Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas

(CONTRIBUTED / iNFOnews.ca)

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas will lead a new 13-member Community Task Force on Crime Reduction the leans heavily on business leaders.

The list of names was posted on the City of Kelowna website May 31, and will go to city council for ratification next Monday, June 5.

It lists people as “subject matter experts” and representatives of community organizations but at least seven of the 13 members are from the business community, including Mayor Dyas who is the former chair of Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

The seven members from the business community include Karen Beaubier, executive director of the Uptown Rutland Business Association; Mark Burley, executive director of Downtown Kelowna and Dan Price, chair of Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. Laura Thurnheer is listed as a member at large but is the Associate Dean of the Okanagan School of Business at Okanagan College. Ken Doige is a security risk manager.

Councillor Ron Cannan is the only other city council member on the committee. He comes from a strong business background.

Jeff Meyers, listed as a subject matter expert.

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On the social services side are Carmen Rempel, executive director of Kelowna Gospel Mission, Micki Ruth, a board member with the John Howard Society and Ali Butler who is listed as the Indigenous representative but is also a social planner.

Darren Caul, the City of Kelowna’s community safety director, is the only city staff member on the committee and retired BC Provincial Court Judge Jane Cartwright represents the legal community.

“The Task Force will be in place for a 12-month term, with the ability to extend, and will provide recommendations to council on community-driven initiatives to reduce crime in Kelowna,” the report said.

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