I am seeking a second term as Lake Country Councillor for the Okanagan Centre Ward. My husband and I have lived here for nearly 25 years and chose to raise our two teenage girls in the place we love. I am deeply committed to continuing to help shape a strong, vibrant future for our community. During my first term on Council, I have worked to bring a long-term perspective to decisions affecting sustainable growth, housing, transportation, water infrastructure, and community amenities. Through my work on regional committees focused on tourism, and regional collaboration, I have consistently advocated for practical solutions that balance growth, environmental stewardship, affordability, and quality of life. I have always believed in a complete community that offers services, amenities and opportunities closer to home that protects agricultural lands, the natural environment, and the small-town character that make Lake Country unique. Looking ahead, I am focused on investing in infrastructure, improving transportation options, strengthening wildfire and climate resilience, and supporting local businesses to ensure growth is thoughtfully planned so Lake Country remains a place where families and future generations can thrive.
What Brett 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 Tricia Brett says the past four years on council involved hard choices on growth, housing rules, costs and drought. Brett lists a 20-year water plan, park and community centre upgrades, and a new in-house road crew as progress. Brett says water, growth, infrastructure and taxes are all connected.
Water is important to growth. Growth is connected to infrastructure. Infrastructure is connected to taxes.
Asked Is there a role for the district to strengthen support for local businesses? And do you have any suggestions for the types of economic development that you would prioritize for Lake Country?
Summary Tricia Brett says supporting local business helps diversify the tax base and supports people who live and work here. Brett supports the Lake Country Business Park to add business space that costs less than Vernon or Kelowna. Brett wants more staff help in the economic and tourism department.
that space has to be cheaper than what is in Vernon and Kelowna because we are competing against two different centres and two large centres
Asked As a member of council, how will you stay informed about the needs of the community, and what will you do to ensure you remain connected to residents throughout the term?
Summary Tricia Brett says council members can all do better at answering emails faster. Brett would stay connected by volunteering, attending local events and school games, and visiting classrooms to hear from youth. Brett commits to reporting back to residents more often than in the first term.
I will ensure that I listen through all of these events, maintain ongoing conversations with residents and the thing that I committed to the first time was reporting back a lot more than I did
Asked If you are elected, what are a few ideas that you have to ensure that you will build trust with residents who may not know you yet, and how will you stay accountable throughout your term if elected?
Summary Tricia Brett says council needs to explain its decisions better and share its successes with residents. Brett says sharing those successes builds trust and accountability. Brett wants to keep holding the ward meetings that council brought back.
the part that we need to do is communicate out those successes. That's what builds trust and that would build accountability.
I am running for re-election because I care deeply about Lake Country and want to continue using my experience and proven record to help build a community where families thrive, businesses succeed, infrastructure keeps pace with growth, and the qualities that make Lake Country special are preserved.
I am seeking a second term as Lake Country Councillor for the Okanagan Centre Ward. My husband and I have lived here for nearly 25 years and chose to raise our two teenage girls in the place we love.
Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?
Growth should be focused in the areas already identified by the community and the Official Community Plan. By creating housing opportunities in our Town Centre and other appropriate locations, we can provide a customer base to support and attract local businesses, attract new services and amenities, and strengthen Lake Country's economy while preserving the rural character of our established neighbourhoods.
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?
One of the biggest needs identified by community right now are attainable single-family dwellings and duplexes that are near schools and business.
I have always believed in a complete community that offers services, amenities and opportunities closer to home that protects agricultural lands, the natural environment, and the small-town character that make Lake Country unique.
Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?
The most important issue facing Lake Country is water. Water supports every aspect of our community, from clean safe drinking water for residents to sustaining agriculture, local businesses, and the beautiful Lakes that make Lake Country a special place to live.
Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?
It means investing in water treatment, supporting science-based decision-making, strengthening regional collaboration, and ensuring growth occurs within the capacity of our water resources.
Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?
As climate pressures, growth, and competing water demands increase, we need to ensure our decisions today protect water resources for future generations.
Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?
Keeping taxes affordable requires both responsible spending and long-term planning. That means continuing to pursue grants, prioritizing core infrastructure, and supporting growth in the right locations.
Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?
One of the most important roles of Council is fiscal responsibility as a whole. Investing time and effort into analyzing budget items presented to Council and sticking to long term plans that are financially backed can help keep municipal spending reasonable.
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
We need to continue investing in strategic road improvements, intersection upgrades on the highway, and connections between neighbourhoods and communities. Parking remains a need for business, especially in the Town Centre and around the Community Centre. We must consider how to create an affordable parkade so that folks can spend time at shops and services downtown.
Asked What steps would you support to improve public safety, cleanliness and security in Lake Country’s commercial areas?
I will continue advocating with the Province and our regional partners for improvements that reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, including a pedestrian overpass at a strategic Highway 97 location.
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
The goal is not to make driving more difficult and congestion greater; it is to provide more transportation choices and ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
Asked What are the three most important actions the District should take to support the growth and success of local businesses?
Build on the Economic Development & Tourism Strategy (2023-2027) by improving approval processes and supporting the development of commercial, retail, and light industrial spaces that create local jobs.
Asked What specific changes would you support to make building permits, development applications, inspections and business approvals faster and more predictable?
One improvement can be having someone available 5 days a week to interact with the public focused on Economic Development & Public Engagement to get the right answers in a timely manner.
Asked What are the three most important actions the District should take to support the growth and success of local businesses?
The three biggest things I have heard from local business owners are there is not enough commercial and retail space available and spaces are costly, the business permitting process can be slow, and that they are not sure what the District is doing to support them.
Asked What steps would you support to improve public safety, cleanliness and security in Lake Country’s commercial areas?
This means remaining committed to the Lake Country RCMP Strategic Plan (2024-2027), which identifies three key priorities: reinforcing road safety, reducing and preventing crime, and enhancing police-community relations. I am also committed to addressing the identified need for additional uniformed resources at the detachment to achieve the goal of 24/7 policing.
Asked What steps would you support to improve public safety, cleanliness and security in Lake Country’s commercial areas?
I support practical measures that help businesses, residents, and visitors feel safe in our commercial areas. This includes well-planned lighting, appropriate landscaping and sightlines, and continued bylaw enforcement where needed.
Asked What is your plan to attract new businesses and investment while also supporting established locally owned businesses?
As a Council one of our roles is to make connections with the business community and bring the information back to staff to implement and hold ourselves and staff accountable to the needs of the Community.
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?
Targeted engagement with local businesses through direct outreach and with the Chamber of Commerce will be key to gaining input on the next steps to the Economic Strategy, the Mobility Master Plan update, and the update to the Zoning bylaw that will all be coming up soon. The engagement should meet the community where they are at and not only around Lake Country Business hours.
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?
As a Councillor I will continue to ask questions of local business owners and bring the message back to the staff and the Council table.
