Kelowna mayor steps away from duties for health reasons

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas has been temporarily sidelined due to a tear in an artery in his neck.

“Tom Dyas will be temporarily away from his duties as mayor to recover from a vertebral artery dissection in his neck, sustained earlier this week. He is expected to make a full recovery and looks forward to resuming his role serving the citizens of Kelowna soon,” the City of Kelowna said in a press release issued today, Feb. 7.

A vertebral artery dissection is a tear in an artery in the neck that causes blood to leak between the layers of the artery wall. There are numerous causes for a vertebral artery dissection and the city did not say what happened to Dyas.

While Dyas is recovering, city councillor Luke Stack is serving as deputy mayor.

“Our thoughts are with Mayor Dyas as he takes the time needed to recover,” city manager Doug Gilchrist said in the release. “On behalf of council and the community, we wish him a full and speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”

The city said it will not be releasing any more details “out of respect for the mayor and his family.”