Dauna Kennedy
2026 Election Candidate
Environmental
A core principle of Vernon's Official Community Plan is to prevent sprawl and limit growth to within the urban containment boundary.
a) Under what conditions do you think Council should make an exception to this core principle?
b) Please give local examples of existing 'good' and 'not good' building development in Vernon, and explain why.
I do believe in innovation and that at times we need flexibility for situations never considered when plans are designed. That doesn’t have to mean abandoning the core principles that were put there to protect the long term well being of our community. The current OCP has put in preventative steps to learn from past developmental mistakes that cost Vernon taxpayers ultimately. It addresses the concerns around wildlife corridors, emergency vehicle access and the added burden of servicing suburban style development on raw land. This is important, but no policy is complete unless it also addresses the ripple effects that come from it. In this case the development/construction sector. How do we consider mitigating strategies to balance the potential for loss of jobs and economic development as a result is an area. a balanced approach that considers the whole of our community, not the individual silos.
A ‘good’ project is the Via District Community Plan which is an infill project. Developments that would now be considered ‘not good’ are the Foothills and Predator Ridge due to the added cost of being satellite developments that were slow to grow the tax base required to maintain.
Vernon has a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that aims to reduce GHG emissions in transportation, buildings and waste, and prepare for climate impacts like wildfires, heat domes, floods, severe weather events.
a) What aspects of this plan are most important and urgent and how will you ensure implementation?
b) The CAP will undergo a review process in 2027. What would you like to see in a revised CAP?
A)Broadening community buy-in can be an important factor in tightening the target gap that exists. Making this a ‘community’ plan rather than a ‘city’ plan is what is going to help us be successful. Vernon is a community that pulls together when needed and this is a perfect opportunity to mobilize around this important topic especially in light of some of the other challenges we currently face. Being creative in our approach and seeking opportunities for neighbourhoods to come together and support each other in making change.In this time of high taxes, we need to provide our taxpayers with creative, active ways they can get directly involved in helping meet the goals of the CAP in a disciplined low cost solution.
B) I would like to see a comprehensive evaluation of this plan alongside our water needs. These issues go hand in hand and given the significant costs involved. It is challenging when one issue rests at the Greater Vernon level and the other with the City of Vernon. They really need to be considered together in the best interests of our tax payers. Our current government structure can be confusing and work can be done to improve transparency to the public.
Do you support the use of public funds to contribute to acquiring natural lands for environmental conservation purposes? Under what conditions would the perceived need for more housing, businesses, roads and other infrastructure prompt you to trade away natural lands with high ecological value for urban expansion?
The model used by the City of acquiring land with money through the Parks Development Cost charges and Park’s reserve, protects these types of property purchases from putting a strain on the City’s annual operating budget and therefore taxpayers directly. If they have been purchased as parkland then it should be protected as that. Should future development challenge this, there should be not net loss to the protected habitat.
I see this situation as being similar to the Agriculture Land Reserves. The idea that we are protecting land for the long term to ensure that we don’t lose it to short-term objectives. The question comes in as to can it be privately owned like farmland with a designation attached or does it need to be purchased to protect it like parks and at what level of government?
Discipline is not always popular in the moment, but is necessary for a few key priorities for the long-term health of our community.
Our water reservoirs are at critically low levels. No longer can we count on having the water resources we enjoyed even a few years ago. Drought, contamination, increasing demand are just some of the water issues. What actions would you prioritise to protect our creeks, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater for home and agricultural water sources, habitat for fish and wildlife, and human recreation?
This is a big question and money plays a big role in its success. I was interested in listening to some of the solutions that our farming community came up with during this past summer and the willingness from businesses to invest in solutions. We need to be aggressive in solving this. Yes restrictions are one approach and we will need to prioratize some of that, but I tend to be more proactive in my approach and be open to outside solutions that include senior levels of government and the private sector. Let's think about this differently and not be afraid to try a new approach to solving this big issue.
Social
What personal and/or professional experience has most shaped your understanding of Truth and Reconciliation, and how would it influence your decisions as a municipal elected official?
In my personal life, I have lifelong friendships with people who identify as Métis and First Nations which has given me a lens into life on reserve lands along with sentiments within gerneral society that they have encountered. I previously worked within the Social Service field and saw first hand the damaging effects to families as a result of political decisions of the past. I have also worked within the Museum Industry and am on the Board of Directors for the BC Museums Association both of which have been directly and actively involved with implementing portions of the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations.
This is not an easy process and it is far reaching. To be effective, we need genuine engagement and consideration. As a municipal official, it would be another lens through which I would consider my decision making. Ultimately my goal is for a balanced and healthy community through all of my decision making.
What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?
We do have some great programs in place in Vernon, but for many reasons they are inadequate for the need in our community right now. While the City has limited mandate in this I do think there are things we can do to support the efforts already in place in Vernon. I was commenting on some of the strain that the non-profit sector is currently under with significant leadership burnout and was remembering some of the initiatives that I was involved in up north around neighbourhood development for crime prevention and both are areas that apply here for Vernon to consider.
The city can cut red tape for non-profits, encourage neighborhood gardens as a community initiative (not 'a' community garden but multiple neighbourhood gardens). When I lived up north it was neighbourhood ice rinks the volunteer groups installed each winter with equipment supplied by the city in neighbourhood parks. We don’t always need to create a new organization to make things happen, sometimes it is the small things that make the difference as a supplement to the work that is already happening.
What is one specific change you would make to better support local non-profits, and do you have personal experience (e.g. volunteer, board member, staff, and/or passion for a specific issue) that informs that action? Please include one brief example.
Leadership burnout is a big concern for our non-profits. Both at the board and management levels. They provide a service to our community and work with funding uncertainty on an ongoing basis. Finding experienced board members is getting harder as volunteerism declines. Human Resources is becoming a larger burden for organizations with minimal financial support for filling this void. There is a great program that exists through Community Futures (SharED) that supports professional development for Executive Directors, but much more could be done. There is a need for something similar for board members to increase their effectiveness in their roles. Reducing the red tape when they are trying to put on community events in public spaces. Simplifying processes when dealing with the City and supporting sector resources to reduce burnout is so important moving forward to reduce the loss of knowledge-able leadership in our community.
Should the municipality continue to secure and provide land for affordable housing projects? Why or why not? If yes, how would you handle any neighbourhood concerns brought forward to Council?
https://okvillage.ca/programs/the-village-at-okanagan-landing is a great example of low income housing. The definitions have changed for who needs this type of accommodation and communication needs to improve to address it. Fear is a powerful emotion and these types of projects can feel like an encroachment on people’s personal space and they need to be heard. I think if we are waiting for the public to come to a council meeting then we are too late already, discussion should have happened earlier to educate and inform. We need our neighbourhoods buying the bigger vision and we need to better at engaging with them.
Cultural
Vernon does not have a dedicated public art policy to guide how public art is selected, funded, maintained, or removed, while regional cultural direction sits with the RDNO through the Greater Vernon Cultural Plan. Do you support developing a public art policy for Vernon, and how would you coordinate the City's role with the Plan?
I would suggest that the City of Vernon create an internal policy that leaves Public Art with the rest of Arts & Culture at the Greater Vernon level. Currently we have a Greater Vernon Cultural Plan that sits with Greater Vernon Advisory Committee level and is funded by the partnering jurisdictions that contribute to that service. GVAC also has a Public Art Policy and a Cultural Plan Implementation Team who exists to help facilitate the plan. When the service reviews took place in 2011-13 for Recreation and Parks, Culture was not reviewed leaving some unfinished business on the table. One of the items which has caused ongoing issues to the sector is how to deal with Public Art now that Culture was to remain a service of GVAC. Vernon used to have a policy and an active committee, but because the structure and responsibility of Culture changed, this has never been fully addressed at the Vernon level. Projects stall or die because they require Public Art Projects to go through Vernon’s sign by-law, a policy never designed to deal with this type of issue. This needs to be cleaned up and clarified so we can save unnecessary tax dollars and this sector can truly thrive.
With more than 75 arts and culture groups active in the region, how would you work to remove barriers and strengthen City partnerships so that public spaces and facilities are accessible and equipped for community programming and gatherings?
As I mentioned in the previous question, more collaboration is needed between services at the Vernon level and those that sit with GVAC. Although Culture isn’t a direct service of the City of Vernon, changes to fee structures for public parks and facilities directly impact the viability of Arts and Culture to function within the community. Culture is a service Vernon pays into through its participation in GVAC. There needs to be a more coordinated effort to ensure decisions being made at one level aren’t inadvertently creating an affordability issues resulting in less overall programming for our communities.
It’s exciting to imagine the new opportunities that will come with the new cultural centre, which is located in the heart of Vernon, but as with the previous issue, that means Vernon working closer with the Cultural Plan Implementation Team to ensure city policy has the wider context in mind when implementing policy impacting services they contribute to at the higher level. The structure is in place, similar to the Tourism Commission, but the Cultural Implementation Advisory Committee and the City need to improve the two-way communication to be effective.
Arts and culture help shape who we are as a community. As Vernon continues to grow, how do you see our identity changing, and what kinds of arts and culture initiatives would you support to strengthen that future?
Vernon enjoys its historical roots and that should be embraced, but as we continue to grow, we need to make room for other stories to be told as well. From an economic development point of view, the attraction of businesses to the area with higher paying jobs relies on making room for innovation, and contemplation of new perspectives and ideas. The construction of the new Cultural Facility will be an opportunity for the community to really thrive through arts and culture.
Fixing the public art issue is a given, and needs to be done asap. From there the opportunities are so plentiful for making Vernon a truly vibrant community rich in history, innovation and not only natural but artistic beauty for all to enjoy!
Artists make up as much as 12% of the North Okanagan population and the sector generates over $126 million in direct economic activity and $46 million in GDP, how will you strengthen the role arts and culture play in our local economy, tourism, and community wellbeing?
Working on some of the foundational items I discussed above, we can increase capacity for our artists and organizations by creating a more efficient process for them when working with the City of Vernon and GVAC. In my current position I am working with the Arts Council of the North Okanagan and the Vernon Community Arts Centre as they restructure their organizations to help facilitate the growth of both organizations. Assisting with this foundational piece with other committed community members means that the two organizations will be in a better position to strengthen their roles within our community thus contributing to the overall strength of output from that sector to our economy, tourism, and community wellbeing. In my role as a Councillor, I will be a strong advocate for the sector at multiple levels of government and a vocal champion of the benefits it provides to our overall community wellbeing. I will ensure that Arts and Culture are considered when we are discussing
Economic
The business tax base is critical to the provision of services at the municipal level. How would you support business retention and expansion in the City of Vernon?
Businesses deserve consideration and consistency, not only do we have a confusing structure with GVAC and the City, but the red tape is stagnating and frustrating for our businesses. Addressing our core affordability issues in housing and food; beyond recreation we need to invest in a well rounded community so that new businesses want to come here and provide those higher paying jobs; when businesses are being impacted by new policies, they need to be a part of the solution discussion as often they are the ones financially impacted by the decisions that are made.
We need a healthy business environment to succeed as a community, so a more inclusive and collaborative approach to envisioning our future is important.
Finding employees has consistently been identified as a top challenge by Vernon businesses in the City of Vernon Business Walks surveys. How should the City support businesses in meeting their workforce needs?
Housing matters.
Affordability matters.
Recreation matters.
Transportation matters.
Healthcare matters.
Culture matters.
Quality of life matters and wanting to create a vibrant community people actually want to choose to live in matters.
When we get this all aligned perhaps our youth will decide to stay and attraction young families will be a real, viable option. We have a lot of work to do, let's get busy.
What role does the City have with supporting growth-oriented sectors like manufacturing and agricultural processing?
The City can work with zoning, getting out of the way of business so they can succeed. Taking on a broader regional approach that recognizes Vernon's limited capacity of land. While some businesses may be outside of Vernon's tax base, Vernon still benefits through employees who work in the larger manufacturing and agricultural processing sectors.
Considering the recent water and fire crisis, how should the City assist businesses to become more resilient to future risk?
Breaking down the silos to better understand the current risks. Now is the time to bring our diverse groups together to problem solve. It is so important that we bring the business community together when planning around climate action initiatives. These are not easy topics to consider in this manner, but it is necessary. Businesses are struggling on so many fronts, they need to be a part of the broader conversation early on. A shared vision for a future, with these climate crisis issues. Diversity of ideas in close proximity brings forth creative, innovative solutions. The City can help facilitate this type of coordinated effort.
Health
As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to attract and retain medical professionals in Vernon?
There are some positive steps being taken to address this through the Community Future’s ‘Workforce Housing Project’ designed to provide housing for residencies taking place at our hospital. We can’t be satisfied however to rely on other levels of government and outside organizations when other municipalities are being proactive in their recruitment process. There is an interesting article (https://futureofgood.co/five-unique-ways-canadian-communities-are-finding-local-doctors/) that speaks to some of the unique tactics that municipalities are using in an effort to stand out as a more attractive location for doctors to reside and conduct business. This needs to be a comprehensive community effort. A piecemeal approach is just not going to provide a sustainable product long term. The City must take a leadership role in helping to lead this process ensuring all parties are at the table to work together in making Vernon the best proposition for consideration by current and future doctors and medical professionals. It is about having a plan that is comprehensive in nature and considers new innovative ideas but also the more long-term difficult issues of affordability and housing.
If elected, what specific actions would you take within the authority of your municipal office to improve access to in-person mental health supports and services in our community, and how would you work with other levels of government to strengthen support for those services?
I am a big supporter of the Foundry which is being developed in Vernon through Vernon's Canadian Mental Health Association. Shortly after moving to Vernon I became a young widow and single mother of two teen boys, while also losing another family member who played a big role in my boys lives. Though teachers tried to assist me with getting mental health support for my boys and we tried to get the family support we needed, there was little to offer. The teachers’ apologized for not being able to find the support they assumed should be there. Bringing multiple service providers together under one roof to support our vulnerable youth is long overdue and I will work with the Province to advocate for our local project as a mother who wished it was available when my boys needed it most.
Social Planning Council is a great example of the City working to coordinate a bigger impact for our community through our social service related non-profits. There are public spaces that could be made available for special purpose opportunities around mental health, reducing red tape for our hard working non-profits is vital.
How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies are accessible, and support the physical and mental health needs of our population?
While a lot of planning work has been done, the public is not always aware especially those directly impacted. I would strive for inclusion of our most impacted when the city completes assessments of how well they are doing in the implementation of the initiatives they are working on. Impacted groups are often included during planning phases, but get forgotten when the reporting is documented. To get a true picture of how well the City is doing, we need to hear first hand how well the initiatives are working and how much more work still needs to be done. Regular communication to those organizations and other public officials to enable better sharing of resources all assist in helping to support the health needs of our community.
What would you do to support the physical and mental health of members of our community against the effects of climate change, especially those who are most vulnerable?
This needs to be a collaborative approach as I have spoken about previously. This includes housing, healthcare, climate action, food security, etc, it is a far reaching topic and pulling together groups is not an easy approach but if we recognize the need to plan beyond the single issue it becomes the way we do business. Some services are municipal and other provincial in nature, but by working together in a fashion like the Social Planning Council, creative projects can happen for our community to address this concern.
