Kelowna city councillor Loyal Wooldridge will be on hand for a North Okanagan Labour Council event Sunday to help prospective council candidates learn the ropes.

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If the enthusiasm for a special municipal election “visioning” event coming to Kelowna bears fruit, the idea could be expanded throughout the region.

The North Okanagan Labour Council is hosting the Okanagan’s first “Community Visioning Conference” on Sunday.

“We haven’t done in this in the Okanagan but it’s very common in Vancouver,” labour council vice-president Kelly Hutchinson told iNFOnews.ca. “It’s very effective. Our labour council represents a wider region and, if it’s popular, we can put it on in other cities as well.”

It’s already attracted about 45 interested participants, including some former council candidates.

The main focus of the 90-minute event will be the “visioning” exercise.

Participants will be randomly assigned tables and asked to come up with “green” and “red” items they feel should be dealt with by the next council, which will be elected Oct. 15.

“Each table will come up with two or three green items, which are basically things they want to see on the next council, and two or three red items, which are things they don’t want to see on the next council or they want to see less of,” Hutchinson said.

Participants will vote on the items to come up with key recommendations.

“A lot of people may have, on their minds, things that may not necessarily be on the city’s control, lockdowns and whatnot,” Hutchinson said. “Part of the exercise is getting people grounded to what the city can actually do and what they can’t do.”

For those interested in running for council there will be information on what’s needed when running for office, how to get involved in political action and a package will be provided on seeking endorsements from the labour council.

READ MORE: Thinking of running for city council this fall? Time is not on your side

Kelowna Coun. Loyal Wooldridge will be on hand to answer questions on the electoral process and the role of council. He was the only new councillor elected in 2018 and is now chair of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.

While 45 people have put their names on the attendance list so far, Hutchinson expects that will translate into 60 attending. The room, at the Parkinson Recreation Centre, seats 100 but the forum will work best with 50 to 60 participants.

There’s no deadline to register but pre-registration is encouraged by going to the labour council website, here.

It runs from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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