ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Abbotsford City Councillor Dave Sidhu announced today that he will seek re-election to Abbotsford City Council in the municipal election on October 17, 2026.

Sidhu said he is seeking another term to continue providing practical, responsible and community-focused leadership while working to keep Abbotsford safe, well managed and prepared for the future.

“Abbotsford is the community that raised me, gave me opportunities and allowed me to build a career and raise my family,” said Sidhu. “Representing the people of Abbotsford has been one of the greatest honours of my life. I am asking residents for their support so I can continue working hard on the issues that matter to them.”

Sidhu was first elected to Abbotsford City Council in the September 2021 by-election, receiving 7,829 votes in a nine-candidate race. He was re-elected in 2022 with 14,419 votes, the highest total received by any council candidate in that election.

Throughout his time in public office, Sidhu has made accessibility a central part of his service. He has regularly shared his personal cellphone number with residents and said that will not change if he is re-elected.

“I have always given residents my personal cellphone number because these are my people; my neighbours, my friends and the community I grew up in,” said Sidhu. “When someone has a concern, they should be able to reach the person they elected. I cannot promise that every problem will have an easy solution, but I can promise that I will answer, listen and do everything I can to help.”

Sidhu said elected representatives must remain available to the public throughout their entire term, not only when an election approaches.

“I have never taken the trust residents placed in me for granted,” said Sidhu. “Whether someone contacts me about a dangerous intersection, a neighbourhood development, public safety, parks or a basic City service, they deserve to know their councillor is paying attention and will follow through.”

During his time on Council, Sidhu has focused on responsible development, transportation, public safety, infrastructure, accessibility and ensuring municipal decisions reflect the needs of Abbotsford residents.

He currently serves as Chair of the City’s Development, Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory Committee and as Alternate Chair of the Agriculture Advisory Committee. Sidhu said Abbotsford must continue to grow responsibly without losing the agricultural foundation, community character and quality of life that make it a special place to live.

“Growth is happening, but it must be properly planned,” said Sidhu. “New development must be supported by adequate roads, water, sewer, parks, police, fire protection and recreation facilities. Residents should not be expected to accept more congestion, longer wait times and additional pressure on existing services without seeing the necessary infrastructure improvements.”

Sidhu has supported efforts to modernize the City’s building and development processes, improve communication with applicants and reduce unnecessary delays.

“People should receive clear answers and reasonable timelines when dealing with City Hall,” said Sidhu. “The City must maintain appropriate standards, but it must also provide good customer service. Residents, small businesses and builders should not be left waiting without information or accountability.”

Public safety will remain one of Sidhu’s highest priorities. He said he will continue supporting the Abbotsford Police Department, Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service and the frontline personnel who protect local residents, businesses and neighbourhoods.

“Families and seniors deserve to feel safe in their homes, in local parks and while visiting businesses in our community,” said Sidhu. “We must provide our police officers and firefighters with the resources they need, take organized crime and violent offences seriously, and continue pressing senior levels of government to do their part.”

Sidhu said the City must also remain focused on local roads, traffic congestion, pedestrian safety and transportation planning.

“Roads and transportation are among the most common concerns I hear from residents,” said Sidhu. “As Abbotsford grows, we must address dangerous intersections, maintain our roads, plan for future traffic and ensure neighbourhood concerns are not ignored.”

He also committed to continuing to support parks, trails, sports fields and recreation facilities that serve families, seniors and young people.

“Parks and recreation facilities are not luxuries,” said Sidhu. “They help seniors remain active, provide young people with positive opportunities and bring families and neighbours together. As our population grows, these services must grow with it.”

Sidhu said the City must continue improving accessibility in public spaces, facilities and municipal services.

“A well-run city should be accessible to everyone,” said Sidhu. “Seniors and people with disabilities should be able to use sidewalks, enter civic buildings, participate in recreation programs and communicate with City Hall without facing unnecessary barriers.”

Protecting Sumas Prairie will also remain a major priority. Sidhu joined Council shortly before the devastating November 2021 flooding. Since then, the City has continued working on recovery, infrastructure repairs and long-term flood protection.

“The families, farmers and businesses of Sumas Prairie have endured tremendous hardship,” said Sidhu. “Protecting the prairie is essential to Abbotsford’s future, our agricultural economy and our regional food supply. The City must continue pressing the provincial and federal governments for the funding and cooperation required to complete long-term flood-protection work.”

Sidhu said responsible financial management must remain at the centre of every City decision.

“Residents are facing higher costs in almost every part of their lives,” said Sidhu. “The City must respect taxpayers, carefully review its spending and focus on essential services and infrastructure. Every dollar collected from residents must be treated responsibly.”

Before his election to Council, Sidhu built a record of involvement in local business, media, healthcare and community service. He is the General Manager of The Patrika, a Punjabi-English newspaper based in Abbotsford. He is also a past president of the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association and previously served as a director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. Sidhu also helped establish the Seva food program with Archway Community Services to provide culturally appropriate food to local families experiencing food insecurity.

“My approach has always been to bring people together and look for practical solutions,” said Sidhu. “Abbotsford is home to people from many different backgrounds, but we share the same basic priorities. We want safe neighbourhoods, responsible government, well-maintained roads, strong local businesses and a good community for our children and grandchildren.”

Sidhu said he will continue to be visible and personally accessible throughout the campaign and, if re-elected, throughout the next Council term.

“My personal cellphone number will continue to be available because public service is personal to me,” said Sidhu. “These are my people, and this is my home. When residents call, I will continue to answer.”

“I am proud of the progress we have made, but there is more work ahead,” Sidhu added. “I will continue listening, asking questions and standing up for the concerns residents bring forward. I respectfully ask the people of Abbotsford for their support so I can continue serving them on City Council.”

Additional campaign announcements will be released in the coming weeks.