Mike Campol to run for Osoyoos town council

Mike Campol says his heavy involvement in community activities is about making the Town of Osoyoos a better place to live and he believes becoming a member of Town of Osoyoos council would give him the opportunity make an ever bigger impact.

Campol, 42, announced last week he will be seeking a seat on town council in the upcoming November 15 municipal election.

After being relieved of his job as general manager of Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa a couple of months ago, Campol said he and his wife Rebecca talked about the possibility of leaving Osoyoos.

They quickly realized that they and their two young children wanted to remain in Osoyoos for many years to come.

So Campol started his own consulting company and has now decided to run for public office.

“At the end of the day, we decided this is where we wanted to be,” he said. “My wife and I love living here and our two kids love living here and after a lot of discussion, we committed to staying here.”

Campol is well-known to most local residents as the founder of the Spirit of the Game organization, which has helped raise significant dollars since its inception 15 months ago to assist families to allow children to participate in minor sports and other recreational activities.

He’s also the chair of the organizing committee for the inaugural Desert Live Music Festival, which took place at Gyro Park in downtown Osoyoos in late June and early July.

Campol said he made the decision to run for town council about three weeks ago.

The fact incumbent councillor Michael Ryan announced he would not be seeking re-election in November and incumbent Michael Plante was also considering dropping out after expanding his travel and tourism business, played a significant role in him deciding to file nomination papers, said Campol.

“It’s not something I really thought a lot about before, but when I saw that there was going to be at least one opening on council and maybe two, I figured I might actually have a chance if I were to run,” he said. “I look at the positive impact someone like Mike Plante, who had no previous political experience, has had on the current council and it encouraged me that I might be able to have a similar impact.”

Campol’s new company is called MJC Hospitality Solutions and he will be working as a consultant in property management, food and beverage management and business start up opportunities.

Ironically, one of his first contracts signed since forming his own business is working as the property manager for dozens of condo owners at Spirit Ridge.

Since coming to Osoyoos three years ago, Campol said he and his family have come to love the lifestyle opportunities that are part in parcel of living in the South Okanagan.

“I came out here on a three-month contract at Spirit Ridge and I remember calling my wife after only a few days on the job and telling her how magical this place is,” he said. “It was a very easy decision to bring my family to Osoyoos and we have loved living here ever since.”

Campol said one of his greatest strengths is being able to take an idea or concept and seeing it through to completion, citing Desert Live as a shining example.

“I only get involved in community projects I believe in and will become heavily invested in,” he said. “I’m the kind of person who can take a project and relentlessly pursue everything that needs to be done to make that project a reality.

“I knew they had been talking about a music festival for Osoyoos for three or four years and when I decided to get involved, I helped organize a committee that was relentless in pursuing everything needed to put on an excellent event and we accomplished everything we thought was possible for a first-time festival event.”

If elected, Campol said one of his top priorities would be working with other members of council to bring more permanent jobs to this community.

“Osoyoos is a town that has a lot of jobs, especially during the tourist season, but not enough careers,” he said. “I think we need to promote our community as a place where entrepreneurs will want to come to start up new businesses.

“We have the weather, we have the lifestyle and we have wonderful people who live here, but we don’t have the commitment yet to attracting more businesses to situate here in Osoyoos.  There is technology out there that will allow business owners to enjoy everything we offer here in Osoyoos and operate successful businesses.”

There is no reason Osoyoos shouldn’t become a national training centre for young people looking to work in the hospitality, tourism, food and beverage and wine industries, said Campol.

He believes there are numerous post-secondary institutions and training schools that would be very interested in offering courses and training in these professions in Osoyoos.

“What young person wouldn’t want to get world-class training in their chosen profession while living in a beautiful place like Osoyoos,” he asked rhetorically.

“We have a chance to get ahead of this now,” he said. “If we don’t do it, some other community will. There’s no secret here in that the biggest challenges we’re facing in the industries that make our community, such as hospitality, wine and culinary, are recruitment and retention of staff.

“We have the grapes, we have the fresh fruits and vegetables, we have the wineries and we have the expertise to train future leaders in these industries.”

Campol said he’s looking forward to participating in upcoming all-candidates debates and selling his vision of Osoyoos now and for the future.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times