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Penticton Votes 2022: Former Downtown Penticton BIA runs for council

Ryan Graham is wanting to make the city he grew up in safe again
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Downtown Penticton businessman Ryan Graham is running for city council in the 2022 election. (Submitted)

Ryan Graham, a former president of the Downtown Penticton BIA is running for a city council seat.

A graduate of Princess Margaret (2004) and a lifelong resident of Penticton, Graham and his wife Andrea have two sons, Dominick (age 20) and Jensen (age 10).

Graham has been considering a run for council for several elections, but now feels that he can’t wait any longer.

“We live in a beautiful city, but it’s time to have some hard conversations and to bring people to the table to make some difficult decisions. As someone who has seen this city at its best, I want my community to be healthy. As a father, I want my kids to be safe. As a business operator, I want the business community to thrive,” said Graham.

Currently the managing partner of Bluewater Cannabis, Graham has spent his working life in the hospitality industry, most of it in the downtown core. As president of the DPBIA for two years he said he pushed hard for increased police presence.

“Now, daily we’re dealing with very difficult community issues: addiction, homelessness, skyrocketing property crime, and drug paraphernalia littering the streets. It feels like things are out of control, but I’m convinced there are things we can do.

“It’s going to take a lot of work, and it’s going to take a shift in culture. It’s time for a massive pendulum swing in our community. I’ve always been an outspoken critic, but it’s time to get off the sidelines.”

Graham points to obvious signs of decay in our city. According to Stats Canada, in 2021 Penticton had the worst crime rate in the Thompson Okanagan, a distinction it has held since 2014. The Penticton Fire Department currently operates over 1,000 more calls a year than West Kelowna.

“I would like to see a significant financial increase into the PFD,” he said.

“I feel incredibly sad and frustrated for are frontline workers, who are dealing with the underbelly of this town. The opioid crisis, the repeat offenders who seemingly face no consequences for the chaos they’re creating in our community… I love my community, but I don’t love the direction it’s been trending.”

Graham feels it’s time for his generation to take a leadership position and just as important to become active members by educating themselves on key issues and candidates.

“Some of us have lots to say on social media platforms. We need to take that energy and frustration and do something constructive where it can make a difference.”

READ MORE: Chamber hosts all candidates meeting Sept. 20

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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