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Council and mayor candidates square off in Vernon

On Wednesday, Vernon mayoral and council candidates gathered at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre for a forum hosted by the Sustainable Environment Network Society to discuss climate and transit policies.
Incumbent councillor Kelly Fehr, who works at Turning Points Collaborative Society, detailed the city's progress on its climate action plan, including natural asset inventories and building retrofits to reduce Vernon's footprint.
Addressing transit gaps, council candidate Robert Cook noted a friend drives his son to college due to service shortages, while candidate Dawn Tucker urged revitalizing the "oversubscribed" Trees for Tomorrow program following Kelowna's model.
Mayoral candidate Kari Gares noted challenges with going "100 per cent electrified," while candidate Wayne Carson argued wildfire structural protection is critical and Councillor Akbal Mund pointed to California's solar mandates as a building code model.
Candidate Barry Dorval praised youth-led initiatives, including free bus passes for youth 13 to 18 effective Oct. 1, while candidate Diana Wilson expressed excitement about a potential UBC climate engagement centre to foster community solutions.

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