Colin Basran wins in Kelowna, Ken Christian also re-elected mayor in Kamloops

• JUMP TO CITY: Kelowna | Kamloops| Vernon | Penticton
• B.C. RESULTS ALL CITIES

Kelowna

Kelowna MayorColin Basranwas re-elected after beatingBobby Kennedy, Bob Schewe and Tom Dyas.

Basranwon 56 per cent of the vote, defeating Dyasby nearly 9,000 votes.

Homelessness, development, housing and inclusivenesswereall election issues for the largest city in B.C.'s southern Interior, which boasts four-season recreation and a high quality of life for residents.

• Kelowna's mayoral race a battle over the city's identity

Kelowna is one of Canada's fastest growing cities. From 2001 to 2011 its population jumped from96,288 to 127,380, according to the provincial government. But that surge has come with growing pains around housing and crime.

Basran swept to victory four years ago with a slick, pro-business campaign with backing from the progressive tech industry.

Dyas, the immediate past-president of the Chamber of Commerce, had promiseda return to the Okanagan's more conservative roots a no-nonsense, tax-cutting, small businessman reminiscent of the valley's Socred past.

Kelownahas eight council seats and seven of them were claimed byincumbentsMaxine DeHart,Gail Given, Luke Stack, Brad Sieben,Mohini Singh,Charlie Hodge, and Ryan Donn.

Loyal Wooldridgeis the only new person elected to council.

Kamloops

Mayor Ken Christian was re-elected mayor of Kamloops defeating challengerWilliam JamesTurnbull.

Christianwon by taking close to 84per cent of the vote.

Christianwon a by-electionlast October, whenPeter Milobarresigned after being elected in May 2017 as the MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.

Housing and development werecampaign issues along with liveability problems, such as finding a family doctor in the city of more than 90,000 people.

Kamloopshad the distinction of having the first government-run recreational cannabis store, which opened on Wednesday.

Kamloopshas eight council seats and they were won by ArjunSingh (incumbent),Kathy Sinclair (incumbent),Mike O'Reilly,Dieter Dudy (incumbent), Dale Bass, Denis J. Walsh (incumbent),Sadie Hunter and BillSarai.

Vernon

Victor Cumming is the new mayor of Vernon.

He defeated Darrin Taylor 4,928 votes to3,608.

Akbal Munddid notseek re-election as mayor, but a council seat instead, which he won.

The city hassix councillors. The others elected are:Brian Quiring (incumbent),Scott Anderson (incumbent),Dalvir Nahal (incumbent),Kari Gares, andKelly Fehr.

Vernon's new mayor andcouncillorswill be tasked with dealing with street crime and homelessness in the city, whichlocal business owners say is a problem.

In the summer, city council voted to ban shopping carts on public property in an attempt to deal with law-and-order issues in its downtown. Council thenreversed the decision in September, saying it most likely violated Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Vernon has a population of around 48,000 people and is the hub of the north Okanagan region, celebrating its 125 birthday in 2017. In September, officials cut the ribbon on a brand new recreation facility KalTire Place North.

On Saturday, residents alsovoted in a referendum that askedif they support borrowing up to $25 million to build a new cultural centre in downtown Vernon. Most candidates running for mayor and council supported the project.

The new council will also look atimprovingcity infrastructure andpreparingfor the risks of floods and wildfire risk. The city has also asked residents to stop feedingmarmots that have overtaken a hill near the new rec centre.

Penticton

John Vassilakidefeated current mayor Andrew Jakubeitin Penticton.

Vassilakireceived more than 5,000 votes, while Jason Cox was second with 2,600. Jakubeit was third with 2,564.

Affordable housing and homelessness continue to be a problem in the sunny, southern Interior municipality. Vacancy rates hover around one per cent.

City council will also look to recover fromitshandling of a botched park development project.

Penciton city council wanted to replaceSkaha Lake Parkwith a waterslide development in 2015 but eventuallyscrapped the plan at a cost of $200,000 money paid to the developer to break the contract.

Pentictonhas six council seats and they were claimed by: Jake Kimberly, Campell Watt (incumbent), Frank Regehr, Julius Bloomfield, Katie Robinson and Judy Sentes (incumbent).

• Full coverage of the 2018 B.C. Municipal Elections