For civic-minded Yellowknifers wishing to wade into the world of municipal politics, navigating the waters can be daunting and even dizzying. From nomination requirements and deadlines to eligibility caveats and strict signage regulations, there's a lot of ground to cover on the road to city hall.

To get there, a candidate needs a road map. So, how does a would-be councillor or a mayoral hopeful turn their impassioned plans to shake up the status-quo into a tangible strategy SA国际影视传媒� and a formidable campaign? And what type of campaign, from grassroots-grounded to social media-driven, are Yellowknifers most receptive to?

With two early mayoral candidates Coun. Adrian Bell and Coun. Rebecca Alty SA国际影视传媒� who are jockeying to fill the seat of outgoing Mayor Mark Heyck SA国际影视传媒� undoubtedly asking the same questions as they craft their campaigns, Yellowknifer posed the query to a former mayor and two past city councillors.

WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 the secret to a successful campaign?

SA国际影视传媒淚n Yellowknife I have found that the more doors you knock on the more likely you are to get elected,SA国际影视传媒� said former mayor Gordon Van Tighem.

Van Tighem, who served four terms as mayor of Yellowknife from 2000 to 2012, said successful candidates must increase their visibility and make their presence in the community known SA国际影视传媒� a strategy he took to heart when running.

SA国际影视传媒淲e basically tapped into everything. Knocking on doors; brochures that were delivered to every residence in the city at least twice,SA国际影视传媒� said Van Tighem, adding his ground-level approach led to some attention-grabbing tactics, including standing roadside and waving at passersby in an effort to rouse support.

During Van TighemSA国际影视传媒檚 first foray into a mayoral race in 2000, the then political-newcomer didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the breadth of his accomplished portfolio SA国际影视传媒� accumulated in his later terms SA国际影视传媒� to lean on when campaigning.

SA国际影视传媒淭he first thing was to differentiate yourself from the others. Are we getting more of the same or are we getting something new? And if weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting something new, how can we be sure itSA国际影视传媒檚 good?

With no political experience to pull from, Van Tighem said he worked to prove that what he was bringing to the table was SA国际影视传媒済ood,SA国际影视传媒� by SA国际影视传媒渄emonstrating a track record of effective involvementSA国际影视传媒� in the city.

And then, of course, were the signs. Staked on lawns or scrawled across storefronts, the political showings of support have long been a staple in campaign turf wars SA国际影视传媒� a mainstay Van Tighem said he employed to, again, increase his visibility as a candidate.

SA国际影视传媒淟arge signs to demonstrate you were in the race and smaller signs strategically placed to show there was widespread support because you have to have permission to put a sign up,SA国际影视传媒� said Van Tighem.

Under the Local Authorities Elections Act, signage and campaign materials including pamphlets, posters, placards and banners, are prohibited from being placed on road medians, road shoulders, municipal buildings and on private property unless permission has been granted.

Candidates are also barred from placing signs within 25 metres of polling stations.

When Van Tighem hung his hat up in 2012 after throwing it into the race four consequence times, he left public life as political actors began doubling down on efforts to harness social media in a bid to turn virtual likes into real votes.

Today, Van Tighem acknowledges social media's far reach and its ability to tap into voter sentiments, but he wouldn't replace clicks for handshakes and door-to-door knocks if he were to run again.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou can (contact the most people) with social media, but you have to also be targeting the people who actually go out and vote,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓verybody has a political opinion but not everybody votes.SA国际影视传媒�

Former deputy mayor and two-term councillor Wendy Bisaro SA国际影视传媒� who began her political ascent as a school board trustee in 1988 SA国际影视传媒� echoed Van Tighem's sentiments toward social media, saying there's SA国际影视传媒渟till people like me who like paper or like to talk to the (candidate) in person, face-to-face.SA国际影视传媒� Still, Bisaro advised potential candidates not to focus all their attention on traditional, door-to-door campaigning.

SA国际影视传媒淭oday, I think you have to do both. Social media is a great opportunity to reach a lot of people quickly. I wouldn't ignore it if I were running now,SA国际影视传媒� said Bisaro.

Along with money, either from backers or from one's own pocket, to cover expensive campaigns, Bisaro said name recognition and a devotion to SA国际影视传媒渄ogs, ditches and dumps,SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渨hat municipal campaigns are all aboutSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� are key in running a successful bid.

Bisaro said Yellowknife's next mayor will have to be relatable to all of the community members he or she serves.
SA国际影视传媒淭he position is going to require someone who can tap into the business interests in town, the environmental interests, the social aspects,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

As for what Yellowknifers respond to in election campaigns, former city councillor Paul Falvo told Yellowknifer it comes down to the individual.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome voters are thoughtful. Many have short attention spans and respond to flash,SA国际影视传媒� Falvo wrote in an email.
Bisaro said many factors contribute to voter attitudes and habits.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople's age, philosophy, personality. Being Northerners, I'm not so sure flashy campaigns work well. We have a different way of looking at life in general,SA国际影视传媒� she laughed, adding over-the-top campaigns can sometimes come off as being SA国际影视传媒渋mported from the south,SA国际影视传媒� and disregarded as a result.

Asked to offer tips on what to avoid when campaigning, Gordon Van Tighem had a short and simple answer: SA国际影视传媒淣o robocalls.SA国际影视传媒�