The Skidegate Band Council election on March 15, brought 389 voters to the polls to elect one chief councillor and eight councillors. With a commanding lead, incumbent Chief Councillor Billy Yovanovich was re-elected to another term, earning 297 votes. His closest competitor, Robert Dudoward, received 62 votes, while Rodney Scheck followed with 11. Ten ballots were spoiled and nine rejected in the chief vote.
Overview of the Skidegate Band Council Election
The councillor race featured 11 candidates vying for eight seats. When the votes were tallied, Michelle McDonald led the field with 279 votes, followed closely by Trent Moraes and John Gladstone. Michelle Pineault and Gordon Mills also secured strong support, while Sidney Crosby and Avery Robson trailed just behind. The final seat went to Susan Wood, rounding out the new council.
Candidates Crystal Zeller and Roy Jones Jr. were not elected, while Garrett Russ withdrew his candidacy before election day.
In a message shared on social media following his re-election, Chief Yovanovich expressed deep gratitude to the community.
“Haawa Skidegate, a heartfelt thank you to all. I’m fully prepared to continue on with another term,” he wrote. “I’m very excited to continue pushing this wellness movement with CHN, OMVC, SBC, our health teams and Haida Child and Family. I foresee good things happening in the near future for Haida Gwaii.”
The new council was officially sworn in on March 19, marking the beginning of a fresh term of leadership in Skidegate.
