Kadin Rainville: Candidate Profile — Questions Before Decisions

If you've read my other candidate profiles, you know I'm ultimately asking one important question:

Would I trust this person to make decisions that affect my family and my community?

I spent more than two hours talking with Kadin by video. In addition, I've listened to an hour-long podcast in which he was interviewed, and I've watched him at the Chamber/Castanet, seniors and Farmers' Market candidate forums.

That's not where I stopped, though. I've also reviewed what I could find online about him. There was a fair amount for me to consider in making my assessment.

His campaign website is modest and indicates a focus on housing affordability, transparency and accountability, and homelessness. He says he is running to “deliver practical leadership, restore accountability, and put local residents first.” 

Kamloops roots 

Kadin was born and raised in Kamloops. He attended the Kamloops Christian School. And although he lives in Tobiano, he has worked in Kamloops for many years. He currently works out of an office on the North Shore.

Some voters may see living in Tobiano as a concern. For me, the concern would be whether he fully understands the challenges residents and local businesses experience throughout the community.

His office on the North Shore gives him a reason to spend much of his working day in another part of the community, including an area where some of the City's most visible homelessness and public-safety issues occur.

He’s a REALTOR®

Full disclosure: I wasn’t excited about the idea of a REALTOR® on Council. My concerns were around ties to developers and the potential for conflicts of interest requiring recusals.

He previously worked with Brendan Shaw Real Estate, but is now part of Stonehaus Realty.

In Kadin’s case, it didn’t take long talking with him to understand that his knowledge of market conditions, buyer concerns, neighbourhood issues and many other factors could actually be a benefit on Council.

We have a number of councillors who speak confidently about real estate and development. I think there is value in having someone at the table with direct, day-to-day experience in those areas. 

He also has some insight into what brings people to Kamloops and some of the factors that can influence whether people stay.

Board and advocacy experience

Kadin became a REALTOR® in late 2020 and joined the Association of Interior REALTORS® board in 2023. He became vice-president in 2024 and president in 2025. He now serves as past-president.

Serving on a board involves many of the same skills required at a council table. The subject matter is different, but both involve collective decision-making, competing priorities and accountability to the people represented.

People bring different priorities and personalities to the table. Decisions have to be made collectively, and the people involved still have to work together after a disagreement.

Kadin has participated in government advocacy on behalf of the association. In 2025, that included issues such as resale housing taxes and a permanent housing roundtable, as well as short-term rental regulations. In 2026, he participated in advocacy concerning access to strata documents and changes to the Strata Property Act and regulations.

More than a REALTOR®

Kadin told me he has served as a volunteer firefighter in Tobiano for about nine years.

He has said that experience has given him exposure to crisis management, public safety, teamwork, leadership and community service. I see that as potentially useful experience when dealing with issues involving public safety, emergency response and teamwork.

Before real estate, Kadin worked in finance management roles in the powersports industry, including at Barnes Harley-Davidson and Rivershore Ram Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

Physician recruitment

Kadin has been involved in physician recruitment.

This was interesting to me because it gave me another perspective on the argument that a performing arts centre could help attract doctors to Kamloops.

I've spoken with a few medical professionals myself and had tended to think outdoor recreation and the Kamloops lifestyle were the major selling points.

I understood his point that amenities can matter to spouses and that having options for children can be an important part of deciding whether a family wants to make Kamloops home.

That doesn't mean I've changed my position on whether the AAP should have been used, or whether the location, design, scope, budget and business plan make sense. But it does give me another factor to consider when thinking about the potential value of having an arts centre.

Communication

There's another quality I think is easy to overlook when evaluating candidates. Can they communicate? And can they do it effectively?

Council meetings involve complicated subjects. Staff make presentations. Councillors ask questions. People disagree. The public has to understand what is being discussed.

I've heard Kadin speak in several different settings, and I also listened to a longer podcast conversation with him.

I found him easy to listen to and easy to follow.

This goes beyond accents, speech patterns or whether someone speaks perfect English. It’s also about whether a person can take a complicated idea and communicate it clearly enough that other people can understand what they mean.

A councillor who asks good questions but can't clearly explain the reasoning behind them may have less impact than one who can make an issue understandable to Council and the public.

Analytical thinking

Kadin described himself as an analytical thinker. He said he's accustomed to analyzing data and tries to reverse engineer a problem.

From our conversation, I saw that as more than a description of himself. He talked about asking questions, gathering information, listening to other people, analyzing the problem and continuing to look for options.

His comments about municipal projects, technology and housing repeatedly came back to the same approach: understand the problem first, then look at the available options.

People matter to Kadin

Kadin talked several times about the importance of working with people. 

Two phrases I wrote down were “winning hearts and minds” and “respect goes a long way.”

From our conversation, I came away with the impression that Kadin sees relationships as part of getting things done, rather than something separate from the work.

The HausTalks interview was useful because it gave me another opportunity to hear Kadin explain his thinking outside the campaign setting. The conversation covers his background in real estate, trust and his approach to working with people.

Willing to challenge

We talked about how Kadin would approach staff reports and recommendations.

He told me he's “not very good at taking no for an answer.”

There’s a difference between challenging staff and creating unnecessary conflict with staff. My understanding was that when Kadin hears “no,” he wants to understand why.

If there's a reasonable explanation, that's one thing. But if the answer doesn't adequately explain the problem, my understanding is that he would keep asking questions and look for other options.

That’s important to me. Council is supposed to provide oversight. If councillors simply rubber-stamp every staff recommendation, they aren't doing the oversight job residents elected them to do.

Willing to reconsider

Kadin talked about the need to pivot when circumstances or information change.

Candidates can spend months telling voters what they believe. Once elected, there may be a temptation to defend those positions regardless of what new information emerges.

I would rather see a councillor who can say, “This was our thinking when we made the decision. We now know something different. Does that change the decision?”

We've seen how difficult it can be for elected officials to reconsider a position once they've publicly defended it. The current debate over the AAP is one example. Some councillors have changed or softened their positions as public opposition has grown.

To me, that's an important test of judgment. Sometimes the more difficult thing is to acknowledge that new information or public reaction should change your position.

Kadin told me he tries to separate emotion from evidence when making decisions. Combined with his willingness to change his position when warranted, I think that approach could lead to better decision-making on Council.

Housing

Housing is a major part of Kadin's professional experience. But I found his knowledge of housing went beyond simply buying and selling homes. 

He talked about housing in terms of neighbourhoods, communities, development, infrastructure and the municipal processes that affect people trying to buy or sell property.

His experience also gives him a perspective on what makes communities attractive. And through the Association of Interior REALTORS®, his experience extends beyond Kamloops to housing and development issues in communities across the Interior.

Homelessness and addiction

Working on the North Shore means Kadin has firsthand exposure to some of the homelessness and public drug-use issues visible in that part of the city.

Kadin related an incident where he observed open drug use and reported it to an RCMP officer. He was told that the officer's hands were tied. Kadin said he didn't see much point in calling a community services officer because he didn't believe that would resolve the problem.

Kadin's wife is a physician, and he told me that his family experience gives him another perspective on some of the health-care issues facing the community.

I see that as potentially useful because it gives him insight into some of the health-care issues behind what is visible on the street.

Kadin has indicated support for mandatory care, and increased bylaw and CSO enforcement. While that may not sit well with some voters, I don't get the impression that Kadin sees mandatory care as a one-size-fits-all solution.

Although mandatory care is a divisive topic, Kadin’s campaign website says he seeks a “balanced approach to homelessness that recognizes both the human challenges and the broader impacts on the community.”

What I found significant was that his position on mandatory care has been influenced by a person he knew who was unhoused and struggling with addiction.

Major projects

When I asked Kadin about the RCMP building, he supported repurposing the existing building. When it came to the arts centre, he said it was overdue. 

When we talked about the arena multiplex and its location, Kadin made some interesting comments. He mentioned the expense of geotechnical work and what he described as unstable ground in parts of Kamloops.

When I asked whether there might be better locations, he noted that the land is flatter in East Kamloops. He didn’t say it should be moved to East Kamloops. 

What I took from that conversation was that he is willing to question whether the existing assumptions around a project are still the best ones. His comments also suggested to me that he would be interested in examining alternatives rather than simply accepting the status quo.

Kadin also said trying to do everything at once isn't necessarily a good approach. He described the concern as having “champagne taste on a beer budget.”

Direct communication 

Kadin said he wasn't very active on social media before the election. He uses a company to handle his social media posts, but he said he'd rather talk to people in person.

That preference is interesting at a time when so much political communication takes place online. Social media can reach a lot of people quickly. It can also reduce complicated issues to short statements, reactions and arguments.

A face-to-face conversation is different. It gives people an opportunity to ask follow-up questions and gives the councillor an opportunity to hear what the person is actually concerned about.

We also talked about how Kadin would work with the mayor, whether that turns out to be a new mayor or the current mayor being re-elected. He said he would respect the choice made by the voters.

His answer suggested to me that he sees the mayor as someone chosen by the voters who deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of whether he agrees with that person's decisions.

That’s important to me. Disagreement doesn't have to become personal. When it does, we all pay the price. That attitude also fits with what Kadin told me about understanding people, dealing with criticism and managing conflict.

His experience in finance, professional association governance, advocacy and leadership training has also put him in situations where people have different interests and perspectives.

Seeking input

Kadin sees building trust as one of the challenges facing elected officials. He described what he sees as a post-COVID distrust of leadership.

People don't automatically trust institutions simply because they say they are trustworthy. That means rebuilding trust requires more than promises about transparency or accountability.

Kadin told me he likes to ask other people for their input and feedback. One idea he mentioned was holding informal “coffee and Council” sessions where residents could meet with councillors in a less formal setting.

A “coffee and Council” idea wouldn't automatically solve the City's public engagement problems. But it would create another channel for residents who aren't comfortable speaking at a formal Council meeting.

Seeking improvements

Our conversation about housing also moved into the way the City provides information and services. Kadin believes some municipal processes could be made considerably more efficient through technology.

He talked about the information REALTORS® need when dealing with properties and said he believes Kamloops could automate some of those processes. He pointed to technology being used elsewhere and said the software involved is provided by a Kamloops company.

His view is that residents and professionals shouldn't necessarily have to wait for information that could potentially be delivered almost immediately. He also indicated that users may be willing to pay more to receive an improved service.

IT is an area of the City I’d like to see receive more attention. I suspect the City is underusing technology in some areas. With the tools available today, there should be more opportunities to make services faster and easier for both residents and staff.

His experience could give Council another perspective when staff bring forward processes that could potentially be improved through technology. His comments suggested to me that he is willing to ask whether there's a better way rather than simply accepting a process because it's always been done that way.

Benefits to Council

Part of the benefit Kadin could bring to Council comes from his experience as a REALTOR®.

A good REALTOR® has to listen. They need to understand what their clients want, what they need, what they're willing to compromise on and what matters most to them. They also have to understand the consequences of the advice they give, because reputation and referrals matter. If clients aren't happy, that eventually catches up with you.

That doesn't automatically make someone a good councillor. But the underlying skills — listening, understanding competing priorities, analyzing information, negotiating, communicating and maintaining relationships — have value around a Council table.

I left our conversation with the impression that Kadin genuinely enjoys working with people. His comments about “winning hearts and minds” and the importance of respect reinforced that impression.

What to watch for

As with many candidates, Kadin doesn’t have previous Council experience. 

Incumbents often tell us that Council experience matters. While I agree that it helps, I don’t believe it is a substitute for good judgement, people skills, and the ability to disagree without making it personal. To me, that matters much more than previous Council experience.

There is a learning curve to understanding municipal budgets, legislation, procedures and the way City administration works. But we also need councillors who can get up to speed relatively quickly.

Kadin will need to put in the time and effort required to become an effective councillor. His transition into real estate suggests that he has taken on significant professional challenges before. We’ll need to look for a similar commitment to his role as a councillor.

Something else Kadin will have to consider is that municipal decisions won't always be based on the strongest financial business case. Sometimes community benefit, public safety, accessibility or other public-interest considerations will matter more.

In Kadin’s campaign announcement, he is asking residents for their support in ”bringing a new approach to City Hall”. Given his limited experience watching Council meetings, I think it's fair to ask whether one Council meeting was enough to support such a broad claim.

He was, however, able to identify things that are familiar to those of us who regularly follow Council meetings. That included side conversations and eye-rolling.

While he may be criticized for that lack of experience, it may turn out to be an advantage. Kadin hasn't had years to become accustomed to behaviour that longtime Council watchers may have started to accept as normal.

I'll be watching to see whether he notices when behaviour conflicts with his expectations for how a meeting should be conducted, and whether he's willing to challenge it regardless of where the person responsible happens to sit.

Why Kadin gets a different recommendation

I've spoken with several first-time Council candidates. Some have impressed me, while others have left me with questions I haven't been able to answer.

Kadin crossed that line for me.

I've heard him speak in several public settings, listened to a longer-form interview, reviewed his professional and association experience, and spent more than two hours talking with him directly.

Across those different settings, I saw a fairly consistent approach: listen, understand the information, ask questions, think strategically, separate emotion from evidence, change course when the information changes, and respect people even when you disagree with them.

Those are qualities I want in a councillor.

Coming back to my main question — would I trust this person to make decisions that affect my family and my community?

I've seen enough consistency between what he says, how he explains his thinking and how he conducts himself in conversation to reach that conclusion.

I would.

My Kamloops Critic recommendation for Kadin Rainville is Recommended.

I trust Kadin to come to the Council table, ask difficult questions and make decisions based on the information available to him.

I won't agree with all of his decisions and I don't expect to. But for me, that's a pretty important starting point.

More candidate profiles

Editorial disclosure: I spoke with Kadin Rainville for more than two hours by video while researching this profile. I also watched him participate in several public candidate forums, listened to his HausTalks podcast interview and reviewed his campaign material, professional history and publicly available records.

Some information discussed in my conversation with Kadin concerns his personal experience or his assessment of municipal processes, technology, housing and other matters. I have not independently verified every claim he made. Where I have not been able to independently establish something, I have attributed it to him rather than presenting it as an established fact.

My observations about Kadin's communication style, temperament and approach during our conversation are my own observations. They should not be confused with independently verifiable facts.

The assessment in this profile is my editorial assessment based on the information available to me at the time of publication. It may change if new information changes my understanding.

The recommendation in this profile reflects my editorial assessment for Kamloops Critic.

Kamloops Critic Recommendation: Recommended

It’s okay if you don’t agree with me. I’ve told you what I’ve seen in Kadin. If you’ve seen something different, let me know.

Candidate Response

Kamloops Critic welcomes factual corrections from candidates and will promptly correct any verified errors. Candidates who wish to respond to this profile are invited to submit a response of up to 750 words. Responses may be edited for length, formatting or legal considerations, but not to change the substance of the response.