Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay candidates

Five candidates have been named in the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay federal riding for the April 28 federal election.

Formerly known as South Okanagan-West Kootenay, the riding has been served by NDP MP Richard Cannings since 2015, who announced he would not be seeking re-election in September 2023. 

The riding spans parts of Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, a large portion of the Okanagan, and several Indigenous reserves. 

Regional Districts of Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary 

In the RDCK, the riding encompasses the following areas: 

• Central Kootenay electoral areas I and J 

• The City of Castlegar 

The majority of the RDKB is included in the riding, with a few exceptions: 

• Electoral Area A 

• Part of Electoral Area B / Lower Columbia Old-Glory (east of the City of Trail and Goodeve Creek is excluded) 

• The City of Trail 

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 

A significant portion of the riding extends into the Okanagan-Similkameen, incorporating: 

• Electoral Areas A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I 

• Part of Electoral Area F, but only the part southeast of Summerland and east of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1 

• City of Penticton 

• Towns of Oliver and Osoyoos 

Several Indigenous reserves, including: 

• Chopaka Indian Reserve No. 7 & 8 

• Lower Similkameen Indian Reserve No. 2 

• Lulu Indian Reserve No. 5 

• Osoyoos Indian Reserve No. 1 

• Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1 

Candidates 

Conservative Party of Canada 

The Conservative Party of Canada has named Helena Konanz as its candidate for the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. 

Konanz has been a City Councillor in Penticton and a board member for the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen for ten years. 

A statement on the party’s website says that, as an elected official, Konanz has advocated for smaller government, cutting red tape, and promoting small business and economic growth. 

She and her husband, Adam, have been married for 35 years and have raised two grown children in Penticton. They have owned and operated multiple small businesses in the Okanagan since then, including Konanz Chiropractic, for 30 years. 

She has an undergraduate degree from UCLA and acquired her master’s degree in 2018 in Urban Studies and Political Science from UBC Okanagan. 

New Democratic Party (NDP) 

Linda Sankey will also be on the April 28 election ballot as the NDP candidate. 

Sankey, who resides in Penticton, was chosen as the NDP nominee in a nomination race held in March. 

Her party says she brings over 30 years of experience working in both government and non-profit sectors, with a particular focus on advocating for marginalized communities. 

Sankey has extensive experience supporting vulnerable populations and advocating for those in need. She has served as the Executive Director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society and as a shop steward with BC Housing. 

She has also previously served as co-chair on the City of Penticton Housing Task Force and on the boards of the BC Brain Injury Association and the Penticton Chamber of Commerce. She has contributed over 20 years of volunteer experience to youth programs and community service. 

Green Party of Canada 

The Green Party has selected Philip Mansfield as its candidate. 

Liberal Party of Canada 

The Liberal Party acclaimed Gloria Morgan as its candidate for the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding on March 31. 

Morgan, a former member of the RCMP and two-term elected Chief of the Splatsin First Nation, is described by her party as an advocate for education who’s known for building bridges across cultures. 

She has a strong resume as a lawyer and has won the BC Reconciliation Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement, and the Lieutenant Governor’s BC Journalism Fellowship. She’s also served on numerous boards, including the Provincial Health Services Authority and the Okanagan College Board. 

Her party believes in her ability to be a strong member of Canada’s Parliament at this time when our sovereignty and economy are under threat from the new US administration. 

People’s Party of Canada (PPC) 

Barry Dewar is the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate for the riding. 

Dewar is deeply rooted in the South Okanagan community and resides in Osoyoos. His party says he brings a legacy of over four decades as a distinguished local businessman. 

His values align closely with the principles of the People’s Party of Canada: individual freedom, personal responsibility, respect, and fairness. 

He believes in meaningful change and is dedicated to working diligently for his constituency. 

With family and friends spread across Penticton, Oliver, Osoyoos, and the broader Boundary and Kootenay regions, the party says he’s well-respected and deeply connected within the community. 

Independent Candidate 

There has yet to be any independent candidates announced for the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding, although the nomination will remain open until April 7. 

The 2025 Canada Federal Election is scheduled for April 28. 

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