The North Okanagan lifestyle and numerous wineries nearby are just two of the reasons Carolyn Baldridge packed up her life in Port Coquitlam and moved to Vernon with her husband, Craig.
Baldridge was formally introduced to the Vernon City Council as the city's new communications and grants director on Monday, Jan. 22, by Kevin Poole, the city's director of corporate management.
The Baldridge family is familiar with the area.
“We've been vacationing in Vernon for 15 years,” Baldridge said. “We come here for a week and play on Swan Lake and paddleboard on Lake Cull. We came here for the lifestyle of paddleboarding, skiing and cycling.”
She said the proximity to wine country is one of her “personal favorite” reasons to move to the North Okanagan.
“My husband said you can only join two wine clubs,” joked Baldridge, who has served as communications and engagement manager for the city of Pitt Meadows for the past seven years.
The Kootenays' family business was running a radio station, and Baldrige began his career in broadcasting at the age of 14 before moving into communications.
She has worked for Geoscience BC, the Fraser Valley Health Authority, the Ministry of Forestry's Wildfire Bureau, as well as in police and education communications departments.
Mr. Baldrige takes over from Christie Poirier, who left Vernon at the end of September to return to Alberta for family reasons. Josh Winquist, who was in charge of Poirier's role after her departure, will remain in the city's communications department.
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