Kristina Loewen
Kristina Loewen MLA | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Kelowna Centre | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | BC Conservative |
Kristina Loewen is a Canadian politician who has been elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2024 British Columbia general election. She represents the electoral district of Kelowna Centre as a member of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.[1][2]
Early life and career
Loewen has been a part of the Kelowna community for over 25 years. She has been married to her husband Andrew for 26 years and together they have four children.[3] As her children were growing up she was involved in fundraising and community collaboration efforts eventually heading up their preschool as president and sitting on its council for many years.[4] She also has had extensive experience in the healthcare system first as a care-aide before becoming a doula, supporting over 200 births over a 10 year period.[4] For the past five years before getting involved in politics, Loewen was a real estate professional.[4]
Political career
On February 17, 2024, Loewen was nominated as the Conservative Party of BC's candidate for Kelowna Centre. She went on to win her seat in the Legislative Assembly of BC defeating BC NDP candidate Loyal Woodridge.[5][6] A judicial recount, which was automatically required because the difference in the final count was less than 1/500 of the total votes, confirmed her victory, with a margin of 40 votes.[7]
She currently serves in the official oppositions shadow cabinet as the Critic for Rural Housing and Building Code.[3] Her policy priorities include affordable housing and fiscal responsibility.[3]
Political controversies
Before her election, Loewen posted in a Facebook group devoted to New World Order conspiracy theories. She made a post about the 15-minute cities conspiracy theory, claiming that there had been a failed British test. Loewen also promoted posts saying that the United Nations was part of the NWO and that "banking is a [World Economic Forum] plot".[8][8]
Electoral record
| 2024 British Columbia general election: Kelowna Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | 11,033 | 42.85 | – | $42,377.15 | ||||
| New Democratic | Loyal Wooldridge | 10,993 | 42.69 | +10.4 | $28,338.11 | |||
| Unaffiliated | Michael Humer | 2,613 | 10.15 | – | $15,530.72 | |||
| Green | Bryce Tippe | 1,111 | 4.31 | -11.1 | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 25,750 | 99.87 | – | $71,700.08 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 33 | 0.13 | – | |||||
| Turnout | 25,783 | 56.49 | – | |||||
| Registered voters | 45,642 | |||||||
| Conservative notional gain from BC United | Swing | N/A[n 1] | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC[9][10] | ||||||||
- ^ Swing cannot be calculated as BC United did not run a candidate in this riding.
References
- ^ Webster, Brittany (2024-10-19). "B.C. Votes 2024: Conservatives claim victory over Kelowna-Centre". Oak Bay News. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ Michaels, Kathy (Oct 19, 2024). "BC Election 2024: Conservative Kristina Loewen declares victory in Kelowna Centre - Kelowna News". Castanet. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ a b c "Kristina Loewen at Conservative Party of BC". Conservative Party of BC. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ a b c "1st Session, 43rd Parliament: Afternoon Session". Legislative Assembly of BC. February 26, 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ Kristina Loewen (February 17, 2024). "Kristina Loewen Nominated In Kelowna Centre". Conservative Party of BC. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ "BC Conservative Kristina Loewen is Kelowna Centre's first MLA". INFOnews. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ Lorraine, Cheyanna (November 8, 2024). "Recount confirms Kristina Loewen's victory in Kelowna Centre". Kelowna Now. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ a b LeBrun, Luke (October 20, 2024). "Meet the Extreme, Far-Right BC Conservative Candidates Who Are Now Legislators Following BC's Wild Election". PressProgress. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Statement of Votes – 43rd Provincial General Election – October 19, 2024" (PDF). Elections BC. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ "2024 Provincial General Election Financing Reports Available". Elections BC. Retrieved 6 July 2025.