Regional District of East Kootenay Board Chair Rob Gay said 2023 was a year of success and growth, but came with some challenges.
He said the year’s severe weather events were particularly difficult.
“I think we all remember the terrible fire at Ê”aqÌ“am, Sparwood had a fire outside of its boundaries, Panorama was on watch and we had many other fires,” said Gay. “Along with fires, we had floods, a fuel spill early in the year in Jaffray and we had a debris torrent in Fairmont. We had a number of different emergencies through 2023.”
RDEK officials said the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated for over 120 days throughout the year.
“In total, over 3,200 hours were spent on supporting emergencies around the region. I would like to acknowledge every person who spent time in the Regional EOC this year,” said Gay.
Beyond dealing with emergency management, the RDEK’s staff and board were busy passing through new policies and bylaws.
“We introduced a new Short-Term Rental Policy, Building Regulation Bylaw and had several new neighbourhoods get involved with the East Kootenay FireSmart Program,” explained Gay. “Our Planning team also started work on a Climate Action Plan, Columbia Valley Active Transportation Network and updates to our Rockyview OCP.”
Several projects were started throughout the year, with completion to come in the near future.
“Our biggest project that’s underway now – it will be finished in 2024 – is in Cold Spring Creek near Fairmont. It’s a large cement dam built to hold the gravel and whatnot that keep flowing down the mountain,” said Gay.
The RDEK also began working on improvements to the region’s waste management.
“We have a new transfer station going in near Radium, and all three of our sub-regions, the Elk Valley, the central area and the Columbia Valley can look forward to some new composting areas,” said Gay. “That should be operational in early 2024.”
Gay is hopeful to see continued growth and development through the region in 2024.
