RDNO Area C’s new Director looking to address water supply issues

Oct 20, 2026 | 1:36 PM

A newcomer in local politics is looking to tackle the water supply issue in the North Okanagan.

Rachel Enns was elected to serve as Director of the North Okanagan Regional District Area C (BX/Silver Star) in the municipal election.

Enns received 524 votes (66.3 per cent), beating out incumbent and two-term former Director Amanda Shatzko, who received 266 votes.

“I was very pleased with the result,” the RDNO Director-Elect told Vernon Matters.

“My win was with a significant margin, so to me that communicates that the community here gave me a decisive mandate. They liked what I was bringing to the table and they got behind me.”

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Enns has not served in office before and said she will be learning the ins and outs of the RDNO when in office.

“I know there will be quite a bit of a learning curve in terms of what the role entails and parameters and procedures and all of that, but I’m up for that challenge” Enns said, before going on to outline what she hopes to do in office.

“I’m looking forward to being able to provide opportunities for the residents here to have more input into the decisions that go on at the RDNO, and also looking at ways for the RDNO to be more user-friendly in terms of residents wanting to find out information or to learn about certain things.

“Then I’ve got some big goals for this area and one of them has to do with out water supply and looking at ways we can secure that and possibly increase it. It’s going to take some creative problem solving, but I think I’m up for that challenge.” Enns did not explain exactly what she hoped to do to strengthen the water supply, saying only she already had meetings with other RDNO Directors, staff and others scheduled to discuss the water issues and what projects were already underway or being considered.

Building off that focus, Enns said she’d also like to be involved in the Greater Vernon Water Committee once established in office.

“One of the main things I was running on was to deal with water solutions, so [Greater Vernon Water] would be one area I would put my name forward for sure,” the Director-Elect stated.

Enns added she hopes she and the other Directors can bring about some positive changes to the RDNO over the coming term.

Results of the 2026 local general election were preliminary as of time of publication.

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by Liam Verster

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