In October 2018, Loyal Wooldridge secured the eighth and final seat on Kelowna city council with 11,634 votes in the local election.

He was the only new councillor to earn a seat, taking the spot of Tracy Gray who had departed for federal politics, and also became the city’s first openly gay councillor.

Now, four years later, he has officially launched his bid to be re-elected to council in the form of EnCOURAGE Kelowna 2022.

He calls it a re-election campaign focused on four pillars and community priorities, which are safety, housing, transportation and the environment.

Wooldridge said he’s been incredibly proud to advocate for the people of Kelowna, there’s more work to do and issues to tackle that require continued focus and dedication.

“We’ve made progress and extensive plans to address community concerns that have been neglected and underfunded for decades,” he explained.

“The complex challenges our community face are very much outside of municipal mandates and that demands the experience and willingness to challenge the status quo and advocate for our community."

Photo Credit: EnCOURAGE Kelowna 2022

Wooldridge said EnCOURAGE Kelowna 2022 puts people at the core of his re-election platform and outlines important decisions on the horizon that will require strong and progressive leadership.

“I've heard from people that they don’t feel safe. I've heard from businesses that they are frustrated. Life has become more unaffordable. Natural disasters have become annual events,” he said.

“The times ahead will demand brave decisions and clear direction to focus on results. Most importantly, this election needs to draw attention to increased efforts the City should make to address housing, transportation and environmental issues.”

The four pillars outlined in his platform are ones that Wooldridge believes should guide decision-making policies in Kelowna.

Photo Credit: EnCOURAGE Kelowna 2022

“Over the past four years, I’ve not been afraid to ruffle feathers to passionately move our community forward. I’ve championed a community plan that focused on urban areas while advocating for the preservation of Kelowna’s environment,” added Wooldridge. 

“And, I’ve proudly supported efforts to overcome social challenges that engages the provincial government along with supporting local police partners in our shared call for increased mental health services to support people in crisis.”

The first-time councillor noted that it’s been a “tremendous honour” to serve Kelowna over the past four years and that he’s just getting started.

To learn more about the EnCOURAGE Kelowna 2022 campaign, click this link.