Tom Dyas will fight to save Kelowna Springs

July 26, 2022

KELOWNA — Kelowna Mayoral Candidate Tom Dyas has announced that as Mayor he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from being turned into warehouses.

“Leadership is about making difficult choices, and while we must plan for the growth Kelowna is going through we have to be extremely thoughtful so that we don’t erode the amenities and lifestyles that have led people to call Kelowna home in the first place,” said Kelowna Mayoral Candidate Tom Dyas. “Residents have told me that they expect their next Mayor to fight to save Kelowna Springs, and that’s what I will do.”

Despite City Council supporting the designation of the lands to industrial when passing the OCP 2040, Council and Mayor revisited the topic of Kelowna Springs’ designation specifically on July 25, 2022. At that meeting Council voted 4-3 to revisit the topic again at a future meeting, with Mayor Basran, Coun. Woolridge and Coun. Donn voting against revisiting, and Coun. DeHart, Coun. Singh, Coun. Hodge and Coun. Stack voting to continue the discussion.

“In recent years Kelowna has lost Central Park to Walmart, Fairview to housing, Shadow Ridge eventually to an airport expansion, Michaelbrook on day to baseball fields, and Kelowna Springs now designated for warehouses — the potential cumulative loss of these five courses is significant,” said Dyas. “While significant changes in a growing city have to be expected, it is important that we never lose sight of why people choose to live here in the first place.”