The District of Kitimat announced March 26, 2026 that former mayor Joanne Monaghan has died.

Photogallery In memory of Joanne Monaghan

The news release from the District reads.

he District of Kitimat is saddened to learn of the passing of former Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan.

Joanne joined Kitimat Council in 1980 as Alderman (a title later changed to Councillor) and served the community with distinction for decades. She is Kitimat’s first female Mayor, holding this role from 2008 until 2014.

Her service was never limited to the Council table. Over the years she has served as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, President of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, and the then-North Central Municipal Association. She has served as Chair of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, and co-Chaired the UNBC Advisory Committee, among many other roles. She was also a prominent and successful local business owner in Kitimat for more than three decades.

Her many accolades include receiving a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, being named Kitimat’s Lady of the Year in 1985, and Kitimat’s Citizen of the year in 1986.

In June 2025, Joanne received the King Charles III Coronation Medal honouring her commitment to public service and local governance.

Her dedication and passion for this community are impossible to quantify, and she leaves behind a legacy of public service that is beyond compare.

Flags in the District of Kitimat will be lowered to half-mast.