Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is providing an update on the injunctions sought for two live music events, The Labour of Love and High Frequency, held during the summer of 2023 in Electoral Area H, near the community of Vallican.

Beginning in the summer of 2021, the RDCK Bylaw Enforcement Team received multiple complaints for disturbances caused by organized live music events in Electoral Area H. These events were held on long weekends throughout the summer and grew substantially in size every year.

The level, duration, vibration, and frequency of the events were described by the surrounding community as “unbearable to residents” who were made to endure high base electronic dance music or trance style music from Friday until Sunday nonstop, day and night. The music was disruptive to the surrounding community, preventing people from sleeping at night, working from home, enjoying the outdoors peacefully, or even the ability to spend time with friends and family on their own property. The RDCK also received many reports of stress caused to animals, as well as pollution to the Slocan River which is a source of drinking water for many in the area. There were also significant safety concerns due to the number of vehicles blocking access for emergency vehicles to the road. There was a real possibility that a fire could occur during the hot and dry summer, thus putting everyone in danger.

RDCK Bylaw made many attempts to work with the event organizers who received fines the previous year, but still decided to continue with the events.

All parties signed a consent order filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia acknowledging the following:

• The respondents have contravened the RDCK Noise Control Bylaw No. 2440, 2015 s.3 by suffering or permitting a person to cause excessive noise during an outdoor music event that disturbed the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of persons in the vicinity on July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2023.
• The respondents shall each pay a fine of $1,500 to the RDCK (total fines $6,000).
• The respondents shall not host, nor permit anyone else to host, a music event or music festival on the property.
• The respondents shall not host, nor permit anyone else to host, any event in the Regional District of Central Kootenay that violates the Regional District of Central Kootenay Noise Control Bylaw No. 2440, 2015.
• The parties will bear their own costs associated with the preparation and entry of the order.

The RDCK would like to recognize and acknowledge the residents who brought forward concerns regarding the disturbances that were suffered during the previous summers. The RDCK attempted to work with the organizers of both events during and prior to 2023, but felt it necessary to escalate enforcement due to an unwillingness to adhere to the Bylaws and out of respect for all affected citizens. Noise travels far in rural areas and it is strongly recommended to exercise compassion and communication with your neighbors prior to moving forward with events that can affect people that may reside kilometers away.

For more information about Bylaw Enforcement in the RDCK go to www.rdck.ca/bylawenforcement.

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Nelson, BC:  Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Electoral Area D Director Aimee Watson was acclaimed as Board Chair for 2025 by the RDCK Board of Directors at Thursday’s Board meeting. Chair Watson has served as the RDCK Electoral Area D Director since 2014 and begins her seventh term as Board Chair.

Village of Nakusp Councillor and RDCK Director Aidan McLaren-Caux was elected by the Board as Vice-Chair. McLaren-Caux has been a member of the RDCK Board since 2022. Both Chair and Vice Chair are one-year terms.

(Pictured L-R) Aidan McLaren-Caux, RDCK Board Vice Chair and Aimee Watson, RDCK Board Chair

“I would like to thank the Board for their continued support and trust in allowing me to lead such a hard-working group who are so dedicated to their communities,” said Aimee Watson. “It is an honour, and I am truly inspired to work with this group, and I look forward to supporting everyone over the next year.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity and humbled by the support of my peers, and I am looking forward to working with the Board and staff to serve our residents over the coming year,” said Aidan McLaren-Caux.

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: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is pleased to announce, effective immediately, the Water Quality Advisory issuedfor users on the Woodbury Village Water System has been rescinded.

On October 5, 2018 a Boil Water Notice was issued due to treatment not meeting Provincial requirements for surface water. Equipment upgrades to the treatment facility were installed in May 2024 under an Interior Health Construction Permit. During the commissioning period of the upgraded facility, the Environmental Health Officer agreed to reduce the long-standing Boil Water Notice to a Water Quality Advisory.

With successful commissioning of the upgraded facility, and under the direction of the Environmental Health Office, Woodbury Village water system is no longer under a drinking water advisory.

The RDCK wishes to thank Electoral Area D Director, Aimee Watson, for contributing Community Works Grant funding, and the Woodbury Village community members for their patience.

Senior government grant funding and provincial Growing Communities funding provided a large portion of the financial contributions necessary for these upgrades.

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Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK), in partnership with the City of Nelson, are seeking input from residents in the City of Nelson and Area F and Defined Area E, about if the current recreation amenities offered at the Community Recreation Campus still meet community needs. The Community Recreation Campus includes the Nelson & District Community Complex (pool, fitness centre and arena), Civic Centre and Arena, Curling Rink, Indoor Soccer Facility, and the empty lot at 824 Front Street.

“On behalf of the Nelson & District Recreation Commission, the RDCK and City of Nelson, the objective is to understand the current perspectives of the community, in relation to recreational needs,” said Joe Chirico, RDCK General Manager of Community Services. “We haven’t engaged with residents since 2012, during our Master Plan engagement process and understand the community’s priorities may have changed since that time. Our collective goal for this engagement process is to educate the public on the current state of all facilities and amenities at the Community Recreation Campus and develop a vision for future recreation at the Campus.”

Residents will have the opportunity to hear from the RDCK and City of Nelson staff about the state of the facilities and amenities, at the Community Recreation Campus, during the community meetings and will have the opportunity to ask questions. Following the community meetings, residents can share their thoughts on whether the current facilities fit the community’s recreational needs, through a survey that will be available to the public on November 27.

“Indoor and outdoor recreation facilities provide important benefits for our community – from helping residents develop physical literacy to providing opportunities to stay active through all stages of life,” said Janice Morrison, Mayor of the City of Nelson. “We know residents are passionate about their sports, hobbies and activities, and we encourage all residents to help shape the future of recreation in Nelson.”

Residents can join a community meeting on the following dates and times:

If you are unable to attend any of the community meetings, all material will be shared on the RDCK’s public engagement platform following the first meeting on November 5. To stay up to date on the engagement process, visit engage.rdck.ca/nelson-community-recreation-campus.

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RDCK Procedures Bylaw

Under the Local Government Act, local governments must, by bylaw, establish general rules and procedures to be followed by the Board and by Board committees and commissions when conducting their business. This bylaw outlines the core elements of transparency, accountability and good governance in RDCK decision making. On October 17 the Board adopted the following resolution: 

Regional District of Central Kootenay Procedure Bylaw No. 2898, 2024 be read a FIRST, and SECOND time by content to repeal and replace Procedure Bylaw No. 2576, 2019, and its amendments; AND FURTHER, staff provide public notice in accordance with Section 225 (2) of the Local Government Act.

The updated bylaw incorporates the amendments directed by the Board, as well as new options for streamlining meetings and clarifying procedures. The next step is to share with the public for review. Click here to review the amended bylaw on the RDCK website or go to www.rdck.ca/publicnotices for more information.

Permissive Tax Exemptions

The Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw was adopted by the Board. Permissive tax exemptions issued by the RDCK Board, exempt eligible properties from taxation for a specified period of time, as they pertain to specific land uses, prescribed by the Province, in the Local Government Act. Properties eligible for a permissive tax exemption include land owned and held by an athletic or service organization for recreational use by the public, places of worship, agricultural or horticultural societies, halls or venues, and art galleries or museums owned by not for profit organizations. Applications are reviewed based on four key areas; land and improvement eligibility, applicant eligibility, regulatory eligibility, and taxation considerations.

For more information www.rdck.ca/taxexempt.

Emergency Operations Centre – Activation Summary

The Board received for information a summary of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activation in response to the 2024 wildfires. The RDCK EOC was activated on July 17 when 98 wildfires ignited within the RDCK and the EOC remained in full-scale activation for five weeks. The wildfires resulted in 14 Evacuation Orders and Five Evacuation Alerts being issued in Electoral Areas D and H, affecting 2,113 addressed properties and parcel identifiers. The next step is a four part after action review, including an internal review, interagency review, impacted Elected Officials review, and a review with residents of affected areas who were either on Evacuation Alert or Order. The results of this review will then be shared with the Board.

As well, the Ministry of Forests will provide post-wildfire risk assessment reports which can be found at www.rdck.ca/hazardreports.

Strata Title Conversion

The Board approved the Strata Title Conversion for the property located at 1155 Insight Drive in Electoral Area E from an existing industrial/commercial building to 16 strata units. The property, previously occupied by Pacific Insight Electronics Corp., has been vacant for a number of years and will now provide commercial strata spaces between 3,300 and 33,000 square feet.

Beyond Recycling Program

The Board approved a two-year extension of the current one-year contract with Wildsight for the delivery of the Beyond Recycling Program for both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Beyond Recycling is a locally developed environmental education program, financially supported by the RDCK, and other funders, which guides students in making sustainable lifestyle choices. The program is designed for grade 5 to 7 classrooms, addressing environmental issues, inspiring positive action and finding creative solutions to living sustainably by providing education on RDCK programs such as Resource Recovery, Water Conservation, Climate Action, and FireSmart.

Telecommunication Issues in Rural Areas of the RDCK

The Board directed the Chair and CAO to request a meeting with the Federal Minister of Canadian Heritage, currently the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, to discuss solutions to telecommunications issues in rural areas within the RDCK. These issues include, serious implications of lack of service and repair on landlines, outages that are interfering with emergency communications, and impediments to alternative technologies imposed by the telecom corporations throughout RDCK rural areas.

Director’s Reports

RDCK Directors provide monthly reports outlining what they have been working on. Click here to read the October reports in the Board minutes.

RDCK Quarterly Report

For the latest RDCK Quarterly Report, which details the current projects and initiatives of the RDCK, please follow the link.

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BC Transit is offering free transit in the West Kootenay Region (includes handyDART) on Saturday, October 19, 2024, for the Provincial Election. This will make it easier for residents to get to the polls and cast their ballots. GET OUT AND VOTE!

Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is pleased to announce, effective immediately, Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures have been rescinded for the South Slocan Water System.

On October 4, Stage 3 Water Emergency Conservation measures were issued in the South Slocan Water System due to low source water flows and to facilitate adequate night-time reservoir filling and recovery. Two intake leaks were located and repaired, and source water levels have now recovered.

The RDCK appreciates South Slocan water users’ cooperation and patience during this time and apologizes for the inconvenience experienced.

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Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is launching its new CHEER (Community Harmony for Equitable Engagement in Recreation) program that is the start of our new No or Low Cost Recreation Programming Initiatives. This new initiative is intended to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for residents to access RDCK recreation services.

“We are excited to begin to provide no or low cost recreation programming across the RDCK, starting with CHEER,” said Trisha Davison, Regional Manager of Recreation & Client Services. “CHEER is a one hour period where all patrons, regardless of age, pay $2 to receive general admission access to our Castlegar, Creston, Nelson and Salmo facilities. The $2 admission will provide facility users with access to the pool, fitness centre and public skate events.”

CHEER events fall under the RDCK’s new Financial Access and Inclusion Policy approved by the RDCK Board of Directors in September. This new policy is intended to provide opportunities for RDCK families and individuals who are facing financial barriers to participate in various recreation services.

The first CHEER events will be offered on the following dates and times:

• Nelson: October 22 from 1:00 – 2:00pm (pool & fitness centre) 
• Salmo: October 22 from 5:00 – 6:00pm (fitness centre & open gym)
• Castlegar: October 23 from 1:30 – 2:30pm (pool & fitness centre)
• Creston: October 25 from 3:00 – 4:00pm (arena, pool & fitness centre) 

For future CHEER dates or more information on our new No or Low Cost Recreation Programming Initiatives, visit rdck.ca/LowCost.

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The Slocan Transfer Station will be  temporarily closed, due to construction, beginning October 5, 2024.

Completion of the work is expected by December.

Slocan upgrades are the last of a larger project to replace aging infrastructure, increase site capacity, and improve the efficiency of waste management in the area, following upgrades to both the Rosebery and Nakusp waste facilities.

The RDCK may increase hours of operation at the closest neighbouring facility for both waste and recycling, if required.

Visit www.rdck.ca/2024Construction for more details and updates or email rrdept@rdck.bc.ca.

Nelson, BC: Effective immediately, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has implemented mandatory Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures for the South Slocan Water System in Electoral Area H due to low source water flows and to facilitate adequate night-time reservoir filling and recovery.

Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures include:

• Watering of lawns is prohibited,
• Watering of gardens, trees and shrubs is ONLY permitted between 6:00 am – 10:00 am and 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm,
• Watering using drip irrigation, a watering can, and or hand held hose permitted anytime.

The RDCK appreciates your cooperation in adhering to the above water conservation measures. Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures will remain in effect until further notice. Stricter water conservation measures may be required if demand increases significantly, dry weather persists, or if the reservoir declines to critically low levels.

Additional water conservation measures are available on the RDCK website: www.rdck.ca/water.

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Upgrades at The Rosebery Transfer Station are now complete and the site will resume normal operating hours as of Saturday October 5th, 2024.

The upgrades included the addition of a compactor bin, expansion of the tipping area to include a yard and garden waste bin, adjustment to the access road, and installation of site surveillance. 

If you have questions for RDCK Staff, please email rrdept@rdck.bc.ca.

Beginning October 1, select Resource Recovery Facilities will be operating within winter hours:

Click here for detailed information on locations and restrictions. 

Notes

• The waived fee is available to residents and businesses, HOWEVER commercial loads and loads greater than 2.5 m3 must be taken to a LANDFILL ONLY. 
• Disposals are limited to one pick-up truck load per customer, per day. Additional loads of Yard and Garden Waste may be charged for disposal. The limit is intended to help site staff manage volumes of material, traffic, and accessibility of this event to all customers.
• All Yard and Garden waste must be secured during transportation, and must be tipped as loose material. ALL BAGS MUST BE EMPTIED AND REMOVED BY THE CUSTOMER.
• Residential loads equivalent to one pick-up truck bed (less than 2.5m3) can be deposited at transfer stations.
• Expect delays and be patient.
• Space at some sites may be limited. Site Staff reserve the right to limit the number of loads disposed by any customer, based on available storage space.