Mayor & Council

Victor Cumming

Mayor

mayor@vernon.ca
250-938-0022

Victor Cumming is a regional economist, rural development specialist and local volunteer. In 1992, he relocated his family (wife Mary-Ann and 4 kids) and business (including some staff), to Vernon, based on the excellent regional airport…

Read more

mayor@vernon.ca
250-938-0022

Victor Cumming is a regional economist, rural development specialist and local volunteer. In 1992, he relocated his family (wife Mary-Ann and 4 kids) and business (including some staff), to Vernon, based on the excellent regional airport and the affordable high quality of life.

Born in Golden and raised primarily in Naramata, he holds a BA in Economics and Geography (Victoria), and an MA in Rural Planning and Development (Guelph). His consulting firm provided economic development, planning and operation assistance to businesses and local, regional and First Nations governments across Canada. In his 40-year career, Victor worked in Africa, the South Pacific, all provinces and territories in Canada, except Quebec (you guessed it … no French language capability) and Newfoundland. He has also taught community economic development for Simon Fraser University and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. 

When not at work you can often see him enjoying the Okanagan lifestyle; cross-country skiing, trail walking, sailing, kayaking, biking, or taking in live music and theatre events, usually with his wife and their 4-legged companion.

Victor was elected Mayor in the fall of 2018.

2023 Council Appointments

  • Advisory Planning Committee
  • Biosolids Advisory Committee
  • Economic Development Advisory Committee
  • Emergency Measures Policy/Planning
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board
  • Okanagan Basin Water Board
  • OKIB and Vernon Working Group
  • OKIB/First Nations Liaison
  • Ribbons of Green Tail Committee
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel (alternate)
  • Tourism Commission (alternate)
  • Climate Action Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • BC Winter Games Liaison (alternate)
  • Liquid Waste Management Plan Public Advisory Committee (alternate)
View less

Teresa Durning

Councillor

tdurning@vernon.ca
250-306-3248

Vernon and the area captured Teresa Durning’s heart over 15 years ago, and she was excited to make it her forever home and serve its community members. She and her husband, Harvey Harker, have a blended family of 5 children and 4…

Read more

tdurning@vernon.ca
250-306-3248

Vernon and the area captured Teresa Durning’s heart over 15 years ago, and she was excited to make it her forever home and serve its community members. She and her husband, Harvey Harker, have a blended family of 5 children and 4 grandchildren.

She has a strong business background and is a committed community volunteer and outdoor enthusiast who is dedicated to making Vernon a great place to live and work.  

After 11 years contracting to the City of Vernon providing tourism and visitor services, she was fortunate to switch gears in 2020, and since then has been a non-partisan employee for the House of Commons constituency office in Vernon.

She has completed the Thompson Rivers University business program, holds a National Tourism Supervisor Designation from the National Tourism Human Resource Council of Canada, and graduated from the Digital Marketing Management program through the University of Toronto. She is also currently enrolled in the Bachelor of General Studies, Open Learning, at Thompson Rivers University.

2023 Council Appointments

  • Tourism Commission
  • Transportation Advisory Committee
  • Arts Council of North Okanagan
  • BC Winter Games Liaison
  • North Okanagan Canada Day Society
  • O’Keefe Ranch and Historical Society
  • School District No. 22 – Revenue Generation/Service Efficiency Review Committee
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel (alternate)
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board (alternate)
  • Municipal Insurance Association (alternate)
View less

Kelly Fehr

Councillor

kfehr@vernon.ca
250-306-8115

Kelly Fehr is a longtime Vernon resident who has served as a City Councillor since 2018. Kelly is married with a blended family of four adult children. He has served Vernon as a senior manager for a local non-government organization…

Read more

kfehr@vernon.ca
250-306-8115

Kelly Fehr is a longtime Vernon resident who has served as a City Councillor since 2018. Kelly is married with a blended family of four adult children. He has served Vernon as a senior manager for a local non-government organization since 2007, and is perhaps best known for the affordable housing, food insecurity & anti-poverty-advocacy work he is involved in. Kelly has served on boards and committees at all three levels of government. He has been an active volunteer in Vernon and believes giving back is vital to a healthy community. 

2023 Council Appointments

  • Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
  • Audit Committee
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board
  • Municipal Insurance Association
  • North Okanagan Regional Advisory Committee (Okanagan College)
  • Vernon Seniors’ Action Network
  • Vernon Winter Carnival Liaison
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Downtown Vernon Association (alternate)
  • Drought Response Team (alternate)
View less

Kari Gares

Councillor

kgares@vernon.ca
250-306-4655

Kari Gares is a 3rd generation Vernonite who has grass-roots deeply lodged in the fabric of Vernon history. She was born in Vernon but grew up in Kelowna.  She graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (formerly…

Read more

kgares@vernon.ca
250-306-4655

Kari Gares is a 3rd generation Vernonite who has grass-roots deeply lodged in the fabric of Vernon history. She was born in Vernon but grew up in Kelowna.  She graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (formerly OUC) with a double major in Psychology and History. After moving back to the Vernon area with her family in 2003, she began a targeted career in Finance with an emphasis on Mortgage Lending. 

It was not until 2011 that she left the Bank to pursue a more specialized career in Mortgage Origination and Advisory through the establishment of her own Mortgage Brokerage Firm, KL August Financial LTD, dba Verico Mortgage House. Her husband, Tim, and children, Josh & Zack are excited for her journey as a Councillor, as it’s another way she can help improve the lives of those who live here.

2023 Council Appointments

  • Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board
  • Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce
  • Library – North Okanagan Regional Library
  • Regional Agricultural Advisory Committee
  • Regional Growth Management Committee
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Arts Council of North Okanagan (alternate)
  • OKIB and Vernon Working Group (alternate)
View less

Brian Guy

Councillor

bguy@vernon.ca
250-306-3499

Dr. Brian Guy holds a Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering, and is licensed as a Professional Geoscientist in B.C. He founded Summit Environmental Consultants Ltd. in Vernon in 1994, and merged that company with Associated Engineering Ltd…

Read more

bguy@vernon.ca
250-306-3499

Dr. Brian Guy holds a Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering, and is licensed as a Professional Geoscientist in B.C. He founded Summit Environmental Consultants Ltd. in Vernon in 1994, and merged that company with Associated Engineering Ltd. in 2010.  In 2017, he was awarded the C.J. Westerman Memorial Award, the highest honour for a Professional Geoscientist in B.C. Over a career of more than 40 years, he guided, managed, and conducted water and environmental studies for a wide variety of clients in many economic sectors across northern and western Canada. 

He was a founding member and is a past-Chair of the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council.  As a community volunteer between 2018 and 2022, he co-chaired the City of Vernon Climate Action Advisory Committee which led development of Vernon’s Climate Action Plan. 

He has served on corporate and non-profit boards including the Okanagan Basin Water Board, the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, and the Okanagan Science Centre, and continues to volunteer his time on committees of his professional association - Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

2023 Council Appointments

  • Audit Committee
  • Biosolids Advisory Committee
  • Climate Action Advisory Committee
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee
  • OKIB and Vernon Working Group
  • Drought Response Team
  • Liquid Waste Management Plan Public Advisory Committee
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel (alternate)
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board (alternate)
  • Transportation Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • North Okanagan Regional Advisory Committee (Okanagan College)
View less

Akbal Mund

Councillor

amund@vernon.ca
250-306-1640

Akbal Mund is delighted to serve the residents of Vernon. He moved here in 1993 and bought into the Wendy’s franchise. He met his wife Tania here and they have two daughters. Over the past 20 years he has been active in our community,…

Read more

amund@vernon.ca
250-306-1640

Akbal Mund is delighted to serve the residents of Vernon. He moved here in 1993 and bought into the Wendy’s franchise. He met his wife Tania here and they have two daughters. Over the past 20 years he has been active in our community, playing soccer and softball, sitting on various boards, and helping and supporting many organizations. He was named the JCI Vernon Good Citizen of the Year in 2012.

2023 Council Appointments

  • Audit Committee
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee
  • Funtastic Sports Society Liaison
  • Kelowna Airport Advisory Committee
  • Advisory Planning Committee (alternate)
  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board (alternate)
  • Regional Agricultural Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Regional Growth Management Committee (alternate)
View less

Brian Quiring

Councillor

bquiring@vernon.ca
250-309-2594

Brian Quiring and his family moved to Vernon in 1993 after he graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Architecture degree. Since moving to Vernon, he has had the good fortune of creating and maintaining a…

Read more

bquiring@vernon.ca
250-309-2594

Brian Quiring and his family moved to Vernon in 1993 after he graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Architecture degree. Since moving to Vernon, he has had the good fortune of creating and maintaining a successful architectural practice and is currently the managing partner of MQN Architects. His wife, Dorothy, and three children, Alyssa, Natasha and Eli, enjoy supporting his role as a Councillor, serving our community

2023 Council Appointments

  • Regional District of North Okanagan Board
  • Downtown Vernon Association
  • Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Audit Committee (alternate)
  • Biosolids Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Economic Development Advisory (alternate)
  • Finance and Tax Role Review Panel (alternate)
  • Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (alternate)
  • Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (alternate)
  • Library – North Okanagan Regional Library (alternate)
  • Vernon Seniors’ Action Network (alternate)
View less