City councils are places where rules of order and procedure govern the process, but sometimes they simply follow traditions. Next week, one of those traditions are slated to be turfed.

Second-term councillor Gord Lovegrove was the top vote-getter in last month’s election, which would traditionally have him appointed to the Central Okanagan Regional District.

Mayor Tom Dyas’ proposed list instead snubbed Lovegrove. He was also the only one who endorsed Dyas’ opponent Ron Cannan in the election.

“That’s what happened to me when they ousted me last time, in 2024, because I didn’t support the raise,” Cannan said.

During the last term, Cannan was among a few who opposed a raise for the mayor and councillors. He was subsequently pulled from the regional district board, then returned more than a year later. At the time, Dyas said he wanted to give others the experience.

Cannan couldn’t speak to precisely why Lovegrove didn’t get the appointment.

“I just saw the list. Is it a coincidence?” Cannan said, referring to Lovegrove’s endorsement of Cannan ahead of the October election.

The extra job as regional district director comes with a nearly $20,000 stipend on top of the roughly $60,000 paid to each city councillor. If council approves Dyas’ suggested appointments, Lovegrove would still serve as an alternate, meaning he’ll step in if someone is absent and will be paid per meeting.

Cannan, who has served multiple terms on council, added many cities don’t have rules that prescribe which council member gets the appointment, but he suggested a policy would “remove any possibility of politics and control being part of the equation.”

The appointments are typically chosen by the mayor, in consultation with the city manager, before council votes to approve the list. Dyas’ appointments will be debated at the Nov. 9 council meeting.

Lovegrove and Dyas were not immediately available to comment.