"Give Me a Buzz!"
Vernon's Financial Watchdog. A voice you can count on.
Dawn Tucker 250-549-9615
Born, Raised, and Still Downtown
I’m a proud born-and-raised Vernon resident. I’ve lived in the downtown core for more than 30 years, as part of a multigenerational household, and I’m an educator with School District #22 Vernon. I’ve watched this community grow up around me — old classmates, former students, and now their kids too.
My father owned and operated a brick-and-mortar small business here when I was growing up, and he still runs a home-based business today. Growing up around that, I learned first-hand what it takes to keep a local business running. I understand the pressure this economy puts on families, seniors on fixed incomes, downtown business owners, and young people wondering if they can afford to stay — because I’m living it alongside you.
Since 2017
I've attended almost every Vernon city council meeting — not just budget meetings, all of them. That's a level of consistency few residents, or candidates, can claim.
Vernon's Financial Watchdog
Since 2017 I’ve shown up to council meetings — not as a councillor, not as staff, but as a resident holding council accountable for every dollar, no matter who was at the table. Here’s the dated record:
December 2022
Castanet named me directly, quoting my warning to residents about cumulative sewer fee increases “at a time when many people are struggling.”
Nov–Dec 2023
Raised concerns about the Cultural Centre’s ballooning cost, pushed for a development-cost-charge review so growth “pays its fair share,” and asked whether Coldstream and RDNO would help fund the Active Living Centre instead of leaving Vernon taxpayers to cover it alone.
2024
My budget concerns helped push council’s proposed tax hike down from 7.85% to 5.49% — real, measurable relief for taxpayers.
December 2024
I was the only Vernon resident who showed up to the city’s budget input session. I raised communication failures, capital projects proceeding without notice, unprotected murals, and downtown parking losses.
November 2025
Publicly pushed back on the Active Living Centre’s operational costs landing on residents.
December 2025
Raised the question of council’s own pay increase, forcing a public debate and vote (council voted down a pay freeze, 6-1). I pointed out council’s pay was set to rise 4.2%, against 2.2% administrative wage growth and 2.4% CPI — a gap I don’t think is defensible while residents absorb rising costs everywhere else. I also questioned the City’s proposed $365,000 website redevelopment (plus $15,000/year for five years) when no major upgrades were planned, asked why the communications department needed a fourth staff position, and opposed further Kin Racetrack Park spending until the next council has a clear resident mandate.
November 2025
At the Official Community Plan hearing, I compared Vernon’s OCP to Kelowna’s, which embeds enforceable heritage protection, public art requirements, and affordable-housing incentives into every development approval. Vernon’s is largely advisory — heritage sites can still be altered, murals stay voluntary, design standards go unenforced. I asked council to close that gap.
2023–present
Raised concerns about residential sewer rates rising to help pay for Okanagan Spring Brewery’s ~$13-million waste digester. Alongside former councillor Barry Beardsell and other residents, I’ve kept pressing — as Castanet reported in 2025, questions about the brewery’s repayment terms went unanswered for years.
…Not Just a Slogan
“Financial watchdog” isn’t a slogan on a sign — it’s a public, dated record you can check yourself. Vernon has a proud tradition of councillors who took that role seriously: Barry Beardsell spent four terms as council’s watchdog and introduced the infrastructure levy that still funds city projects today. Bob Spiers carried it forward for three terms — before he was elected, he was the only resident who’d show up to public budget presentations, poring over the numbers line by line.
I knew both men, if only informally, and respect what they stood for: common sense, a focus on what matters to residents, and a council that treats every dollar like it’s yours — because it is. After being the only resident at the December 2024 budget session, I kept showing up throughout 2025 — the only resident present at Vernon’s budget meetings all year. The exact position Bob Spiers was once in, long before he ran for office.
Asset Management
Everything I push for connects to one idea: asset management. The City already has a formal Organizational Asset Management Plan for roads, water, and sewer — real discipline to fund and maintain what we own instead of letting it deteriorate into an expensive emergency later. I believe that discipline has to extend to our cultural assets too.
O’Keefe Ranch: a warning, not a win
In 2023, council approved a three-phase process for O’Keefe Ranch — a condition assessment, a Heritage Conservation Plan, and a 10-year Capital & Operations Plan — identifying nearly $2.9 million in needed repairs before buildings failed. That’s the right process. But council has since cut the ranch’s annual capital funding from $50,000 to $10,000, denied an $85,000 emergency request, and buildings remain in real disrepair. The City is reportedly in confidential talks to sell the ranch rather than fund the plan it paid for.
A good assessment means nothing without follow-through and funding — and that funding doesn’t all have to come from taxpayers. Heritage sites like O’Keefe Ranch qualify for provincial and federal heritage grants, historical-society partnerships, and dedicated fundraising. I want council pursuing that money before defaulting to “cut the budget or sell it.”
Do the math and Vernon maintains almost twice as much pipe per resident as Kelowna, and more than three times as much as Vancouver — the cost of spreading low-density development across a huge footprint. That’s why the capital budget never lets up. Growing inward is the only way to get ahead of these costs instead of chasing them forever.
Murals: a real asset with no real plan
Our murals bring real economic and tourism value into this community. What I can say for certain: the entire mural maintenance fund holds roughly $49,000 — and that gap has already caused harm. In 2025, the Downtown Vernon Association brought in a different artist to “touch up” murals originally created by Michelle Loughery, without her consent; she halted the work, calling it an unauthorized alteration of her copyrighted work. That’s what happens with no real policy, no committee, and no funded plan.
Sewer infrastructure, O’Keefe Ranch, our downtown murals — my approach is the same: know what we have, assess its condition honestly, and follow through on funding it, because a plan on paper means nothing if council won’t pay for it.
Beyond the Budget:
A Full Track Record of Follow-Through
My advocacy hasn’t been limited to the budget table:
Standing Up for Residents in Crisis
- Crown Villa Mobile Home Park, 2026: When residents faced losing power over unresolved electrical hazards, I wrote to our MLA on behalf of resident Michelle Joly Hallas, advised her directly, and helped at every step. This is what “give me a buzz” means in practice.
- The Watkins family: Faced fines and possible eviction from their own ALR property over living in a fifth wheel. I guided them through council and wrote a letter on their behalf. Their petition drew over 5,400 signatures; in late 2023 council changed its bylaw to allow secondary residences on ALR land and rescinded the fines. Lee and Sondra Watkins thanked me by name when they announced the news.
- A 98-year-old senior, January 2023: Fell at home and waited nearly two hours for an ambulance (Castanet-covered; fire crews arrived first, at about 90 minutes). I advocated directly to our MLA for more ambulance availability — a provincial resourcing failure residents deserve someone willing to name.
Infrastructure, Environment & Public Spaces
- November 2017: Asked council “how about a pool?” — nearly seven years before the Active Living Centre broke ground.
- 2019: My advocacy helped change the City’s bylaw to allow backyard beekeeping — good for hobbyists and for pollinators in our urban ecosystem.
- Tree bylaw: Flagged major gaps directly to council when it was introduced; it still hasn’t come back. A tree bylaw is a vital piece of protecting Vernon’s canopy, climate resilience, and neighbourhood character.
- December 2022: Pushed for multi-use path snow clearing and got a stalled drainage issue at the Okanagan Landing boat launch flagged for resolution.
- Since 2022: Repeatedly raised the winter closure of Lakeshore Park (gates locked all winter, no plowing). Still unresolved years later.
- Off-leash pilot programs: Polson Park’s began in 2019 (as a two-year trial) and Kin Beach’s in 2021 — both still labeled “pilots” years past their end dates, with no permanent decision either way. I’ve asked council more than once for resolution.
- RCMP building: Asked for a status update. The City’s feasibility study confirmed the current 2,655 m² detachment needs to grow to 3,138 m² now and 3,812 m² by 2045, flagging a 20-year, $50.3-million expansion option worth exploring — no funding committed yet. I keep asking so residents learn about a $50-million decision before it’s a surprise, and I want every dollar of provincial/federal infrastructure funding pursued before local taxation.
Democracy, Culture & Everyday Accountability
- Post-2022 election: Wrote our MLA with concrete suggestions to raise voter turnout in future municipal elections.
- Sveva Caetani mural petition: Co-organized 1,659+ signatures and presented it to council, calling for a real Arts & Culture Policy and an independent Public Art and Culture Advisory Committee.
- Great blue herons, 2019/2020: Worked with organizers and wrote to council when a proposed apartment development threatened decades-old nesting grounds on 20th Street. Council voted unanimously to require a protection and mitigation plan before any building permit.
- Luc Girouard cabin: Years of letters about safety, maintenance, and park issues. This year the City finally secured a grant, repainted the cabin, and replaced signage.
- Other letters: The 580 Commonage proposal (keeping Vernon’s urban containment boundary intact); protecting native cactus and the lava-flow feature at Becker Park during pump-track/bike-path construction; early concerns about new recreation fees not working for Vernon taxpayers; compassionate fee relief for a homeowner’s replacement water meter after a house fire; the public washroom on 30th Avenue; and a successful appeal on behalf of the Halina Centre to waive their anniversary rental fees.
- Dozens more resident issues brought to council — from MacKay Reservoir contamination risk affecting Bolter’s Creek, to unsafe winter drainage on Okanagan Landing Road, to the lack of covered downtown bus stops, to RCMP weekend access for record checks.
This isn’t a new interest. It’s more than eight years of homework done in public on your behalf — starting a full year before I ever put my name on a ballot.
Leadership Beyond the Council Gallery
I don’t just show up and ask questions — I build and lead the organizations that hold this community together.
Vernon Pride Society
I currently serve as President, having been part of the founding committee and Grand Marshal of Vernon’s first Pride Parade before stepping into the top leadership role. I proposed and led Vernon Pride’s move to join the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (June 2025), building a real bridge between the 2SLGBTQ+ community and local business. Our February Queer Revue fundraiser raised $6,300 for Pride Week programming. I’ve also written numerous letters on behalf of Vernon Pride — to local organizations, council, and our MLA — because that advocacy happens year-round.
Boards & community forums
I’ve served on the boards of the Vernon Winter Carnival, the Vernon Teachers’ Association, the Vernon Science Centre, and the Vernon Women’s Centre.
I co-admin the Vernon & Area Community Forum (30,500+ members) and created and co-admin the Vernon & Area Political Discussion Forum (2,500+ members), plus several other groups including Vernon Area Fire/Flood Watch, Vintage Vernon, and Mutrie Dog Park.
When it mattered most
During COVID-19 in 2020 and the White Rock Lake wildfire evacuations in 2021, these forums became a genuine coordination hub — organizing information, connecting residents with food, toiletries, and housing, and linking family members outside Vernon with relatives still inside the evacuation zone.
Community fundraising & quiet volunteer work
I’ve organized fundraising for the Schubert Centre (Meals on Wheels and seniors’ programs) — helping raise most of the ~$7,500 needed in 2023 for a replacement dishwasher, and organizing a 2024 drive for replacement cash registers. Parnell’s Appliance donated a new dishwasher to The People Place after I reached out. In December 2023 I donated 54 butter and 54 fresh eggs to the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store for Christmas hampers, and I’ve helped organize GoFundMe and other fundraisers for Vernon families through medical crises and housing emergencies.
On my own time, I’ve cleaned up abandoned homeless encampments — including picking up discarded needles by hand — and paid dump fees myself. On July 25, 2019, I joined the Community Safety Office’s Anti-Tag crew to clean up tagging in Vernon’s alleys. I volunteer and donate to the Towne Theatre, contribute to essentials drives (blankets, water, gloves, hats), and have helped cover the cost of a walker and other medical equipment for seniors who couldn’t afford it.
My connection to seniors’ issues isn’t theoretical: I grew up in a multigenerational household, was primary caregiver for both my paternal grandparents, and helped care for my mother through her experience with Alzheimer’s. I still live multigenerationally, alongside my father.
Arts & performance
I performed in Fiddler on the Roof at the Powerhouse Theatre (2015), This Is Me! at the same theatre (2024), and played the Narrator in a community production of The Grinch at the Performing Arts Centre (November 2024) — Vernon’s arts scene is something I’ve shown up for, for years.
Why I Got Started
My interest in local government started with two moments years apart. In grade 10, I took part in a mock council exercise and spent time with the late Councillor Patrick Nicol, whose genuine commitment left a lasting impression. The day after the 2016 U.S. election, I decided I needed to be part of something bigger — in January 2017 I travelled to Washington, D.C. for the Women’s March, timing the trip around a visit to see my father. I was there on inauguration day and witnessed unrest just blocks away; the march itself, the day after, was everything that wasn’t.
Coming home, my takeaway was simple, and I told the Kelowna Capital News as much: we all need to be involved in politics — school board, city council, regional district, elections — or the people we disagree with are the ones who get elected. That November, I was in the council gallery for the first time, asking a simple question: how about a pool?
A Voice for Your Concerns
Every day, I hear from residents — on the street, in the shops, and through community forums reaching more than 30,000 Vernon and area residents. When someone doesn’t feel heard by City Hall, I follow up, I find answers, and I get back to them. That’s not a slogan; it’s what I already do.
Meeting after meeting, I’ve been the resident in the room raising what neighbours are telling me. I was the only Vernon resident at the December 2024 budget input session — and the only resident present throughout Vernon’s 2025 budget meetings too.
What I'll Fight For
Fiscal accountability
I’ll keep asking hard questions on spending, insist on value for every dollar, and push for transparency on capital projects and shared-cost agreements with neighbouring jurisdictions.
The DCC bylaw rewrite: a process-transparency problem
Vernon is rewriting its entire Development Cost Charge bylaw — the rules deciding whether growth pays its own way over the next 20 years — through council workshops in January, May, and June 2026, with developers at the table throughout. On July 22, 2026, the City posted on Facebook that a “public information session” was happening that same day, 5–6 p.m., with no advance notice and no update to the City’s own events calendar.
I asked publicly why the calendar didn’t reflect the session and whether that was the only public notice being given. The City’s response redirected me to book a private appointment instead — it didn’t answer the question. When another resident pressed further, the City admitted about 90 members of the development community had received a personal invite to that same session. Ninety developers got a personal invite; residents got a same-day Facebook post. I said publicly that it’s too bad only the development community was prioritized, and encouraged the City to post such sessions to its online engagement calendar with real advance notice. Other residents called out the same non-answer. Feedback on the bylaw was only being accepted by email until July 29, 2026.
Housing you can actually afford — at every age
We don’t need to keep sprawling outward — we need real densification and infill housing in our core, with the City working alongside developers and nonprofit housing groups. In Alexis Park, the Province’s small-scale zoning changes are already bringing older homes down and infill housing up — that’s smart growth in action, done close to transit, services, and downtown, following our Official Community Plan.
Missing-middle housing — duplexes, triplexes, small multiplexes, townhomes — belongs in established neighbourhoods within walking distance of local businesses. I’ll push to keep the City’s affordable housing reserve (currently ~$527,500) topped up with uncommitted year-end funds, working alongside BC Housing and CMHC dollars rather than instead of them.
I understand housing from both sides: since 2018, my family has owned and personally managed a small rental fourplex — I handle tenant selection, walkthroughs, and rent myself. We bought it because we saw a gap for well-run, pet-friendly rentals, and we’ve never raised rent on a tenant during their tenancy. I’ve also done advocacy on the BC Residential Tenancy Act, for both tenants and landlords.
A Vernon our young people don’t have to leave
As an educator who’s worked directly with youth, I want a community that works for teens and graduates too — more to actually do here, plus affordability and housing options across every stage of life.
A downtown and community that works for residents
Better winter access to parks, safer infrastructure, more responsive city communication, and real follow-through when residents raise a concern — not just an acknowledgment email.
Protecting Vernon’s murals — and all our public art
Vernon has 27 murals — one of Canada’s largest outdoor public-art collections — yet the entire mural maintenance fund sits at roughly $49,000. That gap had consequences in 2025, when a dispute broke out after the Downtown Vernon Association brought in a different artist to “touch up” Michelle Loughery’s murals without her consent. This city hasn’t had a real Arts & Culture Policy since 2009. I’ll keep pushing for a real policy and an independent advisory committee, so decisions are made properly and we can pursue grant funding instead of relying on general revenue.
Water security, and finishing the job on sewer
I raised this in 2022 and it’s still not fixed. Stormwater management is the number one factor impacting our lake water quality, and City genetic testing has confirmed septic pollution in ditches throughout older neighbourhoods like Okanagan Landing — directly affecting our drinking water source.
Reclaimed water irrigation rates haven’t been raised since 2017, even as residential sewer rates climbed 3% annually for five straight years (a cumulative 20% increase). I want fair terms and real incentives to connect older neighbourhoods to sewer, investment in stormwater and ditch infrastructure, developers and large industrial users held accountable for the costs they create, and reclaimed water fees that reflect actual cost of service — plus active pursuit of federal and provincial clean-water infrastructure funding.
I’ve pushed for years to expand reclaimed water use, and in July 2026 council finally started catching up: amid a historic drought and Stage 3 water restrictions, the City secured provincial approval (July 3, 2026) to expand reclaimed water use — but only temporarily, through September 30, 2028. Council has directed staff to explore expansion for local businesses, calling for heavier advocacy with provincial ministries. I raised this years before it became a drought emergency, and I want to see reclaimed water used on more sports fields, parks, and with agricultural users, as other countries already do. A temporary permission granted during a crisis isn’t the same as the permanent policy Vernon needs.
The environment built into every decision
Vernon’s Climate Action Plan is a good foundation, but it needs to extend beyond City Hall. That starts with finally prioritizing the stalled tree bylaw — directly tied to climate resilience, not just neighbourhood character — continuing to improve the Trees for Tomorrow program, creating grants for resident-driven improvements, and working directly with residents on FireSmart practices and genuine emergency preparedness, building on the block-captain and community-drill approach I’ve already called for.
A community where residents feel safe
RCMP quarterly reports show criminal offences up 4.63% and calls for service up 4.47% in Q3 2025 alone, with drug-related issues topping what residents tell me worries them most, especially after dark. Practical steps, not slogans:
- Design public spaces to feel safer — better lighting, clear sightlines, and activated spaces are proven, low-cost improvements that don’t require more policing.
- Publicize the RCMP’s existing community programs — most residents have never heard of “Coffee With a Cop,” “Folks on Spokes” bike patrol, or the Anti-Tag response team (I joined the Anti-Tag crew myself in July 2019).
- Make crime data accessible — not buried in a quarterly council agenda item.
- Fund policing based on documented need, with senior government dollars pursued first.
- Explore a downtown ambassador program through the Downtown Vernon Association — a friendly, non-police presence supporting residents, visitors, and local businesses, funded through the DVA rather than the city’s operating budget.
Shop local, buy local
I learned this from my grandparents and my father. Living downtown, I shop there myself. Local businesses are the backbone of this community — the sports sponsorships and fundraiser support wouldn’t exist without them. I’ll champion policies that make it easier to shop, eat, and spend here, and for local business owners to survive and grow. That includes taking downtown parking seriously: the Cultural Centre’s parking lot is gone, and the lot next to the Sveva Caetani mural was sold too. Densifying our core with infill housing matters for our local economy as much as our infrastructure costs.
Genuine accessibility and inclusion
I’ve publicly raised accessibility concerns in our newest public buildings — “fully accessible” needs to mean something in practice. This extends to every building, sidewalk, and corner of our community: plow berms trapping residents using mobility placards, scooters, and walkers near curb cuts; multi-use paths not cleared as reliably as roadways despite being priority infrastructure; and under-publicized programs like the City’s free 3-hour accessible parking permit.
It also means genuinely following through on Vernon’s Age- and Dementia-Friendly Community Plan (endorsed by council June 2024, with the Vernon Seniors Action Network, Interior Health, and the Alzheimer Society of BC) — not just endorsing it and moving on. This matters to me personally as a former caregiver for both grandparents and my mother through her experience with Alzheimer’s. I want the plan’s five strategic directions genuinely woven into real council decisions.
A council that answers to residents
I don’t have personal conflicts that would interfere in chambers, and my priority is what this community actually wants — not my own pet projects. My grandmother always told me to leave things better than you found them. That’s what I want for Vernon.
What I'll Actually Do — Day One Commitments
I’ve spent years pointing out where council falls short. Here’s what I’ll bring forward directly, on the record, if elected — a starting point, not a complete list:
- 30+ days’ notice before capital projects begin nearby. After projects at Lakeview Park and near By’s Market started without enough warning, small businesses paid the price — Vernon has already lost Baker’s Dozen and two other independent stores.
- Real accountability for contractors working in our neighbourhoods — proper insurance requirements and a clear recourse process when out-of-town contractors damage infrastructure or leave a mess.
- Dedicated resident time at council meetings and regular “coffee with your councillor” sessions.
- A formal Arts & Culture Policy and independent Public Art and Culture Advisory Committee, plus a real condition assessment and capital plan for public art, funded the same way as O’Keefe Ranch.
- More densification and infill housing done right — building on Alexis Park’s example, guided by the Official Community Plan, in partnership with nonprofit housing groups and private developers.
- A council communication standard, backed by real staffing — public commitments on response times, with dedicated staff in high-volume departments like planning.
- A public annual accounting of shared-cost agreements with Coldstream and RDNO Electoral Areas B and C.
- A real emergency preparedness plan residents know how to use — block captains, building captains, and practice drills, especially for downtown seniors without easy app or computer access — pursuing available provincial and federal emergency-preparedness grants.
- Public input sequenced before a vote, not after, wherever council controls the timing, with consistent, well-run engagement formats.
- A formal recommendation to the DVA to explore a downtown ambassador program — a friendly, non-police presence funded and run through the DVA.
I also intend to push for a resolution on the stalled tree bylaw, a final decision on the off-leash pilot programs at Kin Beach and Polson Park, and to keep working through other items I’ve raised over the years that haven’t gotten a real answer yet.
Why Now
I’ve run twice before, and both times I told you I’d show up and do the work. I did — for years before that, and every year since. The tax relief, the public debate over council’s own pay, the ALC pool, issues fixed after residents raised them at budget meetings — that all happened because residents like you spoke up, and I made sure council heard it. Now I’m asking for the seat at the table, so that work doesn’t depend on me being in the gallery — it’s built into the council itself.
I will listen. I will follow up. And I will always tell you where your money is going.
In the Media
Castanet called me “a longtime council watchdog” in a November 2022 article on sewer fee increases. The Vernon Morning Star described me as “a community-conscious citizen who isn’t afraid to challenge local politicians or question policies.” They weren’t wrong then, and the record since backs it up. See recent posts on My Blog and articles In the News.
Why a Third Run?
I’ve run for council twice before and didn’t win either time. Here’s the honest answer to why I’m running again: in 2018, I was asking Vernon to trust a newcomer with good intentions. Today, I’m asking you to trust someone with a specific, dated, public record you can check yourself — since 2017, I’ve attended almost every council meeting, plus real policy wins and a reputation two different local news outlets have independently described the same way. That record didn’t exist in 2018. It does now — and it’s the reason this campaign is different.
Get Involved
This campaign runs on residents, not special interests.
Volunteer
Door-knocking, lawn signs, or helping at community events. Give me a buzz and I'll find a way to put your time to good use.
Talk to me directly
If there's an issue on your street I don't know about yet, that's exactly what I want to hear.
250 549 9615
You can also help with my campaign by donating cash and I will use these funds to print rack cards, lawn signs, banners, etc.
Can you sponsor & host a sign? Let me know!
You can also print your own window signs – click here to download the PDF
How to donate to Dawn's campaign:
Donations can be sent via e-transfer to donate@buzzdawn.ca or via Paypal
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Find out more about campaign contribution rules as outlined in the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.
Residency Declaration Form
General Voting Day is Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 8am to 8pm
Advance Voting October 7 & 14
Endorsements
Here is my list: Someone who knows this community. Someone who has familiarity with the workings of municipal government. Someone who recognizes the important role that culture and environment play in the quality of life of our City. Someone who has shown their dedication through active participation in community life. Someone who will represent diverse groups in our community both through life experience and advocacy.
Dawn checks all those boxes:
They have lived all their life in Vernon.
Their father was a small business owner in downtown Vernon.
They have attended almost every council and Budget meeting since 2017.
They have flagged the need for a public art policy, including the many murals in our town, as well as the importance of maintaining their quality.
They have moderated two Community Forums on Facebook for several years, maintaining civil and respectful discussion – not an easy thing to do these days!
They are a strong advocate for the 2SLBGTQIA+ community, as an active member and current President of Vernon Pride Society.
Their comments posted on social media after a public hearing on the new Official Community Plan, approved in December 2025, summarize their priorities: "Vernon residents deserved to see their input reflected in the decisions that followed. Council heard us, but they did not listen. Vernon deserves better than policies that say one thing and approvals that do the opposite. We deserve a plan that protects taxpayers, supports transit, reduces wildfire risk, safeguards ecosystems. We will keep pushing for a Vernon that grows responsibly, sustainably, and in line with the values our community clearly expressed.”
Dawn has my vote. I hope they have yours."
Dawn has worked incredibly hard for the people of Vernon for years — long before asking anyone for their vote. She shows up. She attends council meetings, pays attention to what is happening in our city, asks questions, and most importantly, she is accessible. If you reach out to Dawn, she responds.
A few years ago, some good friends of mine found themselves dealing with a difficult situation. Dawn stepped in and fought for them. These weren’t family members or lifelong friends of hers. They were simply people in our community who needed someone in their corner. She treated their problem like it was her own and fought for them like they were family.
That told me a lot about who she is.
I can honestly say Dawn is one of the hardest-working people I know in this community. And what impresses me most is that she has been doing the work without having a seat on council. She does it because she genuinely wants to help people and because she cares deeply about Vernon.
You don’t have to agree with every single position a candidate takes to recognize someone who will work their ass off for the community. I want people on council who will ask tough questions, challenge the status quo, answer to the people who elected them and actually get things done.
If you’re happy with the direction Vernon has been going, then maybe you don’t want change.
But if you’re tired of stagnant leadership, if you think it’s time to shake things up, and if you want to get excited about the future of our community again, I believe Dawn Tucker is an absolute must for Vernon City Council.
She has already proven she’ll show up for Vernon. Now I’d like to see what she can accomplish with a seat at the table."
Connect with our community online:
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Give Me A Buzz!
250 549 9615
Go to www.vernon.ca/voterinfo
to find out how and when you can vote.
General Voting Day is Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 8am to 8pm
Advance Voting October 7 & 14
Authorized by Dawn Tucker, Financial Agent.