Ames for Change
Susan Ames brings over 30 years of expertise as an environmental consultant. Susan has a PhD in Resource Management, a MSc in Soil Science and a BSc in Biology. She has a deep commitment to community advocacy, currently serving as president of the Friends and Residents of the Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area and formerly serving as president of her neighbourhood association. She is an experienced professional in environment and sustainability. Her platform focuses on managed city growth, protected green spaces, preservation of agriculture, and establishing community security. Driven by her passion for environmental sustainability, Susan is ready to bring her knowledge, technical awareness, energy, and in-depth understanding of environmental sustainability to City Council.
Focused on managing growth responsibly by protecting green spaces, expanding public transit, supporting small business safety, enforcing disciplined city spending, and preserving affordable, middle-income housing.
Why I am running for a seat on City Council
Our city is facing so many challenges that are being glossed over in the current growth/development frenzy. This is putting our environment and livability at risk and we can’t afford that. It is time to change direction at the council level to make Kelowna a better city for the citizens.
How do we do this? We need to slow down our growth. Our growth should be managed to preserve our quality of life.
We need a council that will also listen to the public. Who will be fiscally careful. This will increase affordability across the city. We need a council that values the environment…environmental degradation is costly. We need a council that will ask hard questions and be comfortable with more “modern’ approaches such as putting a dollar value on the services the environment provides.
We need a bit of balance on council! That is what I can offer and that is why I am hoping to represent you on council.
My Story
Early Years and Education
I was born in Saskatchewan and spent my early years living in a heritage town in Nova Scotia. My interest in the environment led me to pursue a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Sciences. I recognized soil science is the basis of many environmental areas. My MSc research focused on the reclamation of acid mine wastes. My PhD research answered a different question – the impact of forest,
agricultural, and urban land uses in countering climate change. Balancing my doctorate as a single parent of two required discipline, determination, good money management, and careful organization.
Environmental Consulting
As an agricultural consultant, my work included soil surveys, agricultural assessments, and gravel pit reclamation plans. Deeply committed to British
Columbia’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), I co-founded the ALR Protection and Enhancement Committee. Later, as an international mining consultant, I developed mine closure and reclamation plans worldwide – work that required innovative solutions for difficult problems.
I concluded my professional career co-developing the much-needed International Mine Closure and Reclamation standards.
Community Volunteerism
After retiring to Kelowna, I turned my focus to local service. I served as president of my neighbourhood association and currently I am the president of the Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area Society. In these roles, I have reviewed zoning regulations, spoken at Public Hearings, and contributed to major civic discussions—including the 2040 OCP, UBCO Tower, PRC AAP, Kelowna Springs Golf Course, the Heritage Guidelines, and the recent provincial housing mandates.
Outside of community advocacy, I stay active golfing, skiing, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Throughout my life as a parent, scientist, and community advocate, I have trusted that knowledge, collaboration, and inclusiveness build a better community for everyone.
Platform
1. PROTECT KELOWNA'S GREENSPACE, TREES, AND AGRICULTURAL LAND
Our agricultural land is critical for our present and future food security. We must value it and protect it for our future.
We need to preserve our parkland and greenspace for the environmental and social benefits.
Expanding and strengthening Kelowna’s urban forest along our streets also provides environmental and social benefits. The trees provide cooling, shade, clean our air, and provide for natural groundwater and surface water management. The practice of granting reductions in setbacks should be stopped.
Trees on private property provide a great contribution throughout neighbourhoods and on commercial properties, even along our highways. These all contribute to the ambience and livability of the city.
Kelowna’s tree protection bylaw requires strengthening. Kelowna requires a private property tree protection bylaw.
Our greenspace provides for natural services that should be given an economic value and included in the city budgets.
2. BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & LESS CONGESTION
Support greater public transportation on the roads we have. This will reduce congestion and the “need” for excessive road building (e.g., Burtch, Hollywood, and Clement Road extensions) and road widening (e.g., Harvey Road to 8 lanes instead of maintaining the existing 6 lanes with the allocation of two lanes for public transportation).
We need to look after all demographics in the city. We can provide seniors and youth free public transportation. It will also establish habits for our youth to use public transportation which will be beneficial to our environment now and into the future.
3. SAFETY & THRIVING SMALL BUSINESSES
Safety is a big concern especially in our commercial areas. Increasing police foot patrols in commercial areas will deter crime and provide an atmosphere of safety to our citizens.
Our bylaw officers follow a reactive policy. A change to proactive bylaw enforcement throughout Kelowna will provide more security and livability.
Kelowna attracts tourists, particularly in the summer months. There are many practices that can encourage support of small businesses in commercial areas in other times of the year such as free 2-hour parking in the off-season to encourage more partons to frequent the restaurants and shops.
The city needs to attract businesses that support the economy year around.
4. AFFORDABILITY & RESPONSIBLE SPENDING
If we keep property-tax increases at a reasonable level, such as tied to inflation, this will increase affordability.
The city net annual surpluses have been increasing yearly and as of December 2025, the city had a net annual surplus of $229 million. These surpluses could stay in the hands of the citizens and property owners leading to more affordable residential and commercial rents, the latter supporting small businesses. This leads to a more prosperous community. The city should spend the tax dollars carefully and wisely.
The Development Cost Charges (DCCs) should be revised to be on a square footage basis to encourage the construction of more affordable and sustainable housing, i.e., smaller and more moderate sized homes. Such homes provide more greenspace on residential lots.
The city should spend the taxpayers’ money carefully and wisely. A new process to provide tools to achieve this should be adopted. Questions can be posed: Does the city need this? Is this a reasonable cost for this? Is this what the citizens want?
5. MANAGE GROWTH & BALANCE HOUSING TYPES
Growth should be managed to ensure the livability of Kelowna and consider the impacts on water resources, on sewage and water management and the corresponding infrastructure, as well as the social and environmental impacts of developments.
The city has an excess of new rental buildings resulting in high vacancies incentivized by 10-year tax breaks to developers to provide market rentals. This program needs to be terminated. Such buildings can be constructed as needed.
New construction should fit into the neighbourhoods with considerations of height, density, surface coverage, and the livability of adjacent neighbours. The striking of volunteer Architectural Advisory and Heritage Advisory Committees would be beneficial.
Higher buildings should be constructed as needed and be located farther back from the lake to allow for viewscapes important to the livability of the city.
The city is rapidly losing the existing missing middle properties which provide affordable housing. These need to be maintained.
The city needs to return the protection of the Abbott and Marshall Heritage Conservation Areas and to further protect heritage buildings in the city.
6. ESTABLISH MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES
The city should establish municipal golf courses. These provide green space important for the community, provide city income, attract visitors, and provide an affordable amenity for the people. They also provide environmental benefits.
7. PLAN TO USE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL LAND
The city has 36 to 56 years supply of vacant industrial land. This should be used first before changing any more land to industrial.
Get Involved
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