My Vision for Vernon: The Work Ahead

During the 2022 - 2026 term on City Council, we concentrated on disciplined decision-making, meticulous data-gathering, and enhancing community planning in Vernon. Thanks to this collaborative effort, 87.9% of our Council Strategic Plan initiatives were completed or actively progressing.

But we didn’t just make plans; we executed them.

From expanding our active transportation networks to approving new housing initiatives, we have prioritized tangible progress. This is especially evident with our new Active Living Centre. Not only did we break ground and initiate construction during this term, but we also expedited the project so efficiently that it will officially open its doors to the public this winter.

As the 2027 - 2030 term begins, our focus on climate resilience will be a priority. We have successfully established our foundational goals, passed essential long-term frameworks, and demonstrated our capability to deliver major civic projects on time. Now, it’s about maintaining that momentum. My vision for Vernon involves the steady, responsible, and transparent execution of our next major infrastructure, housing, and environmental initiatives.

Environmental leadership isn’t just a policy discussion for the future; it is about addressing the immediate environmental realities affecting our community right now in Vernon. As we face our fifth consecutive multi-year drought and navigate Stage 3 water restrictions, our priority must shift from basic sustainability goals to proactive, protective climate adaptation and resource management.

During the 2022 - 2026 term, we integrated significant resilience frameworks into community planning in Vernon through our Official Community Plan and advanced our Climate Action Plan. True climate stewardship is an ongoing responsibility, and my vision for the 2027 - 2030 term focuses on steady execution to protect Vernon's water security, infrastructure, and natural spaces:

Securing Our Water Supply: Partnering closely with the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) water utilities to ensure our municipal infrastructure supports strict conservation measures, while actively exploring long-term water storage options and regional drought-management strategies.

Drought-Resilient Infrastructure: Ensuring that future capital projects, municipal parks, and public landscaping adopt water-conscious, climate-resilient designs, including xeriscaping, to lead by example in city operations and support upcoming Vernon housing initiatives. 

Adapting to Extreme Weather: Safeguarding our community by continuously adapting our urban drainage and stormwater networks to manage intense weather shifts, while expanding fuel-mitigation work in our local parks to reduce severe wildfire risks associated with prolonged drought.

We are at a historic turning point for one of our city's most cherished public spaces. With the multi-phase Vernon Creek Naturalization Project nearing its final completion stages, we are making significant strides in climate resilience in Vernon by restoring riparian ecosystems, stabilizing groundwater, and welcoming spawning salmon back for the first time in generations. This progress gives us a clean slate to revitalize the rest of Polson Park.  

As one of many advocates for the Polson Park Revitalization Plan initiated under our 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan, my vision for the 2027 - 2030 term includes:  

Infrastructure Renewal: Actively advancing past Phase 1 (Condition Assessment & Public Engagement) to implement conceptual designs that renew aging infrastructure, including upgrading the playground, tennis courts, and bandshell.  

New Amenities: Evaluating public feedback and feasibility studies for highly anticipated features like an upgraded spray park and expanded community gathering areas, crucial for community planning in Vernon.  

Safe & Inclusive Spaces: Ensuring Polson Park is developed with enhanced lighting and universal accessibility so that seniors, young families, and visitors feel secure and welcome year-round, supporting our broader Vernon housing initiatives.  

We have worked hard to confront the housing crisis head-on in Vernon by establishing clear targets and breaking down systemic barriers. As part of our commitment to climate resilience in Vernon, in the 2022 - 2026 term we implemented Short-Term Rental Regulations and completed our baseline frameworks. However, the path forward requires an active, continued push to ensure families, workers, and seniors aren't priced out of our city.

My commitment for the 2027 - 2030 term focuses on the deliberate execution of our core housing files within our Vernon housing initiatives:

Meeting Our Targets: Accelerating work under the Housing Supply Act frameworks to guarantee we achieve our provincially mandated housing targets through continuous tracking and adaptation.

Non-Profit Partnerships: Continuing to leverage City-owned land and regional incentives to partner with BC Housing and local non-profits to replicate successful attainable models like Thunderbird Manor.

Streamlining Development: Finalizing the digital transformation of our development approval processes (including the rollout of digital development permits) to eliminate bureaucratic red tape for homeowners and builders alike.

Monitoring Short-Term Rental Regulations: Review and adjust short-term rental regulations once we have reached the provincial requirement of achieving vacancy rates above 3% for 3 consecutive years.

True structural growth in Vernon requires infrastructure that stays ahead of demand and supports climate resilience. In late 2025, we passed the comprehensive City of Vernon Transportation Plan, which outlines a 20-year blueprint featuring 170 distinct projects aimed at optimizing day-to-day travel while enhancing community planning in Vernon. 

My vision for implementation over the 2027 - 2030 term focuses on: 

Prioritizing Road Safety (Goal 1): Actively funding and deploying tactical safety upgrades to lower accident rates, ensuring that every trip—whether by car, transit, or on foot—is structurally safer for all. 

Expanding Active Transportation (Goal 2): Growing our network of multi-use paths, protected bike lanes, and continuous sidewalks to seamlessly connect our neighbourhoods to commercial cores and transit, while also supporting the Vernon housing initiatives that promote alternative transportation methods. 

Fiscally Responsible Phasing: Utilizing our newly minted Transportation Prioritization Framework to ensure that short- and medium-term capital funds are allocated to the projects that deliver the highest value to tax-paying residents first.

A healthy city is a connected city where people in Vernon can comfortably age in place. In 2024, we launched Vernon's very first Age- and Dementia-Friendly Community Plan, marking our commitment to community planning in Vernon and aligning with an international movement that prioritizes the quality of life for our seniors, individuals living with dementia, and caregivers.

I will continue championing the systemic integration of this plan across all departments:

Accessible Infrastructure: We are focusing on climate resilience in Vernon by prioritizing future sidewalk expansions, park trails, and civic buildings based on universal accessibility designs. 

Informed Public Spaces: We support cross-sectoral training for City staff and partner with local organizations to create community spaces that are physically and socially navigable for seniors. Additionally, we are aligning these efforts with Vernon housing initiatives to ensure everyone can thrive in our community.