Trolls stay away as Kelowna mayor hosts successful Twitter conversation about city’s future

NEGATIVITY EXPECTED BUT NEVER HAPPENED, MAYOR SAYS

KELOWNA – If you ask Colin Basran, the right people came out for the mayor’s first ever Twitter conversation with locals about the future of the city.

“They were there for the right reasons which was to consider the future of our city,” Basran said, shortly after the hour-long question-and-answer period.

Basran admits he was surprised by the lack of negativity in the replies to the questions he posted.

“We were prepared for that but it never materialized,” the mayor says.

Less surprising were the themes that emerged such as water quality, homelessness, traffic congestion, street crime and job-creation.

“There really wasn’t much I haven’t heard before. Nothing really surprised me other than the lack of negativity,” he adds.

Many commenters applauded the introduction of Twitter as a new communication medium and Basran says they will likely build on that.

“It just ended a few minutes ago so we need to catch our breath but I would say the collective word around the room here is that it was a success and we will certainly look at doing it again,” he says.

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