#chooseprogress
Meet Your Candidates
Accountable. Responsive. Practical.
We are a diverse team united by a passion for responsible local government. When elected, we will form a city and school board government that listens and acts on what we hear, is accountable, and focused on the core local services we all use every day.
Leadership for Today
Daniel Fontaine for Mayor
Daniel Fontaine is a New Westminster City Councillor with a career spanning the private, public and non-profit sectors. Along with his wife Andrea, Daniel raised his son in New West. He believes the city’s best days are ahead and he wants to build that future together with you.
25+ years of local governance experience
Proven track record of delivering results for New Westminster's public institutions.
Community advocacy roots
Deeply connected to local neighborhoods, schools, and grassroots initiatives.
Economic stewardship
Dedicated to fiscal responsibility and supporting the local business ecosystem.
For council
Meet the change New Westminster Deserves
We are a diverse team united by a passion for responsible local government. When elected, we will form a city government that listens and acts on what we hear, is accountable, and focused on the core local services we all use every day.
Ken Armstrong
Ken Armstrong brings the discipline of a lawyer, the perspective of a Queensborough resident, and the credibility of someone who has already stepped forward to lead city-wide. If elected, he will champion responsible growth, stronger neighbourhood representation, better infrastructure planning, and a more accountable city hall.
Karima Budhwani
Karima Budhwani brings a fresh civic voice, a practical community lens, and a commitment to respectful, resident-centred leadership. If elected, she will champion better listening, clearer communication, practical solutions, and a city hall that earns public trust.
Rick Folka
Rick Folka brings financial rigour, public-sector experience, and a steady, practical focus on the services residents expect from local government. If elected, he will champion accountable spending, stronger oversight, better service delivery, and decisions rooted in common sense.
Paul Minhas
Paul Minhas brings incumbent council experience, decades in New Westminster, and the real-world perspective of a local business owner who helped make the Heritage Grill a diverse, music-filled gathering place downtown. If re-elected, he will champion accountable spending, stronger services, safer communities, and a council that understands the pressures facing residents, taxpayers and small businesses.
Maryann Morrison
Maryann Morrison brings executive leadership, Métis community advocacy, and a deeply collaborative approach to building belonging in New Westminster. If elected, she will champion inclusive engagement, trust-building, sustainability, and a city where residents from every background feel respected and heard.
Ray Porcellato
Ray Porcellato brings lifelong New Westminster roots, proven leadership as president and general manager of the New Westminster Salmonbellies – and the creative perspective of an amateur artist. If elected, he will champion local heritage, stronger community amenities, families, small businesses, and a sustainable future that honours the city’s pride and traditions.
For school board
Meet the change New Westminster Deserves
Together, the NWP school trustee candidates offer a diverse mix of experience, perspectives and community leadership. From parent advocacy and financial stewardship to youth mentorship, governance, policy and student supports, this team brings the breadth of skills needed to help lead New Westminster schools through the challenges ahead.
Kathleen Carlsen
For more than 30 years, Kathleen Carlsen has worked alongside and supported children, youth and families, helping young people feel safe, supported and valued. Bringing trustee experience and deep roots in community service and parent advocacy, she is committed to strengthening student well-being through meaningful engagement and collaboration, while advocating for the funding New Westminster schools need.
Danielle Connelly
As an experienced incumbent and current vice-chair of the school board, Danielle Connelly brings proven leadership on school capacity, mental health supports, educational assessments and in-class resources. As school trustee, she will continue bringing urgency, collaboration and results-focused advocacy to strengthen public education in New Westminster.
Don Doyle
As chair of the Queensborough Parent Advisory Council until June 30, longtime New Westminster resident Don Doyle brings proven parent advocacy and a strong voice for Queensborough families to his campaign for school trustee. As school trustee, he will champion safe schools, sustainable transportation, responsible spending and practical solutions to school capacity challenges.
Anita Dunn
Born, raised and educated in New Westminster, Anita Dunn brings a parent’s perspective, financial expertise and small business experience to her campaign for school trustee. As school trustee, she will champion fair funding, responsible use of public dollars and practical solutions for families facing overcrowding, underfunding and transportation challenges.
Liz Fajber
New Westminster Secondary School graduate Liz Fajber brings more than 25 years of leadership in policy, strategic planning, budgeting, and public accountability to her campaign for school trustee. As school trustee, she will champion responsible financial stewardship, tackling the school capacity crisis, improved student learning and opportunities, and stronger, more transparent partnerships with families, educators, community organizations and government.
Lucas Steele
Lifelong New Westminster resident Lucas Steele brings a young voice, hands-on youth mentorship experience and a strong background in athletics and recreation to his campaign for school trustee. As school trustee, he will champion inclusive, well-resourced schools, expanded extracurricular opportunities and stronger supports that help every student build confidence, belonging and success.