New colour for Kelowna

The Liberal crowd was nothing less than elated as they donned red and jumped up and down in excitement as their candidate – Stephen Fuhr – became the first Liberal MP in Kelowna since the 1960s.

From chants of “Stephen, Stephen, Stephen” to rounds of O Canada sung with pride, the room was electric as the Liberals took a majority government in Canada and a Liberal seat in the Okanagan.

“And Stephen Harper is gone,” said Fuhr to an outburst of cheers, his first words as he took the podium for his acceptance speech.

“We got it done, and that is the most important thing,” Fuhr told supporters as the polls revealed he had taken the Kelowna-Lake Country seat.

“I thank you for your support. I am pleased and honoured. I just feel the responsibility pushing me down, but I can do it, and I look forward to representing you all in Ottawa. Thank you so much.” 

Among a large turnout of supporters who crowded into Hanna’s Lounge in downtown Kelowna, Fuhr also took time to acknowledge his campaign team and Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, who was quick to get him his first beer.

“This win is a perfect example of what you can do when you co-operate,” said Fuhr. “Because it took everybody to make this happen. This riding hasn’t been this colour – red – since 1968 under Trudeau.”

Fuhr was quick to thank former Green candidate Gary Adams, who stepped down and threw his support behind the Liberals in Kelowna-Lake Country.

“I could go on and on with the Greens and Libs that I have met in the last few months, and it has been totally exciting, totally exhausting and totally satisfying,” Adams told the crowd.

“I look forward to working with the Greens, just like I look forward to working with the Liberals, just like I do with everybody in this riding. Now there are no colours in this riding – we all work together,” added Fuhr.

Fuhr is the Liberal MP-elect for the Kelowna-Lake Country riding with 46 per cent of the votes.