Meet
Tom Dyas.
A builder and problem-solver
Tom has always believed strong communities are built by people who step forward.
Since moving to Kelowna in 1995, he has raised his family, built a local business and contributed to organizations across the community.
Tom coached local soccer, served with Kelowna Minor Hockey and contributed to the boards of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Okanagan College and the Child Advocacy Centre. He later served as President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and chaired the 2020 Memorial Cup Host Committee.
Those experiences shaped his approach to leadership: show up, bring people together and get the work done.
Kelowna is where Tom chose to build his life. It is also why he chose to serve.
Why Tom Ran:
By 2022, Tom believed City Hall had lost focus on the basic issues residents experienced every day.
Roads and infrastructure were not keeping pace with growth. Housing approvals moved too slowly. Public-safety concerns were increasing. Residents wanted stronger financial accountability and a clearer plan for the future.
Tom ran for Mayor to bring a practical business approach to City Hall.
He promised to set clear priorities, strengthen accountability and focus municipal resources on the services and infrastructure Kelowna needed most.
Getting City Hall Back to Basics
As Mayor, Tom has focused on public safety, housing, infrastructure and value for taxpayers.
During this Council term, Kelowna added 33 RCMP officers, 17 Bylaw Enforcement Officers and 18 firefighters. Housing approvals were accelerated. Major transportation projects moved forward. New recreation facilities entered construction and planning.
Council also introduced service-based budgeting, increased internal audits from one each year to four and expanded financial reporting from annually to quarterly.
The approach is straightforward: focus on the basics, measure progress and ensure residents can see what their tax dollars are delivering.
The Work Continues:
Tom knows Kelowna still faces serious challenges.
Residents remain concerned about public safety, affordability, homelessness, traffic and whether services are keeping pace with growth. Progress has been made, but residents need to feel more of that progress in their daily lives.
Tom is running for re-election to build on what is working, improve what is not and finish the work that has begun.
He believes this is not the time to stop investing or start over.
It is time to keep building a safer, stronger and more prosperous Kelowna—for all of us.