Luke Everett Strimbold
Luke Strimbold | |
|---|---|
| Born | Luke Everett Strimbold October 21, 1990 |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Youngest mayor in British Columbia history; convicted of sexual assault |
| Term | 2011–2016 |
| Predecessor | Bernice Magee |
| Successor | Chris Beach |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Criminal charges | Sexual assault of someone under the age of 16 (four counts) |
Luke Everett Strimbold (born October 21, 1990) is a Canadian former politician who served as mayor of Burns Lake, British Columbia, from 2011 to 2016.[1] Elected at age 21, he was the youngest mayor in the province's history and the second-youngest in Canada.[2] He was also involved with the British Columbia Liberal Party as membership chair.[3] In 2019, he pleaded guilty to sexual offences involving minors and was sentenced to prison.[4]
Early life
Strimbold was born and raised in Burns Lake, British Columbia.[5] He was described as a "golden boy" for efforts to bridge relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.[6] Strimbold, a closeted gay man, experienced bullying as a youth.[7] He resigned in 2016 to focus on education and career.[8]
Political career
Elected mayor at 21, Strimbold defeated incumbent Bernice Magee in 2011 and was re-elected in 2014.[9] He led community recovery after the 2012 Babine Forest Products sawmill explosion, securing funding for local revitalization projects and healthcare facilities.[10] Strimbold helped establish British Columbia's largest community forest, managed collaboratively with six local First Nations, the Village of Burns Lake, and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.[11] He supported the Coastal GasLink Pipeline and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. He also served on British Columbia's Climate Leadership Team in 2015.[12]
Sexual assault conviction
In March 2018, Strimbold was charged with 24 counts of sexual assault and related offences involving six boys under 16, with some incidents during his mayoralty.[13] A direct indictment in August 2018 brought charges to 29.[14] In May 2019, he pleaded guilty to four counts, including sexual assault and sexual interference.[15] On December 4, 2019, Strimbold was sentenced to two years less a day, followed by two years' probation, and 20 years on the national sex offender registry.[16] Community trust was widely reported as broken due to the leniency of the sentence.[17]
References
- ^ "Youngest mayor in B.C. history resigns". CBC News. September 15, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "And the winner is .... Luke Strimbold". Burns Lake Lakes District News. November 23, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "B.C.'s youngest mayor Luke Strimbold retires". Vancouver Sun. September 17, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Former B.C. mayor pleads guilty to 4 sex crimes against youths". CBC News. May 6, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "21-year-old Burns Lake Mayor is ready to tackle his new role". Global News. November 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Burns Lake community trust 'broken' after sentencing of former mayor for sex crimes". CBC News. December 12, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/burns-lake-verdict-luke-strimbold-1.5374071
- ^ "Youngest mayor in B.C. history resigns". CBC News. September 15, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "B.C.'s youngest mayor Luke Strimbold retires". Vancouver Sun. September 17, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Luke Strimbold". BCBusiness. March 26, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Luke Strimbold". BCBusiness. March 26, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Special Prosecutor Files Direct indictment Alleging additional charges in Luke Strimbold case" (PDF). Government of British Columbia. August 9, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Charges against ex-Burns Lake mayor are a 'nasty surprise' for BC community". The Globe and Mail. March 5, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Former Burns Lake Mayor Luke Strimbold faces new sex-related charges". My Prince George Now. August 9, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Former Burns Lake mayor Luke Strimbold pleads guilty to sex assaults of 4 boys". CTV News. May 6, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Former Burns Lake mayor sentenced to 2 years less a day for sex crimes against youth". CBC News. December 4, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Burns Lake community trust 'broken' after sentencing of former mayor for sex crimes". CBC News. December 12, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2025.