Rachel Enns is running for the RDNO Area C seat in the fall election (Image Credit: Rachel Enns / Facebook)

By Liam Verster

Election 2026

Conservative Party policy advisor running for RDNO Area C Director seat

Sep 15, 2026 | 3:44 PM

A challenger has emerged in the race to fill the seat as Director of RDNO Area C, BX/Silver Star.

Rachel Enns, who has lived in the BX area for over two decades, submitted her paperwork to have her name on the ballot for the fall municipal election.

“I’m your neighbour, and I want to be your voice,” Enns said in a release to Vernon Matters.

“I’ve spent 23 years building a life, raising a family and building a business here in the BX. I care deeply about this community and the people who live here, and I believe I can put my experience to work as a strong and effective representative for Area C.”

Enn’s campaign was focused on four key aspects:

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Attend RDNO meetings in person and be an active and engaged director who is present for meetings where decisions are made that could affect Area C
Speak up for Area C residents by advocating for rural residents and ensuring their concerns and priorities are brought forward
Provide meaningful opportunities for resident input by establishing a clear avenue to communicate with their elected representative
Pursuing solutions to the water shortages by exploring opportunities such as the Gold-Paradise Diversion while working collaboratively with the appropriate governments, agencies and communities

“I am running because I believe local government works best when elected representatives are accessible, accountable and willing to do the work,” Enns stated.

“I will show up. I will listen. I will speak up for Area C, and I will work hard to find practical solutions to the challenges facing our community.”

Enns has not previously served in office but in 2020 she chaired the Policy and Constitution Committee of the North Okanagan Shuswap Conservative Association, where she helped develop policies addressing government accountability and ethics. That included a policy concerning consequences for serious violations of conflict-of-interests, which was adopted at the 2021 National Conservative Policy Convention and incorporated into the federal party’s platform. She also served two terms on the Conservative Party of Canada’s National Policy Committee.

Additionally, Enns is a B.C.-certified teacher with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education, and she and her husband run a local forestry seeding nursery which, over 21 years, has employed hundreds of people and produced approximately 60-million trees for reforestation in B.C.

Amanda Shatzko, the incumbent Area C Director, is also running in the fall election.

Votes will be cast for the RDNO Directors during the local general election October 17.

by Liam Verster

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