It has been a busy spring and an exciting few months for Kelowna.
When this Council began its term, you told us clearly what mattered most: keeping our community safe, investing and advancing the infrastructure and services that support daily life, and making sure Kelowna remains a place everyone can be proud to call home.
We are seeing significant progress on all of these fronts.
Our city continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the country. That growth requires accelerated infrastructure delivery to keep pace, and this spring and summer, important projects have moved ahead.
In April, we broke ground on the new Parkinson Recreation Centre香蕉视频直播攖he largest capital investment in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 history. We also opened DeHart Park, began work on a new winter tennis facility, and started the planning process on the Rutland, Mission, and Glenmore activity centers香蕉视频直播攁ll of which will expand access to parks, recreation, and public spaces that benefit our entire community.
On the transportation side, the Bertram multi-use overpass officially opened, providing a safe and reliable route for cyclists and pedestrians helping to ease congestion along Highway 97.
We also celebrated the opening of Balsam Place, which delivers 60 new temporary housing units, a critical step to help people stabilize and transition into permanent homes. Through the Provincial Government香蕉视频直播檚 partnerships with the HEART and HEARTH programs, we now have 180 units that have already transitioned over 65 people into housing since the first opened in February 2024.
That means families reunited, lives rebuilt, and a healthier, safer community for everyone.
While these milestones are worth celebrating, our work does not stop here. We know that the issues facing our community香蕉视频直播攑ublic safety, housing, and the visible challenges that impact our streets and neighbourhoods香蕉视频直播攁re complex and require sustained effort. We remain committed to working with our partners to make meaningful improvements.
As a Council, we are continually assessing how we can better serve you and prepare for the future. Recently, we held our third strategic planning session to review our Council priorities, measure progress, and focus our efforts on what we aim to accomplish in the final 16 months of this term.
This update includes a strong focus on economic development and the launch of a new Community Task Force on Economic Prosperity香蕉视频直播攁n initiative that will strengthen our economy by supporting small businesses, helping local entrepreneurs succeed, attracting new investment, and creating good-paying jobs for Kelowna residents.
We remain especially focused on two urgent challenges: crime and safety, and homelessness. Council continues to advocate with the Provincial government for more Crown prosecutors and the Federal Government for bail reform to address repeat property crime.
We are also working with the Provincial Government on advancing a regional mandatory compassionate care facility in the Okanagan to help those struggling with mental health and addictions issues under the Mental Health Act receive the support they need.
Another priority is making our roads safer for everyone. That includes advancing plans and securing investment for a new transit operations centre, prioritizing traffic safety upgrades, and increasing RCMP speed patrols to better protect people walking, biking, and driving.
On the climate and agriculture fronts, we have combined these priorities to drive long-term projects, including the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy and efforts to ensure a reliable agricultural water supply.
Another important way Council advances your priorities is through committee appointments.
These appointments help ensure Council has strong oversight and community input on issues that matter to you, like parks and recreation, public safety, and regional services.
My approach as Mayor has been to rotate appointments over time so every councillor has the opportunity to contribute across these different areas, gain a broad understanding of our city香蕉视频直播檚 needs, and bring fresh perspectives to each table.
While some appointments香蕉视频直播攕uch as the 16 committees and task forces focused on topics like housing, transportation, public safety, and economic development香蕉视频直播攁re appointed by the Mayor, other committees, including the six councillors chosen to sit on the Regional District of Central Okanagan Board, are selected and voted on by all of Council.
I recognize that no approach to appointments will satisfy everyone. However, my focus is always on ensuring transparency, quality, fairness, and that Council has the experience and perspectives needed to serve our growing city effectively.
At every step, we are guided by a commitment to transparency, accountability, and community. You can track our progress, review priorities, and see updates on the City香蕉视频直播檚 website.
These priorities reflect the big challenges and opportunities facing Kelowna today香蕉视频直播攌eeping your neighbourhood safe, accelerating transportation, investing in infrastructure that supports daily life, and ensuring the best value for the municipal services you rely on. All this is being delivered while maintaining one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the province.
Kelowna is a city we are proud to call home. Together, we are building a strong, safe, and resilient community for everyone.
Monthly update from Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas on Council decisions, City business and more.
