On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the OCCA Communities Association hosted a Federal Election Vote Pop-Up and Town Hall Meeting at the Kelowna Downtown Library. The event welcomed approximately 80-100 community members throughout the afternoon, providing a valuable opportunity for residents to hear directly from confirmed federal election candidates and engage in meaningful discussions on key regional and national issues.
The event featured candidates from both the Kelowna and Okanagan Lake West–South Kelowna ridings. The candidates that attended included:
*Stephen Fuhr – Liberal Party of Canada (Kelowna)
*Tracy Gray – Conservative Party of Canada (Kelowna)
*Trevor McAleese – New Democratic Party (Kelowna)
*Harpreet Badohal – New Democratic Party (Okanagan Lake West–South Kelowna)
*Gary Suddard – Canadian Future Party (Okanagan Lake West–South Kelowna)
All registered candidates in both ridings were invited to attend. The event was non-partisan and free to the public, with a strong focus on ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. OCCA designed the event to reach a broad cross-section of the community, including first-time voters, newcomers, seniors, and individuals from multicultural and historically marginalized backgrounds.
To further support civic participation, OCCA also distributed a Federal Election Voting Toolkit during the event. The toolkit provides step-by-step guidance for first-time voters and includes educational material about Canada’s democratic system and the voting process.
Building on the success of OCCA’s 2024 Provincial Election Vote Pop-Up and Town Hall, this federal edition reinforced the organization’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement, informed decision-making, and community-driven dialogue.
The strong turnout and active participation—despite being held during regular working hours— highlighted the importance of accessible spaces where residents can connect directly with candidates and play an informed role in the democratic process. OCCA acknowledges that many community members were unable to attend due to work obligations and will continue outreach efforts in the coming days to ensure everyone stays informed and feels empowered to vote.
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and supporters for making this event possible (in alphabetical order):
Event Sponsors:
*Democratic Engagement Exchange – Voting information slides
*Elections Canada – Voting toolkit
*Okanagan Regional Library – Downtown Kelowna Branch – Venue and equipment support
Community Partners and Supporters:
Africa Ubuntu Association Okanagan (AUA)
Africans in Okanagan
Age-Link Society
BIBAK Okanagan Cultural Society
Diyar Common Matters Society
Dragon Spirit Tai Chi Association
Evangel Church
InterWoven Human Potential
Kelowna Folkfest
Kelowna Japanese Language Society (KJLS)
Latin Voices Society
Okanagan Filipino-Canadian Society (OFC)
Okanagan Korean Culture and Knowledge Society (OKCK)
Okanagan Sikh Temple
Purppl
Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre
Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB)
The Chinese Freemasons of Kelowna
WeBC
About OCCA Communities Association:
The OCCA Communities Association is a registered charity and non-profit umbrella organization serving multicultural communities across the Central Okanagan, including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, and Lake Country, with our region spanning nearly 100 kilometers from Peachland to Vernon. We offer services to everyone, and our virtual programs reach rural areas across the Okanagan, committing to fostering an inclusive, vibrant, and equitable society where immigrants, refugees, and equity-deserving groups can thrive and meaningfully contribute to building a sustainable community.
Community leaders and federal candidates at OCCA’s 2025 Vote Pop-up and Election Town Hall Photo Credit: Keligraphic Studios
Group Photo with Participating Candidates (open to audience members who wish to join) at the OCCA Town Hall Meeting Photo Credit: Yuan An
Participant holds Federal Election toolkit as candidates prepare to answer presubmitted questions. Photo Credit: Yuan An
Photo Credit: Yuan An
Photo Credit: Keligraphic Studios
Photo Credit: Keligraphic Studios
Photo Credit: Keligraphic Studios
Photo Credit: Keligraphic Studios
What Matters to Me notes by participants Photo Credit: OCCA
We respectfully acknowledge that the OCCA is operating on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
Please note that we will have a photographer on site during the events. If you prefer not to be featured in any photographs, kindly contact OCCA at info@occabc.ca.
