Tracy Gray

Tracy Gray MP is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Kelowna—Lake Country in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[3] Prior to her election in the House of Commons, she was a city councillor for Kelowna City Council.

Tracy Gray

MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Kelowna—Lake Country
Assumed office
October 21, 2019
Preceded byStephen Fuhr
Kelowna City Councillor
In office
November 15, 2014 – October 20, 2018
Personal details
Born1969 or 1970 (age 50–51)[1]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Larry Gray[2]
ResidenceKelowna, British Columbia
Alma materUniversity of Calgary
ProfessionSmall Business Owner
Business Executive

Business career

Prior to entering public service, Gray had worked extensively in the British Columbia liquor industry. She served in managerial capacities at several breweries and wineries in the Okanagan Valley, including Mission Hill Winery and Granville Island Brewing.[4][5] She ran the Retail and Hospitality department at Mission Hill when it was awarded the International Wine and Spirit Competition Avery Trophy for Best Chardonnay in the World.[6]

In 2003, Gray launched a chain of VQA wine stores in the British Columbia Interior.[5] Throughout its operation, the chain was the highest ranked wine store in British Columbia in terms of sales,[7] and carried over 800 varieties of local British Columbia wine.[8] Gray has guest lectured at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Okanagan College about entrepreneurship and has been an advocate and mentor for women in business.[8][9] Gray hosted a weekly wine lifeystyle segment on Global Okanagan and has also served as a judge at several international wine competitions.[10]

Gray was a director on the Okanagan Film Commission, an organization which promotes regional economic development in film and animation.[11] She was also a board member for Prospera Credit Union. Gray was on the board when Prospera merged with Westminster Savings, the largest credit union merger in Canadian history, making the new organization the 6th largest credit union in Canada.[12] She also served as a director on the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.[13]

Gray was appointed by British Columbia's cabinet to serve on the Passenger Transportation Board.[14]

Politics

Kelowna City Councillor (2014-2018)

Gray was elected as a Kelowna City Councillor following the 2014 municipal election. While on City Council, Gray was also elected as Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board,[15] and spearheaded the region's flood mitigation strategy and invasive Quagga mussel prevention campaign.[15] In April 2017, the provincial government responded to the concerns raised by Gray and the Water Board about invasive mussels by hiring more conservation officers and providing funding for two more boat inspection stations in the area.[16] She was also appointed as a Trustee on the Okanagan Regional Library board.[17]

She also served at the regional government level as a director on the Central Okanagan Regional District board.[12]

Federal Politics (2018-present)

On September 6, 2018, Gray announced she would seek the federal Conservative nomination for the electoral district of Kelowna—Lake Country,[18] stating she felt compelled to run following the Liberal government's proposed small business tax changes.[19] She won the contested nomination on April 6, 2019.[20] Gray was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding on October 21, defeating Liberal incumbent Stephen Fuhr.[2] She is the first woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament for the riding.[2]

Gray was named to the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in November 2019 as Shadow Minister for Interprovincial Trade.[21] Following the election of Erin O'Toole as Conservative party leader, in September 2020 Gray became Shadow Minister for Export Promotion and International Trade.[22]

Personal life

Gray is married with one adult son.[2][8] She was born in Edmonton and grew up in Lethbridge, moving to Kelowna in 1989.[1] She is a graduate of the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.[23]

In her free time, Gray enjoys skiing and singing in a volunteer community rock band composed of elected officials in the Kelowna-area.[24][8]

Awards and Recognition

In 2006, Gray was named RBC Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.[25]

In 2008, she was named by the Women's Enterprise Centre as one of 100 'New Pioneers' in British Columbia involved in entrepreneurship.[26]

In 2015, she was named as a 'Woman to Watch' by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and Kelowna Capital News for her work in the local wine industry and on city council.[9]

Electoral record

Federal
2019 Canadian federal election: Kelowna—Lake Country
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeTracy Gray31,49745.6+5.85$118,425.23
LiberalStephen Fuhr22,62732.7-13.46$103,263.61
New DemocraticJustin Kulik8,38112.1-1.99$12,410.64
GreenTravis Ashley5,1717.5–$6,745.70
People'sJohn Barr1,2251.8–$7,213.32
IndependentDaniel Joseph1520.2–none listed
IndependentSilverado Socrates670.1–$0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 69,120100.0
Total rejected ballots 305
Turnout 69,42569.4
Eligible voters 99,992
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.66
Source: Elections Canada[27][28][29]

Municipal
Kelowna Municipal Election (2014) Top 8 candidates elected
Party Council candidate Vote %
  IndependentLuke Stack (X)16,5249.20
  IndependentGail Given (X)15,5598.66
  IndependentMaxime DeHart (X)15,5228.64
  IndependentMohini Singh (X)15,4158.58
  IndependentBrad Sieben12,5877.01
  IndependentTracy Gray11,5156.41
  IndependentRyan Donn9,5655.32
  IndependentCharles Hodge9,4445.26
  IndependentBeryl Itani8,1194.52
  IndependentLaura Thurnheer7,714.33
  IndependentAlan Monk6,1853.44
  IndependentDavid Mossman5,2622.93
  TaxPayersFirstGraeme James4,8352.69
  TaxPayersFirstMichael Gorman4,3912.44
  Propser KelownaMike McLoughlin4,3272.41
  Propser KelownaSean Upshaw3,9092.18
  TaxPayersFirstCarol Gran3,8032.12
  IndependentBobby Kennedy3,1071.73
  IndependentMo Rajabally3,0241.68
  TaxPayersFirstDale Olson2,4911.39
  IndependentDayleen Van Ryswyk2,2941.28
  TaxPayersFirstBillie Aaltonen2,1911.22
  IndependentLeslie Lendall2,0711.15
  IndependentRawle James1,7390.97
  IndependentConnor P.J. O'Reilly1,4930.83
  IndependentKen Chung1,4740.82
  IndependentGwen Miles1,2720.71
  IndependentKen Finney1,2630.70
  IndependentCal Condy9890.55
  IndependentKrista Jessacher7730.43
  IndependentRed Somer7510.42

References
  1. Miller, James (February 19, 2019). "Conservative nomination date draws nearer in Kelowna-Lake Country". Penticton Herald. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  2. MacNaull, Seve (21 October 2019). "Conservative Tracy Gray wins big in Kelowna-Lake Country". Kelowna Daily Courrier. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. Manchester, Joe (October 21, 2019). "Gray turns Kelowna blue". Castanet.net. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  4. Waters, Alistair (2014-06-18). "Kelowna businesswoman first to toss her hat into civic election ring". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. Paillard, Sylvie (2013-05-01). "Toast of the Town: Kamloops wine lovers finally have something to cheers about". Kamloops Daily News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  6. "MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE CROWNED "CANADIAN WINE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR" AT THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT COMPETITION IN LONDON, UK BY PROPRIETOR OF CHÀTEAU HAUT-BRION". Mission Hill Winery. Mission Hill Winery. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. Sturmanis, Donna (27 May 2013). "Kamloops Customers Welcome Discover Wines". Food & Wine Trails BC. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  8. Gaze, Denise (1 September 2013). "Retailer Profile: Wine charm" (PDF). Homestyle Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  9. Klassen, Sawyer (2 October 2015). "Women to Watch: Tracy Gray". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. "Wine judges prepare for Best of BC Wine Awards". OkanaganLife Magazine. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  11. "They're supporting Tracy Gray". Kelowna Daily News. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  12. Shore, Randy (22 October 2019). "Election 2019: B.C., meet your new MPs". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. Waters, Alistair (15 March 2018). "Kelowna chamber names new president". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  14. "Passenger Transportation Board Annual Report, 2012-2013" (PDF). BC Passenger Transportation Board. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  15. Gerding, Barry (7 February 2018). "Kelowna city councillor re-elected water board chair". Vernon Morning Star. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  16. Waters, Alistair (6 April 2017). "More to do in fight against invasive mussels says water board". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  17. "Okanagan Regional Library Board Minutes" (PDF). Okanagan Regional Library. Okanagan Regional Library. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  18. Waters, Alistair (6 September 2018). "Kelowna city councillor enters race for Conservative nomination". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  19. Michaels, Kathy (18 February 2019). "Nomination date set for Kelowna- Lake Country Conservatives". Lake Country Calendar. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  20. Berry, Carli (6 April 2019). "Tracy Gray new Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative candidate". Kelowna Capital News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  21. Potenteau, Doyle (29 November 2019). "All four Okanagan MPs named to federal government critic roles". Global Okanagan. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  22. Emmanuel, Rachel (8 September 2020). "Strategists applaud O'Toole's inclusion of women, young MPs in shadow cabinet". iPolitics. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  23. Miller, James (4 April 2019). "Race for federal Tory nomination to be decided Saturday". The Daily Courrier. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  24. Weld, Carmen (29 September 2015). "Cannan: A tough road". CastaNet. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  25. "Government of Canada Invests in Recognizing Women Entrepreneurs and Business Networks". Government of Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  26. New Pioneers: STORIES OF 100 BC WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS (PDF). Kelowna, British Columbia: Women’s Enterprise Centre. 2008. p. 47. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  27. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  28. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  29. "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.


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