Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna

Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna is a newly drawn riding for the 2025 election, carved from portions of the former Kelowna—Lake Country and Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola ridings. It encompasses the City of West Kelowna, the southern sections of the City of Kelowna below Mission Creek, and the communities of Peachland and Summerland along the western shore of Okanagan Lake. With a population of approximately 107,000, the riding is situated on the traditional territory of the syilx (Okanagan) people and stretches along some of the most productive vineyard and orchard land in British Columbia.

Candidates

Dan Albas (Conservative) is the incumbent, first elected in 2011 in the former Okanagan—Coquihalla riding and seeking a fifth term. Born in 1976 and raised in Penticton, Albas attended Okanagan University College and owned a martial arts studio before entering politics. He served on Penticton City Council beginning in 2008 and was named the city's young entrepreneur of the year in 2005. In Parliament, he co-chairs the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations and co-chairs the all-party Parliamentary Cancer Caucus.

Juliette Sicotte (Liberal) grew up in Snow Lake, Manitoba, and is proud of her Métis and Cree heritage. She has lived in Kelowna for 30 years and has a career spanning fine art and sculpture sales, fashion, and industrial technology. A community volunteer, she co-founded Toastmasters for Teens, a public speaking program for Indigenous students, and serves as a director of The Bridge Youth and Family Services.

Harpreet Badohal (NDP) is a registered health and safety professional who holds a master's degree in occupational and environmental hygiene from UBC's Faculty of Medicine. Since 2016, he has worked as an officer with WorkSafeBC and previously led teams with Saskatchewan's Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

Louise Lecouffe (Green Party) is a berry farmer and small business operator who campaigned on Indigenous rights, fair taxation, electoral reform, and ending fossil fuel subsidies.

Debbie Robinson (People's Party) and Gary Suddard (Canadian Future Party) also stood as candidates.

About the Riding

The Okanagan Valley's wine industry is the defining economic feature of this riding. West Kelowna and Summerland are home to dozens of wineries, and viticulture—alongside tree fruit orchards growing cherries, peaches, and apples—shapes both the landscape and the local economy. Tourism associated with wine, lake recreation, and golf courses is a major employer, particularly during the summer season.

The riding experienced significant population growth in the years before the 2025 election, as remote workers and retirees from Metro Vancouver and Alberta moved to the Okanagan in search of lifestyle and affordability. This influx drove housing prices sharply upward, creating affordability pressures in communities that had long been considered reasonably priced alternatives to coastal cities.

Wildfire risk loomed large in the riding's politics. The 2023 wildfire season devastated parts of West Kelowna, destroying hundreds of homes and prompting mass evacuations. Emergency preparedness, forest management, and support for fire-affected residents were salient issues heading into the 2025 campaign. Water supply and drought—particularly the allocation of limited water resources among agriculture, residential use, and ecosystem needs—added another layer of environmental concern in a region where summer temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius.