Former Dawson Creek mayoral candidate fined thousands for ‘campaign finance violations’

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — A candidate for mayor in the most recent Dawson Creek municipal election has been fined nearly $5,000 for six alleged administrative violations issued by Elections BC (EBC).

Shaely Wilbur, who ran against current Dawson Creek mayor Darcy Dober in 2022, was sent a letter from EBC dated April 1st. 

According to the letter, Wilbur, who acted as her own financial agent for the election, disclosed to EBC on January 10th, 2023, that she had accepted three financial contributions from businesses.

Those contributions allegedly included $1,250 each from Western Canadian Properties and WCPG Construction Limited and $750 from Dawson Creek Super 8, for a total of $3,250.

EBC said it notified Wilbur on January 26th, 2023, of “possible contraventions of [the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA)],” which prohibits campaign contributions from businesses.

“On May 23rd, 2023, [Wilbur] filed a supplementary report with EBC indicating that the contributions were from individuals, not businesses,” the letter to Wilbur reads. 

“EBC’s electoral finance audit and assessment team subsequently emailed [Wilbur] on multiple occasions requesting documentation showing that the contributions came from a personal account and not a business account. [Wilbur] failed to provide the requested documentation.”

Following this, the file was handed over to EBC’s investigations team, which began working to follow up with Wilbur asking for information and supporting documents regarding the contributions.

“The investigator reiterated the steps that would need to be taken if the contributions were from businesses,” the letter continues. “[Wilbur] explained to the investigator that [she] would attempt to provide cheque stubs, but they would likely show that the contributions came from business accounts.”

The letter alleges Wilbur never provided those documents and didn’t respond to the investigator’s subsequent attempts to speak with her.

On March 21st, 2025, EBC said Wilbur was provided with a copy of the investigator’s report, and allegedly confirmed having received it, but “did not provide any further information or objections.”

It was ultimately found Wilbur violated sections 27 and 28 of LECFA three times each, for a total of six penalties. She has been fined a total of $4,875.

Per the letter, Wilbur can request a review of the decision by an EBC adjudicator, seek relief from the fines from the BC Supreme Court or pay the penalties.

To read the full letter, look below.