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https://vernonmatters.ca/2021/12/08/governance-and-services-study-moves-ahead-for-okanagan-west/ https://vernonmatters.ca/2021/12/08/governance-and-services-study-moves-ahead-for-okanagan-west/

Meet Wayne Carson, your candidate for Electoral Area Director for Central Okanagan West. A Killiney Beach resident and homeowner since 1980, Wayne has spent decades serving the community with a strong commitment to public safety, responsible planning, and practical results for residents.

Questions about who can vote, who provides representation, and which government has authority can become confusing where local government boundaries and First Nation jurisdiction meet. That is the case for residents in Central Okanagan West, Westbank First Nation lands, and specifically Indian Reserves No. 9 and No. 10.

"I have to face my constituents' questions, and I don't have any answers," says Carson.

On a bad smoke day in Central Okanagan West, the air can feel heavier than traffic, factory stacks, and campfire smoke all at once. The hills blur. The lake disappears behind a grey-brown veil. People close windows in August heat, cancel outdoor work, and check the Air Quality Health Index before deciding whether it is safe to walk the dog.

"The Regional District has continued to block us from securing the emergency generators our water system urgently needs. In just the last five years, three major wildfires have threatened our community, proving how vital uninterrupted water pressure is for protecting structures. We can't afford another failure like in 2021 when backup generators sat unused while the water system failed and eighty-five homes were lost. To date we still have no switches installed on our pump an

Wildfire resilience cannot depend only on last-minute structure protection crews, portable sprinkler kits, and evacuation orders. In rural interface communities, the first hours of a wildfire event often decide whether homes are defended, whether crews can move safely, and how quickly residents can return.

The Okanagan Valley has a smoke problem, but the most dangerous smoke may not be coming from well-managed local burning. It may be coming from the fuel we are leaving on the forest floor until the next wildfire turns it into weeks of smoke, evacuation alerts, property loss, and risk to life.

This is a story from Castanet November 24, 2024, that highlights the ongoing challenges and frustrations surrounding a proposed infrastructure project. The latest figures presented to the Board indicate a staggering cost of 29 million dollars, a figure that has raised eyebrows and sparked significant concern among community members and stakeholders alike. Despite this alarming financial projection, it is important to note that, as of now, no right of way has been established

260219 – Short and not so sweet. I moved a Motion by Director Carson – North Westside Regional Water System Project to end the Pipeline from Valley of the Sun to supply Killiney Beach and Westshore with groundwater from that aquifer. 5.2 North Westside Regional Water System – 2026 Budget Discussion and 5.3 Motion by Director Carson – North Westside Water System Project discussions are here for you to see.

Governance is supposed to answer a simple question: who makes decisions for a community, and are those decisions being made in the right place?

251125 – Solid waste / recycle centers for Westside Road are in two locations for convenience. The Traders Cove Station is at the south end of Westside Road at Bear Creek Main in the Traders Cove Regional Park. The North Westside Transfer Site is located at the Northern end of RDCO at Westside Road at the Sugar Loaf / Evely Rec Site access road just past Wainman Cove and before Westshore. On Dec 12 2024 the Wilson’s Landing and Communities Society – Delegation Presentation re

Short-term rentals have been one of the most practical local issues of this past term. They affect neighbours, visitors, small property owners, seniors, young families, tourism operators, students, and relatives who come to Central Okanagan West to be close to family.