For far too long, Rutland, our city’s largest and most vibrant neighborhood, has sat on the sidelines of major decisions at City Hall. I am running for Kelowna City Council because I believe every neighborhood deserves a dedicated champion in our local government. As a longtime Rutland resident, business owner, and community advocate, my platform is built on real, lived experience and a deep commitment to the future of our entire city.
Kelowna city councillors are elected to represent the entire city, but that shouldn't mean Rutland gets left behind or kept out of the loop. We see civic inequality in our neighborhood every day. Look no further than the Rutland Recreation Park upgrades. The city originally promised an extensive $8.5 million modernization, only to slash the budget in half and downsize the plans. Instead of receiving the promised high-density sports hub, Rutland lost a second synthetic turf field, permanent brick restrooms, a platform viewing area, and phase two of the project. This happens again and again.
Because I have been open about my own past struggles with addiction and homelessness, I understand this issue from the ground up. It is time to treat our homelessness crisis with the same urgency as any other mass-casualty emergency. Triage, done correctly, is the only way forward. We must accept a hard truth: we cannot help everyone, and if we try to save everyone without a strategic plan, we will fail entirely. That is a hard truth to take, but we need to be honest with each other.
Our approach must shift toward a structured, tiered system that balances accountability with deep compassion:
Kelowna’s parks, creeks, and trails are what make our city beautiful, but they need active protection. True environmentalism isn't just about high-level policy—it’s about roll-up-your-sleeve community action.
Police presence matters. Our families and local business owners deserve to feel secure in their own neighborhood. I will push for more patrols and increased RCMP boots on the ground to deter crime and respond swiftly when issues arise. I am a strong advocate for bolstering our auxiliary police program, bringing community-minded security back to our streets. True safety requires a comprehensive approach. I will champion a model that pairs a visible, proactive police presence with extended teams of mental health and social work professionals to catch people before they fall through the cracks.
Kelowna is growing rapidly, but development cannot outpace the foundational systems that keep our city running. Gridlock hurts our economy, steals time away from our families, and adds pollution to our atmosphere. Simply put, we need infrastructure that meets the demands of a growing community before approving massive new projects.
The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a blueprint designed with community input, not a document to be bypassed casually. I will advocate for thorough community debate and deeper discussions before the city abandons the OCP in favor of developer interests. We need to stop granting excessive zoning variances that choke our local roads, overload our schools, and strain utilities without a clear, collaborative plan to manage the impact.
To tackle our housing crisis, we need practical solutions, not just high-rise buildings. My focus will be on championing a diverse mix of affordable rental units, townhomes, and multi-family options.
Let’s talk about what affordable housing actually means and the real impact it has on families. True affordability means a family isn't spending more than 30% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. When housing costs outpace wages, the impact on families is devastating. Parents are forced to work multiple jobs or commute from miles away, stealing precious hours from their children. It means choosing between paying rent or buying healthy groceries, saving for the future, or putting kids into local sports. It is time to consider other ways to make housing affordable, including expanding supportive housing for families so no child grows up in housing insecurity.
The city must actively work with any and all programs that help build affordable housing in the Okanagan, making full use of government grants, subsidies, and major funding initiatives—instead of giving those grants away to private developers. We should be aggressively tapping into massive programs like the $17.2 billion Build Communities fund, the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, and the Canada Community Housing Initiative, while utilizing tax rebates for builders specifically tied to affordable units. We must protect working-class neighborhoods so that the people who make Kelowna run can actually afford to live, work, and raise their families here.
I am not running to build a political career. I am running because I care deeply about our community. Our children, youth, and families deserve safe streets and the protection and respect our parks deserve. I will always advocate for the responsible use of your tax dollars and fight for the future our children will inherit. Together, we can build a Kelowna that works for everyone. Let’s bring a real, community-first voice back to City Hall.
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