Mayor Sharon Shepherd

"I have been an advocate of solar for our city and felt I should look at the opportunity to do it in my own home."

Mayor Shepherd shared her experience installing solar hot water on her home, with SolarBC.

Mayor of Kelowna Shines in the Spotlight

Mayor Sharon Shepherd has just installed solar hot water in preparation of the Okanagan sunshine that’s springing around the corner. Mayor Shepherd joins our other Solar Community Mayors who’ve installed solar hot water on their homes – alongside Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler, Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver and Chief Gordon Planes, of T’Sou-ke First Nation.

"I have been an advocate of solar for our city and felt I should look at the opportunity to do it in my own home," she said of her new install, completed by SolarBC Registered Installers Swiss Solar Tech, of Summerland BC.

Mayor Shepherd is no stranger to solar - when she and her husband first purchased their home in Kelowna in the late 70s, they installed solar to an outdoor pool. Back then, she said, solar was a new technology that was getting a lot of attention but the attention dwindled in the 80s. "It’s been reintroduced," she says, "So we’re enthused about having it on the home."

While her install went smoothly she admits that she learned how much simpler it would have been to install solar hot water on a new home.

"I understand it’s not too expensive (for new homes) to become solar ready and I think it’s the right route to go," she said, adding that as a community, building solar ready is a great step in the right direction. This allows for homeowners to have the opportunity to go solar down the road, and already have the infrastructure in place.

"I would absolutely use technology for new builds," she said.

While it’s too soon to count the energy savings, Mayor Shepherd says she and her husband won’t have a lack of hot water through the spring and fall – although the install was more than just about the savings.

"I guess we just feel good about doing the right thing," she says. "And proud that we’ve made this step to decrease green house gases."

As for the potential of solar in the community she says it’s an energy source that she feels is important to tap into and, moving forward, hopes to continue developing solar infrastructure within the city of Kelowna.

Mayor Shepherd's Bio

One of Sharon's main priorities as mayor of Kelowna, which is an official Solar Community, is in the area of sustainability and creating a balance between economic viability, environmental protection, social responsibility and cultural vitality.

She was first elected Mayor in the November 2005 Civic Election after serving three terms since 1996 as a City Councillor. She has been involved with the City of Kelowna Arts Foundation, Parks and Facilities Committee and the Community Housing Needs Committee.

Occupational History and Awards

  • Mayor Shepherd worked as a hospital pharmacist at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver until 1976. Upon moving to Kelowna in 1977, Sharon became Medical Office Manager for three physicians; a position she currently holds.
  • Sharon received the Canadian Organon Pharmacy Award in 1975, and was recognized by the U.B.C. Faculty of Pharmacy in 1996 for past contributions. Received the 2005 Woman of Distinction award.
  • Named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006 by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Civic Involvement
First elected Mayor in the November 2005 Civic Election after serving three terms since 1996 as a City Councillor. Sharon has been involved with the City of Kelowna Arts Foundation, Parks and Facilities Committee and the Community Housing Needs Committee.

She has served as Chair of the City of Kelowna’s Heritage Commission and Sports Tourism Committee. Regionally, she continues to serve on the Board of the Central Okanagan Regional District and has been Chair of the Regional Air Quality Committee, Central Okanagan Community Health Advisory Committee and the Regional Parks Committee.

In addition to being the chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, she is also a representative on the Accessibility Committee and the Community Action Toward Children’s Health (CATCH) Committee.

Local Interests

  • Member, Canadian Federation of University Women – Kelowna Member, Kelowna Women in Business.
  • Past involvements include executive positions with the Kelowna Ski Club, Kelowna
  • Secondary School Parent Advisory Council, Mission South Slopes Residents’
  • Association, Steering Committee for Restorative Justice and the Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarship Society.

Priorities

  • To be the best Mid-sized City while being business friendly and using solar and alternative energy sources
  • Sustainability – Balance between economic viability, environmental protection, social responsibility and cultural vitality
  • Healthy, Accessible and Safe Community for children, youth, seniors and people with disabilities. An Intergenerational approach to being an inclusive community is a priority.