Lake Country’s mayor makes history as new RDCO chair

May 23, 2024 | 12:45 PM

The Regional District of Central Okanagan has a new leader.

Blair Ireland was acclaimed as the chair of the regional board until November 2024 at a meeting held Thursday.

Ireland is the mayor of Lake Country and has served on the regional board since 2021.

“I am honoured by the vote of confidence from the members of the board to serve as the new Chair,” Ireland said. “Together this term, we have already achieved significant milestones. I look forward to building upon our successes and continuing our collaborative efforts to advance our strategic priorities and serve the needs of our community.”

Ireland is the first chair from the District of Lake Country and the second chair in the board’s history since 1967 to come from a community outside of the City of Kelowna. Andy Duncan, director of Electoral Area H (now part of West Kelowna), was the chair from 1973 to 1974.

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Ireland takes over from Loyal Wooldridge, who was board chair since November 2021. The election was required following Wooldridge’s announcement on April 25 that he would be stepping down from the role of chair as he runs for the NDP in this October’s B.C. election.

Kevin Kraft remains the vice-chair. Kraft is the director for Electoral Area East and has served on the board since 2022. He was elected as the vice-chair in November 2023.

Thursday’s meeting was also the first Regional Board meeting with new municipal appointees including, Rick de Jong from West Kelowna, and Luke Stack, Maxine Dehart, and Rick Webber from Kelowna.

The 13-member regional board meets monthly and manages fiscal and policy issues as part of local governance for the Central Okanagan. Appointed and elected members represent the four municipalities, two electoral areas of the Regional District, and a non-voting member for the Westbank First Nation Chief and Council.

The board provides direction to RDCO staff in delivering more than 70 programs and services on behalf of the Central Okanagan’s 235,000 people.

by Pete McIntyre

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