Port Moody Voice launches as city’s first municipal political party ahead of 2026 election

Port Moody has its first-ever municipal political party.

On Sept. 15, the leadership and supporters gathered in Pioneer Memorial Park to announce that the party, dubbed Port Moody Voice, had officially been registered with Elections B.C.

They declared their intention to run a full slate of challengers in the 2026 municipal election.

“The election doesn’t start next year. It starts right now. It starts tonight,” said Coun. Haven Lurbiecki. “While I am the first and only Port Moody Voice councillor, I won’t be alone for long.”

Steps away from city hall, Port Moody Voice’s launch took place just prior to a council-led town hall event discussing the new official community plan, which was a point of grievance for many in the crowd.

The party’s first press release, which coincided with the launch of an official party website, stated that residents’ perspectives have too often been sidelined at city hall. Decisions on development, traffic, and park expansion have repeatedly moved forward without meaningful community input, leaving many outcomes misaligned with the needs of local families, according to the release.

Port Moody Voice claims it will give residents a stronger, more direct role in shaping the city’s future, pointing to Lurbiecki’s record as the proof of concept.

“She has consistently stood up for residents by championing moderate growth, advocating for affordable and livable housing, pushing for park expansion, and bringing transparency to city hall decision-making.”

Since being elected in 2022, Lurbiecki has frequently found herself at odds with her colleagues, often over the amount of density being approved in the city. Heated bickering, arguments, and accusations have repeatedly erupted during public meetings.

Lurbiecki said she has found broader support within the community and claims there are “thousands” of residents who are frustrated with the direction of council, citing survey results and personal anecdotes.

“People are more tired than ever of politics as usual,” Lurbiecki said. “They’re tired of being told one thing at election time and watching the opposite happen right afterwards.”

The party’s executive includes Nishka Valdez, founder of the Expand Rocky Point Park advocacy group, serving as the principal official; Jacquie Boyer, serving as director; and Sebastian Thomas, serving as financial agent.

Lurbiecki said the party will not take donations from developers and will rely on support from the community.

Boyer cited Port Moody’s 1996 municipal election as proof that the direction of the city can be radically changed. She said an organized effort by the community led to a new mayor and the ousting of all but two sitting councillors.

“What was the defining issue? It was Bert Flinn Park,” she said. “The council of the day wanted to turn it into a housing development. We said no.”

Around two dozen supporters attended the announcement, including former councillors Steve Milani and Hunter Madsen, former Port Moody–Coquitlam MP Bonita Zarrillo, and current Port Moody–Burquitlam MLA Rick Glumac, who is Lurbiecki’s husband.

Madsen, Milani, and former mayor Rob Vagramov formed a block during the previous council, frequently resisting the development of high-density towers

At the end of their terms, Vagramov stepped back from politics following a highly publicized sexual assault charge; Madsen was ousted from his seat; and Milani lost his bid for the mayoral seat during the 2022 election.

The group said they were also encouraged by the raft of new municipal parties being formed in recent weeks.

Over the summer, new civic parties have been announced in Vancouver and Langley, while the provincial B.C. Conservatives have also registered a new municipal political party across 15 cities, including Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Saanich, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, and West Vancouver.

Lurbiecki said she had considered taking a stab at Mayor Meghan Lahti’s seat, but right now she is focused on getting the party up and running.

No other potential candidates for the 2026 race were revealed.

For her part, Mayor Lahti said she wished the new party well, but expressed concerns about increasing partisan politics in Port Moody.

Lahti argued that while parties can help organize resident concerns, they often risk fostering division when collaboration should be the focus.

“I think it is unfortunate that there is a drive towards this type of partisan politics in Port Moody,” she said. “Their influence can negatively impact political discourse by fostering polarization and creating an us-versus-them atmosphere.”

Lahti said over her 30 years on council, she witnessed how local partisanship can become entrenched, how compromises can become more challenging, and how it can lead to poor decision-making.

“I find that this is probably not the most healthy approach to local governance,” she said. “There is a risk that parties will prioritize winning over collaboration, resulting in an unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue across differences.”