Weeks after a catastrophic wildfire levelled roughly 110 structures in the hills bordering Summerland, B.C., two candidates are standing in the ashes of their own properties asking displaced neighbours for their votes.
Despite catastrophic property loss to the Bald Range fire near Summerland, B.C., Jason Earl and John Rousseau are running to be the local area director in the upcoming municipal election.
Weeks after a catastrophic wildfire leveled roughly 110 structures in the hills west of Summerland, B.C., two candidates are standing in the ashes of their own properties asking displaced neighbours for their votes.
Jason Earl and John Rousseau are both running for director in Electoral Area F of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), which spans a broad swath of semi-rural neighbourhoods bordering Summerland.
Both Earl and Rousseau live in Faulder, the community hardest hit when the Bald Range fire tore through the area in August. Earl lost his family home and Rousseau's custom woodworking business was burned to its foundations.
"It's just wild, the devastation to come back to," Rousseau said.
"When you drive through our community and you see what it looks like now, it's not unlike the effect of somebody dropping a bomb."
Taking on a political campaign weeks after losing property to the fire might sound extreme, but both men feel the disaster has taken away any excuse to sit on the sidelines as voters choose their next director.
Rousseau, who grew up in Faulder, told CBC News he's long felt the desire to serve his community, but in August he decided he was too busy with his business to put his name forward.
"And then three days later, every tool that I have collected my whole life burned to the ground," he said. "I have the time now to do this job properly."
For Earl, who moved to the area nearly a decade ago, the urge to run was also hastened by the fire. Earl has spent the last 16 years working in the insurance industry, and said his experience can guide his neighbours through recovery.
"Everyone says it's a terrible time [to run] because there's a lot on one's plate, but there's never a really good time for anything. You could always find an excuse," Earl said.
A catastrophic August
The scale of the loss in the region makes this election unlike any other in the regional district's history.
The Bald Range fire damaged or destroyed roughly 150 structures, with the vast majority of the property loss concentrated in the rural communities of Faulder and Meadow Valley in Area F.
As election day approaches, many residents are displaced and living in temporary housing in nearby communities. That has made traditional door knocking nearly impossible, forcing candidates to adapt.
"Phone is the biggest [way to connect]," Earl said. "Because driving around talking, there's not a lot of people to talk to."
Tax base and infrastructure
Despite the chaos, both candidates say the tragedy has refocused attention on the importance of local governance. Issues like emergency preparedness, fire mitigation and sustainable development have suddenly become urgent priorities.
Access to reliable water systems is top of mind for many in Area F. It's an issue that extends to the Sage Mesa and Westbench neighbourhoods, which weren't as affected by the fire.
"I think the biggest part is trying to advocate and relaying back to all the residents as far as what the options are and the associated costs, because we certainly pay very high taxes here with very few services," Earl said.
Jason Earl believes promoting development in order to increasing the tax-base in Area F is a way to help pay for infrastructure project, such as improved water systems for the area.
Rousseau too, has ideas for improving water infrastructure, emphasizing that expanding the local tax base is vital.
"That's how these things are going to get done and paid for," he said "We have every right to sustainably develop our land in order to create jobs, improve the tax base and improve our infrastructure in the area."
Voter engagement
Despite the challenges of campaigning amid the fire recovery, both candidates hope the gravity of the situation will motivate residents to cast their votes on election day.
"When something like this happens, it does put politics and everything to the forefront where I think there is quite a bit more engagement," Earl said.
"I'm hoping that in the face of this tragedy that will motivate people to get out and vote." Rousseau said.
"The outcomes of municipal elections have way more effect on people's quality of life than they think."
