🗳️ Important Voting Dates — Keremeos 2026
Advance Voting: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
General Voting Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026
For the exact voting location and eligibility, please contact the Village of Keremeos Election Office. The address below is the Village office, NOT a confirmed voting location.
Village of Keremeos Election Office
702 4th Street, Keremeos, BC
Telephone: 250-499-2711
No computer or cellphone? Call or visit the Village office to ask where to vote. This is the office address, not a confirmed polling place.
Village of Keremeos — Official 2026 Election Information
Every resident matters. A Stronger Community Together! 🤟🌻
Get to know Arlene
I am a Deaf woman, an educator, a community advocate, and a lifelong learner.
I love learning, thinking, observing, researching, reading, asking questions, and understanding different perspectives.
I am Deaf, but I am a good listener! Yes, you read that correctly! Hahaha! Listening is not always about hearing sounds. To me, it means paying attention, understanding, respecting others, and being willing to learn.
My first language is sign language. I communicate through signing, reading, writing, and visual information. Lip-reading can lead to misunderstandings and should never be assumed to provide full communication access.
🎓 I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Gallaudet University in 1993.
I believe everyone deserves to be understood, respected, and included. Getting to know ME is part of understanding how WE can build a stronger community together.
Through the years
My history and experience
1993 — Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Gallaudet University.
More than 20 years — Teaching and advocacy
Teaching American Sign Language and advocating for communication access for Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind and hearing people.
From barriers to possibilities — Lake Country to 2026
Years ago, I stood on a stage in Lake Country as a candidate for councillor, facing more than 200 voters.
I was proud to be there. I had worked hard, prepared myself, and wanted to share my ideas with the community. But something important was missing: no accessible live closed captioning and no professional sign language/English interpreter.
Imagine standing before hundreds of people, wanting to understand every question and share your thoughts, but not having equal access to the conversation. I was there. I was ready. I had ideas, education, and life experience. Yet communication barriers made it difficult to participate equally.
Now it is 2026! Technology offers more possibilities than ever: video communication, live captioning, online meetings, and new ways to connect. But technology alone is not enough. Accessibility still requires planning, accurate captioning, and qualified sign language/English interpreters.
I am Deaf. I am educated. I am experienced. I am still learning. And I have so much to share.
My hope is that Deaf children, young people, adults, and seniors will encounter fewer of the barriers I have experienced. Accessibility is about people, dignity, respect, understanding, and belonging.
A Stronger Community Together.
2012 — Family communication access
A newspaper article documented barriers that affected communication between my hearing mother, Isabel, who was blind, and me.
2023 — Emergency communication petition
Susan Dumaine of West Kelowna/Westbank, Janice Lyons of Summerland, and I, Arlene Brenner of Penticton, delivered our original petition with 1,054 signatures to MLA Ben Stewart in West Kelowna. He brought it to the BC Legislature in Victoria, where it was ruled out of order.
2026 — Continuing the conversation
Continuing to discuss emergency accessibility, ASL/English interpreting, accurate live captioning and visual information with public officials and community members.
My Campaign Journey — Then and Now
From 2014 in Lake Country to 2026 in Keremeos!
My Campaign Signs — 2014 and 2026
From 2014 in Lake Country to 2026 in Keremeos!
Every Resident Matters
My beautiful hearing mom's experiences with macular degeneration and vision loss helped deepen my understanding of the everyday barriers faced by older residents and people with disabilities.
Some older buildings, shops and restaurants have entrances that can be difficult or impossible for people using walkers or wheelchairs to access. High steps, narrow doorways, missing ramps and ramps that are too steep can create frustration, safety concerns and barriers to independence.
Imagine wanting to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, shop locally or meet friends, only to discover that you cannot safely enter the building.
Accessibility is about more than ramps and doorways. It is about dignity, independence, safety and being able to participate in community life.
Everyone deserves opportunities to live safely, stay healthy, enjoy life and feel welcome, regardless of age or ability.
Every resident matters. Everyone deserves respect, equal opportunities and a sense of belonging.
A stronger community together.
Communication & safety
Access to information matters
Emergency information should be available in ways people can see, read and understand — including those without smartphones, mobile data or reliable internet.
A public information idea
One idea I have been exploring is a network of accessible digital information displays in communities across BC. During emergencies, these could show official warnings, clear maps, road information, accurate, easy-to-read live captioning and live professional sign language/English interpreters when available.
At other times, they could share weather, public notices and community information. This is an idea for exploration, not an existing government program.
Communication is a shared responsibility
Accessible public meetings and emergency messages matter to Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind and hearing residents, including seniors, families, farmers, businesses and visitors. People use different ways of communicating, including different forms of signing. Everyone deserves timely, clear and accessible information, especially during emergencies.
Access for everyone
Communication accessibility matters everywhere!
I believe live closed captioning and qualified sign language/English interpreters should be available wherever they are needed, including school classrooms, colleges, community meetings, public events, and emergency announcements.
We are living in 2026! Technology has come a long way, with live captioning, video communication, flashing fire alarms, vibrating alerts, and accessible emergency notifications.
Accessibility is also about physical safety and independence. People who use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes deserve safe entrances, accessible pathways, and spaces where they can move comfortably.
Everyone deserves to enjoy everyday life without unnecessary barriers, fear, frustration, or exclusion.
Whether learning in a classroom, attending a meeting, visiting a store, enjoying a restaurant, or spending time with family and friends, everyone deserves dignity, respect, safety, and the freedom to participate.
Accessibility is not just about getting through a door. It is about being able to enjoy what is on the other side.
A Stronger Community Together. ❤️🤟
A Special Moment — October 1, 2026! 🤟
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, I participated in the candidates’ forum at the Keremeos Legion Hall, organized by the Similkameen Country Development Association (SCDA). For the first time in my experience as a candidate, the forum included live sign language/English interpretation and live captioning displayed on a video chat screen. Unfortunately, the caption text was far too small and difficult to read.
After years of advocating for communication accessibility, having a live interpreter was an exciting and meaningful moment for me. The captioning also showed why clear, readable text matters.
Technology has come a long way, and equal communication access matters for everyone!
My sincere thanks to SCDA, the Keremeos Legion Hall, and everyone who helped make this community event possible.
A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️
My sincere thanks to two generous donors who helped cover the cost of the sign language/English interpreter at the October 1 candidates’ forum.
Special thanks to Susan Dumaine for helping coordinate the donations and interpreter arrangements.
Without your support, I would not have had the communication access I needed to participate in the forum. The interpreter helped me share my experience, ideas, and campaign priorities with voters. Without that access, voters might not have had the same opportunity to get to know me and understand what I stand for. Your generosity also supported access for other Deaf and hard-of-hearing people who communicate in sign language.
Thank you for making a difference! 🤟❤️
A Stronger Community Together. ❤️
Our 2023 Emergency Communication Petition — Across British Columbia
In 2023, Susan Dumaine of West Kelowna/Westbank, Janice Lyons of Summerland, and I, Arlene Brenner of Penticton, met MLA Ben Stewart in West Kelowna to personally deliver our original petition with 1,054 signatures.
We advocated for accessible emergency alerts and press conferences throughout British Columbia, including wildfires, rockfalls, mudslides, earthquakes, gun-related emergencies, and public health emergencies. Our goal was live closed captioning and qualified sign language/English interpreters so Deaf, deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, hearing, and non-speaking people could receive critical safety information. Ben Stewart brought our petition to the BC Legislature in Victoria, where it was ruled out of order. Everyone deserves equal access to life-saving emergency information, wherever they live in British Columbia.
Original photographs supplied by Arlene Brenner. No faces have been altered.
A Historic Moment at RDOS — 2023
In 2023, at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) building in Penticton, I experienced an emotional and unforgettable moment. For the first time in my experience, RDOS provided live closed captioning and a live sign language/English interpreter.
After years of advocating for equal communication access, it was wonderful to see people working together toward positive change. Accessibility is not just for one person or one group — it is for ALL OF US. We all deserve to communicate, understand, participate, and feel included.
A Stronger Community Together. ❤️🤟
Read the official RDOS news release (2023) | Read the December 19, 2023 RDOS support letter
I am proud that RDOS welcomed our presentation about equal communication access. That opportunity showed me what respectful dialogue and working together can accomplish.
August 2026 — When an Emergency Became Personal
By Arlene Brenner — My personal experience
In 2023, my dear friend and fellow advocate Janice Lyons and I worked to bring attention to the need for accessible emergency information across British Columbia. We wanted live closed captioning and qualified sign language/English interpreters during emergency alerts and press conferences, so that everyone could understand what was happening.
In August 2026, I learned that a wildfire was threatening Summerland, where Janice lives with her husband Wayne and their three Deaf dogs. A friend sent me a message. I was frightened and tried repeatedly to reach Janice and Wayne.
I checked the BC government's wildfire information and the RDOS website, searching for updates. In the emergency news and briefings I saw, I could not find the live captioning and sign language interpretation that we had spent years advocating for. I felt scared, frustrated and heartbroken. I wanted to know that my friends were safe.
I kept hoping it was a bad dream. But it was real. When emergencies unfold in minutes, accessible communication is not a luxury. It can make a life-saving difference.
Janice and Wayne's experience was later reported by The Canadian Press. Their story reminds me why I continue to speak up for safety, accessibility and inclusion. It is also part of what motivates me to participate in local public life.
Accessible emergency information is for ALL OF US — Deaf, deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, hearing and non-speaking people, children, adults and seniors.
A Stronger Community Together. ❤️🤟
Read the August 22, 2026, Canadian Press report about Janice and the Summerland wildfire →
My Heroes — Janice and Wayne ❤️
Janice Lyons and Wayne Sinclair are my dear friends and heroes. For years, they have advocated for equal rights, education, knowledge and accessible communication for Deaf people across BC.
During the August 2026 wildfire, Wayne reminded me that sign language interpreters must remain visible on television during emergency announcements. I am deeply grateful that Janice, Wayne and their three Deaf dogs are safe.
Like honeybees, we are stronger when we work together. A Stronger Community Together. ❤️🤟🐝
Coming soon
Meet me in ASL
I plan to share a video introducing myself in sign language. The video will be added here with accurate English captions and a written transcript so more people can access it.
Video to be recorded — this is a placeholder, not a published video.
Photographs from my life
Winter beekeeping
Earlier community involvement
WE, Not ME — Working Together for Keremeos
I believe in listening to residents, respecting taxpayers, and working together to find practical solutions. My goal is to avoid unnecessary tax increases and carefully consider the cost of every proposal.
Before asking local taxpayers to fund improvements, WE can explore eligible BC and federal grants, partnerships, and other funding opportunities. Grants are not guaranteed, and some may require matching funds or ongoing costs. Responsible planning matters.
Funding opportunities to explore
Programs worth reviewing include the BC Local Community Accessibility Grant, the federal Enabling Accessibility Fund, and the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. Eligibility, deadlines, and available funding must be checked before applying.
Accessibility and human rights matter. We can advocate for support for professional sign language/English interpreters, accurate easy-to-read live captioning, and accessible emergency information.
WE, not ME. A Stronger Community Together — just like the bees! 🐝
Working together for Keremeos
My Priorities for Keremeos
I believe the best ideas begin by listening to residents, farmers, growers, local businesses and one another.
Water security
Water shortages concern me. Reliable water matters to residents, orchards, farms and businesses. I want to hear local concerns and support careful planning for the future.
Listening to agriculture
Orchard farmers, growers and professional beekeepers have firsthand knowledge. Their concerns and ideas deserve to be heard when we discuss our community's future.
Tourism and local businesses
I would love to welcome more visitors to Keremeos and encourage them to explore our shops, restaurants, orchards and local products.
Events and shared learning
Let's explore opportunities for more community events, workshops, meetings and conferences that bring people together and support our local economy.
A Stronger Community Together — just like the bees! 🐝
Agriculture & nature
Bees, orchards and the people who grow our food
Beekeeping connected me with farmers, orchard workers, pollination and the seasons of the Similkameen.
Honey bees
Learning about pollination and the important work bees do in agriculture.
Our orchards
Fruit growing and the landscapes that shape agricultural communities.
From hive to honey
Hands-on experience working with hives, learning from mentors and harvesting honey.
My Beekeeping Journey — Photos & Community
From caring for honeybees to appreciating our orchards and emergency preparedness, these images remind me why agriculture, water, safety and teamwork matter to our community.
Campaign Financial Agent
Susan Dumaine serves as my campaign financial agent. I appreciate Susan’s time, support, and help with the financial administration of my campaign.