Kelowna 2050: Envisioning Our Future – Planning for Success

Christopher Derickson

The Westbank First Nation (WFN) is one of eight Okanagan Nation communities and has been self-governing since 2005. Prior to his election as Chief in 2019 Christopher served as a Councillor for 7 years. He has been involved in community leadership for over 20 years and played a key role in the development of the 2015 Comprehensive Community Plan for development and growth of the WFN community. Renowned for his work in business development and operational management, Christopher is dedicated to indigenous planning, governance, and economic development and has supported numerous Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada in their strategic planning and governance. 

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from UBC Okanagan, an MBA from Simon Fraser University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of British Columbia. Christopher has experience as a faculty member at the University of Arizona Native Nations Institute as well as a lecturer at the Simon Frasier University Beedie School of Business. He has been recognized through several awards, including the Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 award in 2017.  Chief Derickson also serves as President of the Ntityix Development Corporation, owned and guided by the WFN, and involved in residential, commercial, and institutional development, forestry, construction, and professional services.

Doug Gilchrist

Doug has been at the City of Kelowna since 2004 in varying capacities, from Property Officer to Manager of Real Estate, to Acting General Manager and Divisional Director of Community Planning and Strategic Investment, and City Manager in 2018.

With more than 20 years experience in federal, provincial and municipal government, Doug believes the future of government is at the municipal level due to its tangible impacts on residents. Doug’s vision for the City is one where creativity and innovation thrive, financial accountability is a given and cooperative problem solving is the prevailing culture. He is working to create a corporation that attracts top talent, is diverse and inviting to all, and leads the industry in every category.

Doug loves many things about Kelowna, including the vibrant downtown connected to beautiful Okanagan Lake, a growing cultural scene and the four season playground that helps residents be Active by Nature. He takes advantage of the stunning routes and trails with biking, trail running, and from time to time, the odd waterski before the busy workday begins.
His time at the City of Kelowna has been full of the greatest and most rewarding opportunities of his career, from land development partnerships and legacy acquisitions like the Rail Corridor to social housing solutions like the Now Canada and Pleasantvale developments. He looks forward to meeting the challenges ahead and helping shape the future of Kelowna.

Leonard Kerkhoff

Partnering with his father Bill in business management and overseeing of projects, Leonard Kerkhoff is the next generation of Kerkhoff: Design-Build. Leonard joined the company full-time in 2007 following studies at British Columbia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management with a focus on Economics.

Leonard has taken on the leadership role of Kerkhoff: Design-Build, and is actively involved in project development, especially in the capacity of feasibility analysis on potential projects, contract administration and marketing management. He builds relationships, teams up with investors, clients, subcontractors, project superintendents and suppliers, and is dedicated to innovative business growth and ensuring client satisfaction.

Michael White

Michael White is a respected leader in urban planning responsible for a broad set of municipal functions including campus planning and design for UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, planning and development services, sustainability and engineering, transportation planning and community development.
The current strategic focus for Michael and his team is supporting the academic mission through the themes of connectivity, affordability and sustainability.

Michael has been with UBC since 2014 and is an urban planning professional with 22 years of experience in North America, the Middle East and Asia. His areas of specialization include urban and regional planning, transportation planning, strategic planning, community development, and public engagement.
As a key member of the City of Vancouver's Planning Department for over a decade, Michael had a leading role in community planning programs, transit integration and citywide policy initiatives. Of particular note was his role in managing both the technical teams as well the stakeholder engagement processes. Projects included Canada Line station planning, Community Vision Implementation, Neighbourhood Centres, False Creek Flats planning, EcoDensity and the City's Public Involvement Review.

From Vancouver, Michael moved on to become an accomplished international planner. As one of the founding managers of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Michael played a key role in managing and guiding the Council's Planning Policy team from inception in 2007 to 2011. His team led the creation of a range of plans and policies, including a new capital city plan for the UAE, and revitalization plans for existing communities. His team also pioneered public engagement in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. After returning from the Middle East in 2011, Michael became a Principal for AECOM Canada based in Vancouver. He led and participated in a range of projects including design guidelines for Calgary's Centre City, a strategic plan for Toronto's Planning Division, community plans in Western Canada, and city plans in Abu Dhabi and the Philippines.

Michael holds a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, and is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Deborah Buszard

Born in the U.K., Deborah is a graduate of the University of Bath (B.Sc. Horticulture) and Imperial College, Wye campus, U.K. (Ph.D. Horticulture). She began her academic career at McGill University where she established research programs in fruit crop management and strawberry breeding and accidentally fell into university governance and administration. In 1996, she became the first woman to serve as a dean of an agriculture faculty in Canada and served in that role until 2005. In 2006, she joined Dalhousie University where she served as Director of Environmental programs and founder of the College of Sustainability. In 2012, she wisely made the move to the beautiful Okanagan to join UBC Okanagan, where she served as its Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Principal until 2020.

A grandmother, corporate director, avid gardener and baker, Deborah is also active as a volunteer, currently serving as Chair of a Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Plant Health Risks in Canada and as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Pacific region).