Ben Stewart was elected MLA for Westside-Kelowna in 2009 and 2013. He was then elected MLA for Kelowna-West in 2018 and 2020. He currently serves as the Shadow Minister for Tourism and Trade.

Stewart previously served as Official Opposition Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure, and Critic for Housing. He also served as Minister of Citizen Services and Multiculturalism, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Community and Rural Development (Municipal Affairs), appointed to the Treasury Board, and Government Whip. In October of 2013, Stewart was appointed British Columbia’s Special Representative in Asia to act as the province’s official on-the-ground representative to further strengthen B.C.’s government-to-government relationships in China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia. 

He also has extensive experience serving the community as a board and advisory member with UBCO and the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. He also served on the Regional District’s advisory planning commission, economic development commission, and Westside governance committee.  

The Stewart family has farmed continuously in Kelowna since 1908. Having grown up in Kelowna, Ben Stewart has farmed vineyards and a diverse mixture of orchards and tree fruits with his family for over 40 years and is regarded as a pioneer of today’s premium wine industry. 

In 1989, he founded and built Quail’s Gate into one of Canada’s leading estate wineries. Later, under his leadership as chair of VQA Canada, the organization successfully resolved a significant number of National and International Trademark and Trade issues.