UBCM is saddened to mark the passing of Alice Maitland, BC’s longest-serving mayor. Alice served as the Mayor of Hazelton for 42 years, and was well known for her advocacy for rural communities, environmental causes, and women's participation in politics. Alice served on the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine board since its creation in 1967 until she retired from politics in 2018.
She was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from UBCM in 2016 in recognition of her long service to the community. (She also earned two long service awards from UBCM in 1996 and 2010.)
The BC Achievement Community Award recognized her for her influence in adult education, and for her contribution towards showcasing First Nations’ culture and pioneer history in Hazleton. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Her daughter Julie was elected as mayor of Hazelton in 2022, carrying on her mother’s legacy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alice Maitland fund for the Upper Skeena Recreation Centre. Alice worked hard to have the centre built. “The USRC was one of our mom’s dreams,” Julie Maitland wrote in a social media post. “She really felt as a rural community that we deserved a beautiful gathering place.” Contributions can be sent to finance@rdks.bc.ca.