to the Legislature, with a focus on fair funding for local governments, rural transit, inland ferries and responsible stewardship of the region’s natural resources.