Politics · Canada · 9 hrs ago
Hadden Kelloway becomes B.C.'s first known openly transgender mayor
Hadden Kelloway became mayor of Sparwood, B.C., after taking the oath of office on Nov.
3.
He won the Oct.
17 election with 864 votes, defeating acting mayor Amy Cardozo, who received 334.
Kelloway is British Columbia's first known openly transgender mayor.
He moved to the southeastern B.C. mining town from Newfoundland more than 30 years ago and once considered leaving when he began transitioning, about 15 years ago.
Support from friends, family and colleagues helped persuade him to stay, and he says the community's acceptance made his election especially meaningful.
Residents told him the council was not listening, and he wants to strengthen ties between councillors, district staff and local organisations.
Five of the six council seats went to newcomers, and Kelloway's next task is to address residents' concerns as the new council begins its work.
Hadden Kelloway became British Columbia’s first known openly transgender mayor after winning Sparwood’s Oct. 17 election.
He received 864 votes, compared with 334 for acting mayor Amy Cardozo.
Kelloway was sworn in on Nov. 3 in the southeastern B.C. town where he has lived for more than three decades.
He once considered leaving Sparwood to transition but stayed after support from family, friends and colleagues.
As mayor, he says he wants to strengthen ties between councillors, district staff and local organisations.
- Who
- Hadden Kelloway, Sparwood’s new mayor and British Columbia’s first known openly transgender mayor.
- What
- He won the mayoral election and took office.
- When
- He won on Oct. 17, 2026, and was sworn in on Nov. 3, 2026.
- Where
- Sparwood, a small mining town in southeastern British Columbia.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kelloway considered moving to a larger city to transition, but support from family, friends and a colleague convinced him to stay in Sparwood.
Kelloway won the mayoral election with 864 votes, defeating acting mayor Amy Cardozo, who received 334.
Kelloway took his oath of office as Sparwood’s new mayor.
- Election date
- Oct. 17, 2026
- Kelloway’s votes
- 864
- Amy Cardozo’s votes
- 334
- Swearing-in date
- Nov. 3, 2026
- Community
- Sparwood, southeastern British Columbia
What people are saying
I felt that maybe a small town like Sparwood wasn't ready for it.
We lost that togetherness somewhere along the way.
That feeling of acceptance is undescribable.
To me it's the exact same person and nothing has changed for me.