Kelowna Talks

In the spring of 2017, creeks and rivers and Okanagan Lake all spilled their banks during the worst flooding to hit the region in decades. The City has done a lot to manage spring freshet since then but as temperatures climb and snow melts, it’s a good time to think about flood preparedness. In this episode of Kelowna Talks, Bob is joined by Rod MacLean, our utility planning manager, to talk about freshet, floods and what we learned from 2017.

Kelowna has many beautiful public spaces but did you know there’s a 50-acre park in the middle of the city? Amazing things are happening at Kelowna’s Memorial Park Cemetery. Above ground. And six-feet under. In this episode of Kelowna Talks, Bob is joined by Cemetery Manager, Tracey Hillis, to talk about movie nights, the bird watching, hiking and cycling opportunities, and 22,000+ interments.

HACKED! Join Bob this week alongside Jazz Pabla, our Information Services Director, to discuss cyber security and how we are protecting citizens’ data. The City of Kelowna is one of the leading municipalities in Canada when it comes to technology . From cyber security to website chatbots to lessening in-person visits to City Hall, Kelowna is on track to become a ‘City of the future’. 

How does the City protect my information? How is it adapting to enhance the online experience for its citizens? Is a virtual City Hall in the future?

This week Bob is joined by James Moore, our Long Range Policy Planning Manager, to talk housing, and more specifically, infill housing. With the benchmark price of a detached home at $1 million, the affordability of housing is a hot topic in the city right now. The most recent BC Assessment notices show that home prices increased by 30 per cent last year. Not to mention, Kelowna is expecting to see 40,000 people move here over the next 20 years. Are we at a housing crisis or crossroads? What is the City doing to ensure that housing is accessible to all? Neighbourhoods are evolving and more change is coming.  

If you live in Kelowna, chances are you noticed that we’ve had an extraordinary snowfall this winter. In this episode of Kelowna Talks, Bob is joined by Public Works Manager, Geert Bos, to talk about “all that snow,” how the City managed it and why a winter cycling strategy is being considered. 

This week, Bob is joined by Airport Director Sam Samaddar to discuss the past, present and future happenings at Kelowna International Airport. Sam is passionate about aviation in all aspects of his life—from becoming an air cadet as a child to obtaining a private pilot license by the time he was 18 and now as Kelowna’s Airport Director. Operating an airport during a pandemic hasn’t been easy but Sam is keen on the future of Kelowna International Airport. 

Listen to the full episode to find out how YLW pivoted during COVID-19, what the airport means for Kelowna and what it may look like in 2045. 

This week, Bob is joined by Kelowna RCMP superintendent Kara Triance to discuss community safety. Originally from Kelowna, Supt. Triance has more than 20 years of policing experience under her belt. From covert operations to big city policing, Supt. Triance brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our city. 

How is the city adjusting policing to meet the growth of Kelowna? How does healthcare impact crime in our city? Why does policing cost so much? Efforts are on to bridge the gap between crime, the justice system and health care. 

Listen to this episode to learn more about the actions that the city is taking to make Kelowna a safer place to live. 

In this episode, Bob is joined by Matt Worona to talk about the actions that the City is taking to encourage people to use other modes of transportation than just their cars. How will we get around in the future? The City of Kelowna has big plans to introduce more transportation options throughout the city. Matt Worona is Kelowna’s New Mobility Specialist and he walks listeners through what that might look like.

In this episode, learn more about scooters, e-bikes, public transit, bike lanes and why they matter. 

This week, Bob is joined by champion of the environment, Chris Ray, to discuss the City of Kelowna’s climate initiatives. His role is centred around the recognition and importance of climate action and environmental protection as a council priority. Annually, Chris reviews the city’s climate initiatives and reports to council on additional actions that should be taken to minimize the city’s impact on the environment. 

This week, Bob is joined by Ryan Smith to discuss the Official Community Plan for the City of Kelowna. As the divisional director of planning and development services for the city, Ryan knows the plan for Kelowna’s future better than anyone. In this episode, Bob and Ryan discuss everything from housing and skyscrapers to traffic and road development.