She's loyal to Loyal

It was 2007; I was sitting at home at the kitchen table when my brother and his friend walked into the kitchen.  

They threw open some cupboards and started piling up ingredients to make god knows what. As the two young men chatted and joked, I found myself starting to chuckle. I was laughing because whoever my brother brought into our house was someone very interesting and charming. He seemed kind and welcoming, was very warm, and extremely funny.

He looked over at me, smiling, and said “Hi!  I’m Loyal.”

That was the day I met Loyal Wooldridge.

As the years flew by, I moved away, and so did my brother. Although, we kept Loyal close in our hearts, the busyness of life made Loyal a Facebook friend and an Instagram follower. Over the years, I watched him grow a small business into a thriving and popular hair salon. I acknowledged his hard work, dedication, and ambition. He grew into someone I genuinely respected and admired.

Seven years later, I decided to move back home to Kelowna. I, too, am a hairstylist, and was seeking a new position in my hometown. I reconnected with Loyal, and without a concern, I joined his hairstyling team.

It’s now been six months of me working alongside Loyal full-time and witnessing his dedication to his new passion – politics. 

I am amazed by the genuine concern and true desire he has for wanting to grow and improve our community.  From the hours he spends researching potential solutions, to the integrity he demonstrates as a business owner, Loyal has proven himself to be successful, while building and maintaining strong relationships.  

Loyal runs his business with the concept of “togetherness.” We are not his staff, we are his team. He believes that when a group of people come together, they will achieve much more as a group rather than individually. 

While working under his wing, I am able to see first hand the drive and resources he has for bettering this city.  Like others, he is able to pinpoint current and future concerns, but his creativity beams through during his hunt for a solution.

My brother would always tell me to “never burn bridges” because you never know who you’ll reconnect with in the future. Being back in my hometown, I’m able to get caught up in the lives of the ones who stayed. Loyal is one them.  

I can truly say that, not only has he not burned bridges, rather he has created pathways for connecting this community, in hopes to bring people closer. He always says that “together, we are stronger.”

By first building close connections, he believes that each other’s encouragement will allow us to stand strong as a community. A strong community will allow us to effectively problem solve and positively evolve.

I hope this city will join me in accepting Loyal as a city councillor.

Lindsay Brown, Kelowna