Image: Andrew Victor / Former Cheam First Nation Chief Andrew Victor is one of five candidates running to fill the remainder of a councillor term at Cheam First Nation. The by-election will be held on Wednesday, March 5.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Cheam First Nation

Five candidates file to run for Cheam First Nation councillor by-election, including former chief

Jan 22, 2025 | 3:01 PM

CHILLIWACK — Five candidates are slated to appear on a ballot in March to fill the remainder of a councillor term, including two former councillors and a former chief himself, with Cheam First Nation.

According to a social media post from the First Nation band east of Chilliwack, Naomi Crey, Justin Giroux, Luke Pike, Dionne Shaw and Andrew Victor have filed their intent to fill the remainder of a councillor term.

Candidates can still withdraw their name up until Sunday, January 26, meaning this list could change over the coming weekend.

Crey is the daughter of former Cheam First Nation Chief Ernie Crey. Pike and Shaw are former councillors themselves, while Victor is a former chief who served two terms as a councillor.

Victor narrowly lost a close race for chief in December 2023, 111-96, to current Chief Darwin Douglas.

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The by-election will be held on Wednesday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cheam First Nation administration building at 52161 Victor Drive.

When former Chief Victor ran for re-election in late 2023, he cited a number of collective successes Cheam First Nation experienced, including

• Cheam FN required the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to listen to Cheam’s concerns with Highway 9 and the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge to develop a plan for improvements, such as speed limit reduction, crosswalk with amber flashing lights, multi-use path for pedestrian/cycling safety between Victor Drive and Yale Road, and development of a traffic management plan during highway closures.
• Held a ceremony for signing the MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Fraser Health and FNHA (First Nations Health Authority) that provides culturally safe overdose prevention services, culturally safe substance use monitoring, and referrals to other services.
• Updated the finance policies and work towards implementing a financial administration law.
• Engaged CN Rail to address the severe impacts to the Cheam Cemetery. CN Rail is committed to work with Cheam to implement solutions.