Chief Elections Officer appointed to oversee municipal election

New Westminster, BC – Brenda Sims has been appointed by the City of New Westminster to oversee the municipal election to be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011. Ms. Sims has an extensive background in elections, having performed as a Chief Elections Officer over the past two decades for a number of municipalities throughout British Columbia.

New Westminster’s Chief Elections Officer will be supported in her functions by Deputy Chief Elections Officer Jennifer Janzen, an administrative assistant in the City’s Legislative Services Department who will revert to her former duties following the November municipal elections.

“We’re very pleased that Brenda Sims will be performing in the function of Chief Elections Officer for the City of New Westminster,” said Rick Page, Corporate Officer. “Her experience and knowledge will be an asset as we hold municipal elections in November.”

In addition to her Chief Election Officer experience, Ms. Sims is also a former Elections Canada Returning Officer for the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country electoral area; was the City Clerk for the Resort Municipality of Whistler from 1991 to 2005; and has served on the Provincial Elections Committee, which provides advice to the Province on municipal elections procedures. She has also played a key role as a Director of the Local Government Management Association of British Columbia in drafting an elections manual to assist municipal elections officials in performance of their duties and has provided a number of local elections workshops across BC.

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Contact: Rick Page, Corporate Officer, City of New Westminster
                                604-527-4523 or