Residing Council
Ashcroft’s Mayor and Council were elected during the General Municipal Election on October 15, 2022; they are to serve a four-year term. The newly elected Council swore their Oaths of Office at the Inaugural Council Meeting that took place on November 1, 2022.
Meet Our Council Members
Mayor
Barbara Roden
Mayor Roden was born in the Lower Mainland of BC and lived in Ottawa and Great Britain before moving to Ashcroft in 1997. She studied journalism and is currently the editor of The Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal where she was bestowed the Jack Webster Award for Community Reporting in 2018. She previously served one term as Councillor, elected as Mayor 2018, and re-elected as Mayor 2022. Mayor Roden is Chair of the TNRD Board of Directors and served one term on the board of the Southern Interior Local Government Association. Mayor Roden is a long-time volunteer within the community including serving on the Board of the Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society. She enjoys acting and directing in addition to her role on the Board. She is also an accomplished author and editor of supernatural fiction, and is a two-time World Fantasy Award-winner and four-time nominee.
mayor@ashcroftbc.ca
Councillor
Jessica Clement
Councillor Clement has had the pleasure of calling Ashcroft home since 2008. Since her arrival, she has been part of a number of local non-profit groups, including the Ashcroft Fall Fair, where she served as President for 6 years, Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society, where she served as President on and off since 2008, Ashcroft & Area Community Resources Society, where she serves as Vice-President and the Thompson-Nicola Shotokan Karate Club, where she serves as President of the Executive.
The largest amount of her volunteer time is spent behind the scenes as the Stage Manager of the theatrical productions put on by Winding Rivers each year. Councillor Clement has also volunteered at the Ashcroft HUB since 2018 and took over as the Executive Director in January of 2022.
Being on Council allows Councillor Clement to serve her community in a new and different capacity, and she looks forward to being part of this team over the next four years
jclement@ashcroftbc.ca
Councillor
Jonah Anstett
Born and raised in Ashcroft, Councillor Anstett continues to call this quaint little village home. As a consummate volunteer one of Councillor Ansett’s greatest achievements was serving the community as a volunteer fire fighter for 21 years, most recently as the Deputy Fire Chief.
In keeping with his community service, this is Councilor Ansett’s second term on Council, having been previously elected in 2018. During his first term, Councillor Anstett advocated amending the Burning Bylaw to allow backyard campfires noting “its good to see people responsibly enjoying campfires particularly after a long pandemic”.
Councilor Anstett looks forward to his second term and working with the Council, staff and volunteers in the community as well as continuing to build a network of other government officials and community leaders. Councillor Anstett states “he is committed to lobbying for the needs and dreams of the community to collectively enhance this beautiful town we call home.”
janstett@ashcroftbc.ca
Councillor
Nadine Davenport
Nadine Davenport moved to Ashcroft from the lower mainland, 14 years ago. Councillor Davenport owns and operates UniTea Cafe & Lounge on Railway Ave in downtown Ashcroft for 9 years. Prior to opening her own business as an entrepreneur, Councillor Davenport was the Supervisor at the Ashcroft Pool for 5 years. Councillor Davenport has many talents, she is a singer, songwriter and entertainer and was one of founding members of Winding Rivers Arts and Performance Society.
Before moving to Ashcroft, Councillor Davenport attended Capilano University where she took Arts and Entertainment Management courses and later worked for Tourism Vancouver.
This is Councillor Davenport’s second term on Council and she looks forward to the next 4 years by contributing in positive ways to celebrate and uplift Ashcroft’s Arts and Recreation Sector and to further Ashcroft’s Economic Growth & Tourism.