Board gives leader vote of confidence

A Kelowna city councillor will remain as the leader of the Regional District of Central Okanagan board.

Loyal Wooldridge was re-elected to his third year as board chair following a secret ballot vote at today’s RDCO meeting.

Wooldridge said he grateful for the vote of confidence from his peers.

“With the challenges our communities have faced recently, including recovery following the Grouse Complex wildfire and impeding changes in emergency act legislation, as Chair, I will provide steady and consistent leadership for our region,” said Wooldridge. “As a board, we will continue to advance our strategic priorities to deliver an exceptional quality of life for our residents, protect the environment we call home and work collaboratively with the syilx / Okanagan people to tackle the issues that impact us all.”

Wooldridge has served on the regional board since 2018, the same year he was first elected to Kelowna city council.

Kevin Kraft, the electoral area director for Electoral Area East, was elected as vice-chair, succeeding Mayor Gord Milsom who served as vice-chair from 2018 to 2023.

“I want to thank Mayor Milsom for his five-years of decided service and leadership as vice-chair and welcome Director Kraft to the role,” Wooldridge said. “Mayor Milsom has provided exceptional leadership and mentorship to me and our colleagues over the last five years. It has been a privilege to lead alongside him and I am grateful for his continued role with the Board.”

Kraft was elected to the board in 2022 and has been involved in the Electoral Area East community as a past member of the Ellison Fire Department, President of the Ellison Parks and Recreation Society and Director on the Okanagan Sun Board.

“I’m honoured to serve as vice-chair and look forward to working alongside Chair Wooldridge and the board to support our region,” Kraft stated. “As an Electoral Area Director, I hope to bring a new perspective to Board leadership and balance the needs of our rural and urban communities.”

The 13-member regional board meets twice monthly and manages fiscal and policy issues arising as part of local governance for the Central Okanagan. Appointed and elected members represent the four municipalities, two electoral areas of the Regional District and a non-voting member for Westbank First Nation Chief and Council.

The board’s strategic priorities provide direction for RDCO staff in the provision of more than 70 programs and services on behalf of the Central Okanagan’s 235,000 people.