Okanagan Echo Civic Series: Susan Ames
Okanagan Echo asked all 11 women running for council the same four questions about why they’re running, the priorities they would bring to City Hall, the experience they offer and what they want residents to know before voting.
Kelowna voters will head to the polls on October 17, 2026, to elect a mayor and eight city councillors. The official field includes 37 candidates for council, including the 11 women featured here. Advance voting begins October 7.
Susan Ames is an environmental consultant and community advocate with more than 30 years of professional experience. Her background includes resource management, soil science and biology, along with neighbourhood and environmental advocacy in Kelowna. She is one of 37 candidates running for the city’s eight council seats in the 2026 municipal election.
Here are Susan Ames' responses.
OE: What made you decide to run for Kelowna City Council in 2026?
SA: I decided to run for Kelowna City Council because the city is facing so many challenges that are being glossed over in the current growth/development frenzy. This is putting our environment and livability at risk and we can’t afford that. It is time to change direction at the council level to make Kelowna a better city for the citizens.
How do we do this? We need to slow down our growth. Our growth should be managed to preserve our quality of life.
We need a council that will also listen to the public. Who will be fiscally careful. This will increase affordability across the city.
We need a council that values the environment…environmental degradation is costly.
We need a council that will ask hardquestions and be comfortable with more “modern’ approaches such as putting a dollar value on the services the environment provides.
OE: What are the three issues you believe should be priorities for the next council?
SA:
Protection of greenspace, trees, and agricultural land.
Our agricultural land is critical for our present and future food security. We need to
preserve our parkland and greenspace for the environmental and social benefits.
Our greenspace provides for natural services that should be given an economic value and included in the city budget.
Reduction of Congestion through Better Public Transportation/Support for the
Community
Greater public transportation will reduce congestion and the need for excessive road building, which is hard on the environment. Kelowna is operating with an annual surplus of $229 million (December 2025) and can afford to provide seniors and youth free public transportation.
Public Safety/ Homelessness
Setting property taxes to inflation will make housing more affordable and maintaining existing affordable housing stock will support affordability. People with a mental illness need to be looked after through institutional care. Drug dealers need to be taken off the
streets and their victims need treatment.
OE: What experience or perspective would you bring to council?
SA: I have 30 years experience as an environmental consultant starting in agriculture and then moving into mine closure and reclamation planning and costing. In this capacity, I carried out numerous impact analyses, wrote and reviewed technical reports, and developed long range plans. I have a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Studies with a focus on climate change, an MSc in Soil Science, and a BSc in Biology.
I have volunteered for the community and for my professional organization.
I was the president of the Kelowna South-Central Association of Neighbourhoods for four years and the President of the Abbott Street heritage society for the last two years.
In these capacities, I have reviewed the 2040 official Community plan, the zoning
bylaws and regulations, various projects, the recent provincial housing mandates, and I have presented at numerous public hearings. I know how the council and city work.
OE: What is one thing you want Kelowna residents to understand about you before they cast their ballots?
SA: I can bring a unique set of skills to the council table through my technical and scientific background. Because of my intricate community participation, I relate to the public and have a deep understanding of the zoning regulations and OCP. We need a council that listens to the public’s concerns so we can have a more livable and sustainable community.
Explore the full Civic Series This interview is part of Okanagan Echo’s 2026 Civic Series featuring the women running for Kelowna City Council. Visit the main series page to read the profiles and responses from all 11 candidates.
Okanagan Echo thanks all participating candidates for sharing their time and perspectives with residents.
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