Candidates questioned at Enderby forum
Published 5:47 pm Thursday, September 24, 2026
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One’s vision of Enderby’s future is the status quo. One says times are constantly changing. The other wants to hear from the community.
Among the pre-submitted questions from the community to Enderby mayoral candidates Roxanne Davyduke, David Ramey, and Huck Galbraith at an all-candidates forum Wednesday, Sept. 23, was the candidates’ long-term vision for the community, and how will they work with residents, businesses, and partners to make that vision a reality.
“My long-term vision for Enderby is for Enderby to stay as it is,” said Ramey, who has been a sitting councillor in the city the past four years. “Enderby has a beautiful, small-city character that people love. I tell people that I’m from here and everyone’s like, ‘I love Enderby.’ They love our downtown, they’re crazy with the new pool, there’s so much about Enderby that needs to not change.”
At the same time, said Ramey, the city needs to continue working on its infrastructure.
“Every single time we’re talking about taxes, I’m the guy that’s saying we should round it up,” he said. “I know, no one wants to hear round it up, but if you knew what our infrastructure deficit was, how much we have to fix, it would keep you awake at night. And that’s where that extra money goes, so that we get our streets built, we get our infrastructure done. And that’s what needs to happen. We need to keep building Enderby up so that it’s a modern city, but retains the charm that it has right now.”
Three-term councillor Davyduke is looking to take the next step in her municipal career by seeking to become mayor. For Davyduke, her vision of her city is to understand what the community needs now, tomorrow, and in the future, as that, she said, is something that will be constantly changing.
“We have to take a look at that on an ongoing basis to really understand, and as councillor Ramey mentioned, we need to take a look at where we’re at right now,” said Davyduke. “We have a beautiful community. We have great resources. We have great recreation. We have great volunteers. So how can we celebrate that and continue to change that, and grow that, and appreciate that?
“To me, it’s about having a vision that not only considers what we have today, but well into the future and work with our community partners to see success, not only here, but in our neighbouring partners Area F and Splatsin.”
Galbraith is finishing off his first term as Enderby mayor. The future of his city, said Galbraith, is the directive from the community.
“I’d like to host more town hall and coffee (meetings) with mayor and council,” he said. “Get some feedback from the folks, what their vision is also. It’s not just what we think up here or myself. Infrastructure is big, so balancing growth of business, as well as protecting our small-town community feel that we have, which is, I think one of the key key parts of Enderby, is critical.
“And just keep the momentum going forward. There’s still many great things that are in the works that are coming up.”
The forum – hosted by the Enderby Chamber of Commerce – drew a near capacity crowd to the Enderby and District Seniors Complex.
Those in attendance got to hear the three mayoral candidates, two declared candidates for Regional District of North Okanagan Electoral Area F Rural Enderby, and the eight candidates for city council answer pre-submitted questions read by moderator Jackie Pearase.
The mayoral trio also received questions on integrating diversity and benefits with its Splatsin neighbours; what qualities make them the right person to be chosen as mayor; and what infrastructure investment is urgently needed.
A question that could have been asked to mayor and council candidates led off the three queries posed to Area F candidates, Lori Heins and incumbent Alyssa Hopkins.
How do you make rural Enderby safe from the imminent danger wildfires?
“We have a lot of really smart capable boots-on-the-ground people in all of the Area F communities that already have implemented many programs to protect their own communities,” said Heins. “Volunteer people who have equipment and the skill set to prepare properties, and to work on being first responders for the fires.
“I want to see all of the communities get together and help each other out, whether it’s with listings of who has equipment, listing the skill set volunteers, and all of us get together and create a universal programme so that we can all look out for ourselves, first and foremost. And utilizing the FireSmart and BC Wildfire programs that are available.”
Said Hopkins: “There is obviously a lot of steps we can do to help FireSmart our area. There have been programs that we’ve been running across Area F to help protect our properties, then remove shrubs, that sort of thing.
“But I think there needs to be a lot more awareness. Unfortunately, some of the uptake and some of these programs haven’t been very well attended. It’s definitely a concern with areas like Mara and Kingfisher that are outside of the fire protection area.
“I think we need to work closer with farmers that have equipment and utilities, and local people that have stuff to help support wildfire dangers as well. We obviously take command from the province, but there’s more work that can be done to improve these communications.”
The duo were also given questions about improving communications on major projects with Area F residents and what is a meaningful change that could be made to improve daily life for residents.
Six council spots are available on Oct. 17. Incumbents Tundra Baird, Shawn Shishido, and Sarah Yerhoff hope to retain their positions. Davyduke and Ramey have given up their seats to run for mayor, and Brian Schreiner is not seeking re-election.
Former councillor and mayor Greg McCune is looking for a return to council. David Lancaster, Gilian Meyer, Lynn Serhan, and Ryan Sheepwash are making their first runs at city council.
Each was given one minute to answer on five questions, including their plans to ensure independent local producers, foresters, and manufacturers can survive and grow in Enderby.
“This is on different levels of government but all we can do is continue advocating for all of the supports for the community, and and try to continue forward,” said Yerhoff.
“And then, unfortunately, people do have to look at other avenues for work, then work with their communities to see what else is out there. We do have other programming that is there for them, like WorkBC and employment services, to see what else they can do and what would fit their skill set, stuff like that.
“It’s also important to know the communities and the businesses, and how you can support them, too, to keep peoples’ jobs going and keep the economic development in Enderby going as well.”
Serhan’s father was a logger in Prince George, and said the forest industry is not as lucrative as it once was.
“Things are being shut down, all the tariffs, mills are closing down,” she said. “It’s sad to see that it’s going that way, but I do believe that people are re-educating and going to other fields, and we have to support people and their choices.
“But I also believe municipal governments are the grass roots level of governance and can lobby the provincial and federal governments for answers and put our questions out to those levels.”
The city opened its new outdoor swimming pool in 2026, to rave reviews. The candidates were asked that aside from the pool, how would the community create more youth-focused facilities and activities.
“To build new facilities, the cost is pretty enormous, so I think the idea is to probably maximize, or least utilize, our existing facilities as best we can,” said Shishido, alluding to shared user agreements between the city and its schools.
“So they have facilities available that we can access…also, I think working with and collaborating with your neighbours, like Area F, and collaborating with other jurisdictions is probably another way to go to try and find more services.”
Said Meyer: “I’d like to see sports teams from the community play in Enderby so that you could limit having to drive children to Vernon and Salmon Arm, something I’ve done this year. Why can’t we have teams that focus on Enderby?
“They may not all be the same sex. They may not be the same age. But, you know, it would be nice to create teams that stay and play in our community. And the youth can be part of fundraising.
“I think that can be quite a fun thing for youth to do themselves. I think forming a group and getting input from each group, then listening to what interests them, would be a good way to go forward.”
Now that a new pit toilet is being installed near the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail in Enderby, candidates were asked if they were in favour of more such facilities.
“We advocated for that washroom to be fully serviced but that would come at a large cost, and the regional partners were not willing to pay for that,” said Baird.
“Downtown washrooms are always a hot topic. The museum has a lovely washroom people can use when it’s open, as well as the library and I think the Legion. But I know it is a hard thing for visitors when you are in town to actually find a facility.”
McCune, owner of Sutherland’s Bakery, has public washrooms available behind his store.
“Those type of amenities are so important,” he said. “The world’s changed a bit to where people are not just jumping on a plane and flying to Mexico. They’re gathering up their family, and if I lived in Kelowna, I’d leave there every week and come to dinner.
“But when they get here, they need those amenities, need those washrooms. As we grow and people will continue to find us and want to be in Enderby, we have to provide what they need.”
The candidates – particularly the rookies – were asked what motivated them to run for council.
“I own a business here in Enderby. I’m the connector,” said Sheepwash. “I want to connect one person to another. I’d love to be that connection not only for you guys but for the City of Enderby, whether it’s connecting with Splatsin or other communities. I feel like I’m so heavily involved in community events and things nobody sees; I’d love to make a difference that somebody can see.”
Over the past two decades, Lancaster has been vice-president of Enderby Funtastic, a chamber of commerce director, volunteer helper with the Enderby Lions Club, volunteer for B.C. River Days, strata board member, past president of the Enderby and District Curling Club, member of the district recreation board and a man who helps clean up the city.
“I know so many people in the community on different levels from being part of all these boards, I felt like it was time for me to step up and see if I can do more,” said Lancaster of his decision to run for local government.