New RDNO chair Shirley Fowler (left) and vice-chair Allysa Hopkins. (submitted photo/Teresa Durning Harker/ Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

local government

New leaders for RDNO

Nov 16, 2023 | 3:30 PM

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) board of directors has new leadership.

Shirley Fowler, a councillor for 18 years in Armstrong, is the board’s new chairperson, while Allysa Hopkins, the director for Electoral Area F (rural Enderby) since 2022, is the new vice-chair as decided at the board’s Nov. 15 meeting.

Fowler said she is grateful for the encouragement and support from fellow directors to lead the 14-member regional board.

“I foresee my role as continuing the great work that is already in place – primarily providing an inclusive environment where electoral areas, municipalities and Indigenous communities, all participate in the regional decision making process. As we move forward together, we will need to update our strategic plan but the ultimate priority for me is to provide leadership and representation for all residents,” Fowler told Vernon Matters.

Fowler and Hopkins take over from former chair Kevin Acton, the mayor of Lumby, and former vice-chair, Amanda Shatzko, the director for Area C (BX-Silver Star).

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While continuing with their political duties, Acton is also the BC United candidate for the Vernon-Lumby riding, while Shatzko is one of five people seeking the BC United nomination for the Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream riding.

“And we enter a new era as the regional district moves on. Congratulations and good luck to the new leadership team,” Acton said on social media.