Strategic Priorities Fund Applications
The Board direct staff to prepare and submit four 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund applications to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). UBCM is the administering body for the Canada Community-Building Fund, which has been allocated $125 million to support infrastructure and capacity building projects in communities across the province not in Metro Vancouver. The RDCK can submit three applications under the Capital Infrastructure Stream and one application under the Capacity Building Stream. The three applications for the Capital Infrastructure Stream focus on the following projects:
Creston Septage Receiving Facility – For the construction and establishment of a septage receiving facility located at the Town of Creston Wastewater Treatment Plan, including required road infrastructure and buffer tanks.
Arena Refrigeration Replacement and Direct Digital Control Project – For both the Creston and District Community Complex and Nelson and District Community Complex, this project focuses on the RDCK’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and directly tied to its asset renewal plan.
Castlegar and District Recreation Complex Expansion Project – This application will be for the replacement of a second ice surface following the decommission of Pioneer Arena.
The application for the Capacity Building Stream will focus on enhancing asset management work that is currently in progress. All applications must be submitted by September 12, 2025.
Regional and Local Community Needs Project
The Board supported restarting the Regional and Local Community Needs project with a revised scope. RDCK staff worked with a consultant to assess alternative approaches to meet the objectives of the provincial Complete Communities Program in a manner more suitable for our region. Instead of completing one regional assessment, this project will now undertake a fringe planning case study assessment for all partnering municipalities (Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, Salmo, and Slocan) and surrounding electoral areas (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K). Outcomes of this project will include graphic-based geospatial mapping focused on identifying potential areas suitable for growth for each case study area. In addition to the mapping, a final report with recommendations for future planning work, including a potential bank of policies, actions, and next steps will be shared. The timeline for project completion is winter 2026.
Phase 1 Erickson Water Metering
The Board awarded the Erickson Metering – Phase 1 Installation project to Valhalla Hydrovac Ltd. Phase 1 of the project involves installing meters and backflow preventers on all industrial, commercial, institutional, and agricultural properties with irrigation privileges of five acres or more. The project proposes to install 126 meters across 90 properties. Installing meters will enable better monitoring to improve understanding of water consumption patterns, enhance the ability to track water conservation efforts, reduce the need for costly capacity upgrades, and improve detection of leaks and water losses.
Water for Erickson in Electoral Area B and the Town of Creston is supplied by the Arrow Creek Water Treatment Plant. During hot, dry weather, the plant often operates at emergency capacity, and the Arrow Creek surface water source experiences low base flows during drought conditions, limiting available water capacity.
Creston Car Wash Recycling Depot
The Board approved the RDCK enter into a site license agreement with Arrow Mountain Car Wash and Mini Storage Limited for the Creston Car Wash Recycling Depot, 412 Helen Street, for the period of one year commencing August 1, 2025, with the option of four one-year extensions upon mutual agreement.
The Creston Car Wash Recycling Depot is one of the core depots in the RDCK’s East Subregion and collects all five recycling categories through Recycle BC’s program, as well as Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional cardboard.
Director’s Reports
RDCK Directors provide monthly reports outlining what they have been working on. Click here to read the July 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.