Mayor's Musings for September 2025: By Steve Fairbairn, Mayor for the District of Elkford
Mayor's Musings for September 2025
by Steve Fairbairn, Mayor for the District of Elkford
I doubt I’ll ever get used to the time lag between when I write these musings and when they appear online or in the freshly redesigned Elkford Focus.
On that note: all of you active residents and volunteers are encouraged to keep those stories and photos coming. The Focus is your community paper, so why not share what makes Elkford special? Just send your submissions to the Elkford Public Library.
Welcoming Our New Directors
The District of Elkford has welcomed two new directors to the herd, and I am pleased to introduce them. Tracy Forster joins us as Director of Corporate Services, bringing a wealth of experience from a similar role in Sechelt.
In Planning and Development Services, we are delighted to welcome Nandu Dubey. He comes to us from Palatine, Illinois, where he was Economic Development Project Coordinator for SomerCor and managed the City of Chicago’s Small Business Improvement Fund. Nandu brings not only strong professional expertise, but also an eagerness to return to Canada and embrace life in a small community set in an outdoor paradise.
Both Tracy and Nandu have already expressed how impressed they are with the strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie among District staff, and I could not agree more.
Progress + Patience
Projects continue to move toward completion, though like much of the country, we are dealing with delays in permits and contractor scheduling.
Patience is a virtue, and I just want to remind you that your local government still has to wait on things, same as everybody else.
A Look Inside Fording River Operations
Recently, I had the privilege of spending a few hours at the Fording River mine site with permission from Elk Valley Resources (EVR). It was a fascinating and in-depth tour, including an update on the successful operations of the wastewater treatment facility.
This was very much a politician’s tour, and I was joined by an all-star roster that included Rob Morrison, Pete Davis, David Wilks, Ted Shoesmith, Senator David Wells from Newfoundland and Labrador, Members of Parliament (MPs) John Barlow and John Brassard, as well as various staffers and handlers.
And yes, I even got to sit in the driver’s seat of a massive front-end loader (although sadly, I was not allowed to run anything over with it).
The scope of science and planning that go into this mine operation is extraordinary. The sheer size of the site and machinery is jaw-dropping. Most importantly, the dedication of the miners and their support crews, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in every kind of weather, is something that deserves all of our respect. It certainly has mine.
Representing Elkford in Victoria
From September 23 to 28, most of your District of Elkford councillors and yours truly will be in Victoria for the 2025 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) annual general meeting. We have lined up meetings with two ministers: Environment and Parks, where we will be making the case for more Conservation Officers in the Elk Valley to better manage increasing Crown land camping; and Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, where we will press for better funding for our First Responders. These crews are called to motor-vehicle incidents (MVIs) both inside and outside our boundaries, and right now the District has to top up provincial pay scales to cover the costs.
UBCM, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG) conferences are excellent opportunities for learning, networking and growth. They allow us to connect with colleagues, government officials, emergency service providers and developers from across Canada. I am honoured to have been invited to sit on a panel on outdoor recreation development in small communities, where I will proudly share Elkford’s experiences with our recreational assets and the non-profit groups that make them thrive.
Keeping Safety Top of Mind
Closer to home, I have noticed more people walking facing traffic—great job keeping safety front of mind. I would also encourage cyclists on Highway 43 to always ride single file. Just because you are on the right side of the white line does not mean you cannot still end up in danger. Let’s all do what we can to keep our community safe!
Looking Ahead to Fall (With Recreation at Your Fingertips)
Did you know that schedules for the pool, swimming, skating and recreational programs are always available on our website?
It’s true! You can find them under the Community and Recreation tab or by visiting www.elkford.ca/pool and www.elkford.ca/programs.
In closing, I wish you all a warm, enjoyable start to autumn. The long-range forecast points to a wetter transition into winter this year, and wet could very well mean solid white (fingers crossed for the ski hill). Let’s hope for the best and enjoy the change of season together.
