Board Meeting - November 2022 Highlights
November 23, 2022
New Board of Directors officially sworn in
The RDCK Board of Directors officially took office at the inaugural Board meeting on November 17 marking the beginning of the 2022-2026 electoral term.
Pictured Back Row L-R: Jessica Lunn, Garry Jackman, Keith Page, Aidan McLaren-Caux, Diana Lockwood, Aimee Watson, Arnold DeBoon, Cheryl Graham, Leonard Casley & Hans Cunningham. Front Row L-R: Maria McFaddin, Roger Tierney, Kelly Vandenberghe, Teresa Weatherhead, Suzan Hewat, Walter Popoff & Colin Ferguson.
Missing – Tom Newell, Andy Davidoff & Henny Hanegraaf
| Electoral Area Directors | Municipal Directors |
| Electoral Area A - Garry Jackman | City of Castlegar - Maria McFaddin |
| Electoral Area B - Roger Tierney | Town of Creston - Arnold DeBoon |
| Electoral Area C - Kelly Vandenberghe | Village of Kaslo - Suzan Hewat |
| Electoral Area D - Aimee Watson | Village of Nakusp - Aidan McLaren-Caux |
| Electoral Area E - Cheryl Graham | City of Nelson - Keith Page |
| Electoral Area F - Tom Newell | Village of New Denver - Leondard Casley |
| Electoral Area G - Hans Cunningham | Village of Salmo - Diana Lockwood |
| Electoral Area H - Walter Popoff | Village of Silverton - Colin Ferguson |
| Electoral Area I - Andy Davidoff | Village of Slocan - Jessica Lunn |
| Electoral Area J - Henny Hanegraaf | |
| Electoral Area K- Teresa Weatherhead |
Chair and Vice-Chair elected by Board of Directors
Electoral Area D Director Aimee Watson was elected Board Chair for 2023. Chair Watson has served as the RDCK Area D Director since 2014 and enters her fifth term as Chair.
As well, the RDCK Board elected Village of Salmo Mayor and RDCK Director Diana Lockwood as Vice-Chair for 2023. Lockwood has served as a RDCK Director since 2018 and begins her first term as Vice-Chair.
The Board Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve a one-year term.
Pictured L-R: Vice Chair Diana Lockwood & Chair Aimee Watson
Aimee Watson nominated to remain on Columbia Basin Trust Board of Directors
The Board has nominated Director Aimee Watson to continue as the RDCK representative on the Columbia Basin Trust Board of Directors for a two-year term. Originally appointed to the Board in January 2021, Director Watson can serve a maximum of six years on The Trust Board. The Trust is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors. The five regional districts in the Basin and Ktunaxa Nation Council each nominate a director, and the Province of BC nominates the remaining six Directors.
Economic Trust of the Southern Interior BC
The Board appointed Village of Salmo Mayor and RDCK Director Diana Lockwood, Village of Slocan Mayor and RDCK Director Jessica Lunn, and Electoral Area H Director Walter Popoff to the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior BC (ETSI). Village of Nakusp Councillor and RDCK Director Aidan McLaren-Caux was appointed alternate. ETSI contributes to economic growth and diversity in the Southern Interior of BC by building the region’s economic development capacity, assisting partners as they support local businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and the creation of meaningful jobs, and provide support to key sectors of our region’s economy to innovate and be more sustainable. All Directors are appointed for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2024.
Nelson to Castlegar active transportation corridor feasibility
The Board approved two agreements related to a feasibility study for a proposed active transportation corridor between Nelson and Castlegar. The proposed 45 km route would pass through five electoral areas, connecting two municipalities, parks, college campuses, schools, places of employment, goods and services, and various neighbourhoods.
The first agreement is between Infrastructure Canada’s Active Transportation Fund (ATF) and the RDCK to fund the project. The RDCK successfully applied for a grant on behalf of the West Kootenay Cycling Coalition (WKCC), receiving $50,000 for eligible costs to support the project.
The second agreement is between the RDCK and WKCC. The RDCK will administer the funding, while the WKCC will be responsible for delivering the project.
2023 Wildfire Mitigation & FireSmart Program
The Board direct staff to apply to the 2023 Union of BC Municipalities Community Resiliency Investment Program intake to coordinate and manage grant funding with the RDCK in order to operate the Wildfire Mitigation and FireSmart Program in 2023. The grant request is for $750,000 and these funds will be used to:
- Hire six Wildfire Mitigation Specialists and one FIreSmart Coordinator
- Offer and administer a FireSmart rebate program to residential properties that have had a FireSmart Assessment and have begun mitigation
- Offer and administer monetary support to neighbourhoods pursuing Neighbourhood Recognition
- Bolster educational activities promoting FireSmart
The Board also committed $20,000 to the 2023 Wildfire Mitigation and FireSmart Program.
RDCK Quarterly Report
The Board received the 2022 Q3 Quarterly Report which details the current projects and initiatives of the RDCK. Please follow the link to the most recent RDCK Quarterly Report.
Director’s Reports
RDCK Directors provide monthly reports explaining what they have been working on. Click here to read the November reports in the Board minutes (agenda item 10.5, pg.136).
Click here to view a print-friendly PDF version.
The content on this page was last updated November 23 2022 at 3:01 AM