Advance voting begins Wednesday for local-government election voters in Courtenay, Campbell River and the Comox Valley’s rural electoral areas.

In Courtenay, residents can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Florence Filberg Centre, located at 411 Anderton Avenue.

Campbell River’s first advance poll will be open during the same hours at the Community Centre at 401 11th Avenue.

Both cities will offer a second advance-voting opportunity on Wednesday, October 14.

Courtenay voters will return to the Florence Filberg Centre, while Campbell River’s second advance poll will be held at the Sportsplex at 1800 South Alder Street. Both locations will again be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Eligible residents who are not already registered can register when they arrive at the voting place.

Voters registering at the polls should bring two pieces of identification establishing their identity and residency, with at least one containing a signature. Photo identification is not required.

Advance voting for Comox Valley RD electors will also be available Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Regional District Civic Room at 770 Harmston Avenue in Courtenay.

Additional advance polls will be held Thursday, October 8, on Denman and Hornby islands.

The Denman Activity Centre will be open from 9 a.m. until noon, followed by voting at the Hornby Island New Horizons Hall from 3 until 6 p.m.

The Comox Valley RD Civic Room will host another advance poll from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on October 14.

Along with choosing local representatives, eligible voters in portions of Comox Valley Electoral Area A will be asked to decide on two proposed regional services.

Residents and eligible non-resident property owners in Royston, Union Bay and Fanny Bay will vote on whether to establish a dedicated Baynes Sound Parks and Trails Service.

Baynes Sound currently participates in a shared parks and trails service with Electoral Areas B and C.

If the proposal is approved, the service would be divided, giving Baynes Sound its own priorities, budget and work plan.

Property taxes collected through the new service could only be used for parks, trails and related facilities in the Baynes Sound portion of Electoral Area A.

The Comox Valley RD would continue managing and maintaining those facilities, and public access to existing parks and trails would not change.

The Regional District says the new service is expected to be generally tax-neutral when it begins, based on current service levels, costs and revenues.

Its future tax impact would depend on annual budgets, assessed property values and planned work.

If voters reject the proposal, Baynes Sound and Electoral Areas B and C will remain part of the existing shared parks and trails service.

A separate question will appear on ballots for eligible residents and non-resident property owners on Denman and Hornby islands.

Those voters will be asked whether the islands’ existing bylaw-enforcement service should be expanded to include animal control.

The proposed service would respond to animal-related complaints and contain animals when necessary, but would not include regular patrols. Its estimated cost is approximately $20 per average household each year.

Voters will only receive the assent-voting question that applies to the area where they live or own property.

General voting day is Saturday, October 17, with polls open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Full voting information for Courtenay is available at Courtenay Elections, while Campbell River details can be found at Campbell River Elections.

Information about the Electoral Area A proposals, voter eligibility and voting locations is available through the Comox Valley RD’s assent-voting page.