Category: Uncategorized

Local Conservation Fund

The Board has directed staff to prepare bylaws to add Electoral Areas F and H to the Local Conservation Fund service. The Local Conservation Fund provides grants to support conservation efforts focused on the conservation of water and aquatic systems, as well as wildlife and habitat, with the ultimate goal of supporting actions to provide a healthy physical environment for future generations. Currently, Areas A, D, and E are part of the program and last year $71,000 was distributed to eight different projects. If the bylaws are approved by the Board, elector approval for the bylaws will occur by way of referendum held in conjunction with the local government elections occurring in October, 2022. If residents of Areas F and H approve of joining the Local Conservation Fund service, property owners will be charged an annual parcel tax of $15.

Creston Valley Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership

The RDCK agrees to enter a three-year agreement with Kootenay Employment Services to provide a Community Development Manager to deliver the economic development program for the Creston Valley Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership.  

Established in 2019 between RDCK Electoral Areas A, B, and C and the Town of Creston, the goal of the Creston Valley Economic Action Partnership is to enable a thriving local economy that builds on the area’s strengths in agriculture, tourism, recreation and small business. Previous projects include supporting the Buy Local Campaign and creating a temporary worker camp to support the local cherry industry during COVID.

RDCK supports Selkirk College project proposal on rural homelessness

With homelessness on the rise in the West Kootenay region, the RDCK will send a letter of support for Selkirk College’s project proposal on bridging rural homelessness and well-being. The goal of the project is to improve the well-being of local residents experiencing, or at risk of homelessness through research that allows partner organizations to make evidence based decisions on how to prioritize and structure services, programs and policies, promote collaboration between organizations and communities to better support target population, and mobilize college resources to enhance the impact of regional response efforts.

RDCK adopts Better Corporate Building Policy

The RDCK Board adopted the Better Corporate Building Policy which supports responsible and sustainable procurement, development, maintenance and repair of all RDCK new and existing buildings. Adherence to the policy will produce more resilient climate adaptive buildings (designing buildings for increased longevity with the use of sustainable materials) with long term cost savings to RDCK taxpayers through life cycle performance and reduced life cycle costs. This policy embodies the RDCK’s commitment to high efficiency, low carbon building practices and can be used as an example for building within our communities.

Regional invasive species strategy

To better determine the extent of invasive species on all RDCK owned or leased properties, the RDCK Board has directed staff to complete an invasive plant inventory and develop a detailed regional invasive species plan with the help of the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society. The objective is to implement prevention and management, as well as improve awareness and community engagement.

Invasive species, such as knotweed, are non-native plants and animals that become well established because they do not have natural predators or controls. They can spread quickly and have the ability to out compete native plants and animal species, impacting fragile ecosystems.

Regional asset management plan

The RDCK Board has approved up to $180,000 to compile building and site condition assessments for fire halls, bus stops, transfer station sites and buildings, regional parks, and small buildings. As one of the Board’s strategic priorities, asset management allows the RDCK to better understand the current conditions, address assets in poor condition and prepare multi-year budgets to ensure these assets are kept in good working condition on a sustainable basis for the life cycle of the infrastructure. Having functional asset management plans or demonstrating progress in asset management is also a requirement for all provincial and federal grant applications. The goal is to complete the report over the next 18 months with the Board potentially funding portions of the project through Community Works funding.

Creston Valley BC Transit Future Service Plan

The Board has adopted the 2021 Creston Valley BC Transit Future Service Plan. The goal of the plan is to provide the blue print for how BC Transit will facilitate reliable services, improve integration with mobility providers, introduce electronic fares, build more transit support infrastructure and transition to greener fleets.

Over the five years of the plan, the priorities are to introduce service between the East Shore and Creston, extend service for the town shuttle to Erickson, provide Monday through Friday by request service, and additional service days for Wynndel route.

RDCK Quarterly Report

For more information on the current projects and initiatives of the RDCK, see the most recent RDCK Quarterly Report.

Director’s Reports

All 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 3.4, found on pg. 201).

Click here to view a print-friendly PDF version. 

Nelson, BC:  As announced by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) on Tuesday, fitness centres at Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) recreation facilities are permitted to reopen as of Thursday, January 20, 2022. Space will be limited due to capacity restrictions, and guests will be required to reserve their visits in advance.

“We are excited to welcome guests back into RDCK fitness centres and provide safe, high-quality recreation experiences,” said Joe Chirico, General Manager of Community Services at the RDCK. “Fitness centres and gyms are opening January 20, but reopening our other fitness programs and services may take some time, and our schedule might look different from what customers are used to. Thank you to our guests for their patience.”

Capacity limitations for fitness activities have been set by the PHO to provide each participant with 7 sq. m. of unencumbered space, and time between sessions is required for ventilation. This may affect registered programs and fitness class schedules as well as the length of reserved fitness sessions. Over the next few weeks, staff will be revisiting fitness program schedules so that registered fitness activities can resume.

Participants are asked not to arrive more than five minutes before their class or workout time. They should come dressed in their workout clothing if possible to minimize time in change rooms, and to leave immediately after their activity.

Time-based memberships (RDCK Active Passes) have been put on hold until February 16, 2022. Pass-holders who wish to have their passes re-activated during this period should contact their local recreation facility.

To reserve a fitness centre time slot, visit www.rdck.ca/recreation or call your local recreation facility.

Participants are still required to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces at RDCK recreation facilities. Masks are not required while exercising, but are encouraged. Fitness instructors, personal trainers and staff are required to wear a mask and maintain physical distance from participants. Proof of full vaccination is also still required for many recreation programs and services, including aquatics.

If you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. You will not be charged a fee in the case of cancellation due to COVID-19.

Recreation customers are advised that staff shortages—due to COVID-19 as well as seasonal colds and flus—may lead to a reduction in facility operating hours or the cancellation of programs. Program participants will be advised of changes to programs or schedules.

To view all current provincial or regional restrictions, visit the COVID-19 information page on the BC government website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions.

If there are any changes to restrictions or any new restrictions announced, information will be shared at www.rdck.ca/recreation and on RDCK Facebook pages.

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Understanding and responding to the needs of the community is one of the most important functions of the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK). A well-defined and pressing need for families throughout the RDCK is access to child care services. While child care is not typically within the mandate for a local government like the RDCK, this was recognized as a significant issue for residents. Beginning in 2018, the RDCK stepped in to facilitate and collaborate with community partners, the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and the province to help develop new child care spaces in our region.

In January of 2021, the RDCK, Castlegar and District Recreation Commission, and Kootenay Family Place (KFP), with funding support from CBT, successfully applied to the Province’s Childcare BC New Spaces Fund to support a brand new, licensed space in Castlegar. The result is the Castlegar and District Kids’ Club, a new facility located at the Castlegar and District Community Complex and run by KFP, which officially opened its doors, January 4, 2022.

“Having access to licensed quality care is essential to improving outcomes for the residents of Castlegar and surrounding communities,” said Sally Bojechko, Co-Executive Director, Kootenay Family Place. “As child care waitlist numbers have increased over the past several years, families have struggled to find care options that will support them in being able to fulfill both their professional and personal goals. Kootenay Family Place and the Castlegar and District Recreation Commission have established a collaborative relationship with the common goal of increasing accessibility to quality early learning programs for families’ diverse needs in our community.”

The B.C. government has made child care a priority and their goal is to deliver affordable, accessible and quality child care to families across the province. Since 2018, the government has invested $299 million for the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, which helps improve access to child care throughout the province by supporting the creation of new licensed spaces.

The RDCK’s involvement in the development of local child care began in early 2018, with the RDCK Board directing staff to evaluate the feasibility of locating child care facilities within underutilized community hall spaces in Electoral Area I. The feasibility study, funded by the RDCK and CBT and completed by Selkirk College’s Rural Development Institute indicated a high demand for child care spaces in the Nelson-Castlegar corridor and significant barriers for families in accessing affordable and convenient child care spaces.

Late in 2018, elected officials in the Castlegar area were approached by KFP to partner on a potential new child care facility at the Castlegar and District Community Complex. Having familiarity with KFP, previously working on the ‘Summer at the Skatepark’ program for 11 years, the Castlegar and District Recreation Commission decided to expand the partnership to fill a much needed void in the community. This was followed by a successful application to the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund.

“This is a great fit for the Castlegar and District Community Complex because this is a community hub and facility designed for all ages,” said Jim Crockett, Manager of Recreation, Castlegar and District Community Complex. “We have a seniors centre and provide programs and services for all ages, so it is a nice fit to add a child care centre right on site.”

“Collaborating with a partner who understood the unique needs of our community was essential to the successful development of Castlegar and District Kids’ Club,” said Bojechko. “The uniqueness of the development of the co-located child care facility will not only address the need for additional child care options, it will also foster a gathering place for families to connect and become more involved in various recreational experiences.”

Having received $2 million in funding from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, the construction of the new 2,000 sq. ft. facility at the Castlegar and District Community Complex is now complete and the facility has opened part-time, with the goal of eventually providing preschool care in the morning and afterschool care in the afternoon.

“Castlegar and District Kid’s Club will house a morning preschool program for children ages 2.5-5 years, in addition to providing after school care, for children ages 5-12 years, in the afternoons,” said Bojechko. “These programs will be offered annually through Kootenay Family Place from September through June, with the Castlegar and District Community Complex also having access to the facility for programming and school break camps.”

“One of the biggest reasons why we were successful with our funding application was the ability for the child care centre to utilize all our services, including the rink, pool and soccer fields,” said Audrey Maxwell Polovnikoff, Recreation Coordinator, Castlegar and District Community Complex. “Emphasizing how important it is to connect children at a young age to the importance of health and wellness made sense to the B.C. government and to the Castlegar and District Recreation Commission.”

Click here for more information on the Castlegar and District Community Complex Child Care Centre.

To learn more about the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund

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Due to staffing shortages, changes to current recreation schedules and recreation facility operating hours may occur over the coming months.

We continue to see high numbers of COVID-19 and Omicron variant cases in our communities, along with seasonal colds and flus. This situation will inevitably affect staff at our recreation facilities. With staff or their family members sick or self-isolating, we may have to reduce operating hours or cancel services if we are unable to deliver those services safely.

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 this web page.

The health and safety of our staff and our customers is our number-one priority. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this situation together.

Resource Recovery Bylaw No. 2803