Law-student & event coordinator running for Mayor of Qualicum Beach

“As a child, I literally remember thinking, what is up with the world? Why is there hunger? Why is there war? What could be done to remedy this? And I thought the best thing I could come up with as a single-digit child was that I will just try to know everything there is to know. I will try to learn everything that exists in the world on every single subject.”

While not working towards her legal administrative assistant program online through Capilano University, Cymbalisty offers free legal information and low-barrier counselling or advocacy support through her Nanaimo-based Free Advice Club.

Her prior experience in leadership roles includes being on councils during her college years and “multiple parent councils” with the Toronto District School Board, as well as working with the Nanaimo and District Chamber of Commerce, and being a member of the Parent Advisory Council with the Qualicum Beach Elementary School.

The mother of three daughters said she’s been a “lifetime event coordinator” ever since she was young, influenced by her father, a former director of the drama, music, and art department at McMaster University.

“He was always producing theatre shows and dance shows, and he also ran the doctors’, nurses’, pharmacists’, and chiropractors’ exam that takes place in Hamilton, which is kind of like a big deal. I was doing that from childhood as well. So the coordination is basically like in my blood, running through my veins.”

She also wants to use AI to better analyze information, which she says can help municipalities make better-informed decisions.

Cymbalisty said she originally planned to run for a council seat, but decided to run for Mayor after looking more into incumbent Teunis Westbroek’s defamation lawsuit from 2023, where a $130,000 settlement was covered by the Town’s liability protection insurance policy paid out in damages for slander.

“Defamation suits are not undertaken because they’re one of the more difficult lawsuits, but because he said it on the record, it was like, absolutely certain that he did go outside of his respect and integrity and accountability role. This is deeply troubling to have a mayor that is openly disregarding laws and disrespecting very highly esteemed resident business owners in the town and then holding the town liable for the $130,000, which he admitted fault to.”

As for the other mayoral candidate Adam Walker, Cymbalisty said they’re “like two peas in a pod,” and described him as an “asset”, and she would like to hire him as a consultant for the Town based on his years of local knowledge and expertise.

She said we’re at a moment when AI will help merge the age of information with legislative processes.

“This is the moment because we already have all of the evidence and the data to make educated decisions, and we simply need people who are willing and able to use what is currently available to make the choices to serve both the immediate and general generational needs. I see immense flourishing.”

Final voting day in the 2026 municipal election is on Oct. 17.

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by Jordan Davidson

Law-student & event coordinator running for Mayor of Qualicum Beach

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