kelownaelections.ca

Crystal Dougan

Candidate for Councillor

Background

Crystal Dougan is the owner of Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop, a downtown Kelowna restaurant she has operated for 15 years. No prior Kelowna campaign-finance disclosure is on file (2014–2022).

Before opening the Little Hobo, Dougan worked as a social worker with Arc Programs, supporting high-risk youth and families across the Okanagan.

The Little Hobo, co-owned with Stephen MacDonald, has been ranked number one in Kelowna on TripAdvisor for more than a decade and is located at 596 Leon Ave. Dougan rotates through more than 300 different homemade soups throughout the year.

Dougan serves on the executive board of the Downtown Kelowna Association as Secretary. The Little Hobo provides food services for Meals on Wheels and the KGH Foundation.

Her official filing with CivicInfo BC lists no previous elected office and no electoral organization.

2026 Campaign

Dougan announced her candidacy on September 13, 2026. Her campaign pitch: "I'll work hard, I'll show up and I'll care. I'll ask questions, do my homework and work with others. And when a tough decision has to be made, I'll be willing to make it."

She identified her issue set as: "Housing, affordability, public safety, homelessness, transportation and the health of our local economy all affect one another."

Her platform is organized under the slogan "Listen. Care. Act." around five commitments: (1) A Kelowna People Can Afford to Call Home, (2) Safer Streets, (3) Local Business, (4) Responsible Growth, and (5) A City Hall That Listens. She describes her approach as "compassion with accountability, practical solutions, and decisions that put people and community first."

Her Facebook campaign page describes the candidacy as: "Small business owner, former social worker & community advocate. 25 years serving Kelowna. Compassion with accountability. I'll listen to understand—and act."

No dedicated campaign website exists; her official filing lists the Little Hobo business site (thelittlehobo.ca) and a Facebook page as her online presence.

In an undated ForChange Kelowna candidate questionnaire, Dougan elaborated on her five commitments. On homelessness, mental health and addiction, she called for closer collaboration between the City, health providers, housing organizations, law enforcement and community agencies, and for advocating to the Province for treatment centres, mental-health services and supportive housing. On housing, she supported "thoughtful" development with timely and predictable approvals that do not compromise proper review. On small business, she called for early communication with businesses affected by City projects and simplifying City processes.

At the second Castanet election forum (Revelry Kelowna, September 24, 2026), Dougan gave the current council a "strong B." On public safety, she said not all disorder or homelessness incidents require police and that money could be saved by relying more on bylaw and community partners such as the Downtown Kelowna Association and Uptown Rutland. On housing, she called for incentives aimed at affordable entry-level homes with small footprints rather than only rental housing, saying she frequently hears residents worry they will never afford a home unless their parents die.

Social media: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CrystalDouganforCityCouncil; Instagram @crystalinktown (https://www.instagram.com/crystalinktown).

Questionnaire responses

Did not respond to the Kelowna Elections questionnaire (deadline October 2, 2026).

Registered campaign links

From the official candidate registration record; presence here is not an endorsement.

Financial agent: Self

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