Natasha Stevenson calls for open communication and thoughtful growth in council campaign

Council candidate Natasha Stevenson says she wants residents to have a stronger voice in municipal decisions as Osoyoos deals with growth, infrastructure demands and pressure on the community’s finances.

Stevenson has longstanding ties to Osoyoos. Her family moved to the community in the 1970s, and she attended elementary and high school here before raising her own family and establishing several local businesses.

She opened her first Osoyoos restaurant in 2002. Today, she owns Best Cellar Bistro, Books & Tours and Wine Tours Gone South.

“I want to give back, and I want to be part of where Osoyoos goes from here,” Stevenson said.

She does not claim to have ready-made answers for every issue facing the Town. Instead, Stevenson says she would listen, ask questions, study the information and work with others to find practical solutions.

Business and community experience

Stevenson says she would bring the perspective of a parent, employer, volunteer and small-business owner to the council table, along with years of experience in hospitality and tourism.

Her community involvement has included serving on the Destination Osoyoos board and as a director with the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce. She has also headed the Osoyoos Festival Society and volunteered with Soroptimist.

Running a business, Stevenson said, requires careful budgeting and the ability to adjust when circumstances change.

“You learn to work within a budget, adapt when circumstances change, solve problems and make difficult decisions,” she said. “You also learn very quickly that sometimes you have to stop, look at what isn’t working and be willing to change direction.”

She believes that practical experience would be useful when reviewing Town spending, services and long-term plans.

Communication beyond election season

Improving communication between the Town and its residents is one of Stevenson’s main priorities.

She wants people to feel that their concerns have been considered and that they can ask questions about municipal decisions without having to wait for an election campaign or a problem to arise.

That does not mean everyone will agree, she said. It means residents should be able to understand why decisions are made and how council reached them.

Stevenson also supports examining the possibility of holding council meetings during the evening.

“If we want people involved in their local government, we need to make participation as accessible as reasonably possible,” she said.

Supporting local businesses

Stevenson says small businesses provide employment, support local organizations and events, contribute to the municipal tax base and shape the character of Osoyoos.

She believes supporting them requires more than encouraging people to shop locally. Council must also examine whether Town policies and processes allow existing businesses to succeed and make Osoyoos an appealing place for new investment.

Her own experience as a business owner has made that issue particularly close to home.

Growth and protection of Osoyoos Lake

Stevenson expects growth to remain a major subject for the next council but says development should be considered carefully.

“Growth and protecting what makes Osoyoos special don’t have to be opposing goals,” she said.

Development decisions, in her view, should account for their effects on infrastructure, neighbourhoods, businesses and the character of Osoyoos—not only today, but five, 10 and 20 years from now.

She says the same long-term approach must be applied to Osoyoos Lake.

The lake is part of the community’s identity, economy and quality of life, Stevenson said, and its protection should remain a factor in municipal planning and development decisions.

Spending with a clear purpose

Stevenson says every dollar spent by the Town should have a defined purpose.

Before beginning something new, she believes council must understand its existing obligations, the full long-term cost of the proposal and whether it serves the broader community.

Financial responsibility does not always mean choosing the least expensive option, she said. In some cases, spending money sooner can prevent a much larger bill later.

For Stevenson, responsible budgeting means setting priorities, asking detailed questions and making informed decisions with taxpayers’ money.

Working as part of council

Stevenson says no single councillor can enter Town Hall and change everything alone. Council works as a team, and progress requires cooperation, reliable information and, at times, compromise.

She would like the Town to draw more often on the knowledge held by residents, businesses and local organizations by bringing those groups into discussions with council and Town staff.

Stevenson said she is looking forward to meeting people she does not already know during the campaign and hearing views that may differ from her own.

She is not promising changes that one councillor cannot deliver independently.

“What I can promise is that I will show up,” Stevenson said. “I will listen. I will ask questions. I will do my homework. And I will make decisions based on what I believe serves Osoyoos over the long term.”