1,000 Conversations: We Reached the Goal in Kelowna
Teresa May's 1,000 Conversations Tour reaches its goal with 1,001 conversations across Kelowna: what residents said about homelessness and recovery, growth and infrastructure, the cost of building, housing for people who live here, and roads.
191 conversations this round. We have officially reached 1,000.
1,001 conversations and counting.
From the BEEM Credit Union grand opening and a Kelowna General Hospital pediatric charity golf tournament, to a Legion breakfast, coffee conversations and visits to local businesses, I continue to learn so much by simply listening.
Across different ages and backgrounds, several themes came through strongly.
What I heard
Homelessness, addiction and public safety remain among the most common concerns. I heard firsthand about the cycle of people entering short-term recovery only to return to the same environment. Many conversations focused on the need for longer-term managed recovery, transition housing, mental-health support, and real pathways back to work and independence.
Growth, housing and infrastructure were front and centre. Residents are questioning whether infrastructure is keeping pace with development, and whether enough of the housing being built is truly attainable for young families and for the people who want to live and work here.
The cost of building came up repeatedly: permits, development cost charges, and especially construction and demolition disposal costs. One builder walked me through what it costs just to dispose of the debris from a single demolition. These are costs the City sets. If we are serious about housing affordability, we have to be willing to look at the costs we control ourselves, while still funding the infrastructure that growth requires.
Housing built for people who live here. Residents told me they watch towers go up and stay half empty, units bought as investments rather than homes. They want to know that what gets approved is housing our families, workers and young people can actually live in.
Community-building ideas. One I particularly liked: bringing back a children’s festival through a collaborative sponsorship model involving multiple local businesses and organizations.
Roads and movement. Traffic, bike-lane design, and the practical movement of commercial vehicles through a growing city.
What 1,000 conversations taught me
Good decisions start with listening. Not every problem has a simple answer, and not every solution belongs to City Hall. But Council can ask tougher questions, examine the costs and consequences of its decisions, and work collaboratively toward practical solutions.
1,000 conversations reached. But I’m not finished listening.
Thank you to every person who stopped to talk, challenged my thinking, shared an experience, or offered an idea. Your voices are helping me better understand the Kelowna we have today, and the Kelowna we want to build together.
Election day is Saturday, October 17. Advance voting runs October 7, 10, 14, 15 and 16. Everything you need is at teresamay.ca/vote.
Teresa