A long-time business owner and active volunteer, Mel Arnold has always been passionate about enriching the opportunities available for all those in the Kamloops–Shuswap–Central Rockies (formerly the riding of North Okanagan–Shuswap). His dedication to conservation made him a natural for his role as Deputy Shadow Minister for Fisheries Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, where he is able to continue his efforts toward conservation on a national scale.