The Mayor's Podcast

Rather than throw kitchen waste into the garbage, Summerland residents are being asked to put food scraps in with their yard waste. By diverting organic waste from the landfill, the District is able to reduce methane emissions, control the cost of processing garbage, and produce a high quality organic compost suitable for local farms and gardens. Mayor Doug Holmes is joined by Cameron Baughen, environmental services coordinator for the District of Summerland, to explain the changes to the curbside collection program.

The provincial government has introduced new legislation and regulations to address housing affordability and supply that will significantly impact the way municipalities plan and develop their communities. Mayor Doug Holmes is joined by Brad Dollevoet, Director of Development Services for the District of Summerland, to dig into the changes.

After eight years of planning and project management, the District of Summerland has opened the first utility-scale solar power and battery storage facility in the Okanagan. Joining Mayor Doug Holmes to shed light on the project is Jeremy Storvold, Director of Utilities.

In the lead up to a referendum on a new multi-purpose recreation centre, Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Jenny Kunka, President of Orca Swim Club, and Jean Munro, an occupational therapist and Executive Director of the RECOPE program. They discuss the state of the current Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre and the benefits of their programming to the community.

The District of Summerland is trialing a compressed four-day work week at Municipal Hall as a way to both improve service to the public and retain municipal staff.  Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Graham Statt, Chief Administrative Officer for the District of Summerland, to discuss the oft misunderstood connection between customer service and staff retention. 

Mayor Doug Holmes and Joe Mitchell, Director of Works and Infrastructure for the District of Summerland, discuss the new Integrated Roads and Water Master Plan that prioritizes the road and water capital projects to be completed over the next 20 years.

Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Erin Sparks, Senior Transit Planner for BC Transit, to discuss a one-year pilot to provide free bus fare for Summerland residents. They also talk about plans to further develop public transit in Summerland, including the potential for a local bus service within the community.

Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Deputy Mayor Erin Trainer to discuss Summerland Council’s strategic priorities for 2022 – 2026, which were adopted on Jan. 23, 2023. The long list of priorities aims to protect and enhance core infrastructure and essential services, provide good governance, provide an adaptable and affordable community, and enhance people’s quality of life.

As Summerland residents prepare to go to the polls in a referendum to decide if they want a new multi-purpose recreation centre, Mayor Doug Holmes is joined by Lori Mullin, Director of Community Services for the District of Summerland, to wade through the details of the proposal.

Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Kevin Holder, Summerland’s Deputy Fire Chief for Prevention and Emergency Management. With wildfire season upon us, they discuss various aspects of emergency management and local government’s role in responding to disasters and supporting members of the community through challenging times. They also talk about what residents can do to be prepared for an emergency.

Mayor Doug Holmes sits down with Kellie Garcia, Director of Policy and Planning at the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), to talk about protecting the Trout Creek watershed, which is the source of almost all of Summerland’s drinking water. There are many risks and a lot of competing interests in the watershed, and the challenge is to establish a common understanding that everyone shares a responsibility in protecting our source water.