kelownaelections.ca

Todd Christopher Daniels

Candidate for Councillor

Background

Todd Christopher Daniels is a lifelong Kelowna resident, business owner, former professional snowboarder, with no prior Kelowna campaign-finance disclosure on file (2014–2022). He grew up in Kelowna and attended BCIT (2020–2021).

Before opening his business, Daniels spent over a decade working alone as a fire lookout in the wilderness of British Columbia. He has an extensive background in snowboarding and skateboarding, having been a professional snowboarder.

In June 2024, Daniels opened Gallery Streetwear, an independent streetwear store in downtown Kelowna (588 Bernard Ave). The store won Best of Kelowna Bronze for Best Shoe Store (2026) and Bronze for Best Online Store (2025).

2026 Campaign

Daniels's entry into the council race followed a high-profile public advocacy role after his store was broken into in January 2026 — a rock was thrown through the window, resulting in an estimated $5,000–$7,000 theft. He posted a viral video about the incident, drawing widespread media attention to downtown crime. A Gallery Streetwear employee was also bear-sprayed outside the store "for no reason," and another employee was chased by a knife-wielding man in separate incidents.

The incident drew coverage from Global News, Vernon Matters, KelownaNow, and Rogers TV. In a January 2026 interview, Daniels said: "I've wanted to do this shop for probably 20 (or) 30 years and I put everything into it." On Rogers TV in January 2026, he stated: "I think we need action and results and not a bunch of spinning or politics. I just want to see like sustained action."

Mayor Tom Dyas visited Daniels's shop following the break-in.

Daniels was one of 37 candidates for 8 councillor seats as of the September 11, 2026 nomination list. His campaign website (toddforkelowna.com) describes the candidacy as: "Todd Daniels for Kelowna City Council 2026. The story, the work, the issues and the public record."

In an undated ForChange Kelowna candidate questionnaire, Daniels detailed his positions. He framed his approach around asking, before decisions, "who benefits, who pays, what are the unintended consequences, and what will this look like in 10 or 20 years." On safety, he called for "compassion and accountability," data-driven deployment of policing and bylaw, measurable results from funded programs, and earlier intervention. On growth, he said housing and density must be planned together with roads, water, sewer, transit, parking, and emergency services, and built for the population coming. On small businesses, he called for meaningful advance consultation during major construction and attention to the cumulative impact of taxes, fees, permitting, parking, and public safety.

At the second Castanet election forum (Revelry Kelowna, September 24, 2026), Daniels said he had previously been a Buddhist monk in Nepal, Thailand, and India. On public safety, he argued the 1% levy now being introduced cannot be budgeted until there is an actual plan with measurable goals, timelines, and outcomes, and he described it as a "grenade" to say the downtown safe-injection site — which he stressed should be kept, not removed — should be relocated from its current location because it is harming surrounding businesses and residents. He said construction such as this summer's Bircham Street work was timed poorly and bottlenecked Bernard Avenue, and graded the current council a "D" on street-level crime and a "C+" on other matters.

Social media: Instagram @todddaniels_ (https://www.instagram.com/todddaniels_); Facebook https://www.facebook.com/todd.daniels.7927.

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

← Back to all candidates