Mayor's Musings for July 2025 (Catch-up Edition)
by Steve Fairbairn, Mayor for the District of Elkford
I know, I know… you’ve missed my musings over the past few months. But I’m baaaaack!
The brief pause was a direct (if minor) result of ongoing staffing shortages. Our team had to prioritize more pressing documents to be published by deadlines (like our shiny new 2024 Annual Report, Wildcat Days brochures, taxation documents and more). But the Musings hiatus? Officially over.
Now where to start?
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE DIGGING?
Let’s start with that hole at the corner of Riverview Park (or as many of you call it, “Bucket Park”). Our friends from FortisBC are on-site there, managing some gas infrastructure work.
And those stacks of aqua blue/green-coloured pipes near the ball diamond along Highway 43? They’re part of a project to improve water flow and quality for Union Road businesses. No, they’re not tearing up the highway; they’ll be drilling underneath it!
RECREATIONAL UPGRADES: ON AND OFF THE COURT
Kudos to the various District of Elkford crews who are keeping up with everything front-facing for our community, from street sweeping to bylaw enforcement and project work.
On the recreational frontier, some of our sportier residents might have noticed a change at the basketball court: the “extra player for both teams” post has been removed. Consider it a trade for future recreational improvements. Pickleball and tennis players? Don’t despair—we haven’t forgotten about you! Stay tuned for more about this.
And what the heck is going on with the east wall of the Rec Centre arena? No, nobody has lost a contact lens or been hunting for buried treasure.
The emergency exit stairs were rusting into red dust and needed to be replaced. The new stairs will be realigned to run south along the building instead of jutting into the parking lot, so this also involves some structural upgrades to the arena.
BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE
At the District of Elkford, many things bring us together, but a major one is how much we all love dogs (and not just our canine Deputy Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Luna, though she has quite the local fanbase).
The Elkford Dog Park Club has been working closely with our Director of Community and Facility Services, Pete Dudman, and District staff to explore locations for a fenced, off-leash dog park. These options have gone to council and concerns are being addressed.
Not unleashed just yet, but getting there!
WILDCAT DAYS 2025: A ROARING SUCCESS!
Wow, did you enjoy this year’s Wildcat Days as much as I did? Great acts and performers, smooth logistics, lively competitions… and a few local celebrities being dunked for a good cause. Yes, I took the plunge in freezing-cold water to help raise funds for Angel Flight East Kootenay and boy, was it cold!
Thanks must go out to the organizers in the Community and Facility Services Department, with support from other DoE departments. A job very well done by all who were on shift (and off).
Special shoutout to some of our great nonprofit groups too, like the Elkford Biking Club, the Elkford Trails Alliance—and many others—plus the (fledgling) Elkford Dog Park Club, who stepped up to handle the beer gardens like pros all weekend.
Another year, another unforgettable Wildcat Days. What a great event, run by great people!
A TIP OF THE HAT TO WILDCAT CHARLIE
Long-time locals may remember when Wildcat Days were called “Wildcat Charlie Days” (which is what I still like to call it).
“Wildcat” Charlie Weigert was a German rancher in the early 1900s who ranched at Sulphur Springs. He was known for his generosity to trappers and settlers (and for proudly owning the only padlock in the Elk Valley, which was kind of a big deal back then).
Want to learn more? Check out the Elkford Visitor Centre at 750 Fording Drive. Our staff will share the tale, and you can grab some brand-new Wildcat Charlie merch while you're at it!
CANADA DAY BBQ: RECORD-BREAKING? MAYBE!
Canada Day saw one of the biggest BBQ turnouts ever, maybe the biggest!
Hats off to our Community and Facility Services team for organizing these events and to the behind-the-scenes crew who set up bright and early and stayed long after the crowds left. Truly, teamwork at its finest.
A FOND FAREWELL TO OUR YOUTH COUNCILLORS
A heartfelt thank you and farewell to this year’s Youth Councillors: Shaelynn Bryant and Taia Vriend. Your input brought fresh perspectives and gave Elkford’s youth a strong voice at the council table, and we appreciate it very much!
Are you an Elkford Secondary School student who is interested in stepping into one of these volunteer roles next year? Applications open in September, once school is back in session.
BETTER LOCAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS
Have you heard that Elkford now has a fully staffed Urgent Primary Care Centre offering more local health services—and more hours—than we’ve had in a long time? It’s true! And that’s a win.
CLIMATE ACTION: SMART SPENDING, REAL IMPACT
Every year the District of Elkford (and every other community in British Columbia, I believe) receives funding from the provincial government as part of a climate-related initiative.
This initiative—the CleanBC climate plan—aims to reduce provincial emissions by 2030. One part of this is the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP), which provides funding to municipalities for local climate projects.
Here in Elkford, we’ve used LGCAP funding to:
Replace hot water heaters in the Rec Centre arena dressing rooms
Help purchase an electric Zamboni
Upgrade windows and doors at the Mountain Meadows Golf Course
Next on the list for 2025:
Replacing a gas-powered vehicle with an electric vehicle
Automating the arena refrigeration plant
Upgrading lighting in our facilities
So why am I sharing this? Because you might see a new green-and-white, Elkford-branded EV around town soon.
You may even be tempted to grumble about your property taxes when you do—but don’t panic, this didn’t come out of them! We used provincial funds, kept in our hands (not sent back to Victoria), to reduce our own carbon footprint.
Complicated? Sort of. Smart? Absolutely!
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES: THE FINE PRINT
Municipalities like Elkford rely on property taxes and government grants to deliver services and infrastructure.
When developers build new homes or businesses, they either connect to existing services or trigger the need for new infrastructure. To help pay for that, municipalities charge Development Cost Charges and Amenity Cost Charges.
Here’s the catch: the Province and developers often request these charges be waived, especially for multi-unit residential projects. When that happens, no other funding replaces the loss. So, the costs of growth are passed on to existing taxpayers.
And in general, new residential property taxes do not cover the full cost of the services those new homes require. Meaning we can maintain, but we can’t meaningfully grow.
Do you want your residential taxes used to subsidize someone else’s new home? Didn’t think so. Advocacy continues.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER, ELKFORD!
In closing, I wish you a wonderful August! Remember to be FireSmart™, relax, slow down and enjoy Elkford in all its summer beauty.
And whether you’re out walking or biking, don’t forget to face the traffic! You’ll see what’s coming at you… and that’s good advice in more ways than one. 😉
Let’s keep the conversation going, Elkford!
Until Next Time,
Mayor Steve
