Photo credit: Charlene Nelson for Mayor/Facebook.

By Curtis Galbraith

Municipal Election

Candidate profile: Charlene Nelson

Sep 19, 2025 | 6:22 PM

Charlene Nelson is one of the candidates running to be mayor of Grande Prairie in the October 20 election.

What has inspired you to run for mayor in the Oct. 20, 2025, municipal election?

What inspired me to run for mayor in Grande Prairie is a deep concern for this community and desire to see it thrive. I’ve lived here for 18 years and over time, I’ve seen both the incredible strengths and the growing challenges we face. I’m running because I believe in action, not just words. I want to be a mayor who listens, who listens, who leads with integrity, and who brings people together to make real progress.

What skills or experience do you have that you feel would make you a good fit for the role?

I believe I’m a strong fit for the role of mayor because of my professional experiences, over the years I’ve developed skills in leadership, budgeting, community engagement, which are essential for leading a growing, diverse city like ours. Being mayor isn’t just about having a title- it’s about showing up, making tough decisions and putting the needs of the people first. My background has prepared me to do exactly that.

What do you feel are the key or main election issues in your community and what are the issues of priority for you?

Grande Prairie is a vibrant and growing city, but like any community, we face some serious challenges and also some incredible opportunities. So for issues that are a priority for me are infrastructure and city growth, community engagement and transparency, economic development and accessibility, community safety and mental health awareness and support.

Where can people learn more about you?

Where the residents of Grande Prairie find out about me is on website

www.charlenenelson.net or Facebook.