Mithila Karnik - Port Coquitlam City Council 2026

07/10/2026

Aum Ayaana says BOO to all Facebook trolls, especially if they are mean for no reason! She’s learning kindness everyday and we’re trying our best to teach her - “if you have nothing nice to say about anything, don’t say anything at all.”

And if she asks me, “Mumma, what was your good deed of the day?” I guess I’ll have to answer biting my tongue at least a 1000 times when someone online came at me or my friends for no reason 😝

On another note, we are officially Halloween Ready! And on a whole different note in case you haven’t heard, it is Advance Voting today and on Oct 10!

Vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila for someone who’s not just thick-skinned but also resilient :) From what I am seeing on Facebook, PoCo City Council will need a lot of both!

I am #6 on the ballot.

07/10/2026

My Journey, My Story - Part Three

So my two cents - you will never regret taking up space and most importantly, making space for others even in your limited capacity.

This is what this election is about for me - bring more “lived experience” to the table, make showing up the norm, take space, make space.

You don’t have to agree with everything on my platform and I can’t offer everything to please everyone. But if an iota of my journey resonates with you, then I encourage you to make your vote count.

Vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila on the ballot.

07/10/2026

My Journey, My Story - Part Two

At the end of the day, whatever you choose to do with your time, with your life, it all boils down to what motivates you and to what degree.

For me, my commitment to community has always stemmed from strengthening my own inner voice. My motivation is heavily intrinsic.

This election, I hope you will consider this while picking your ballot. Happy Advance Voting Day eve to my fellow candidate competitors!

07/10/2026

My Journey, My Story - Part One

This goes out to everyone who’s ever had to start from scratch … I SEE you!

Advance Voting is TOMORROW - if my story strikes a chord, vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila for a candidate who lives what Rocky Balboa believes, “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

8am to 8pm - PoCo Community Centre

07/10/2026

Thank you to Lorraine Leon for her heartfelt endorsement! My commitmenta and love for PoCo is unwavering and I am grateful for your support!

“I wholeheartedly recommend Mithila for city council, as her tireless dedication to our community has been nothing short of inspiring. With an infectious high-spirited energy, she has elevated our city’s cultural events, bringing people together in celebration and fostering a stronger sense of local identity.

Mithila’s leadership in creating and supporting culturally diverse events has created a more inclusive and vibrant environment for all, ensuring that every resident feels at home.

Mithila’s proven commitment to Port Coquitlam by building connections, enhancing cultural life, and championing community values makes her an outstanding candidate to represent us on city council.”

Advance Voting is tomorrow Oct 7 Wednesday 8am to 8pm at the PoCo Community Centre.

Vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila on the ballot for an inclusive, culturally intelligent, community-focused councillor for Port Coquitlam! I am #6 on the ballot.

07/10/2026

Thank you for the heartfelt endorsement Jas Qualitz My commitment and love for PoCo is unwavering and I am grateful for your support!

“I’m proud to personally support Mithila Karnik for Port Coquitlam City Council.

What stands out to me about Mithila is that she is already doing the kind of work we need from our leaders. She brings people together through events and initiatives that create connections, celebrate diversity, and make people feel welcome and included.

Mithila doesn’t just talk about making a difference—she puts her time, energy, and heart into it. She listens to people, values different perspectives, and understands that Port Coquitlam is stronger when everyone has a voice and a sense of belonging.

I believe she would bring a fresh, inclusive, and thoughtful voice to Council. If you want a councillor who listens, celebrates our diversity, and turns ideas into action, I encourage you to support Mithila Karnik. I’m proud to endorse her, and I hope you’ll join me in giving her your support.”

Advance Voting Day is tomorrow Oct 7 Wednesday 8am to 8pm at the PoCo Community Centre!

Vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila on the ballot for honest, values-driven, future-powered leadership! I am #6 on the ballot.

06/10/2026

Eight years is a long time when you are committed to building initiatives from the ground up.

Eight years seems like a very short time when you think of everything else you believe you are capable of.

I love Port Coquitlam and I’ve shown it in many different ways - the journey from a humble Adopt A Spot to Volunteer of the Year has been rich, fulfilling but not without its challenges.

And yet, here I am - because all of you believe in me, my friends bolster my confidence, my family rallies for me every waking minute … and my daughter, she has the proudest twinke in her eye when she passes my signs.

You’ve heard from me for all these weeks, you know me. Even with a full campaign trail, I am showing up for PoCo - through Pints & Ponytails, The Memory Rasa Project, PoCo Diwali and so much more. This past week I submitted three full grant applications (budget, strategy, impact) to BC Arts Council, Vancouver Foundation and Canadian Heritage for my “day job” at the Racial Equity Screen Office.

I bring balance, experience, proficiency and family values. But also an important thing we NEED to see in PoCo City Council - a “range of lived experiences”.

Oct 7 and Oct 10 are Advance Voting Days.

Make YOUR VOTE count.

✅KARNIK, Mithila is #6 on the ballot.

Three commitments. One city. Our future. Community-rooted leadership for Port Coquitlam — PoCo for Families, Downtown Every Day, PoCo Forward.

06/10/2026

The secret to a happy marriage … vastly different “me time” activities 😂

Glad to have someone so chill to come back home to and really dish it out with :) To quote Dom Toretto, “the most important people will always be the people in this room (aka home). Salute mi familia.”

12 DAYS TO GO!!! Let’s REVVVVVVV 🏎️✅

Vote✅ KARNIK, Mithila on the ballot for a candidate with a great sense of humour … oh, and the family values :) I am #6 on the ballot.

www.karnik4poco.ca

06/10/2026

Thankful to Fahima Fahima for the heartfelt endorsement! My commitment and love for PoCo is unwavering and honest and I am grateful for your support!

“I’m proud to call Mithila my friend. She is caring, genuine, and always there for the people around her. As a mom, I’ve seen how much love and effort she puts into her family. I’ve also witnessed firsthand how much time, energy, and effort she has put into our Port Coquitlam community. Her dedication and care for the people around her truly shows.”

Fahima Talib,
PoCo Resident

05/10/2026

My commitments for Port Coquitlam. Hold me to every one.

✅PoCo for Families
I’ll reach families who never applied for recreation assistance because they didn’t know, couldn’t navigate it, or hit a language barrier. I’ll track the Child Care Action Plan publicly until it delivers real daycare spaces and hold the line on family-sized and multigenerational homes.

✅Downtown Every Day
Culture shouldn’t depend on volunteer grant-writing. I’ll fight for a dedicated cultural fund so celebrations such as Indigenous Recognition, Lunar New Year, Diwali, Sizdah Bedar are permanent fixtures. I’ll push for open decisions on downtown spaces, and for the real operating cost of projects like the Leigh Square fountain to be known before council votes.

Small business support: one point of contact at City Hall, published permit timelines, expanded fast-track for signage, patios and fit-outs, a plain-language multilingual permit guide, quarterly staff office hours and a fee schedule review.

✅PoCo Forward
Configuration changes, not new spending - Services should work on your schedule and in your language: an after-hours AI assistant, proactive waitlist tools, senior support for all residents. A youth council / roundtable to include youth from the very beginning of implementation and infrastructure decisions including environmental decisions. Youth are the future - decisions need to include them.

Fiscal Responsibility: Know the full cost before we decide anything. The OCP refresh is where residents get their say, since council generally can’t hold public hearings on projects that fit the plan. With 15,000+ homes and 10,000 jobs projected over 20 years, growth needs a transparent funded plan, lifetime costs upfront and early engagement from all residents.

✅Public Safety
Prevention first: flood standards built for the storms we’re actually getting with a deeper look at parking and density - if disaster strikes these two trigger points will compound damage and dismantle rescue efforts. A deeper look at our bylaw enforcement.

**Advance Voting Day is OCTOBER 7, 8am to 8pm at Port Coquitlam Community Centre**

I hope you will vote ✅ KARNIK, Mithila on the ballot. I am #6.