REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
2026 Capture Peachland Photo Contest Winners Announced
Council announced the three winners in this year’s Capture Peachland Photo Contest. Over 160 qualified entries were submitted showcasing the beauty, wildlife and community of Peachland. Congratulations to the winners:
- Craig Henry; People & Pets in Parks
- Martin Weilmeier; Peachland Close Up
- Kayla Scott; Vibrant Views
Winners received $200 gift certificates from Peachland businesses of their choice. The winning photos and other contest submissions will be featured in District publications and online communications. Find more information and contest photos at peachland.ca/photo-contest.
Council Remuneration Review Committee
Council received the final report from the Council Remuneration Review Committee and approved the recommendations. The committee was established to review Peachland Mayor and Councillors’ pay and benefits and make recommendations for the 2026–2030 Council term. The committee considered remuneration practices in comparable municipalities, Council workload and responsibilities, the District's population and budget, feedback from current Council members, and the District's existing Council expense provisions. Among the committee’s recommendations were increases to the Mayor’s annual base remuneration to $55,000 and to the Councillors’ annual base remuneration to $22,000, with the increases to be phased in over a three-year period. The recommended changes will be incorporated into the Council Remuneration Policy for consideration at an upcoming Council meeting.
Small-Scall Multi-Unit Housing Next Steps
Council adopted amendments to the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw to allow two driveways on all properties within the community that permit duplex buildings.
2027 Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw
Council adopted the 2027 Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw, identifying the following properties as eligible for full or partial exemption due to community benefit:
- Peachland United Church
- St. Margaret’s Anglican Church
- Peachland Baptist Church
- Peachland Wellness Centre & the Peachland Food Bank
- Peachland Riding Club
- Okanagan Boys & Girls Club & Our School for Peachland, Arts, Culture & Ecology
- Peachland District Retirement Society & The Peachland Community Police
- Maple Springs Bible Camp
- The Nature Trust of BC
- Peachland Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion
- Okanagan Regional Library
- Peachland Chamber of Commerce
- Peachland Little Schoolhouse Society
The estimated financial impact of the 2027 tax exemptions is $78,561, which represents .92% of the 2026 budgeted general municipal tax revenue, or approximately $24.44 for the average residential property.
2026 Water Supply Assessment
Council received a report on Peachland’s water supply with revised modelling that considers multi-year drought conditions. Modelling indicates Peachland Lake can meet current demand, existing climate conditions, and a 3.6% residential growth rate over the next 25 to 30 years. However, climate change and continued growth are expected to put increasing pressure on the system over time. Peachland Lake is the primary potable water source, and the District has been closely monitoring reduced water levels while proactively implementing water restrictions in response. An Urban Systems report provided an overview of options being assessed with a preferred approach expected later this year after further analysis of each option’s long-term viability and lifecycle costing. External funding will likely be required to implement infrastructure-based solutions, and the matter has already been raised with provincial ministers and staff, most recently at the Union of BC Municipalities convention.
FireSmart Program Update
Deputy Fire Chief Wes Aigro provided an update to Council on 2026 FireSmart activities in the community and introduced Nigel Thomas, Peachland Fire & Rescue Services new Deputy Fire Chief of Community Safety who is assuming management of the FireSmart Program in Peachland. Highlights of the 2026 program:
- Home assessments: Trained paid-on-call members contributed 596 hours to assessment work on Peachland residents’ properties.
- Rebate program: A total of $48,900.00 was provided to residents through the rebate program.
- Public education: The program promoted simple and practical actions such as clearing roofs and gutters, pruning branches, removing combustible debris, and reducing flammable vegetation near structures.
- Outreach events: Multiple outreach events were delivered to residents to increase public awareness, answer questions, and encourage practical FireSmart action before and during wildfire season.
- FireSmart preparedness event: FireSmart supported wildfire preparedness event was held in May to promote seasonal readiness, mitigation actions, and resident participation in FireSmart services for Peachland residents.
- Yard waste vouchers: 225 yard waste vouchers were distributed to help residents remove combustible materials from their properties and reduce wildfire fuel loading near homes.
- Neighbourhood recognition: Peachland supports neighbourhoods seeking FireSmart recognition and currently identifies Trails at Ponderosa, Chateaux on the Lake, Bulyea, and Eagles View as FireSmart communities. Recognized neighbourhood cleanups also had yard waste bins funded by the program to support local fuel reduction efforts.
- 65+ mitigation support: Paid-on-call members contributed 152 hours to mitigation work on two properties through the 65+ program that assists Peachland’s senior residents.
- Greenspace mitigation: Paid-on-call members contributed 134 hours to the completed greenspace mitigation project at MacKinnon Park.
- W.A. Lang project: The W.A. Lang Wilderness Park fuel treatment project is included as a current municipal mitigation project, with completion expected in fall/winter 2026.
Playing field partnership with School District
Council directed staff to work with School District No.23 and Peachland Elementary School to explore opportunities to upgrade the school playing field to better accommodate field sports and to explore opportunities for after-hours community access to the school gymnasium for indoor soccer, with the goal of having enhanced recreational opportunities available in conjunction with the opening of the nearby rental development and childcare centre.
Councillor Appreciation
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel and fellow Councillors showed their appreciation to Councillor Terry Condon for his 21 years of service during six terms on Peachland Council. Councillor Condon has announced it’s time to retire from public service and enjoy time with his family.
Mayor and Councillors also thanked Councillor David Collins for his service on the 2022-2026 Peachland Council.
Next Council Meeting
The next Council Meeting will be Tuesday, November 3 at 3 pm. This will be the inaugural meeting of the new Peachland Council, elected in the Local General Election on October 17, 2026. Council meetings are open to the public and available live on a webcast. Find the full schedule by visiting peachland.ca/government/meetings. Find webcasts of past meetings at peachland.ca/government/meetings/archived-webcasts. Keep informed; subscribe to get news and event information emailed directly to you at peachland.ca/services/subscribe.