Kelowna Candidates Set for General Local Election

Voters in Kelowna will head to the polls on Oct. 17 following the official finalization of the candidate list for mayor, city council, and school board trustee positions. Interested individuals had until Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. to hand in their official paperwork at City Hall.

Mayoral and Council Candidates

Three individuals are competing for the office of mayor, including incumbent Tom Dyas, former councillor Ron Cannan, and resident Andrew Uivtlugt.

Meanwhile, more than 30 candidates are seeking election to the eight available city councillor seats. Among those competing are incumbents Rick Webber, Mohini Singh, Gord Lovegrove, and Maxine DeHart.

The remaining candidates running for council include Susan Ames, Les Bellamy, Christopher Bocskei, Doris Bregolisse, Nikki Csek, Greg Dahms, Todd Daniels, Indy Dhial, Crystal Dougan, Tim Down, Julia Fraser, Daniel Fritter, Bal Grewal, King James, Hamid Khajavi, Kevin Kraft, Davis Kyle, Teresa May, Trevor McAleese, Randy Millis, Humberto Morales, Brian Pinter, Jay Rathwell, Brady Rogers, Brian Rogers, Mike Rose, Todd Sanderson, Corey Severin, Glendon Smedley, Silverado Socrats, Laura Thurnheer, Lee-ann Tiede, and Rob Wilkinson.

Further Information

Details regarding the 2026 general local elections are available online at elections.bc.ca.

Uncontested Mayoral Race

With the candidate submission deadline now passed for the upcoming municipal election in West Kelowna, Stephen Johnson will become the city’s next mayor. Johnson, who previously served as a councillor under former mayor Gord Milsom, is running uncontested heading into the Oct. 17 election.

Thirteen Candidates Seek Six Council Seats

While the mayoral seat is secured, a 13-resident field is competing for the six available councillor positions. The race includes four incumbents seeking re-election: Tasha Da Silva, Rick de Jong, Garrett Millsap, and Carol Zanon.

Joining the incumbents on the ballot for the six council seats are Gary Buckberry, Justin Chapman, Bradley Dobbin, Ken Grant, Tom Groat, Dane Landry, Beau Langevin, Miranda McMullin, and Chris Moyer. Further details regarding the 2026 general local elections are available at elections.bc.ca.

Direct Role in Planning TFL 59

A new partnership between the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and the Gorman Group, signed via Similkameen Forest Products Ltd., ensures the OIB will participate directly in managing Tree Farm Licence 59. Located in the band’s traditional territory east of Oliver, the forest licence area will now involve early-stage planning by Nk’Mip Forestry LLP, the OIB’s forestry company.

Community Benefits and Local Economic Impact

The joint arrangement focuses on keeping local forestry benefits within the community. “This partnership will help create more jobs, specific training opportunities, and longer-term revenue for the Osoyoos Indian Band and our people,” said OIB Chief Clarence Louie. He added that the agreement enables the OIB to build skills and experience for future responsibilities while strengthening its position in the local forest economy.

Balancing Cultural Priorities and Industrial Supply

Nk’Mip will collaborate with Similkameen Forest Products Ltd. to plan proposed harvest sites. Their work will incorporate considerations for wildlife habitat, forest health, water quality, wildfire resilience, and sites of cultural or traditional importance. Norm Druck, South Zone Woodlands Manager for the Gorman Group, emphasized the area’s dual significance, noting that this portion of land represents the cultural heartland of the band—supporting traditional medicines, food, jobs, and spiritual well-being—while also supplying timber for the Gorman Group’s regional manufacturing facilities.