Kelowna municipal election sees religious candidate endorsements

As Kelowna approaches its municipal election, the group City On A Hill is mobilizing voters by categorizing political candidates based on their religious affiliations. Registered with Elections BC as a third-party sponsor under the name OnTheHill, the organization aims to involve local churches in civic life.

The group distributed questionnaires to candidates asking them to describe their faith. Following this, the organization published a table listing candidates alongside their religious identities, including Christian, Catholic, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, agnostic, and atheist.

City On A Hill utilizes a two-tier endorsement system. A “green check” is awarded to candidates whose expressed values align with Christian convictions, while a “blue border” is given to those deemed suitable based on character and qualifications rather than shared faith. Review of the green-check endorsements showed they were awarded to candidates identifying as Christian, including Ron Cannan for mayor.