2024 Annual Report FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024
We acknowledge that the Columbia Shuswap Regional District is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the Secwépemc, Syilx Okanagan, Sinixt and Ktunaxa Nation. We are privileged and grateful to be able to live, work and play in this beautiful area.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Toliver Advertising & Design Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Tourism Golden, Kootenay Rockies Tourism, Shuswap Tourism, Shuswap Trail Alliance, Silver Creek Fire Department, Splatsin Development Corporation’s Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) LLP, Dave Best, Andrew Chad, Ryan Creary, Viktoria Haack, Rob Marshall, Andrew Penner, Mitch Winton, Maur Mere Media, Shuswap Marine Freight, Par 6, and Van Foodies.
7 ELECTORAL AREAS & 4 MUNICIPALITIES
ELECTORAL AREA A Rural Golden, Parson, Nicholson, Field, Blaeberry
ELECTORAL AREA B Rural Revelstoke, Trout Lake, Mt. Begbie
ELECTORAL AREA C Eagle Bay, White Lake, Sunnybrae, Tappen
ELECTORAL AREA D Falkland, Salmon Valley, Silver Creek, Deep Creek, Ranchero
ELECTORAL AREA E Rural Sicamous, Malakwa, Swansea Point, Annis Bay
ELECTORAL AREA F North Shuswap - Anglemont, Scotch Creek, Lee Creek, Magna Bay, Celista, Seymour Arm
ELECTORAL AREA G Blind Bay, Sorrento, Notch Hill, Carlin, Balmoral
TOWN OF Golden
CITY OF Revelstoke
DISTRICT OF Sicamous
CITY OF Salmon Arm
The CSRD delivers 119 distinct services, maintains infrastructure and assists with financing agreements for its municipalities and electoral areas.
57,021
PEOPLE IN THE BC SOUTHERN INTERIOR
46.7
AVERAGE AGE
24,595
RESIDENTS LIVE IN
RESIDENTS COMMUTE TO WORK BY CAR OF RESIDENTS SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY
*Source Statistics Canada Census 2021 (most recent)
PROPORTION OF SENIORS LIVING IN THE CSRD COMPARED TO 19% FOR ALL OF CANADA
SQ KM SIZE OF REGION
CSRD MISSION
THE MISSION OF THE CSRD IS TWO-FOLD:
• it is the local government for the electoral areas of the Columbia Shuswap, responsible for providing cost-effective services to meet local service needs.
• it is the regional federation that brings together electoral areas and member municipalities to identify shared needs and opportunities, and to collaborate in the development of regional service initiatives.
Electoral Area B – Rural Revelstoke | DAVID BROOKS-HILL
Electoral Area C – Eagle Bay, White Lake, Tappen, Sunnybrae | MARTY GIBBONS
Electoral Area D – Falkland, Deep Creek, Ranchero, Salmon Valley | DEAN TRUMBLEY
Electoral Area E – Rural Sicamous, Malakwa | RHONA MARTIN
Electoral Area F – North Shuswap | JAY SIMPSON
Electoral Area G – Blind Bay, Sorrento, Notch Hill | NATALYA MELNYCHUK
Town of Golden | RON OSZUST
City of Revelstoke | GARY SULZ
District of Sicamous | COLLEEN ANDERSON
City of Salmon Arm | KEVIN FLYNN, TIM LAVERY
*At the Inaugural Meeting held November 21, 2024, Vice-Chair Natayla Melnychuk became Board Chair, with Director Kevin Flynn moving to Vice-Chair.
Listening and learning. It’s what many of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s most important initiatives in 2024 were based on.
LISTENING
MESSAGE FROM THE OUTGOING BOARD CHAIR learning AND
The first part of 2024 began with a series of Community Conversations with residents affected by the devastating Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap. This was supplemented with After Action Reviews with government partners, Emergency Operations Centre staff and CSRD elected officials.
The Bush Creek East wildfire was the singlelargest disaster the CSRD has ever faced. It was essential for our organization to take a hard look at what happened and to hear how residents were impacted. Nothing goes perfectly during an emergency, especially one of this scale. The key is for the CSRD to learn and work to improve for future events.
I’m proud that we heard the suggestions, took them seriously and worked to implement solutions. Additional emergency training courses were conducted throughout the CSRD to enhance the abilities of both staff and elected officials. New ideas were successfully implemented during the 2024 Hullcar Mountain wildfire, including the creation of a satellite information centre in Silver Creek to provide residents with a place to go for reliable news.
Unfortunately, as emergency situations continue to become more frequent, continual improvement of emergency processes remains a priority for the coming years.
Another critical place for the CSRD to listen is in the work of reconciliation with our Indigenous neighbours. The CSRD opened dialogue with
the CSRD - Secwépemc Relationship Agreement Planning initiative. The purpose of this is to strengthen Indigenous awareness and cultural sensitivity of Board members and our staff team. Our goal is to build strong relationships between the CSRD and Secwépemc First Nations.
As part of our commitment to reconciliation, all CSRD staff, Directors and I participated in a KAIROS Blanket exercise. The session increased understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. It was one of the most emotional and impactful workshops I have ever participated in. I am grateful for the learning.
These initiatives are a starting point within the CSRD and will be expanded to include additional Indigenous groups in the future.
Continued work on the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail has progressed through the collaboration of the CSRD, Splatsin and the Regional District of North Okanagan. We heard from neighbouring farmers and have worked to allow for easements to address their concerns. Significant construction on this project will take place in 2025.
I also want to welcome our new Board Chair, Electoral Area G Director Natalya Melnychuk. I am pleased to support her in my new role as Vice-Chair. Director Melnychuk took the lead role following November’s inaugural meeting.
Our Board remains committed to open communication with residents. You can email comments questions or concerns to her directly at BoardChair@csrd.bc.ca
The Bush Creek East wildfire was the single-largest disaster the CSRD has ever faced. It was essential for our organization to take a hard look at what happened and to hear how residents were impacted. Nothing goes perfectly during an emergency, especially one of this scale. The key is for the CSRD to learn and work to improve for future events.
— KEVIN FLYNN, OUTGOING BOARD CHAIR
BUSH CREEK EAST WILDFIRE / VIKTORIA HAACK PHOTO
MESSAGE FROM THE CAO
As one of the geographically largest regional districts in BC, delivering 119 different services to approximately 57,000 residents in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s seven electoral areas and four municipalities is a significant undertaking.
Among other things, the CSRD operates landfills and recycling, provides emergency support services, coordinates parks and recreation facilities, plans for land use, enforces bylaws, supplies fire protection, and manages water systems. We operate programs in specific areas to respond to local needs. These include programs like mosquito control, milfoil removal and street lighting.
We deliver services in response to the public’s requests, the well-being of citizens, consideration for the economy, and the environment. Our decision-making is guided by sound business practices and the desire to conduct ourselves with integrity and in a manner that is respectful of and inclusive to all.
At the forefront is the knowledge that our greatest resource is our people. CSRD staff are not nameless, faceless government workers. They are a skilled and dedicated workforce both in our office and out in the community. Their work is bolstered by the contributions of paid on-call firefighters and hired contractors. I want to extend my appreciation for their effort and commitment.
It is a reality, however, that the CSRD is currently facing pressures from legislative requirements set by other levels of government, and external factors like inflation. Priorities must be set. Our leadership team,
along with our Board, works diligently to try and find the balance between providing useful and valuable services while cautiously managing the spending of tax dollars.
This report will give you information to better understand what we do, how we do it, where your tax dollars are spent and why.
At the forefront is the knowledge that our greatest resource is our people. CSRD staff are not nameless, faceless government workers. They are a skilled and dedicated workforce both in our office and out in the community.
The greatest values are realized when we work together. Community leadership and participation is crucial for the CSRD to successfully build upon its solid foundation. Together, we will ensure that our region continues to meet the evolving needs of our residents now and into the future.
Respectfully,
John MacLean Chief Administrative Officer
The greatest values are realized when we work together. Community leadership and participation is crucial for the CSRD to successfully build upon its solid foundation. Together, we will ensure that our region continues to meet the evolving needs of our residents now and into the future.
— JOHN MACLEAN, CAO
KOOTENAY ROCKIES TOURISM / MITCH WINTON PHOTO
WHO DOES WHAT?
It can be confusing to figure out which level of government oversees which service.
Rural residents receive services from the CSRD, while those living in our member municipalities get some services from the CSRD and others directly from their town, city or district.
Some of the most common CSRD services are solid waste, recycling and emergency management.
Community services such as road maintenance, health care, education, employment insurance and policing are provided by other levels of government.
• Residential services outside municipal boundaries
• Regional parks and recreation
• Rural area planning and development
• 911 operation
• Rural fire protection
• Emergency management
• Bylaws
• Building regulation and inspection
• Water service
* Please note - these are not complete lists of all services at each level of government.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT (CITY, VILLAGE, TOWN)
• Road maintenance
• Snow removal
• Water supply
• Sewer/storm water management
• Solid waste collection
• Parks, trails, and playgrounds
• Recreation facilities
• Bylaws
• Municipal RCMP
• Fire services
• Business licenses
• Community planning
• City Hall
• Municipal property tax
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT (BRITISH COLUMBIA)
• Schools
• Provincial parks
• Crown land management
• Health care
• Social services
• WorkSafe
• ICBC
• Justice
• Post-secondary education
• All highway and rural road maintenance
• Provincial income tax
• Provincial property tax
• Sales tax
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (CANADA)
• Income tax
• Employment Insurance
• Child Tax benefits
• Student loans
• Military
• National parks
• International travel
• Banking
• Criminal law
• Foreign affairs
BUSH CREEK EAST WILDFIRE RECOVERY
Community conversations, redevelopment
Overview
The CSRD dealt with one of the largest wildfires in the area’s history in July and August of 2023.
Drought conditions in the region during 2023 and hot, dry and windy weather combined to create conditions for an extreme wildfire. On July 12, 2023, the fire was spotted in the Adams Lake area. In August, the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek East fires merged into one blaze and the entire fire area was re-named the Bush Creek East wildfire.
This wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 people from eight communities in the Shuswap region. At its peak, the fire consumed more than 45,600 hectares of land and forest.
Post-wildfire efforts in 2024 shifted to recovery, rebuilding and reviewing the response to help identify areas of improvement for future emergency events.
Recovery
Emergency Support Services – The Shuswap Emergency Program’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) continued to be engaged with residents who lost their homes in the wildfire. Supports for housing and other basic needs were provided to some residents until February. CSRD staff worked with consultants from Colliers International, along with other non-profit and government agencies in assisting the most vulnerable people.
Geotechnical Hazard - The 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire changed how the landscape absorbed precipitation and increased the likelihood of a debris flow in various areas of the North and South Shuswap for the next two to five years.
In mid-June, the CSRD and Shuswap Emergency Program were made aware of the increased threat as part of more detailed post-wildfire geotechnical work in the watersheds. Two public information meetings were held to provide information about the landslide risk to residents.
Scotch Creek/Lee Creek Fire Hall - The rebuilding of the Scotch Creek/Lee Creek Fire Hall will be moving forward at a new location following the CSRD’s purchase of a larger property at 1435 Beatty Road, Scotch Creek. Before it was destroyed in the Bush Creek East wildfire, the fire hall was located at 3852 Squilax-Anglemont Road.
A Request for Proposals was issued by the CSRD in November. Construction of the new fire hall will begin in 2025. Construction costs will largely be covered by fire insurance on the old building.
Rebuilding
Assisting with rebuilding efforts was a top priority for the Development Services Department. Specific staff were dedicated to processing building and planning permits for affected property owners in Electoral Area F. The CSRD also has been working closely with provincial staff regarding riparian hardship issues faced by some landowners.
Approximately one-third of all landowners who have lost their homes to the wildfire have now received building permits.
Development services staff have also continued to work with geotechnical engineers regarding post-wildfire geohazard assessments of the area and what this means for re-development planning. Reports regarding the risks are publicly available on the CSRD’s Bush Creek East Landslide Risk webpage along with a mapping dashboard, created to allow property owners in wildfire-affected areas to easily find out the geohazard risk level for their property.
Approximately one-third of all landowners who have lost their homes to the wildfire have now received building permits.
Reviewing the Response
A key component of the aftermath of the Bush Creek East wildfire was the desire to learn from the experience and apply that knowledge to any future emergencies. The CSRD initiated a Community Conversations public engagement project with the assistance of Monogram Communications, an independent consultant. The project was designed to share information and listen to community members' experiences during the wildfire. It was also an opportunity for community members to ask questions of the CSRD team members and provide feedback and suggestions for improvements in dealing with future wildfire and emergency situations within their communities.
RECOVERY is the phase of emergency management which aims to:
- Repair communities affected by a disaster
- Restore conditions to an acceptable level or, when possible, improve them
- Restore selfsufficiency and increase resilience in individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
Bush Creek East post-wildfire Community Conversations
2
4
Virtual sessions with more than 40 people participating In-person events with more than 250 people participating.
HOW WE REACHED OUT
A summary report was presented to the CSRD Board and the report is available on the CSRD website. Action items included in the report were addressed by the CSRD’s Protective Services team and other pertinent CSRD departments. Progress reporting to the Board and the Shuswap Emergency Program Executive Committee took place at intervals throughout 2024.
In addition, an internal after-action review was conducted with Emergency Operations Centre staff and with elected Board Directors to help identify areas of success, challenges and possible solutions. Interagency meetings were also held with BC Wildfire Service to find ways to collaborate and enhance communication and operational responses.
Additional training was identified as a key component of increasing the CSRD’s ability to respond to emergencies. The Shuswap Emergency Program coordinated additional training sessions for Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff, both to enhance knowledge and increase the number of trained people available to work in an EOC.
Training, including a special communications training workshop, was also provided to elected officials.
Recovery is an ongoing process that will take many years
The CSRD is committed to continuous improvement and feedback is a very important piece of doing that. Residents with concerns or suggestions are encouraged to reach out to your elected Director, or to CSRD staff.
Shuswap Emergency Program: sep@csrd.bc.ca
Communications or Alertable program: communications@csrd.bc.ca
Land-Use applications: plan@csrd.bc.ca
Building permits: buildingpermit@csrd.bc.ca
As emergency situations continue to become more frequent, continual improvement of emergency processes remains a priority for the coming years.
VIKTORIA HAACK PHOTO
Kevin Flynn, CSRD Board Chair
WILDFIRE SEASON 2024
While the wildfire season was not as devastating as 2023’s Bush Creek East wildfire, the summer of 2024 had widespread fire activity throughout the region with smaller fires burning in Electoral Areas A (Rural Golden), Electoral Area B (Rural Revelstoke), Electoral Area D (Falkland, Salmon Valley), District of Sicamous, Electoral Area E (Rural Sicamous), Electoral Area F (North Shuswap) and G (Sorrento).
Golden & Electoral Area A
The most destructive of the wildfires in the CSRD was the Dogtooth FSR wildfire in Rural Golden. This fire required a tactical evacuation of some properties, led to the evacuation of more than 100 properties, with more than 1,000 properties placed on Evacuation Alert. This fire resulted in the loss of 15 structures, including four homes. The evacuation orders and alerts were systematically downgraded, and the area declared all-clear on August 21, 2024.
The Golden and Area Emergency Program (GAEMP), operated by the Town of Golden, took the lead on emergency response to this volatile fire situation. To assist with the large-scale emergency, Shuswap Emergency Program provided operational, communications and Emergency Support Services to the Golden team.
Revelstoke & Electoral Area B
The Revelstoke and Area Emergency Program managed wildfire emergencies including fires in the Trout Lake and Shelter Bay areas. Evacuation alerts were issued on July 23, 2024, including Trout Lake, Ferguson, Five Mile and Galena. The Shelter Bay ferry terminal was also part of the alert area. Fires in this area ultimately burned more than 1,500 hectares. No structures were lost.
CSRD EMERGENCY PROGRAMS
Golden and Area Emergency Program (GAEMP) - The CSRD contracts emergency management in the Town of Golden and Electoral Area A to the Town of Golden.
Revelstoke and Area Emergency Program (RAEMP) - The CSRD contracts emergency management in the City of Revelstoke and Electoral Area B to the City of Revelstoke.
Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP) - The CSRD directly operates a regional emergency program that serves Electoral Areas C through G, the District of Sicamous and the City of Salmon Arm.
These divisions are designed to allow for fast, effective responses to emergencies across the vast area of the CSRD.
Shuswap Emergency Program – Electoral Areas C-G, District of Sicamous and City of Salmon Arm.
The Shuswap Emergency Program managed several wildfire emergencies within their service area including these larger wildfires:
• Mara Mountain, started July 18, 2024 near Sicamous. Did not threaten any structures.
• Lower Blueberry Creek near Dasnier’s Bay, started July 18, 2024 in the North Shuswap. Structure protection and FireSmart resources were deployed.
• Newsome Creek, started July 22, 2024 near Sorrento. An Evacuation Alert was issued for 14 addresses at South Shore Place and Elson Road on July 23 and lifted July 27, 2024.
• Hullcar Mountain, started August 4, 2024, in the Salmon Valley. This fire spread into neigbouring jurisdictions including Splatsin and the Township of Spallumcheen. Within the CSRD boundaries, more than 17 properties were put on Evacuation Order and more than 60 properties placed on Evacuation Alert. The blaze grew to 784 hectares before being declared as Being Held by the BC Wildfire Service.
STRUCTURE PROTECTION
The SEP EOC monitored local fires and strategically moved structure protection trailers, stocked with sprinklers, throughout the fire season. The CSRD’s Structure Protection Units were very active during the summer with deployments to:
• Dasniers Bay in the Seymour Arm area
• Alpha Creek - Nakusp area
• Dogtooth - Golden area
• Hullcar Mountain - Silver Creek
• Shetland Creek - Ashcroft
• Slocan Complex
• Trout Lake/Slocan Complex
While there were provincial deployments, the CSRD always had at least one trailer in the Shuswap and one in the Columbia, to ensure local availability of resources.
SHUSWAP NORTH OKANAGAN RAIL TRAIL
The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail is a collaborative rail trail partnership between the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), Splatsin te Secwépemc and the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO). The partners are working together, along with financial support from the Federal and Provincial governments, to construct a 50km non-motorized greenway trail for walking and cycling along the former CP Rail corridor between the communities of Sicamous and Armstrong.
RAIL TRAIL PROGRESS – THE YEAR IN REVIEW
FEBRUARY – District of Sicamous Council defeats Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1044 by a vote of 4-3. This would have rezoned the section of trail between Kilometre 0 and Kilometre 1.5 to parkland, authorizing the use of the Sicamous section for recreational purposes.
The ownership partners shift planned construction to start at Kilometre 1.5, outside of the District of Sicamous boundaries.
MARCH – Construction starts between Kilometres 1.5 to 4.5 in the CSRD and on sections south of Kilometre 42.6 at Stepney X Road. Splatsin Development Corporation’s Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) LLP are providing the lead project management, construction and annual maintenance services for the rail trail.
APRIL – District of Sicamous Council reconsiders Bylaw 1044 and votes unanimously in favour of rezoning the section between Kilometre 0 and Kilometre 1.5 to allow for recreational use.
Construction between Kilometre 0.5 and Kilometre 1.5 is incorporated into the 2024 workplan. Development will be delayed on the first 0.5-kilometres of the rail trail, as it is linked into work being done by the Province to replace the Bruhn Bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway.
MAY – The grand opening of the two-kilometre Enderby-Splatsin Pilot Section celebrates the effort and funding contributions of the Federal, Provincial governments, as well as the work of the ownership partners.
JUNE – Rail trail partner owners agree to offer crossing easements for agricultural landowners who prefer them to crossing permits. Construction on sections within the Agricultural Land Reserve remain on hold pending a response from the Agricultural Land Commission.
JULY/AUGUST – Summer construction efforts continue to focus on the two sections of trail between Kilometres 0.5 – 4.5 on the northern end out of Sicamous and Kilometres 49.15 –50.4 next to the active CN/CP railway spur and highway 97A from Lansdowne Road into the City of Armstrong.
The targeted completion date for the 42.6 km section is fall 2025, with a contingency plan extending into 2026 for delays and final finishes.
SEPTEMBER – Additional work is done on the northern end of the trail to improve flood erosion protection.
Work on the southern end focuses on construction of a new trail subsurface and surface adjacent to the active rail spur, installation of fencing required by CN Rail within the active rail spur right-of-way, and the movement of a hydro pole.
Archaeological, environmental, and engineering planning starts for construction of the remaining sections between Kilometre 0 and 42.6.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER – Progress made in finalizing road crossings with the Provincial Ministry of Transportation and Transit, submitting environmental management plans and conducting archaeological assessments.
DECEMBER – The next stages of trail development are announced, with construction starting within Splatsin IR#2 in early 2025.
Final approvals from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) are still pending. The rail trail partners are working with local farmers to finalize crossing easement agreements. Construction of sections within the Agricultural Land Reserve remain on hold.
PHOTOS: SHUSWAP TRAIL ALLIANCE / SPLATSIN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S YUCWMENLÚCWU (CARETAKERS OF THE LAND) LLP
WORK REMAINING TO COMPLETE THE RAIL TRAIL FROM 2025 ONWARD:
• The Highway 97A pedestrian and bicycle overpass at Stepney Road, north of Armstrong.
• The crosswalk and connector between the Bruhn Bridge multi-use pathway at Old Spallumcheen Road and Kilometre 0 at Congreve Road.
THE PATH FORWARD
The CSRD operates five departments, each with their own unique responsibilities:
• Corporate Services
• Community & Protective Services
• Development Services
• Environmental & Utility Services
• Financial Services
Board of Directors Chief Administrative Officer
MANAGER Human Resources
GENERAL MANAGER Corporate Services (Corporate Officer)
• Legislative Services
• Communications
• Information Technology
• Tourism & Film
GENERAL MANAGER Community & Protective Services
• Parks, Trails & Recreation
• Facilities
• Fire Services
• Emergency Management
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
GENERAL MANAGER Development Services
• Building Services
• Planning Services
• Bylaw Enforcement
• Dog Control
GENERAL MANAGER Financial Services (Chief Financial Officer)
• Accounting
• Financial Planning
• Procurement
• Asset Management
GENERAL MANAGER Environmental & Utility Services
• Waste Management
• Recycling & Waste Reduction
• Utilities
• Environmental Services - Milfoil, Mosquito Control
CORPORATE SERVICES
What’s our role?
To provide and administer governance services, Board and Committee meeting management, legal and legislative matters, election services, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act management and records management.
Corporate Services aims to provide quality, responsive and cost-effective service to the public, the Board and all other CSRD departments.
Communications, Information Technology and First Nations relations are also key functions of this department.
Highlights
• Conducting a referendum of eligible voters in Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, G and the District of Sicamous to determine the future funding of the Shuswap Watershed Council Service. A majority of voters answered no to the question of whether to continue funding, with 1,346 votes cast. A total of 982 were cast for No, while 364 ballots were cast for yes.
• Completing the Electoral Area F Issues Identification Study designed to engage residents throughout Area F to understand their concerns with local governance or services, as well as their service and governance needs. Work to implement recommendations is in progress.
• Working to restructure the CSRD’s Economic Development service following the Board’s decision to withdraw funding for the Shuswap Economic Development Society and consider a new model for economic development activities.
• Partnering with its member municipalities including the City of Salmon Arm, District of Sicamous, City of Revelstoke and the Town of Golden to create a Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee. Its role is to provide recommendations to inform the Accessibility Plan and help improve the livability, inclusivity, and accessibility for persons working and interacting within the region.
• Conducting training for staff and elected officials on Indigenous relations as part of a commitment towards Truth and Reconciliation.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Highlights
• Investigating options and entering into a contract with Government Frameworks to enhance the CSRD’s data collection and records management systems.
• Enhancing the CSRD’s web mapping functions to add information for emergency management, geohazard risks, parks and water systems.
• Protecting the integrity and enhance the reliability of all the CSRD’s data, moving towards a shared model of data collection and mapping.
COMMUNICATIONS
• Working with geotechnical engineers and the CSRD Protective Services department to develop and execute plans for public communications regarding the potential landslide risk to post-wildfire affected areas of the North and South Shuswap. This included public meetings, online sessions and the issuance of rainstorm warnings.
• Enhancing corporate communications through press releases, E-newsletters, social media platforms and the production of the Annual Report.
• Continuing to promote and educate residents regarding the CSRD’s Alertable mass notification system.
MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
36,120 Alertable subscribers as of December 31, 2024
1 Critical-level alerts and 31 Advisory-level alerts for a total of 477,337 notifications
96.2% of people use the Alertable app on their smartphone.
SOCIAL MEDIA
In 2024, the CSRD had five social media platforms:
CSRD Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram
Shuswap Emergency Program Facebook and X (Twitter)
25,346 followers on CSRD and Shuswap Emergency accounts
3,861 CSRD Instagram followers - up from 3,500 in 2023
6.6 million impressions across all platforms
1,993 total posts on the CSRDs platforms
105,510 video views on the CSRD YouTube channel
SHUSWAP TOURISM
What’s our role?
Shuswap Tourism is a community-based destination marketing organization focused on visitor attraction, destination development and other marketing and promotional services in support of tourism businesses and operators within the geographic boundaries of, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, and CSRD Electoral Areas C, D, E, F and G.
The Columbia Shuswap Film Commission promotes and supports television and film production activity, in collaboration with Creative BC, within the geographic boundaries Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, and CSRD Electoral Areas B, C, D, E, F and G.
Highlights
• Launching the Shuswap Farmstand Trail with a website and self-guided tour of local agricultural businesses. This pilot program focused first on Electoral Area D.
• Developing content promoting tourism on social media, including video content on Instagram and Tik Tok, which garnered more than 10 million views. This included a viral video featuring a nine-year-old golfer at Mara Hills Golf Resort.
• Connecting with influencers like BC Bob, who featured a number of Shuswap businesses and events, providing wide exposure to uniquely Shuswap experiences.
• Creating, printing and distributing more than 30,000 guides and maps.
• Reviewing workplans and budgets in response to the announcement of the withdrawal of the City of Salmon Arm from the Shuswap Tourism service in 2025.
10 MILLION +
VIDEO CONTENT VIEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FILM COMMISSION
Highlights
• Scouting possible locations for television projects filming in BC.
• Adding 29 new locations to the ReelScout image database.
• Participating in the Creative BC strategic planning for regional film commissions.
VIKTORIA HAACK PHOTOS
COMMUNITY SERVICES
What’s our role?
To plan, manage and operate CSRD parks and facilities including playgrounds, trails, the Golden & District and Sicamous & District Arenas, the Golden Curling Rink, Golden Library, the Revelstoke Airport and the CSRD Administrative Offices.
Highlights
• Advancing work on the Eagle Bay Community Park to allow for a soft opening of the playground area in time for the Eagle Bay Day community celebrations in August. Final landscaping work to bring the park to completion will be done in 2025.
• Completing trail planning and development of the Glenemma Trailhead and Day-Use Area.
• Pausing the Golden and Electoral Area A Indoor Aquatic Centre initiative following the news that the CSRD’s $13.5 million Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program funding application was unsuccessful.
• Investigating options for the renewal of the CSRD’s Parks and Recreation Master Plans for the Electoral Areas.
• Developing the Loftus Lake Trailhead and dog park in Electoral Area G.
DID YOU KNOW...
THE CSRD HAS 60 MANAGED PARKS, TRAILS AND BOAT LAUNCHES ACROSS THE REGION, WHICH INCLUDE MORE THAN 86 KM OF RECREATIONAL TRAILS.
REPRESENTATIVES TRAINED AND OPERATING ACROSS THE REGION 19 LOCAL FIRESMART
What’s our role?
To deliver services relating to three core functions: fire services, emergency management and emergency fire dispatch (911 service).
The CSRD operates 13 fire departments within eight fire suppression areas including more than 300 paid on-call firefighters, 50 pieces of apparatus and 14 fire halls.
The CSRD is responsible for emergency management in the region. The Shuswap Emergency Program is managed directly by the CSRD and includes Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, and G, as well as the District of Sicamous and the City of Salmon Arm. City of Revelstoke manages emergencies withing the municipality and for Electoral Area B. The Town of Golden is contracted to manage emergencies within their boundaries, as well as in Electoral Area A.
The CSRD facilitates the provision of a regional 9-1-1 dispatch service (fire, police, ambulance) for all properties within the Regional District through the E-Comm program.
Highlights - Fire Services
• Completing arrangements for the introduction of the new Kicking Horse Mountain Fire Department. Effective January 1, 2025, residents of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort will have fire protection for their area with services being provided by the Town of Golden until the stand-alone CSRD fire department is operational.
• Conducting feasibility study work into the provision of road rescue services. An assent process for this proposed new service is scheduled for 2025.
• Continuing to enhance the FireSmart program to reduce wildfire risks across the CSRD. The program was the recipient of a $1.1 million grant from the Community Resiliency Investment program to provide services for a twoyear period.
• Bringing in local FireSmart representatives to assist with last-minute recommendations and evacuation preparedness for five communities under threat of wildfire. This included Dasnier Bay in Seymour Arm, Swansea Point, Sorrento, Silver Creek/Deep Creek and Nicholson.
SPECIALISTS HIRED BY THE CSRD
Highlights - Emergency Management
• Managing the recovery process from the Bush Creek East wildfire. (More details are available in this report on the Bush Creek East Wildfire Recovery page.)
• Coordinating emergency response on the Hullcar Mountain wildfire in the Shuswap Emergency Program area, while also providing support to the Golden & Area Emergency and Revelstoke & Area Emergency Programs for wildfires in Electoral Areas A and B. (More details are available on the 2024 Wildfire Response page.)
• Informing residents of geohazard risks in the areas affected by the Bush Creek East wildfire and the high likelihood of landslide events in various areas of the North and South Shuswap for the next two to five years. Information meetings were held and findings from geotechnical engineers are available on a dedicated webpage
• Coordinating a multi-agency emergency response to a fatal incident where a semi-truck went off the Bruhn Bridge and became submerged in the Sicamous Channel of Shuswap Lake.
• Ongoing training and support for the Emergency Support Service volunteer program, including the ability for local volunteers to assist other ESS programs with remote support. This included a simulated region-wide training exercise with the Golden and Revelstoke teams.
EMERGENCY RECEPTION CENTRE ACTIVATED 8 DAYS
50 NEIGHBOURHOOD
EMERGENCY PROGRAMS IN PLACE
BUILDING AND BYLAW SERVICES
The CSRD’s building department saw the highest construction project value in CSRD history in 2024 at an estimated $91.3 million
Building in the CSRD continues a significant growth trend with a total of 422 building permits issued in 2024 - nearly double the number of permits issued in 2019 and nearly five times the number issued in 2009.
What’s our role?
Building inspection is a comprehensive assessment of a building’s structural integrity, safety, and compliance with building codes and regulations to ensure the health, safety and protection of people and property.
This helps owners avoid costly and time-consuming pitfalls by providing permits, inspection services and advice on the Building Bylaw and the BC Building Code.
Bylaw Enforcement is responsible for processing, investigating and resolving contraventions of CSRD Bylaws throughout the regional district, as well as managing the CSRD's Dog Control Services in three specified areas.
Highlights
• Implementing online applications forms to make the building permit process more efficient and convenient for the public. By the end of 2024 more than 80 per cent of building permit applications were being filled out online.
• Using mobile and digital technology for permits, enforcement and drawing reviews.
• Working with Transport Canada on the issue of sunken and abandoned vessels in Shuswap Lake. The CSRD coordinated with Transport Canada to remove an abandoned and sunken 62-foot paddle-wheeler, known as the Spirit of Kelowna, from Shuswap Lake in October. A Sea-Ray vessel was also removed from the Tappen area in July.
• Discussing possible changes to the CSRD’s dog control service with the Board.
The CSRD received 239 new bylaw enforcement complaints and 166 dog control complaints in 2024.
PLANNING SERVICES
Planning applications totalled 294 for 2024, which was the second-highest number of applications since 2009. The only year which was busier was 2021, with 355 total planning applications.
What’s our role?
The CSRD's planning function is divided into two categories: Long Range Planning and Current Planning.
Current Planning consists of application processing for land-use applications such as rezoning, Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) proposals, Temporary Use Permits (TUPs), variances and bylaw requirements.
Long-Range Planning is primarily focused on developing and amending Official Community Plans (OCPs), Zoning Bylaws, and creating new and updated land-use policies.
Highlights
• Implementing an online application process for development services applications on the CSRD website. By the end of 2024, more than 50 per cent of the CSRD’s planning services applications were completed online. The CSRD is one of the first regional districts in the province to add this online application and payment option.
• Amending zoning bylaws to permit secondary dwelling units in all areas and to increase the permitted size of accessory buildings. The changes are designed to help improve housing options in the region. The amendments also bring the CSRD into compliance with Bill 44 provincial legislation, which required local governments to update their zoning regulations to permit small-scale multi-unit housing before June 30, 2024.
• Refining application procedures to enhance efficiency. This means certain types of development permits and development variance permits can now be approved by the General Manager, Development Services without having to go before the CSRD Board of Directors.
• Adding the option of Temporary Use Permits (TUP) into Electoral Areas C and G. TUPs may also be a method of dealing with the operation of short-term rentals within those areas of the CSRD with zoning bylaws. The CSRD continued to wait for more information on the impact of the new provincial Short-term Rentals registry.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can get notified by email or text about development proposals in your area. Use the Notify Me feature of the CSRD website to sign up.
DID YOU KNOW...
The Salmon Arm Landfill accepts Household Hazardous Waste, including oil, paint and antifreeze, for free drop-off on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are also Household Hazardous Waste depots at the Revelstoke and Golden Landfills, which have free product drop-off on Saturdays.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
What’s our role?
The Environmental Services Division delivers services related to eight core functions: Solid Waste Management, Waste Reduction, Climate Action, Milfoil Control, Noxious Weeds, Mosquito Control, Liquid Waste Management Planning, and Dike Maintenance. This function has one of the largest budget allocations, with more than 30 budgeted functions to be managed, ranging from hundreds to millions of dollars. The day-to-day management and supervision of these diverse services are delivered through staff and contract resources.
VIKTORIA HAACK PHOTO
Here’s a quick peek at what your recycling efforts kept out of the landfill:
285 398
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers
Child Car Seats
Child Car Seats
Highlights
Highlights
• Continuing work on the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) Review with input from the Public and Technical Advisory Committee. This process of updating a SWMP is extensive and will require significant public engagement in 2025. The plan review is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
• Continuing work on the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) Review with input from the Public and Technical Advisory Committee. This process of updating a SWMP is extensive and will require significant public engagement in 2025. The plan review is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
3,119
Here’s a quick peek at what your recycling efforts kept out of the landfill: 285 398 3,119
Fridges / Freezers kg of Clothing
• Submitting an updated Liquid Waste Management Plan for Electoral Areas C, E, F and G to the Ministry of Environment for approval in February 2024. The CSRD continues to wait for the approval from the Ministry of Environment to proceed.
• Submitting an updated Liquid Waste Management Plan for Electoral Areas C, E, F and G to the Ministry of Environment for approval in February 2024. The CSRD continues to wait for the approval from the Ministry of Environment to proceed.
11,028 1,350
11,028 1,350
42,182
42,182
• Working with with Recycle BC to significantly increase their financial incentives to the CSRD for the new term of the five-year agreement (2025-2029). The savings will be used to lower the tax rate for the service and fund new recycling programs.
• Working with with Recycle BC to significantly increase their financial incentives to the CSRD for the new term of the five-year agreement (2025-2029). The savings will be used to lower the tax rate for the service and fund new recycling programs.
52,820
• Partnering with the City of Revelstoke on their plans to initiate a curbside collection program for organics in 2025.
• Partnering with the City of Revelstoke on their plans to initiate a curbside collection program for organics in 2025.
• Planning for a Hazardous Waste Depot at the Sicamous Landfill in 2025.
• Planning for a Hazardous Waste Depot at the Sicamous Landfill in 2025.
Propane Tanks kg of Paint litres of Used Oil
8,400
8,400
Fridges / Freezers kg of Clothing Propane Tanks kg of Paint litres of Used Oil kg Books
52,820
kg Books
3,783 kg of Batteries
3,783 kg of Batteries
UTILITY SERVICES
What’s our role?
The Utilities Services Department manages services to four core functions: Community Water Services, Community Sewer Services, Street Lighting and Fire Hydrant servicing. This includes the operation of 10 CSRD-owned community water systems: Anglemont, Cedar Heights, Eagle Bay, Falkland, Galena Shores, MacArthur-Reedman, Saratoga, Cottonwoods, Sunnybrae and Sorrento.
Board of Directors
The CSRD also owns and operates six small park/community hall and fire department water systems at Ranchero Deep Creek Firehall, Malakwa Park/Firehall, Silver Creek Park/Firehall, Swansea Point Firehall, White Lake Community Hall/Firehall, Yard Creek Campground.
DID YOU KNOW?
The CSRD’s average non-irrigation water use is approximately 986 litres/day per household. This increases to between 1,900 and 3,400 litres/day from June to August. Using more than 1,500 litres per day is considered excessive. By lowering our water use to this threshold, we can safeguard the water supply and greatly enhance the lifespan of our water systems.
Highlights
Highlights
• Developing a new water conservation and a four-stage water restriction plan to promote and encourage reduced water use for residents. This is designed to help protect water supplies and reduce strain on CSRD water infrastructure. Approvals were made by the Board in December, with the program starting in 2025.
• Developing a new water conservation and a four-stage water restriction plan to promote and encourage reduced water use for residents. This is designed to help protect water supplies and reduce strain on CSRD water infrastructure. Approvals were made by the Board in December, with the program starting in 2025.
• Introducing a new way to pay for water systems to ensure systems are properly funded and money is set aside for equipment replacement and upgrades. With this bylaw, the CSRD is moving forward with a model that will see user fees fully fund operating expenses. Parcel taxes will be used to fund equipment replacement or system upgrades, as well as any debt that is necessary.
• Introducing a new way to pay for water systems to ensure systems are properly funded and money is set aside for equipment replacement and upgrades. With this bylaw, the CSRD is moving forward with a model that will see user fees fully fund operating expenses. Parcel taxes will be used to fund equipment replacement or system upgrades, as well as any debt that is necessary.
• Finishing construction of the expanded $4.1 million Scotch Creek Water System. The project is expected to be operational in spring 2025.
• Finishing construction of the expanded $4.1 million Scotch Creek Water System. The project is expected to be operational in spring 2025.
1,315,800,000
1,315,800,000
LITRES OF WATER USED IN 2024
LITRES OF WATER USED IN 2024
2,028 82,392
264
264
Meters of watermain
Meters of watermain
2,028 82,392
Bacteriological samples tested from CSRD systems
Bacteriological samples tested from CSRD systems
CSRD-owned fire hydrants
CSRD-owned fire hydrants
212
212
Private hydrants serviced by the CSRD in fire protection areas
Private hydrants serviced by the CSRD in fire protection areas
What’s our role?
What’s our role?
The Financial Services Department provides financial expertise, support, information and recommendations to all the CSRD’s departments, as well as the Board and public. Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of fiscal management at the CSRD.
The Financial Services Department provides financial expertise, support, information and recommendations to all the CSRD’s departments, as well as the Board and public. Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of fiscal management at the CSRD.
Approved by the Board of Directors each year, the Five-Year Financial Plan lays out the framework for how the CSRD spends tax dollars. The department also assists in developing policies and procedures to guide the Board and staff in shaping the direction of the organization.
Approved by the Board of Directors each year, the Five-Year Financial Plan lays out the framework for how the CSRD spends tax dollars. The department also assists in developing policies and procedures to guide the Board and staff in shaping the direction of the organization.
The 2024 Financial Statements were audited by BDO Canada LLP, who have expressed that, in their opinion these statements present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of the regional district.
The 2024 Financial Statements were audited by BDO Canada LLP, who have expressed that, in their opinion these statements present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of the regional district.
In addition to the preparation of these audited financial statements each year, the CSRD maintains a system of internal accounting controls, including policies and procedures, designed to safeguard the assets of the regional district, as well as provide timely and reliable financial information. This ensures the full accounts of the regional district and the Regional Hospital District are prepared, maintained, kept safe and can be reviewed by the public.
In addition to the preparation of these audited financial statements each year, the CSRD maintains a system of internal accounting controls, including policies and procedures, designed to safeguard the assets of the regional district, as well as provide timely and reliable financial information. This ensures the full accounts of the regional district and the Regional Hospital District are prepared, maintained, kept safe and can be reviewed by the public.
Highlights
Highlights
• Overseeing the financial elements of the response and recovery efforts from the Bush Creek East wildfire and the 2024 wildfires. This involves continuous collaboration between the CSRD and the Province to ensure financial obligations from the fire are properly handled.
• Overseeing the financial elements of the response and recovery efforts from the Bush Creek East wildfire and the 2024 wildfires. This involves continuous collaboration between the CSRD and the Province to ensure financial obligations from the fire are properly handled.
• Continuing to enhance the CSRD's Asset Management Program, which works to maintain property, infrastructure and equipment throughout its entire life cycle, from planning and acquisition to operation, maintenance, renewal and disposal.
• Continuing to enhance the CSRD's Asset Management Program, which works to maintain property, infrastructure and equipment throughout its entire life cycle, from planning and acquisition to operation, maintenance, renewal and disposal.
• Ongoing completion of all financial reporting, tax requisitions, parcel taxes, Community Works Fund projects and financial tracking and reporting for grants.
• Ongoing completion of all financial reporting, tax requisitions, parcel taxes, Community Works Fund projects and financial tracking and reporting for grants.
Residential tax rate by $100,000 of assessed value
MILLION
2024 TAX REQUISITION
2024 TANGIBLE ASSETS
TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS (COST) - 2024
Land
Land Improvements
Buildings
Equipment
Mobile Vehicles
Water Infrastructure
Other
$20,367,027
$14,547,356
$28,454,220*
$20,367,027
$14,547,356
$28,454,220*
$8,808,997
$12,252,277
$31,821,484
$24,426,071*
$140,677,432
*Includes $66,717 for Asset Retirement Obligation
$8,808,997
*Includes $18,733,802 for Asset Retirement Obligation
$12,252,277
$31,821,484
$24,426,071*
GRANTS-IN-AID
GRANTS-IN-AID
2024 APPROVALS COMMUNITY WORKS FUND
Town of Golden MARCH $500,000 AREA A WHITE TOOTH LEGACY PARK
Eagle Bay Fire Hall MARCH $42,800 AREA C ENERGY EFFICIENT BAY DOORS
Cedar Heights Water System MAY $117,700 AREA G UV WATER TREATMENT UPGRADES
MacArthur Reedman Water System MARCH $374,500 AREA G WATER INTAKE UPGRADE
Carlin Hall JUNE $238,097 AREA G UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS
Falkland & District Community Association JANUARY $466,543 FALKLAND STAMPEDE GROUNDS
Community Water Systems MAY $25,000 MATCHING FUNDS FOR ASSET MGMT GRANT
Cedar Heights Water System OCTOBER $65,000 LAKE PUMP REPLACEMENTS
TOTAL APPROVED $1,829,640
Strategic Priorities Fund Strategic Priorities Fund Strategic Priorities Fund
