According to a website that went live this week, Capilano University chancellor Yuri Fulmer will bid to become the next B.C. Conservative Party leader.
“I’m running to be the next Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader because our province deserves principled leadership that puts people first, protects our freedoms, and builds a prosperous future for all,” the website says.
Beyond the website, which includes his bio and a donation button, Fulmer has yet to publicly declare his candidacy. He is scheduled to speak publicly in Cranbrook on Thursday, which could be his first major campaign event.
A spokesperson for Fulmer explained the rationale behind allowing the website to go live before he officially declared his candidacy, saying that Fulmer had introduced the prospect of his run in a video posted to social media on Jan. 1, and was since “flooded” with emails and calls asking how people could support him.
“Our team began hosting a website to accept pledges of support, donations, and register new members,” the spokesperson said in a written statement. “We are looking forward to making an official announcement soon.”
No major candidates have entered the race yet, but several prominent people have already said they will not run. This list includes federal MP Aaron Gunn, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko, former premier Christy Clark and Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew.
Fulmer ran in the 2024 election in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, but was narrowly defeated by Green Party MLA Jeremy Valeriote.