Submitted questionnaire

Indy Dhial

Small Business Owner - TGP Kids Childcare

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

1. 01 · Why are you running for Kelowna City Council?

   Kelowna is at a turning point, and it's time for leaders who understand what the next four years demand. As a small business owner, I understand what it takes to keep our doors open each day — dealing with property crime, navigating municipal and provincial systems, balancing a budget, and competing in a challenging market. As a community advocate and leader, my work is focused on keeping our community safe while giving young people positive direction through education, exercise, and social well-being. Over the last four years, I've listened to the needs of those around me and learned firsthand the challenges facing residents and business owners. The decisions ahead will need people who understand our Official Community Plan, know how to plan for real economic growth, and can weigh not just the term ahead but for the years after — because the choices we make today will bear fruit long after our term has ended.

2. 02 · Issue #1: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Addiction, crime and homelessness affect communities across B.C., and Kelowna lacks the infrastructure to respond effectively. I will advocate for a simplified intake system connecting people to resources when they need them. The City can bring key partners together, identify a location and advocate for provincial support.

   Since 2023, Kelowna has added 33 RCMP members, while bylaw staffing has grown from 17 officers in 2017 to 42—yet many residents still do not feel safer. We must review policies so Bylaw, the URBA Ambassador Program and Downtown On-Call can better support police. Sheltering near schools, parks, transit stops and businesses must be addressed, while supportive-housing locations must consider local communities. Safety spending should reflect seasonal pressures. The mental health and safety of our community matter, and solutions must begin by listening to everyone affected

3. 03 · Issue #2: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Kelowna will continue to attract new residents, but growth is placing pressure on our roads, water, power and transit systems. The decisions made today must account for a much larger population. Council must guide density toward transportation corridors, protect setbacks for future road widening and ensure infrastructure can support new development. We should also review Development Cost Charges where they unnecessarily increase the cost of affordable housing.

   Reports of power constraints, project delays and low water levels show why capacity must be considered before approvals—not afterward. Location and building type matter, but so do their effects on power, water, roads and transit.

   Kelowna’s future requires a balanced mix of attainable single-family homes, townhouses and apartments for renters and owners—giving residents the opportunity to build not only a home, but a community.

4. 04 · Issue #3: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Kelowna’s high cost of living, combined with a 9.3% unemployment rate representing more than 13,100 people, is putting families under pressure. People want to work, and Council must help attract jobs that allow residents to build careers, support their families and enjoy the community they call home.

   Kelowna’s departure from the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission gives the City an opportunity to tailor economic development to our specific needs. By attracting growth in aerospace, digital technology, software and agricultural technology—and supporting it through consistent zoning, investment attraction and infrastructure planning—we can create well-paying, career-oriented jobs.

   Clear goals and measurable results will help retain graduates, attract skilled workers and make Kelowna a place where careers are built.

5. 05 · What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?

   What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?
   I am the owner/ operator of a licensed childcare business located in the heart of Rutland with two locations today and growing. Prior to my leap into entrepreneurship, I was the Regional Sales Manager at Shaw Cable managing the Okanagan, Thompson Fraser River and Northern BC areas. Together, these two roles have given me real, tested experience in budgeting, provincial and municipal regulatory requirements, permitting and city processes and business development.
   But my commitment to this community goes well beyond my career. I currently serve as:

   • President, OKGN Sports and Cultural Society
   • Director, Uptown Rutland Business Association
   • Director, Kelowna Men's Soccer League
   • Director, Rutland Youth Soccer Association
   • Director, ECEBC Regulatory Board
   • Member, Kelowna Civic and Community Awards Steering Committee
   • Volunteer, Project Literacy
   • Mentor, ECEBC Community Support

   I have supported fire-relief efforts, coached youth sports and built community partnerships. I will bring that same commitment to showing up, working together and delivering results to Council.

6. 06 · How will you approach council decisions when priorities compete for limited resources?

   By taking a measured approach, gathering all available options, seeking the opinion of experts and stakeholders closest to the issue while weighing in on all the angles before deciding. Ultimately, we must decide if the decision is fiscally responsible, how it will affect those involved and whether we are being transparent with how we got there. I’ll make the difficult decisions by staying grounded in evidence and focused on choices that will have a positive impact for all corners of our city today and into the future.

7. 07 · How do you work with people who see an issue differently than you?

   That’s what makes a council work - each of us comes from a different background and expertise and listening to each other’s ideas is the most important part of our role since we represent different parts of our community. I am flexible, willing to listen, able to adjust my thought process based on the evidence in front of me and willing to walk into a conversation without having already decided the outcome. I’ll form my own opinion, but hearing every perspective first is allows us to understand the whole picture.

8. 08 · What else should voters know about you?

   In many ways, Kelowna raised me and helped shape the person I am today—a husband, father, entrepreneur, business owner, coach and advocate for our youth. This is where my family has built its life, where I have grown my businesses and where I have had the privilege of serving alongside people committed to making our community stronger.

   Running for Council is my opportunity to give back to a city that has given me so much. I want future generations to have the same opportunity to build a career, raise a family, own a home and feel connected to their community.

   Kelowna needs leaders who will listen, show up and put their experience to work for residents. I am prepared to bring my business experience, community relationships and record of service to the Council table—leading with honesty, integrity and common sense while helping shape a stronger, safer and more affordable Kelowna.

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