Category: Uncategorized

Nelson, BC: Every year residents across the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) face the potential of flooding, wildfire, extreme weather conditions, avalanches, landslides, power outages and more. These types of disasters can happen at a moment’s notice – are you prepared to handle these situations in your community?

This year the RDCK is pleased to announce the official roll out of its Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP), which supports residents in preparing for emergencies and building resiliency within their neighbourhood. During a disaster, your neighbours will be your most reliable and immediate source of help, until assistance from first responders arrives.

“With a little planning, preparation and support from our neighbours, residents can be self sufficient for 72 hours or longer after an incident,” said Jon Jackson, RDCK Emergency Program Coordinator. “This allows first responders to focus on providing critical support, and prioritising those people in life-threatening situations.”

NEPP provides the tools you need to expand from being personally prepared to developing an emergency plan with your neighbours that leverages the support you can provide to one another. The idea is to empower residents to work together to identify risks in their neighbourhood and collectively develop plans for how to prepare, often by utilizing skills and resources that already exist. It is based on the principle of ‘neighbours helping neighbours’.

The RDCK ran a successful pilot program of NEPP in 2022. Residents were receptive to the idea and eager to work with their neighbours and get involved. During the pilot 10 neighbourhoods or community groups developed Neighbourhood Emergency Plans, and are continuing to work together to build their preparedness for emergencies.

“The process so far has been quite straight forward,” said Nancy Corrin, Queens Bay Neighbourhood Emergency Team. “The tools are clear and can be adapted to whatever the community wants to include, based on the specific hazards for their area. NEPP extends the concept of community preparedness and neighbour helping neighbour ideas. There is value to be had in collective community strategy and cooperative action when it comes to facing a community crisis.”

Spending time now to prepare for emergencies can alleviate much of the stress and some of the challenges that typically arise as a result of emergencies. A 2014 Statistics Canada survey determined that less than half of Canadians had a home emergency supply kit. Canadians were less likely to set aside items such as water, food, medicine, flashlights or cash at their homes in case of an emergency. People lead very busy lives, with lots of priorities. It’s not always clear to people why this is important.

“All around the world, disasters are happening more often – and the impacts are becoming more severe,” said Jackson. “We’ve all seen the terrible impacts of the recent floods and wildfires in BC, and how the changing climate is contributing to an increase in flooding and wildfire risk in our region. It behooves us to prepare now, in order to build our resilience to emergencies.”

“The support from the RDCK has been extremely helpful,” said Corrin. “We feel that it is provident and timely for the community to undertake appropriate planning and activities ahead of any crisis. An informed community will reduce the chance of panic and assist the emergency agencies involved by reducing their burden.”

“The goal of the RDCK is to engage as many of our residents as possible in the program – ultimately, we’d like to create a region-wide community of neighbourhood emergency teams sharing information and learnings. We’re stronger together,” said Jackson.

For more information on the program go to www.rdck.ca/NEPP or read the RDCK NEPP Handbook.

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Nelson, BC: A nation wide shortage of lifeguards and swimming instructors is having a notable impact at the local level. The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has had to make the difficult decision to continue to operate our Castlegar, Creston and Nelson pools with reduced hours.

“Public safety is our number-one priority and unfortunately with staff leaving to pursue other career paths and on leave, we do not have adequate experienced staff to operate our regional pools at full capacity, for the time being,” said Joe Chirico, RDCK General Manager of Community Services. “We have been playing catch-up in our succession of experienced staff, due to the interruption in training and development for future lifeguards and swim instructors. Our goal is to get back to pre-pandemic service delivery, and without more staff, including aquatics leadership at all our pools, the hours will continue to be limited and will continue to fluctuate.”

The lifeguard shortage has its origins in the pandemic, when pools across the RDCK were shut down and training and certification programs were put on hold. Even though the RDCK continues to offer these programs and have developed other opportunities to fast track training for existing staff, new lifeguards need time and supervision to build their skills. With the industry average for a lifeguard or swim instructor to work in the field being two and a half years, many pools across the province are still trying to get ahead of the time lost due to the pandemic.

“To ensure the RDCK can grow its experienced and qualified staff, we are applying a regional approach to training to provide opportunities throughout the RDCK region,” said Amanda Beavers, RDCK Regional Programmer. “We are utilizing qualified staff to deliver courses as needed or contracting to external instructors when the qualification or capacity is not held in house.”

The RDCK is committed to offering courses to support the continued growth and succession of lifeguards and swim instructors in the region. Beavers was even recently recognized by the Lifesaving Society for teaching the most lifesaving/lifeguarding candidates in the Kootenay’s in 2022. Such lifesaving courses taught by Beavers are the prerequisites for lifeguard courses.

Anybody who is interested in pursuing their lifeguard or swim instructor certification can contact any of our RDCK facilities or visit rdck.ca/recreation for information about training opportunities and potential support at all RDCK facilities.

The RDCK is looking for responsible individuals with lifeguarding and/or supervisory experience – especially those who are able to work throughout the week and during the day. All RDCK aquatics and recreation job opportunities are posted at www.rdck.ca/jobs.

Before you visit one of our recreation facilities, please double-check the schedule, since information may change quickly. Any changes to hours of operation will be shared on the facility’s recorded phone greeting, on facility signs, on social media, and on our website.

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Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has released their draft climate action plan – RDCK Climate Actions. The comprehensive plan and accompanying Climate Action workbook are now available to the public and the RDCK is seeking feedback from the community.

RDCK Climate Actions is the most recent effort of the RDCK Climate Action Strategy and outlines a path to creating a healthier more resilient region. RDCK Climate Actions centers the rural experience, integrates equity into climate action, and focuses on building a culture that supports action. The actions are organized across 10 pathways – Land Use & Planning, Transportation & Mobility, Energy, Buildings, Resource Recovery, Water, Food & Agriculture, Floods & Geohazards, Wildfire, and Leadership & Operations.

“The RDCK is committed to reducing carbon pollution and transitioning to low carbon operations. RDCK Climate Actions is a four-year action plan focused on solutions that work within a rural landscape,” said Aimee Watson, RDCK Board Chair. “Responding to the climate crisis requires participation from all of us. The RDCK is laying out our pathway to a low carbon future with the ultimate goal of supporting resilient communities, reducing risks of climate change while building healthy and sustainable communities.”

RDCK Climate Actions is presented in different forms for different audiences:

1. Rack Card – condensed summary for public distribution
2. Public Booklet – engagement, education and action – 34 pages, very visual, invites personal action, provide a summary list of the actions
3. Climate Action Workbook – deeper dive into all the actions

“We are excited by the latest RDCK climate action effort. The public booklet and workbook represent years of collaborative efforts between staff, residents and climate action experts to make visible the work of the RDCK, and also design a bold plan for reducing pollution and increasing our ability to adapt to the changes we are experiencing,” said Paris Marshall Smith, RDCK Sustainability Planner. “We look forward to sharing RDCK Climate Actions with residents and hearing their thoughts.”  

Community engagement:

• From February to April, staff will support engagement with RDCK staff, Committees and Commissions, including a pair of public information sessions;
  • Wednesday, March 15 – 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday, March 21 – 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
• Here is a QR Code linked to RDCK Climate Actions feedback form. Use your smartphone to access the form or go directly to the form here.  

• April Board meeting – RDCK Board asked to adopt RDCK Climate Actions

Within each pathway are 5-12 actions supported by implementation plans for a total of 96 actions, two-thirds of which were already identified in RDCK departmental workplans. The additional third were identified through consultation with experts, engagement with community and collaboration with staff. Some examples of new actions include:

• Transition the RDCK corporate fleet to zero emission vehicles
• Work in collaboration with Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, Parks, and community groups
• Integration and implementation of the RDCK Better Corporate Building Policy
• Develop a RDCK Asset Management Plan with climate resilience lens
• Support local producers to implement climate adapted agricultural strategies
• Re-establish Regional WaterSmart Ambassador program
• Create a Trip Avoidance Policy for RDCK staff
• Integrate an assessment of climate impacts in RDCK Board reporting

CLIMATE ACTION CULTURE

Achieving the targeted carbon pollution reductions will require changes from all of us. RDCK Climate Actions focuses on tangible actions, as well as actions designed to shift our collective culture to prioritize low carbon and adaptive actions. We call this Climate Action Culture. RDCK Climate Actions addresses both our corporate and community Climate Action Culture by considering ways to work together to change our behaviour and build more resilient, connected and equitable communities.

Corporately, RDCK Climate Actions is building a culture that prioritizes climate actions in all RDCK decision-making processes to support behavioural change. Tools include policy, decision-making matrices, regulation, incentives, messaging and learning labs, and formal and informal discussions.

For the community at large, RDCK Climate Actions is supporting current climate action culture through partnerships and investigating new rurally focussed opportunities using tools like learning labs, think tanks, hubs, and pilots.

BACKGROUND

In April 2019, the RDCK declared a climate action imperative for all orders of the government to apply a low carbon resilience lens to decisions on building construction, energy systems, resource recovery, land use and transportation. This imperative obliges the RDCK to pursue opportunities that will further catalyze the RDCK as a climate action leader.

In response to the Board`s directive, RDCK climate action strategy was drafted to support clear and deliberate action. The strategy includes 3 pillars: 

1. Inform with good data (reporting and tracking);
2. Guide with systems to influence, understand and support decision making; and,
3. Action – bold and responsive to rural communities

Since 2019, the RDCK has been engaging residents most notably through the development of the 100% Renewable Energy Plan (2020) to better understand local climate action priorities. This foundation, in addition to the engagement that was conducted in 2022, informs RDCK Climate Actions.

The intent of RDCK Climate Actions is to identify actions that build on existing successes in our communities and take advantage of current initiatives while advocating for and creating opportunities focused on rural areas through pilot projects, programs, policies, and incentives. As well, RDCK Climate Actions will work with member municipalities to support the reduction of their carbon pollution through collaboration and partnership. The strategy of designing the Plan with a four-year lifespan aligned with the electoral cycle is to ensure the RDCK’s climate action work stays dynamic and is able to integrate new and emerging policies and technologies.

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Nelson, BC:  Construction is set to begin on the replacement of the arena floor at the Castlegar & District Community Complex next week. The replacement will address brine leaks that have been occurring over the last few years. The work to replace the floor will require the closure of the arena for at the most seven months.

The Castlegar and District Community Complex and Recreation Commission awarded the contract for the project to Reward Construction Ltd. (Reward) based in Edmonton Alberta. Reward has 23 years of experience installing arena cooling floors, including Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

“We are pleased to work with Reward on this project, who will be onsite staring Monday, March 13 to start removing the existing arena floor and begin the process of replacement,” said Craig Stanley, RDCK Regional Manager of Operations and Asset Management. “Throughout the construction period, the arena will be off limits to the public for the duration of the project and some areas outside of the complex will be designated as contractor parking, staging and laydown areas. There could also be parking areas at the rear of the building blocked to facilitate the contactor.”

Originally installed in 1976, the arena floor has outlived its intended life of 35-40 years. While the temporary closure of the arena will affect user groups, the timing is intended to limit the overall impact to users. Expectation is for the arena to be available for use on or before October 15, 2023. The project costs for the work is projected to be $1.44 million.

“The project will involve removing the old concrete, some of the existing sub-grade materials and installing new subgrade materials, a new cooling floor and a heating subfloor to prevent frost,” said Stanley. “The new polished concrete cooling floor will be installed to the grades of the existing floor, allowing for the re-use of all existing boards. As well, we are working with Reward and local sub-contractors in exploring opportunities to recycle the concrete that makes up the existing floor.”

RDCK Project Management staff facilitated a project kick-off meeting last Thursday with representatives from Reward, RJC Engineering Ltd and operations management and staff in attendance virtually and in person.

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Proposed RDCK Five-Year Financial Plan

At the Special Board Meeting on Friday, February 17 a draft of the 2023-2027 Financial Plan was provided to the Board. The latest projection is an 11 to 12% average increase in taxes for RDCK residents, although this is highly variable depending on the area or municipality the resident lives in. The range across the areas is from about a 5% to 24% increase. The Castlegar and District Community Complex arena floor repair, estimated at $1.5 million, is driving the large increase in Castlegar and the surrounding areas. Increases in fire protection service costs are also contributing to some of the more substantial increases. Some of the change in taxation is also driven by shifts in assessment.

Asset management will have an increased focus across most services. This will increase costs in the short term, but will pay dividends with improved financial planning, asset availability and service delivery over the mid to long term.

The RDCK will host seven hybrid public meetings (in-person and online) and one online public meeting through February and March which will allow the public in our various sub regions to comment and provide feedback on the proposed five-year Financial Plan. Follow the link for the complete meeting schedule.

Kootenay Lake Local Conservation to fund 2023 projects

The Board approved $74,376.50 in grant funds for the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund to be spread among six different projects. The fund provides grants to support local conservation efforts in Electoral Areas A, D and E focused on the conservation of water and aquatic systems, as well as wildlife and habitat. Here are the six projects:

Curbside Collection Consultation

The RDCK is seeking the public`s feedback on a curbside collection service in certain parts of RDCK Electoral Areas. Households in Electoral Area’s D and K are not part of the service proposal due to their distance to RDCK waste disposal facilities for processing organic waste. From now until April 21, 2023, the RDCK`s Resource Recovery Department is holding a public consultation aimed a receiving resident input on a proposal to introduce curbside collection services for household waste (garbage, recycling and organic waste) to Electoral Area residents within potential service area boundaries. Residents can view the proposed service areas, collection services and provide feedback to the RDCK at https://engage.rdck.ca/.

Community Advisory Committee Bylaw

The Board adopted the Drainage, Water and Wastewater System Community Advisory Committee Bylaw. This bylaw is part of ongoing RDCK efforts to improve governance of RDCK – owned water systems and establishes a mechanism for communities to provide input to the RDCK on the operation of their local water system. The role of a Community Advisory Committee is to provide constructive and objective input regarding matters related directly to a water system and to help facilitate effective communication with water users in the community.

Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw

The Board adopted the amended Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw. The changes to the bylaw include a 10% price increase in tipping fees at all RDCK landfills and transfer stations, due to the significant increase in operating costs (fuel, labour, insurance and supplies) experienced over the past year. As well, the amended bylaw provides new definitions and regulatory modifications to improve operational efficiencies. This will help to clarify the acceptance of certain materials, including tires, uncontaminated soils and drywall as mixed waste.

Climate Action Ambassadors

To help deliver the RDCK’s climate action plans, the Board supports the development and delivery of the 2-year Climate Action Ambassadors program in partnership with Youth Climate Corps – Wildsight. The goal of this program is to help create a presence in the community to engage with residents, inform them of our many different programs and share resource information. The focus will be on resource recovery, wildfire mitigation, FireSmart, WaterSmart, rebates for energy efficient home retrofits and construction, as well as community services.

Kootenay Lake Flood Impact Analysis

BGC Engineering has provided the RDCK with an analysis of economic losses that may result from elevated lake levels in Kootenay Lake. The purpose of the work is to broaden the understanding of potential Kootenay Lake geohazard impacts and provide best practices for managing reservoir geohazard risk. To read the report, click here and go to page 496.

RDCK Quarterly Report

The Board received the 2022 Q4 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 outlining what they have been working on. Click here to read the February reports in the Board minutes (agenda item 4.5, pg. 271).

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Nelson, BC: Over the next three weeks, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will be hosting public budget consultation meetings for all its Municipalities and Electoral Areas. The RDCK invites the public to provide input into the development of the 2023-2027 RDCK Financial Plan. All meetings will be hybrid (in person or online) with the exception of the meeting in New Denver, Silverton, Slocan & Area H, which will be online only.

This is your opportunity to connect with RDCK Directors and staff, ask questions, find out about projects and initiatives happening in your area, and provide feedback.

At the Special Board Meeting on Friday, February 17 a draft of the 2023-2027 Financial Plan was provided to the Board. The latest projection is an 11 to 12% average increase in taxes for RDCK residents, although this is highly variable depending on the area or municipality the resident lives in. The range across the areas is from about a 5% to 24% increase. The Castlegar and District Community Complex arena floor repair, estimated at $1.5 million, is driving the large increase in Castlegar and the surrounding areas. Increases in fire protection service costs are also contributing to some of the more substantial increases. Some of the change in taxation is also driven by shifts in assessment.

“Inflation and supply chain issues will continue to be a challenge in all services in 2023,” said Yev Malloff, RDCK Chief Financial Officer. “Prices on most goods and services that the RDCK purchases have increased substantially over the last three years and short term borrowing costs are also up significantly with an up to 4% increase in annual interest rates. The budget includes a salary increase of 4.4% for staff. Last week, the Board approved several new staff positions for 2023 to bolster areas where we are most at risk of negative impacts to service delivery as current staff are unreasonably stretched. Several of the new positions come with the provision that the wage costs be covered by increases in user/permit fees, rather than taxation. We are continuing to pursue opportunities to reduce purchase costs by taking advantage of local and provincial government group procurement agreements.”

Here is the complete schedule of RDCK Public Budget Meetings

*Click on the highlighted link to join the meeting virtually

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Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is seeking the public’s feedback on a curbside collection service in certain parts of RDCK Electoral Areas. Households in Electoral Area’s D and K are not part of the service proposal due to their distance to RDCK waste disposal facilities for processing organic waste. From now until April 21, 2023, the RDCK’s Resource Recovery Department is holding a public consultation aimed at receiving input on a proposal to introduce curbside collection services for household waste (garbage, recycling and organic waste) to Electoral Area residents within potential service area boundaries. The RDCK will be utilizing an online engagement platform for the consultation to share information and encourage open discussion. Residents can view the consultation project and have their say at https://engage.rdck.ca/.  

Residents within the potential service areas will receive or have already received an invitational postcard in the mail outlining the consultation process and are encouraged to sign up online and participate in the process to provide valuable feedback to the RDCK. The online platform allows residents to fill out surveys, ask questions to staff and receive publicly posted responses, review maps and project background information, as well as engage with other members of your community.

“The days of throwing everything we no longer want or need into a hole in the ground are long past,” said Garry Jackman, RDCK Electoral Area A Director. “Today, many speak of reaching the point of ‘zero waste’, but that shift is complex and will take many years. In the short term, the most practical, cost effective improvements to our waste management system involve diversion from landfills, through expanded recycling programs and through organics diversion to either backyard or centralized composting facilities.”

In 2020 the RDCK conducted a feasibility study to identify Electoral Areas that could potentially receive services, and in 2021, completed a preliminary round of consultation to verify if residents of the Electoral Areas identified were interested in the idea. Now, with the construction of new organic waste processing facilities in the region, and draft regulation changes to increase options for how recycling is managed in rural areas, the RDCK is looking to confirm the interest of residents who would be eligible to receive services for all three streams of waste through further consultation.

Potential service area boundaries were developed using local geographic considerations, driving distance to facilities able to collect organic waste, household densities, and population densities. Maps of these potential service area boundaries can be viewed HERE on the RDCK curbside consultation project webpage.

The RDCK is also providing the option of completing the survey over the phone or by mail. To request either of these options, contact the RDCK’s Resource Recovery department at 250.352.1576 or by email RRdept@rdck.bc.ca.  

The proposed cost of the service is $160 to $265 per household per year ($13.30 to $22 per month), which is based on other similar programs across BC. This cost is likely less than or similar to what an average family would pay in fuel, time, and disposal fees to self-haul their waste to a RDCK facility.

The results of the consultation will be made public by early summer. If the consultation indicates significant and widespread public support for the proposed curbside collection program, the RDCK may proceed to a referendum this fall which would give affected residents a final option to vote in favor or against the proposed service at a maximum cost of $265 per household per year.

“Not only would curbside collection service in Electoral Areas be more convenient for residents, it would save on countless trips to recycling depots, transfer stations and landfills, diminish long term landfill costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Uli Wolf, RDCK General Manager, Environmental Services.  

Diverting landfilled waste is a core component of the Resource Recovery Plan, which governs the RDCK’s waste management practices. Taking these steps now can help reach the goals set out in this plan: to effectively and quickly reduce local GHG emissions, and improve the sustainability of waste management in the region.  Household organic waste (food waste and food soiled paper) on average makes up 35% of household garbage, while recyclable materials can account for up to 32%. The RDCK wants to make it easier for residents to keep these materials out of the landfills.

Curbside collection of waste in Electoral Areas is a major component of the broader RDCK Organic Waste Diversion Program. The development of an organics diversion program started in 2017 as part of the RDCKʼs Resource Recovery Plan. The RDCK has since received two grants, totaling over $3.7 million to kick start the program. In 2019, the RDCK received the Organics Infrastructure Program grant, jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, which covers two- thirds of the eligible costs of design and construction of composting facilities in both Creston and Salmo. In 2019, the RDCK received a CleanBC Organics Infrastructure and Collection Program grant to contribute two-thirds of eligible costs for establishing curbside collection of organic waste in Castlegar, Creston, and for a potential curbside service in Electoral Areas. The RDCK was also successful in securing $535,000 from the Columbia Basin Trust Climate Resiliency Program to assist with education and communication for the organics diversion program and for bear-proofing measures, such as bear-resistant lids for electoral area residents should the curbside service proceed.

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Moment of silence

The Board had a moment of silence in memory of Nelson Police Detective Wade Tittemore who tragically passed away in an avalanche on January 9. Since the Board meeting, Nelson Police Constable Mathieu Nolet also passed away due to his injuries suffered in the incident. The RDCK Board offers their condolences to the family and colleagues of both officers.

BC Rural Health Network

Executive Director Paul Adams and Colin Moss, former RDCK Board Director and current Vice-President of the BC Rural Health Network (BCRHN) Board appeared as a delegation on behalf of the BCRHN to request the RDCK’s membership in the network. The objective of the BCRHN is to advocate for rural healthcare equity and address the unique healthcare system challenges facing rural communities. Over the years, there has been a reduction in healthcare services in rural BC and BCRHN is focused on providing community based solutions for what is needed. The RDCK Board will discuss membership in the network at the February 2023 Board meeting.

Castlegar & District Community Complex arena floor replacement

The Board direct staff to prepare an Invitation to Tender for the Castlegar & District Community Complex area floor replacement project. Staff will undertake the procurement and award the contract with the lowest valid bidder which meets all required scope. The arena floor was originally installed in 1976 and has outlived its intended life of 35-40 years. The construction process is expected to take approximately six months.

Nelson and District Community Facilities, Recreation and Leisure Services Bylaw

The Board adopted the Nelson and District Community Facilities, Recreation and Leisure Services Establishment Amendment Bylaw. This is the service bylaw for all recreation programing covering the City of Nelson, Electoral Area F and defined portions of Electoral Area E, including all facilities, parks and trails. A service review was first initiated in 2019 to address concerns related to the scope of the operations of the service. The amended bylaw prioritizes lifecycle budgeting for all RDCK facilities to ensure an asset management approach to planning for repairs, refurbishment and redevelopment. As well, the bylaw sets a process for expanding the complex or adding new recreation services.  

Resident Directed Grant Program

Formerly known as the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas program (CIP/AAP), the Resident Directed (ReDi) grant program launched January 9, 2023 in the RDCK and applications are now being accepted until February 17, 2023. The program is funded by Columbia Basin Trust and delivered in partnership with the RDCK to support local projects that benefit public good and provide additional value to Basin communities. The granting allocation for the RDCK in 2023 is $1,515,940.

A core component of the ReDi program is each community directs the allocation of their assigned funds. RDCK Board members will select a date for a public meeting and appoint members to a local selection committee who will consider all funding applications and make recommendations to the RDCK Board for grant awards. Staff have been directed to review options for the required community engagement meetings to be held throughout the RDCK in the spring of 2023.  

Local Conservation Fund Service Establishment in Electoral Area F

Voter approval for Electoral Area F to join the Local Conservation Fund Service will be undertaken by means of Alternative Approval Process (AAP) instead of assent vote. The AAP for Electoral Area F is expected to take place sometime in 2023, and will include public engagement about the Local Conservation Fund service. The AAP process enables local governments to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw. If more than 10% of the eligible electors sign and submit response forms, the RDCK may not proceed with the matter proposed in the bylaw.  

Regional Invasive Species Strategy

The Board directs staff to negotiate an agreement with the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society for development and coordination of the Regional Government Invasive Species Working Group. The goal of this group is to reduce the economic and environmental risks of invasive species in the RDCK. It will include annual training and resources for staff, developing region wide education materials, and providing expertise and consultation on the development of the program. As well, the RDCK will initiate the Good Neighbour pilot program which will support the agricultural community, specifically the adjacency concerns with regards to Ministry of Transportation right of way and abandoned private fields.

Director’s Reports

RDCK Directors provide monthly reports explaining what they have been working on. Click here to read the January reports in the Board minutes (agenda item 4.5, pg. 152).

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Nelson, BC: With the reinstatement of punch passes at Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) recreation facilities, a new expiry policy has been implemented. As a result, all old punch passes, which do not have an expiration date, will officially expire May 31, 2024.

Prior to the latest changes to the RDCK fees and charges for all Community Services (September 2022), punch passes could be used indefinitely. Now all punch passes (ten single admission passes) expire six months from date of purchase.

“Facility punch passes are a popular choice for many RDCK recreation facility users and we are pleased we have been able to bring back this option; however, there is a new system in place and changes to how this admission option is applied, including the addition of an expiry date,” said Marty Benson, RDCK Regional Manager, Recreation and Client Services. “We understand a number of facility users have old punch passes on their accounts and we want to provide lots of time for people to use up these passes.”

Customers can contact their local facility to receive information on their existing punch pass status. Options for clients who have old punch passes are to use the remaining passes by May 31, 2024 or request a credit or refund by March 13, 2023.

Credits may be applied to time-based memberships, registered programs, rentals or a future punch pass. Credits may be used by any member within a family.

Refunds may be requested in the following circumstances:

• User has moved out of the RDCK
• Childminding punch pass holders that have aged out of programs as a result of impacts of COVID or if the service is no longer offered

Account credits or refunds will not be available to anyone who purchased a punch pass prior to August 27, 2018 or for punch passes that were provided as a donation or thank you for volunteering with the RDCK.

Click here for more information on the RDCK’s Community Services Fees and Charges.

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Nelson, BC:  Effective January 9, 2023, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will accept grant applications for the Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust) Resident Directed Grants (ReDi) formerly known as the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program (CIP/AAP).

The program supports local projects that provide additional value to Basin communities. ReDi Grants are intended to be flexible and incorporate community-based funding decisions. Program funds are distributed annually to the Trust’s regional government and First Nations delivery partners, including the RDCK.

“We’re excited to continue to support projects that benefit the broad community and public good through ReDi Grants with RDCK and our other delivery partners across the Basin,” said Will Nixon, Senior Manager, Delivery of Benefits, Columbia Basin Trust. “As in past years, local residents will have the opportunity to bring forward their project ideas for discussion with fellow community members to ultimately access funding to make those projects a reality and to bring additional value to their communities.”

Last year, 275 applications were received, of which 266 were approved. The majority of projects that received funding were supporting cultural, social, environmental and economic projects.

The granting allocation for the RDCK for 2023 is $1,515,940. 

Click here to find more information about the Columbia Basin Trust ReDi Grants, including, who is eligible and how to apply. The deadline to apply is February 17, 2023 at 4:30 pm.

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Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is re-launching its review of the Official Community Plan (OCP) for Electoral Area I to help manage growth and land use development in its communities (Brilliant, Glade, Thrums, Tarrys, Shoreacres and the Voykin Subdivision) beginning in early 2023.

“The RDCK’s Planning Department is excited to update this OCP, to get out and connect with community members and to build on current regional planning initiatives underway, such as, the Housing Action Plan and Active Transportation Feasibility Study for the Castlegar-Nelson Corridor,” said RDCK Planner Stephanie Johnson.

An OCP is a policy document that influences how people experience their community. This includes how we live, gather, work, learn, recreate, shop and move around in our Electoral Area. At its heart, an OCP is about land use management and physical growth within the Electoral Area. As well, an OCP guides residential development and transportation choices, climate action planning, community character, health and equity, housing affordability, protection of ecological areas, resource management and servicing infrastructure.

Get involved!

Over the coming months we’ll be completing the public engagement phase of this OCP review, which started in 2016-2017, and included community meetings and a survey. The project was paused to collect further information on the Shore Acres aquifer and Brilliant Head Ponds riparian area, and then delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the above studies, the RDCK has also completed some region wide projects, such as, flood mapping, a housing needs assessment and community heritage register that will support the drafting of this OCP. Projects that are currently underway that can also be incorporated include, the RDCK’s housing action plan, wildfire development permit consideration and the active transportation Castlegar-Nelson corridor feasibility study.

The RDCK seeks YOUR input!

Stay up-to-date on the OCP Review Project and upcoming opportunities for you to participate in the process by checking the following project page for updates and new activities: www.rdck.ca/AreaIOCP.

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Whitewater ski resort: BC Destination Development Fund

In partnership with Whitewater Ski Resort Ltd., the RDCK will submit two grant applications on behalf of the ski resort to funding programs recently announced by the Province of British Columbia aimed at fostering resort destinations and building year-round visitor economies. A $750,000 application will be submitted for the Hummingbird Lodge and Campground Phase Two Project. A $1,000,000 will be for civil works infrastructure to support resort development. If the grant applications are successful, the RDCK will administer the funding, while Whitewater will be responsible for delivering the project.

In early 2021, the RDCK assisted Whitewater Ski Resort Ltd. in obtaining a $1,000,000 grant from the Province to assist with building the Hummingbird Lodge, a campground for RV’s and tents, and an accessible mountain biking trail.

New Denver Fitness Centre

The Board approved the New Denver Fitness Centre remains a multi-use facility with a full open floor gymnasium dedicated for multipurpose use, including full court sport activity. Open gym will officially return on December 17.

Invasive plant management

The Board direct staff to enter into a sole-source agreement with the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society for invasive plant management on RDCK owned/leased properties, as outlined in the 2022 RDCK Invasive Plant Management Plan up to a maximum cost of $48,230 plus GST. The objectives of the program is to control invasive species in the most cost-efficient manner through education management and outreach; ensure the program is efficient, region-wide and continues over the long term; and multi-jurisdictional coordinated planning and treatment.

Director Code of Conduct

The Board direct staff to initiate a review of the Director’s Code of Conduct in accordance with the Community Charter requirements and to be brought back to the Board at the April 2024 Board meeting. The RDCK’s current Directors Code of Conduct was adopted by the Board in 2016. The policy review will involve an assessment of best practices from other local governments, while taking direction from the newly developed Model Code of Conduct from the Union of BC Municipalities.

Director’s Reports

RDCK Directors provide monthly reports explaining what they have been working on. Click here to read the December reports in the Board minutes (agenda item 4.6, pg. 354).

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Nelson, BC:  Winter has officially arrived in the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK). Outdoor enthusiasts across the region are breaking out their winter gear to get outside and play. Whether it is skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, skating or just hiking in the snow, winter is a great time of year to enjoy the Kootenays and everything it has to offer.

As great as it is to be outside, residents need to take the necessary precautions to be safe in the elements, especially around lakes and ponds. Whether you are ice fishing or ice skating, it is important to establish when it is safe for use. Fluctuating temperatures, varying water depths and other environmental factors will affect the ice thickness at various times. If you are going to venture out onto the ice, it is important you have the knowledge of when it is safe to walk/skate on a frozen lake, how to check the thickness of the ice and what to do if you fall through the ice. No ice is completely safe and it is imperative residents understand the inherent dangers.

For recommendations on minimum depth for activities on new, clear, hard ice and other important tips, visit Adventure Smart

The RDCK does not control or maintain any lakes or ponds for ice fishing and ice skating, but does facilitate a volunteer run outdoor ice rink that residents can take advantage of at Morning Mountain Regional Park. The rink is free to use and is open when winter conditions allow.

Morning Mountain Regional Park

For more information on RDCK parks and trails go to www.rdck.ca/parks.

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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

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).

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Nelson, BC:  The newest Directors of the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) were sworn in at their inaugural meeting today. The first item on the meeting agenda was the election of the RDCK Board Chair. Aimee Watson, Director of Electoral Area D, was elected by the Board as Chair, while Diana Lockwood, Mayor of the Village of Salmo and RDCK Director, was elected Vice Chair. Both Chair and Vice Chair are one-year terms.

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

This will mark Chair Watson’s fifth term as Board Chair.

“I am really inspired to be working with such a diverse team, communities and building community capacity, which brings me a lot of passion,” said RDCK Board Chair Aimee Watson. “Being on executive for the past four years and with such a big turnover at the table, I definitely wanted to see a continuum on the relationships we have built.”

Vice Chair Lockwood joins the executive for her first term and is eager to find a balance between the needs of rural areas and municipal areas.

“I believe that we needed to have a municipal lens sitting at that executive level,” said RDCK Vice Chair Diana Lockwood. “We have had rural areas represented at the executive level for the last three years and I think I can bring a little bit more to the table.”

Of the 20 RDCK Board Directors, 11 are new, including five who were elected in October’s general local election.

Electoral Area A – Garry Jackman (Acclaimed – Incumbent)
Electoral Area B – Roger Tierney (Elected)
Electoral Area C – Kelly Vandenberghe (Elected)
Electoral Area D – Aimee Watson (Acclaimed – Incumbent)
Electoral Area E – Cheryl Graham (Elected)
Electoral Area F – Tom Newell (Acclaimed – Incumbent)
Electoral Area G – Hans Cunningham (Elected – Incumbent)
Electoral Area H – Walter Popoff (Acclaimed – Incumbent)
Electoral Area I – Andy Davidoff (Acclaimed – Incumbent)
Electoral Area J – Henny Hanegraaf (Elected)
Electoral Area K – Teresa Weatherhead (Acclaimed)

Directors appointed by RDCK member municipalities to the Board include:

City of Castlegar – Mayor Maria McFaddin
Town of Creston – Mayor Arnold DeBoon
Village of Kaslo – Mayor Suzan Hewat (Incumbent)
Village of Nakusp – Councillor Aidan McLaren-Caux
City of Nelson – Councillor Keith Page
Village of New Denver – Mayor Leonard Casley
Village of Salmo – Mayor Diana Lockwood (Incumbent)
Village of Silverton – Mayor Colin Ferguson
Village of Slocan – Mayor Jessica Lunn (Incumbent) 

Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Thursday of each month (Board Schedule) at 9:00 am in the Regional District Board Room, 202 Lakeside Drive, Nelson, BC, unless otherwise specified. Residents can join the meeting in person or virtually. Agendas and minutes are made available on the RDCK website.

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Nelson, BC:  A video summarizing the Regional District of Central Kootenay Selous Creek Wildfire Risk Reduction Project has been released for community education and engagement. The video includes interviews with project partners and displays work that happened on the project site.

This project has been a collaboration with several project partners including Kalesnikoff Lumber, BC Wildfire Service, City of Nelson, Selkirk College, and consultants. The outcome of the fuel management project aims at reducing wildfire risk in Selous Creek near the City of Nelson by modifying the fuel load and completing a prescribed burn. This unique project started in 2017 with funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC and is an example of the high level of collaboration between regional and municipal governments, fire services and a local timber licensee.

This complex project covers an area of approximately 80 hectares (ha). The following phases of treatment are completed:

• 65 ha of mechanical harvesting by Kalesnikoff Lumber;
• 20 ha of mechanical fuel modification to pile debris;
• 35 ha of machine-tethered fuel modification to create a debris-free fireguard around the outer perimeter of the harvested area and around reserve patches;
• 5.5 ha of understory hand treatment along The Vein bike trail and surrounding areas; and,
• 7.5 ha of understory hand treatment along the Rail Trail.

Due to weather conditions experienced this fall the final phase of manual hand treatment to complete the debris-free fireguard around the outer perimeter and around single tree retention will be completed in the spring. The prescribed burn will also be postponed until spring or fall 2023, under the direction of BC Wildfire Service depending on conditions.

Additional information is available at www.rdck.ca/Selous.

If you have questions, please contact project manager John Cathro at cathro@netidea.com or 250.505.3513.

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