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A successful Albertan entrepreneur has been nominated as the Conservative Party of BC candidate in a new Central Okanagan riding.
The party said Tara Armstrong has a “remarkable track record in the private sector” and will be a “champion of conservative values” if she is elected to represent Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream.
Armstrong first worked in the aviation sector, including in Dubai, before heading home in 2006 to join her family business.
In 2007 she opened a franchise of the business – Driving Miss Daisy, a transportation service for seniors – in Kelowna.
Armstrong – and her firm – reached a national audience in 2018 when she and her mother, Bev Halisky, won $200,000 in funding during a successful appearance on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.
Lane Merrifield and Arlene Dickinson backed the mother-daughter duo in exchange for 35 per cent of their company.
“Tara's commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of senior citizens is a central theme in her career,” the BC Conservatives said.
“She has dedicated a significant portion of her professional life to this vital segment of society.”
The party also said Armstrong has “deep Conservative roots” that were “instilled in her from an early age” when she grew up in Alberta.
Tara Armstrong for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream!
— Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC) November 27, 2023
For nearly two decades, Tara demonstrated exceptional leadership by spearheading the transformation of a small, single-province franchise business into a thriving nationwide success story.
Meet Tara: https://t.co/T6Nh3Z7ljV pic.twitter.com/NeMqksfPna
“Tara is a natural leader who firmly supports the core values that define Canada as the ‘true north strong and free.’ She admires leaders who prioritize doing what's right over what's popular.”
She has served on the board of directors of the Conservative Party of BC since June 2023.
On Saturday, BC United selected Pavneet Singh as its candidate for the Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream riding.
He was interviewed by KelownaNow in October.
The next provincial election will be held on or before Oct. 19, 2024.