Road Rescue Service Expansion
Effective immediately, the RDCK volunteer fire departments in Beasley (Electoral Area F), Ootischenia (Electoral Area J), and Robson (Electoral Area J) will now provide auto extrication service. Each department has the necessary tools, certified personnel, and demonstrated capability to safely conduct auto extrication within its own protection area. Overall, this will strengthen regional resilience by ensuring each department can deliver essential services within its own area, as well as improve response time and reduce out of area deployments from neighbouring departments.
Local Conservation Fund
The Board approved $139,972 in grant funds for the Local Conservation Fund to be spread among nine different projects. The Local Conservation Fund is funded through a $15 parcel tax and provides grants to support local conservation efforts in Electoral Areas A, D, E, F, and H focused on the conservation of water and aquatic systems, as well as wildlife and habitat. Here are the nine projects:
| PROJECT | PROPONENT | AMOUNT |
| Grizzly Bear Coexistence Solutions | Lardeau Valley Opportunity LINKS | $15,000 |
| Bat Roost Enhancement and Activity Monitoring in the West Kootenays | Wildlife Conservation Society Canada | $24,955 |
| Kootenay Nature for Neighbourhoods Program | Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society | $14,624 |
| Harrop Wetlands Project | Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society | $13,000 |
| Slocan Valley Pollinator Highway Project: Phase 1 Year 3 | Elk Root Conservation Farm Society | $18,393 |
| Construction and Conservation of Artificial Bat Roosts in the West Kootenays | Okanagan Nation Alliance | $15,000 |
| Water Monitoring for Climate Resilience in the RDCK | Living Lakes Canada | $15,000 |
| Advancing Wetland Stewardship & Restoration in the Kootenays | BC Wildlife Federation | $14,000 |
| Planning for the Future: Watershed Security in a Changing Climate | West Kootenay Watershed Collaborative Society | $10,000 |
Ootischenia Landfill Upgrades
The Board approved the preferred conceptual layout for upgrading the Ootischenia Landfill. Considered one of the RDCK’s primary regional waste management and disposal facilities, the potential to expand the facility would help to alleviate traffic congestion, long customer wait times, improper disposal of waste, and a reduced desire to properly divert recyclable materials. The approved conceptual layout includes upgrades to the transfer area, the addition of a second scale, a separate entrance for recycling traffic, plus a larger tipping area with full size roll off bins which will provide better traffic flow, increased safety, scalability, and capacity to accommodate future expansion.
Ymir Transfer Station and Satellite Recycling Depot Closure
The Board approved the permanent closure of the Ymir Transfer Station and Satellite Recycling Depot effective December 31, 2026. Based on recommendations from the 2024 System Efficiency Study and staff studying traffic data and providing operational feedback, the facility provides only limited waste management options, is open just one day a week, and the cost to operate the facility is double what the average annual tipping fee revenue is, which means the difference is made up through taxation. Further, the site’s bin wall needs repairs or replacement, which could cost up to $200,000.
Residents in Electoral Area G have a comparable distance to waste management facilities as other rural residents across the RDCK, and better access than many rural areas in the RDCK based on the higher than average operating hours at the nearest facilities. Further discussion about the closure will occur at the upcoming Joint Resource Recovery Committee meeting in March, after the Board directed an extension to the closure to the end of the year.
HomeSave Program
The RDCK signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Nelson for the purpose of establishing roles, responsibilities, and governance for the delivery of the HomeSave Program. Formerly known as the Regional Energy Efficiency Program (REEP), the HomeSave Program is a regionally focused residential energy efficiency initiative in the RDCK that supports homeowners across the region in reducing energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and household energy costs through retrofits, incentives, and technical guidance. The new program is expected to roll out the first week of March.
New Arena & Indoor Walking Track Development Procurement – Castlegar
The Board approved entering into a professional services agreement with HCMA Architecture and Design for $180,000 to develop an owner’s statement of requirements for the design/build of a new arena with an indoor walking track in Castlegar. The development of a new arena and indoor walking track was identified as a public priority through the Reimagining Recreation Engagement Project and will need elector assent (referendum for the City of Castlegar and Electoral Area J) to continue beyond the design phase. The goal is to select a preferred proponent to build the new facility for $15,000,000 of maximum funding from the RDCK before the voter assent is to be held during the October 2026 municipal and RDCK elections.
RDCK Quarterly Report
The RDCK Quarterly Report provides a condensed summary of active projects and initiatives within the RDCK. The report includes a clear and concise understanding of each project and its connection to the Board’s strategic priorities. Click here to view the latest quarterly report, including the most recently completed projects.
Click here to view the quarterly report page on the RDCK website.
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.