Walpole Island Governance Building. August, 2020 Photo courtesy of James Jenkins.

Walpole Island Governance Building. August, 2020 Photo courtesy of James Jenkins.

Leela Thomas re-elected as Chief of Walpole Island First Nation

By Jessica Munday

September 20, 2026 - 6:45am

Walpole Island First Nation headed to the polls on Saturday to elect a new chief and council. The final count elected incumbent Leela Thomas as chief for another term, with 504 votes out of 982.

A dozen people were elected to council, including Charlene Altiman, Lee Kicknosway, Larissa Wrightman, Trenton Soney, Valarie Waboose, Jeffery Drew Issac, Harmony Blackbird, Ava Williams, Kyle Dane Isaac, Carl Sr. H. Smith, Sharon Elaine Coyle, and Jason Sword.

988 people cast their ballots for councillor, with 17 ballots rejected.

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