I grew up in Kelowna, spent 30 years at Big White working with people, businesses, community leaders and organizations across the region as the main voice for the public, and have lived and raised my family in Lake Country for over 4 decades. I watched them take part and supported countless teams, bands and community activities. I coached soccer in Lake Country for nearly 20 years, served on the Lake Country Youth Soccer Board, represented Lake Country on the Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association, and volunteered in our community in countless other ways.
It is where I’ve had the privilege of serving our community for the past 12 years — eight as a councillor and the last four as your Mayor.
I’m running because I believe the next four years are about continuing the work already underway — and making thoughtful decisions about the Lake Country we leave to future generations.
What Ireland said at the Rogers tv panel. Each summary was written by AI and checked by a person. The quote under it is exact, and the link opens the video at that moment.
Asked And with that, we'll start with introductions. To the candidates, as a reminder, you have two minutes to present your introduction.
Summary Blair Ireland, the current mayor, says experience matters and points to roles on the regional district, hospital and water boards. Ireland says these roles give Lake Country a voice outside its borders and help get funding. Ireland wants to keep the tax burden as low as possible.
But it's really important that we keep our tax burden as low as we possibly can going forward because we can't be more expensive than the other places.
Asked What do you think makes Lake Country, Lake Country, and how would you preserve that character as our community grows over the next 10 to 20 years?
Summary Blair Ireland says the rural character of Lake Country is what makes it special and must be protected. Ireland says the ALR and ALC help protect land and does not want that land taken out. Ireland wants to keep the community green despite development pressure.
it's our rural character. And that's what we have to protect. There's a lot of development pressures around, but the most important thing is that we protect
Asked Do you believe there are any urgent needs facing seniors in the community? And if so, can identify one? And do you have any suggestion as to how to address it?
Summary Blair Ireland says seniors who want to downsize are often forced to leave for Kelowna or Vernon. Ireland wants senior government to help fund local options and more support for the Lake Country Health Society. Ireland also says access to doctors and lab services in Lake Country needs a solution.
they want to stay in Lake Country, but they do not have that opportunity right now. and we lose people, you know, they're forced to move to Kelowna or Vernon for some sort of facility.
Asked How will you ensure you make decisions that benefit the whole community, including residents who may not share their priorities?
Summary Blair Ireland says every decision should look at what is best for the whole community. Ireland says serving as a ward councillor showed that the whole community must come first. Ireland would listen widely, beyond those directly affected, before making a decision.
in every decision that we make, that we look at the whole community and what's best for the whole thing.
Asked What is one accomplishment or project in your past work or volunteer life or other experience you would share with the audience that would demonstrate your ability to lead, collaborate, and or solve complex problems?
Summary Blair Ireland says that during the 2023 fires, the city manager left and Ireland took the lead. Ireland says nearby governments blocked residents' return, and Ireland told the regional district the community's people would leave its emergency centre. Ireland also led emergency responses at a ski resort and says these skills are very important.
I took that lead and found the regional district and told them we're going to take all of our people out of their EOC until they paid attention to the needs of our community
I’m running because I believe the next four years are about continuing the work already underway — and making thoughtful decisions about the Lake Country we leave to future generations.
Provide experienced, accountable leadership that brings people together, builds strong partnerships and gives Lake Country a strong voice at every level of government.
Asked Lake Country businesses often struggle to recruit and retain employees because of housing costs and availability. What actions would you support to increase attainable workforce housing?
At this point, purpose built rental addresses that, rental costs are a function of what the market will bear and as more places get built there is then more competition and prices go down.
Asked Lake Country businesses often struggle to recruit and retain employees because of housing costs and availability. What actions would you support to increase attainable workforce housing?
We also need to look at any mechanism to keep as attainable as possible, modular housing, townhouses are some of the other solutions.I have also been looking at a way to build actual workforce housing which is another potential answer.
Growth should not come at the expense of the things that make Lake Country special. Our farms, orchards, lakes and natural spaces are fundamental to our identity and our future.
For too long, some of our infrastructure and services have struggled to keep pace with growth. Good planning means looking ahead instead of constantly playing catch-up.
Many of Lake Country’s biggest issues — including water, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure — require us to work effectively with regional, provincial and federal governments.
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
Supporting Kelowna's effort to build out Commonwealth Rd and Lake Country's side will help move truck traffic away from Beaver Lake and our core. We need to build north south connections where it makes sense to move traffic more efficiently.
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
Making sure that active transportation is addressed on main routes, i.e. Okangan Centre Rd East, so that residents feel they can travel safely with other kinds of transportation
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
Finding alternate funding for transit to build a functional transit system and being creative, the experiment around the summer bus is an example of that.
Asked What specific changes would you support to make building permits, development applications, inspections and business approvals faster and more predictable?
The new OCP will certainly help but now we must go through the zoning bylaws to make sure everything lines up to make the process easier and more transparent. AI may be able to help automate some processes as well as moving applications, where possible online.
Asked What is your plan to attract new businesses and investment while also supporting established locally owned businesses?
Both Groups need a local government that is easy to work with and supportive. We need to provide the zoning to accommodate new business and the positive environment to encourage investment to come here.
Asked What steps would you support to improve public safety, cleanliness and security in Lake Country’s commercial areas?
Public safety is very important and now that we manage the RCMP we can direct them to better serve the community. Feedback is a crucial part of this formula, we need to know where and what issues come up sothey can be addressed quickly.
Asked How would you ensure businesses receive adequate notice and meaningful consultation before roadwork, construction or other municipal projects disrupt access, parking or customer traffic?
Integrating communications with building, roads and infrastructure to be better on top of these notices is crucial and the improvements to the communications department have already started.
Asked How should the District work with the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce and local businesses when developing policies, budgets and long-term economic plans?
The District should definitely put all of these issues out to the Chamber for comments and ideas. The more input the better .
Asked What specific changes would you support to make building permits, development applications, inspections and business approvals faster and more predictable?
It is also important to listen to the community and always be prepared to make positive change.
