Image: Jake Sawatzky

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Federal election

2nd update: Liberal Party candidate selected for different B.C. riding, not Chilliwack-Hope

Mar 30, 2025 | 11:54 AM

2ND UPDATE, 6:55 P.M. MONDAY: Jake Sawatzky will be the Liberal Party of candidate for the New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville riding, according to the LPC’s website.

UPDATE: Despite an acclamation notice that appeared on its website Saturday, and despite confirmation from the candidate himself Saturday night, a spokesperson for the Liberal Party of Canada now says Jake Sawatzky will not be the Chilliwack-Hope candidate in the upcoming federal election.

“The Chilliwack-Hope candidate isn’t actually Jake Sawatzky – there has been an error on our end,” Liberal Party spokesperson Youmy Han said Sunday morning (Mar. 30). “I believe the acclamation has been pulled back. I’m very sorry about the error. Thanks, Youmy.”

When asked who the candidate will be, Han said, “Hi Mike – still being finalized. Will share when it becomes official.”

Original story below:

Federal election

Liberal Party finally selects its Chilliwack-Hope candidate

5h ago

Federal election

Update: 2 Chilliwack-Hope candidates confirmed, Liberal Party nominee acclaimed

13h ago

Agassiz prison

Correctional staff intercept massive haul of contraband on periphery of Agassiz prison

13h ago

CHILLIWACK — Longtime Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl will have a challenger from the Liberal Party after all.

Political newcomer Jake Sawatzky has been acclaimed as the LPC candidate for Chilliwack-Hope.

Fraser Valley Today first learned about Sawatzky’s candidacy through a news tip from Chilliwack resident Erik Devisser, who saw an acclamation notice about Jake Sawatzky on the Liberal Party of Canada website.

Image: Liberal Party of Canada

FVT then confirmed the candidate acclamation from Sawatzky himself.

According to his Facebook profile, Sawatzky studied neuroscience at University of British Columbia and lists himself as the CEO of We Outside, a company he co-founded in 2022 that regularly organizes concerts at Vancouver venues (e.g., Roxy, 12 West), curates music media, provides artist services and hosts community fundraisers to support CMHA.

According to his Instagram profile, Sawatzky is president of Drop the Puck, a UBC student-run charity organization supporting CMHA Vancouver Fraser. He describes himself as a philanthropy enthusiast due to raising $215,000 for mental health, flood relief, humanitarian work and animal rescue shelters, among other initiatives.

Sawatzky is currently employed as an instructional facilitator for Steamoji, which works to inspire young students in “STEM fields through interactive lessons in robotics, coding, and engineering.” Steamoji facilitates one-on-one focused support to ensure all students are enjoying their learning process.

Sawatzky hails from White Rock, B.C. He appears to be working toward a master’s degree in counselling from Trinity Western University, per his Instagram profile.

Sawatzky is one of five declared candidates thus far in Chilliwack-Hope, along with Strahl, Salina Derish (Green Party), Jeff Galbraith (People’s Party of Canada) and Teri Westerby (NDP).