Two Elections. One Community. Why Your Vote Matters Close to Home.

October in Kelowna usually means golden vineyards, crisp morning walks on the Rail Trail, and that last brave paddle on Okanagan Lake before the season turns. This year, it means something else too...

Two elections. One week apart.

On Saturday, October 17, we head to the polls for our municipal election. Then, just seven days later on Saturday, October 24, we vote again — this time in a provincial election called about two years earlier than scheduled.

Two levels of government. Two ballots. And two chances to think about the kind of community we want to call home.

Why City Hall Matters to Your Home

As a REALTOR®, I spend my days talking about what makes a home valuable. Location, condition, square footage, that view of the lake... they all matter, of course.

But there's a much bigger picture.

The decisions made at Kelowna City Hall shape how our neighbourhoods grow, what gets built, and whether the roads, pipes and parks keep pace. Local government has a hand in things like:

• Zoning and land use — what can be built, where, and how densely
• Development approvals — the projects that change the skyline (and the street you live on)
• Roads and infrastructure — the commute across the bridge, the water main under your driveway
• Parks, recreation and public spaces — the places that make a neighbourhood feel like home
• Property taxes — set locally, within the framework the province provides

For homeowners, buyers and sellers, those decisions can matter enormously. How much density will a neighbourhood see? Where will new housing go? What happens to our parks and amenities as Kelowna keeps growing?

On October 17, Kelowna voters will elect a Mayor, eight City Councillors and four School Trustees — the people who'll make those decisions for the next four years.

And Then... We Vote Again

One week later, British Columbians will elect all 93 Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The provincial government has its own big influence on housing and community life. Provincial legislation and policy can affect housing supply, tenancy rules, transportation, taxation and infrastructure, and it sets the framework that municipalities make many of their own decisions within.

In recent years, we've seen just how closely provincial housing policy and local planning can intersect. That makes it especially worth understanding who is responsible for what before you mark either ballot.

Home Is About So Much More Than the House

Here's something real estate has taught me: people don't simply choose a house.

They choose a community.

They care about the road they'll drive every morning. The school their kids or grandkids might walk to. Whether there's a park close enough for an evening stroll. How long it takes to get from Rutland to the Mission at rush hour. What might be built next door someday. Whether the infrastructure is keeping up as Kelowna grows.

All of those things become part of how we experience home. And many of them are shaped, at least in part, by the people we elect.

I'm Not Going to Tell You How to Vote

Nor should I!

We all bring different priorities, experiences and ideas about what our city and our province need. That's exactly how it should be.

But I do believe in a little homework before marking a ballot. Read about the candidates. Go to a forum if you can. Look past the lawn signs and the social media posts, and find out where people actually stand on the issues that matter to you.

And when it comes to housing, don't be shy about asking specific questions:

• How should Kelowna make room for continued growth?
• What kinds of housing do we need most, and for whom?
• How will infrastructure keep pace?
• How do we protect what people love about their neighbourhoods while our community keeps evolving?

There usually aren't simple answers. But these are conversations so worth having.

Save the Dates

Kelowna Municipal Election

• General Voting Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Advance voting: October 7, 10, 14, 15 and 16
• Details, voting locations and what to bring: City of Kelowna — Kelowna Votes 2026

B.C. Provincial General Election

• Final Voting Day: Saturday, October 24, 2026
• Advance voting: October 16 to 21
• Registration, voting locations and vote-by-mail: Elections BC — 2026 Provincial Election

The two elections are completely separate, with different voting locations and rules. It's worth a quick check of the official information before you head out... especially since you may be voting in both within the same week!

Your Home. Your Community. Your Voice.

Real estate has given me the gift of seeing Kelowna through so many different eyes. First-time buyers, growing families, retirees, newcomers chasing the Okanagan lifestyle, and people who've called this valley home for decades.

They don't always want the same things. And that's okay! A healthy community has room for different perspectives and priorities.

This October, we get two opportunities to help decide what comes next. Whatever matters most to you, take a little time to learn about the choices in front of you, and make your own informed decision.

Then... vote.

And if you're wondering how any of this might affect your own home, your neighbourhood or your next move, I'd love to hear from you. Grab a coffee with me, bring your questions, and let's talk it through.

Your Vision, My Mission.