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.

From 1992 to 2013, Wayne served as Fire Chief for North Westside Fire/Rescue, where he helped build a strong foundation in public safety and emergency response. During that time, he implemented the department’s first medical responder program, expanded wildfire training for department members, and oversaw the design and purchase of two engines, two water tenders, a squad vehicle, and a fire boat. He also led facility improvements, including enlarging Bays 3 and 4, adding office space, living quarters, and an emergency generator at Station 101, and supporting the addition and construction of Station 102 — all within approved budgets and without borrowing.

Over three terms as Electoral Area Director, Wayne has represented Central Okanagan West with a focus on listening to residents and delivering value. He has also served on the Okanagan Regional Library Board and the Okanagan Basin Water Board, bringing a regional perspective to local priorities. Although the governance issue has been delayed under the current Board Chair, Wayne believes meaningful progress can be made with a new Board in the next term.

Wayne believes local government should focus on practical, affordable solutions. During this term, he has worked to develop a structural protection bylaw for the electoral area to support wildfire preparedness. He has also helped establish a short-term rental policy that residents have welcomed, and he continues to support a proposed soil deposit bylaw to ensure construction soil is managed responsibly rather than dumped in rural areas.

Looking ahead, the upcoming official community plans will guide growth and development in the electoral area for the next 15 to 20 years, and Wayne believes those plans must reflect residents’ priorities. He remains opposed to the proposed water project on the North Westside, reported at more than $30 million, because of the financial burden it would place on residents.

At the same time, Wayne supports important upgrades now underway at the waste transfer sites serving the North Westside and Wilson’s Landing–Trader’s Cove areas. These improvements will provide direct, practical benefits to residents and strengthen essential local services.

If re-elected, Wayne will continue to listen, work hard, and make decisions with the community’s best interests in mind. To learn more or get involved, visit waynecarson.ca.