Submitted questionnaire

Laura Thurnheer

General Manager BC Wine Authority; Business Owner Swiss Skid Steer Solutions & Turn Here Solutions

This is the candidate’s public questionnaire. It is not a ForChange recommendation. Committee recommendations will be published after the review is complete.

01 · Why are you running for Kelowna City Council?

I am running for Kelowna City Council because I believe this is an important moment for our community, and I believe my experience, perspective, and commitment to Kelowna can make a meaningful contribution.
I am a lifelong Kelowna resident. This is the community where I grew up, where my husband and I raised our two children, where we built our business, and where I have spent decades contributing my time and experience to organizations that help make Kelowna a strong community.
I have watched Kelowna change from a small town into the thriving city it is today. That growth has created tremendous opportunities, but it has also brought challenges around housing, transportation, affordability, infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life.
I am running because I believe the decisions we make now will have consequences well beyond the next election cycle. They will influence what kind of city Kelowna becomes and what opportunities will be available to the people who live here in the future. For me, this campaign is not about politics. It is about community leadership.
02 · Issue #1: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

The first major issue facing Kelowna is Managed Growth. Kelowna is growing, and growth brings both opportunity and responsibility. I have watched this community grow from a smaller city into a thriving and increasingly complex urban center.
Growth can create housing opportunities, support businesses, strengthen our economy, and provide new possibilities for families and future generations. But if growth gets ahead of infrastructure, transportation, services, and community planning, it can also place pressure on affordability and quality of life.
I do not believe the answer is simply to stop growth. Nor do I believe growth should happen without sufficient planning. I would look at existing long-term plans, consult with citizens and take input from the staff. I would review best practices from other parts of Canada and work collectively to make the best decisions.
03 · Issue #2: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

The second major issue facing Kelowna is Crime and Safety. Residents should feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods, businesses, public spaces, and downtown. Businesses should have confidence that their employees, customers, and property are protected. At the same time, we need to recognize that some of the challenges associated with homelessness, mental health, addiction, and vulnerability are complex social issues that cannot be addressed through enforcement alone.
My approach is therefore one of safe and inclusive communities. It calls for expanded support for police, fire, and bylaw services, protection of citizen and business rights, and compassionate support for people experiencing homelessness.
As a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime and Safety we put forth 10 recommendations that should be continued to be worked on at both the local, provincial and national level.
04 · Issue #3: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

The third major issue is Fiscal Responsibility. Growth creates opportunities, but it also creates demands on infrastructure, transportation, services, recreation, and public safety. At the same time, residents expect value for their tax dollars. My platform therefore identifies effective cost management and recognizable value for the tax dollar as priorities. It also calls for investing resources where they will have the greatest community impact and for expanding revenues beyond taxes. For me, fiscal responsibility does not mean simply spending less. It means making sure public money is spent deliberately and where it can achieve the greatest benefit. Sometimes responsible financial management means saying no. Sometimes, it means making an investment now because delaying it will cost more later. And sometimes it means looking for a different way to deliver a service or generate revenue.
05 · What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?

I bring to the role of Councillor more than 30 years of experience across business, education, governance, strategic planning, human resources, and community service. I believe this combination is particularly relevant to Kelowna at this point in its development because the challenges facing our community are complex and interconnected.
My career has consistently involved helping people and organizations navigate change, make decisions, solve problems, develop people, and prepare for the future. I describe this as practical leadership backed by proven experience.
I am also a lifelong Kelowna resident. This is not simply a community where I have worked. It is home. I grew up here, raised my family here, built a business here, and have spent decades volunteering here.
My business experience has taught me the importance of accountability, adaptability, and long-term planning. I spent 20 years in post-secondary education and am a co-owner of Swiss Skid Steer Solutions, a family business that has operated in the greater Kelowna area for more than 18 years. I also currently serve as General Manager of the BC Wine Authority, supporting its staff, board, and membership.
06 · How will you approach council decisions when priorities compete for limited resources?

One of the most important responsibilities of Council is deciding how to use limited resources. There will never be enough money, staff time, infrastructure capacity, or political attention to do everything at once. Residents will have different priorities, and Council will have to make choices. It is to make them thoughtfully, transparently, and with a clear understanding of the community's long-term interests. My approach would begin with listening and truly understanding the issue.
Before making a decision, I would want to understand who is affected, what the evidence tells us, what the problem actually is, and what outcomes we are trying to achieve.
That incorporates my decision-making approach of listening, collaboration, informed decisions, and keeping people at the center. When resources are limited, I believe Councillors should begin by asking:
What are we trying to accomplish?
What is the evidence and alternatives?
What is the best way to achieve the outcome?
What are the long-term implications?
What are the immediate needs vs. the future needs?
What is the community saying?
Can we measure results?
This is how I will approach decision making with multiple priorities.
07 · How do you work with people who see an issue differently than you?

I believe working with people who see an issue differently is one of the most important parts of leadership. In fact, much of my career has been spent doing exactly that.
I have worked in business, education, governance, and community organizations. I have worked with faculty and administrators, employers and employees, business leaders and non-profit leaders, students and community partners, and volunteers.
These groups do not always agree. The goal of leadership is not to eliminate disagreement. The goal is to make disagreement productive.
My approach would be to:
Listen first
Understand the concern
Ask questions
Separate people from the issues
Look for common ground
Consider the evidence
Be willing to change my mind
Make the decision based on the broader community interest and once the decision is made, work collaboratively to move forward.
That approach is consistent with how I have worked throughout my career. I have spent more than 30 years helping organizations navigate change, solve complex problems, and bring people together. I have strong opinions but often through listening and respecting other's point of view I have changed my position. I consider this a strength.
08 · What else should voters know about you?

I would want voters to know that, above all else, Kelowna is home to me. I am a lifelong Kelowna resident. This is where I grew up, where my husband and I raised our two children, where we built our business, developed lifelong friendships, and invested both time and energy into our community.
My decision to run for City Council is therefore deeply personal. I am not looking at Kelowna simply as a municipality or as a collection of policies. I see it as the community that has shaped my life.
That gives me a strong personal interest in getting the big decisions right.
One thing I would want voters to know is that I have not arrived at this decision suddenly. I have spent years building my experience in leadership, business, education, governance, and community service. My career has required me to lead people, manage complexity, work with boards, oversee budgets, develop programs, resolve conflict, make difficult decisions, and help organizations navigate change.
That experience is why I believe I am ready to contribute to City Council now. That is the experience I would bring to City Hall.

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