Âé¶čAV City Councillor Loyal Wooldridge is seeking the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) nomination in the new Âé¶čAV-Centre riding.
Wooldridge is a two-time city councillor, community advocate, volunteer, as well as a small business owner.
âAfter six years on council, including as Chair of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, I am ready to bring Âé¶čAVâs voice to the legislature where I can push for âMade In Âé¶čAVâ solutions to the challenges facing our growing community,â said Wooldridge.
Living in the Central Okanagan for 30 years, Wooldridge said he has witnessed how the area has grown and changed. He said he sees opportunities to leverage the Âé¶čAV International Airport, to strengthen tourism and bolster agricultural support to protect farmers, wineries, and orchards.
âÂé¶čAV deserves a voice in government so that people see local solutions in provincial decisions - itâs crucial to have a Âé¶čAV lens focused on results for Âé¶čAV,â adds Wooldridge. âWe need to continue working hard to make more housing available, add more child care options, reduce congestion on the streets, make them safer, and strongly support business.â
During the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire, Wooldridge was the Chair of the Regional District, who worked with the provincial emergency management teams during one of the worst wildfires experienced in two decades. Most recently Wooldridge was nominated as one of â2024 Top 40 under 40â by the Âé¶čAV Chamber and received the Peopleâs Choice for favourite elected official in Âé¶čAV Nowâs âBest of Âé¶čAVâ five years in a row.
This will be the first provincial election with the newly added Âé¶čAV-Centre riding. The revised electoral boundary for the riding includes the majority of Âé¶čAVâs urban areas including downtown/Capri Landmark to suburban areas like McKinley Landing and Glenmore.
The provincial election will be held on or before Oct.19.
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