Throughout this campaign, I’ve spent a lot of time listening and learning, meeting with residents, businesses, community organizations, service providers and people with expertise in the issues facing Vernon.
These conversations have helped shape my understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. They have also reinforced many of the things that matter deeply to me: protecting the community we love, planning responsibly for our future, supporting people and businesses, and making thoughtful decisions that deliver results.
None of these priorities can be addressed by the City alone. Making meaningful progress will require Vernon to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities, the RDNO and neighbouring municipalities, provincial and federal governments, Interior Health, businesses, community organizations, educational institutions and other partners.
Part of my role on Council will be to help strengthen those relationships, bring the right people to the table and look for opportunities to work together on the challenges and opportunities we share.
From water security and housing to public safety, our local economy and the needs of a growing seniors population, these are issues I have heard about consistently throughout my campaign and believe will be important to Vernon’s future.
Climate resilience is also an important part of that future. Rather than treating it as a separate priority, I believe it needs to be considered across the decisions we make – from water and growth to infrastructure, emergency preparedness and community wellbeing.
Below are the six priority areas and the actions I will focus on as I begin my work on Vernon City Council. I also believe these are all important, interconnected priorities for Vernon, and that we need to work on them together rather than in isolation:
- Water Security and Resilience
- Housing and Thoughtful Growth
- A Safe, Healthy and Connected Community
- A Strong Local Economy and Vibrant Community
- Supporting Seniors to Age Well
- Responsible Investments and Results
WATER SECURITY AND RESILIENCE
Plan now for the water Vernon will need in the future.
This summer reinforced the importance of water security to our community. We need a long-term approach that considers supply, conservation, infrastructure, agriculture, growth and climate change, while planning responsibly for future investments.
On Council, I will:
- Use the Greater Vernon Water Capacity Study to push for clear long-term priorities for supply, storage, conservation and infrastructure.
- Support practical ways to make better use of the water we already have, including reducing system water loss and expanding reclaimed water where it makes sense.
- Ensure water availability is considered in growth and development decisions, so growth is supported by the infrastructure and resources it requires.
- Support agricultural water security by ensuring growers and farmers have a voice in regional water planning and by pursuing opportunities Vernon can directly influence, including the expanded use of reclaimed water.
- Ask the financial questions: What investment is needed, when is it needed, who benefits, who should appropriately pay, and what provincial and federal funding is available?
HOUSING AND THOUGHTFUL GROWTH
Create more housing while protecting what makes Vernon a great place to live.
Vernon needs housing for young people, families, workers, seniors and people with low income. At the same time, growth needs to make good use of infrastructure, respect our natural environment and agricultural land, and consider the long-term cost to taxpayers.
On Council, I will:
- Build on Vernon’s new Official Community Plan and Urban Containment Boundary to guide where and how our community grows.
- Work with housing providers and other levels of government to address Vernon’s gap in below-market housing and identify practical opportunities to increase affordable and non-market housing.
- Support gentle density in established neighborhoods, creating more housing choices while making better use of existing infrastructure.
- Continue improving development and permitting processes so appropriate housing can move forward efficiently.
- Make infrastructure, water availability, transportation, climate resilience and long-term costs part of our growth and development decisions.
A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY
Build a safer, healthier and more resilient community, prepared for the challenges ahead.
Public safety, homelessness, mental health, substance use and accessibility are complex issues. The City cannot solve them alone, but Council has an important role in community safety, planning, partnerships and advocating for the services Vernon needs.
On Council, I will:
- Work with RCMP, Fire Rescue, service providers and community organizations to identify safety challenges and service gaps, and focus on practical actions the City can take to address them.
- Advocate for continued justice-system reforms and resources to better address repeat offending, while recognizing that many of the necessary changes lie with the provincial and federal governments.
- Advocate to the Province and Interior Health for greater access to detox, treatment and recovery services, appropriate care and transitional/supportive housing.
- Strengthen community resilience and emergency preparedness by learning from recent wildfire, drought and extreme-weather events and identifying practical ways to better prepare and protect residents, particularly those who may be most vulnerable.
- Support the continued implementation of Vernon’s Climate Action Plan, with greater community education and engagement, including exploring a Climate Engagement Hub where residents and businesses can access practical information, resources and programs.
A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY
Make Vernon a place where businesses, people and community organizations can thrive.
Strong local businesses create jobs, contribute to our tax base and help make Vernon a vibrant place to live. Our downtown, tourism, agriculture, arts and culture, recreation and community organizations all contribute to our local economy and quality of life.
On Council, I will:
- Support efforts to make it easier to do business with the City by identifying unnecessary barriers and opportunities to improve processes and access to information.
- Support the growth and expansion of existing businesses by understanding what is holding them back and focusing on the barriers the City can help address.
- Work with Community Futures, the Chamber, Okanagan College and other partners to help connect businesses with the workers they need and identify opportunities to attract and retain workers in Vernon.
- Strengthen partnerships with organizations already doing good work in our community to support businesses, identifying barriers that may be limiting their success and looking for practical ways the City can help address them.
SUPPORTING SENIORS TO AGE WELL
Supporting independence, accessibility, connection and dignity as we age.
Vernon has a growing seniors population, and that brings both opportunities and challenges. Housing, transportation, accessibility, health care, social connection and the ability to remain independent all affect quality of life as we age. We also need to recognize that people’s needs change, and ensure seniors can transition to additional support or care in a way that is respectful and dignified. Family and other unpaid caregivers play an essential role throughout that journey.
- Bring a seniors and accessibility lens to City decisions about housing, transportation, sidewalks, parks, public spaces and community facilities.
- Work with seniors’ organizations and people with lived experience to identify practical barriers to independence, including transportation, mobility, accessibility and access to information and services.
- Support a greater range of housing options that allow people to remain independent and age in their community for as long as possible.
- Advocate to the Province and health-care partners for the services and care options seniors need, including the ability to transition to additional care with dignity and respect.
- Ensure caregivers have a voice in community planning and advocacy, recognizing the important role they play in supporting seniors and others who need care.
RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS AND RESULTS
Be thoughtful about how we invest taxpayers’ money.
Vernon is growing, and we face significant decisions about infrastructure, water, roads, facilities and community services. At the same time, there will always be competing demands for limited resources. Fiscal responsibility isn’t simply about spending less. It’s about setting priorities, understanding long-term costs, making thoughtful choices about where investment will have the greatest community benefit, and measuring whether we are achieving the results we expected.
On Council, I will:
- Ask what problem we are trying to solve and what outcome we expect before supporting significant new spending.
- Weigh competing priorities carefully, considering urgency, community benefit, affordability, risk and long-term impact when deciding where limited resources should be invested.
- Consider the full cost of decisions, including future operating, maintenance and replacement costs, not just the initial price tag.
- Look for grants, partnerships and other funding sources that can reduce the burden on Vernon taxpayers.
- Support clear goals and measurable outcomes for major investments, with regular reporting so Council can see whether we are achieving the results we expected.
Published: September 27, 2026