kelownaelections.ca

Julia Fraser

Candidate for Councillor

Background

Julia Fraser is a four-term elected school trustee for Central Okanagan Public Schools (SD23), a 30-year business-to-business sales professional, and a first-time Kelowna council candidate (prior SD-23 trustee filing).

Fraser was first elected as an SD23 school trustee approximately 15 years ago. She was most recently re-elected in 2022 with 13,599 votes (16.91% by votes, 39.02% by ballots), one of four winners from nine candidates.

In November 2024, Fraser was elected Chair of the SD23 Board of Education at its annual general meeting. She has previously served as Vice-Chair and is the current Chair of the Finance & Planning Committee, as well as a BCPSEA and IEC Board Representative. She also serves as BCSTA Thompson-Okanagan Branch Resolutions Committee Chair.

Her prior trustee roles include 8 years as Health Promoting Schools Committee Board Representative, 3 years as District Human Rights Committee Board Representative, Past President of PAC, and 6 years on the West Kelowna Minor Hockey Association Executive as Director of Hockey Divisions.

Fraser's professional career spans 30 years in B2B sales, including 15 years as Regional Sales Manager for a locally owned and operated hotel chain, travelling the region to promote hotels and encourage business and leisure travel to Kelowna.

Fraser identifies with she/her pronouns.

2026 Campaign

Fraser announced her run for Kelowna City Council on August 23, 2026, and the candidacy was reported on September 1, 2026. Her campaign slogan is "Strong Leadership for Kelowna," with the tagline: "Leadership starts with listening, collaboration, and putting community first."

Her platform identifies six priorities: (1) Responsible Growth, (2) Housing That Works, (3) Transportation & Infrastructure, (4) Safe & Healthy Neighbourhoods, (5) Financial Responsibility, and (6) Protecting Quality of Life.

Fraser stated: "I believe in service to my community. I have a proven record of preparing thoroughly, asking difficult questions, listening to different perspectives, managing public resources responsibly and advocating for our community." She added: "After 15 years of stewardship of our community's students and families, I am ready to bring that experience to City Hall."

In a 2022 school trustee Q&A, Fraser affirmed support for SOGI 123, stating the board had "unanimously voted and supported providing teachers the necessary resources to help their students in the classroom with unexpected questions that may arise."

In an undated ForChange Kelowna candidate questionnaire, Fraser elaborated on her six priorities. As SD23's Finance & Planning Chair, she said she recently helped guide the school board from a projected $4.2 million shortfall to a balanced budget (her statement). She also described herself as a cancer survivor who speaks at the annual student-led Relay for Life.

At the third Castanet election forum (Revelry Kelowna, October 1, 2026), Fraser said she oversees a budget of roughly $400 million as SD23's Finance and Planning Chair, and cited motions she has written that gained the support of all 60 B.C. school boards, calling for additional child-care funding, equitable internet connectivity, clean-energy funding, and funds for deferred maintenance. She described a June motion to align the high-school timetable with city bus schedules that she said is projected to save about $500,000 this year while cutting the carbon-tax footprint. She said the district ran 14 public consultations for its recent strategic plan and argued city council ought to do more outreach across Kelowna's different neighbourhoods. Pointing to a Statistics Canada report, she cited a 9.3% unemployment rate in July and a 37% year-over-year drop in CMHC housing starts in 2025. On homelessness, she advocated prevention first, highlighting the SD23 "Gateway" program begun in 2011 as a partnership with Okanagan College that she said could be replicated for adults. The budget, savings, unemployment and housing-start figures are as stated by Fraser and have not been independently verified.

Campaign site: https://juliafraser.com Social media: X/Twitter @FraserCrew (https://x.com/FraserCrew); Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FraserCrew; Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DccbZtOpjtD.

Questionnaire responses

Answers to the standardized Kelowna Elections questionnaire, sent in identical form to every councillor candidate. Published verbatim; received 2026-09-25.

1. Housing affordability

Kelowna needs more housing that local workers, young people, seniors and families can actually afford. I support faster approvals, more housing where infrastructure and services already exist, partnerships for non-market and affordable rental housing, and using public land strategically. I am open to appropriate density and height and reviewing parking requirements where transit supports it, but I would not reduce development charges without ensuring there is another way to pay for the infrastructure growth requires.

2. Public safety

Public safety requires both enforcement and prevention. Kelowna’s 2026 budget added frontline RCMP, fire and bylaw positions through the public-safety levy, but policing alone cannot address mental illness, addiction and homelessness. I support appropriate enforcement of laws and bylaws alongside stronger partnerships with health authorities and senior governments for treatment, mental-health care, supportive housing and early intervention.

3. Homelessness & the supervised consumption site

I believe homelessness and addiction require a balanced approach: prevention, treatment, housing and appropriate enforcement, with provincial health authorities responsible for delivering health and addiction services. Interior Health currently provides supervised consumption services at Outreach Urban Health, along with primary care, mental-health/substance-use supports and harm-reduction services. Before the 2027 decision, I would want evidence on outcomes, neighbourhood impacts and public safety, and I would advocate strongly for more treatment and recovery options so supervised consumption is not treated as the end point of care.

4. Taxes & budget

The City’s $1.05-billion 2026 budget includes a 4.37% property-tax increase, although property taxes fund about 20% of the overall budget and nearly half is directed to capital projects. I believe property-tax increases should be kept as close to inflation as reasonably possible, with every department expected to demonstrate value and identify efficiencies before asking residents for more. I would protect core services, public safety and essential infrastructure while scrutinizing discretionary spending, duplication and long-term operating costs.

5. Growth & infrastructure funding

Growth needs to contribute its fair share toward the infrastructure it creates, using development cost charges and developer contributions alongside grants, reserves and strategic partnerships with senior governments. Kelowna’s proposed 2027–2036 capital plan contains approximately $2.9 billion in investment, illustrating the scale of the challenge. My highest transportation infrastructure priority is advancing the Clement Avenue/Crosstown Connector because Kelowna needs greater east-west network capacity and alternatives to relying so heavily on Highway 97.

6. Transit & getting around

My priority would be a balanced transportation network rather than choosing roads, transit or active transportation in isolation. We need more frequent and reliable transit on major corridors, strategic road connections that reduce bottlenecks, and safe walking and cycling infrastructure that gives people realistic alternatives to driving. As Kelowna grows, providing more transportation choices is essential to moving more people without simply adding more vehicles to already congested corridors.

7. Downtown & the local economy

A successful downtown needs to feel safe, clean and welcoming while supporting the businesses, restaurants, cultural organizations and tourism operators that bring people there. I support visible policing and bylaw presence where needed, cleanliness and public-realm improvements, while working with senior governments and community partners to address homelessness, mental health and addiction rather than downloading those responsibilities onto businesses. A vibrant downtown also requires events, arts and culture, tourism, housing and strong partnerships with the Downtown Kelowna Association and local businesses.

Registered campaign links

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

Financial agent: Self

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