Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK)

09/15/2026

Join a team that's making a difference in your community by becoming a paid-on-call firefighter with the Elk Valley & South Country or Columbia Valley Rural Fire Rescue Services. Our departments in Panorama, Edgewater, Jaffray, Baynes Lake, Elko, and Hosmer are actively seeking new recruits.

No prior experience is needed—we provide comprehensive training and ongoing support throughout your service. As a firefighter, you'll be paid for your time on call and eligible for extended benefits.

Application forms are available on the RDEK website and at local Fire Halls. For more details, contact the Elk Valley and South Country Rural Fire & Rescue Service at 250-429-3133 or the Columbia Valley Rural Fire Rescue Service at 250-342-6214, or visit www.rdek.bc.ca.

Take the first step today in contributing to a safer community.

09/15/2026

A bear’s sense of smell is powerful. Fruit on the ground, pet food, barbecue grease, birdseed, and unsecured garbage can all draw bears into neighbourhoods.
This fall, help reduce bear encounters:
• Pick fruit as soon as it ripens.
• Clean up fallen produce.
• Scrub and securely store your barbecue.
• Keep pet food and water bowls indoors.
Let’s make our rural areas safe and keep bears from becoming food-conditioned.

09/14/2026

For Columbia Valley Transit riders, some important information about the new late bus schedule pilot project starting September 22nd. Details in post below!

There's a NEW Bus in Town! And it's always LATE.
Need to get home afterwork? Late games and long shifts won't leave you stranded.
Take the LATE BUS home.
Service Starts Sept 22.

FULL SHEDULE + INFO
https://investcolumbiavalley.ca/invest/columbia-valley-evening-bus/

09/14/2026

From BC WILDFIRE SERVICE (Posted 09.14.26)

Prescribed Burn planned for Bull River area

The BC Wildfire Service will be supporting Galloway Lumber in conducting site preparation prescribed burns in the Bull River area. The burns are located approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the community of Bull River, in the lower Bull River Valley near Camp and Van creeks. A UAV (drone) may be used to assist ground crews with ignition and monitoring activities. The project area covers up to 22 hectares.

The exact timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Friday, September 18, 2026.

Smoke is expected to remain primarily within the Bull River Valley; however, in the days following the burn, minor smoke drift into the Kootenay Valley - particularly during overnight periods - may occur. Smoke may be visible from the communities of Bull River, Wardner, and the surrounding area, and to motorists travelling along Highway 3.

Key goals of this prescribed burn include:
• Reduce build-up of dead and combustible materials
• Prepare the site for planting and regeneration activities
• Decrease the risk and impacts of future wildfires in the area

This project will be implemented by Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX participants. Kootenay ʔa·kinq̓uku TREX is a prescribed fire training exchange co-hosted by Ktunaxa Nation and the BC Wildfire Service, with support from the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society and UBCO's Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program. Safety is always our top priority and participants in this training exchange will be working alongside experienced BC Wildfire Service staff and with guidance from local partners and project proponents.

Burning will only proceed if conditions are suitable to achieve objectives and allow for appropriate smoke dispersal, though smoke may linger in the following days, particularly the morning after burn operations.

FULL news release HERE: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/prescribed-burn-planned-for-bull-river-area-3/

Questions:

Brendan Yuill
Galloway Lumber Company LTD
250-919-4836
or
Southeast Fire Centre
250-318-7715
[email protected]

09/12/2026

Come see us at the Fairmont Fly-In until 1pm today! Check out the booths and displays, learn how to prepare for emergencies, get tips on FireSmarting your property, get signed up for the Regional Evacuation Notification System (or if you are already signed up, have us make sure your property pin is in the correct spot).

09/12/2026

Bears are actively searching for food this fall. Take a few minutes to make your property less attractive:
• Put trash and recycling in wildlife-proof bins or store them indoors
• Clean barbecues after every use
• Pick ripe fruit and remove fallen produce
• Feed pets indoors
• Remove bird and hummingbird feeders
Small actions can prevent conflict and help keep bears wild.

09/12/2026

Nomination Period Closes Ahead of October 17 General Election (posted: Sept. 11.26 - 7:20pm)

The nomination period for the upcoming election closed at 4:00 pm today.

“To help electors get to know the candidates running for office, we have posted short biographies. They are linked off our Elections page and we encourage residents to visit the page to learn more about those running for office along with other election-related information and key dates,” says RDEK Chief Election Officer, Tina Hlushak.

In addition to running the RDEK Local General Election for Electoral Area Director, the RDEK is running the elections for the following:
• SD No. 5 - Trustee Electoral Area 4 (RDEK Electoral Area B); and,
• SD No. 6 - Trustee Electoral Area 4 (RDEK Electoral Area F & Village of Canal Flats) and Trustee Electoral Area 5 (RDEK Electoral Area G and Village of Radium Hot Springs)

Although the candidates have been declared, the official Declaration of Election by Voting or Acclamation will take place September 21. “The period between the close of nomination and the Declaration of Election and Acclamation is in place to allow for a number of statutory processes, including challenges and candidate withdrawals. This ensures the final election outcome is confirmed accurately and transparently,” explains Hlushak.

On September 21, 2026, the RDEK will formally declare either:
• an election by voting, if there is more than one candidate; or
• candidates elected by acclamation, where there is only one candidate.

The Local General Election and General School Election will be held October 17, 2026. Advance voting will take place October 7 and 13.

Full details, including the links to the candidate bios can be found on engage.rdek.bc.ca/elections.

09/11/2026

Area A Director Grateful for Community Advocacy on Hartley Creek Bridge Project (posted: Sept.11.26 5:45pm)

RDEK Electoral Area A Director Thomas McDonald is praising the efforts of residents following an update from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit that they are evaluating an alternative detour route for the Hartley Creek Bridge Replacement.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the community’s concerns have been heard and are being taken into consideration,” says Director McDonald. “While I have been advocating with the Ministry and other Provincial officials since March, it is the residents who have been so passionate and clear about the significant safety and traffic concerns with the Dicken Road detour who deserve all the credit for making a new alternate route a potential reality.”

While an alternate detour is not certain and no final decision has been made, the Ministry announced in a project update today that they are moving away from using Dicken Road as a detour and looking at an on-highway detour for the Hartley Creek Bridge Replacement Project.

“I want to thank the Ministry, their project team and the consultants for recognizing the real concerns of residents in and around Dicken Road and for being willing to evaluate another option while still proceeding with this much-needed project,” adds McDonald.

In March, McDonald sought and received support from the RDEK Board to formally request an alternative detour be considered given significant safety, traffic volume and community impacts of the Dicken Road detour on the small residential neighbourhood. A concerned citizen group was also established this spring and has tirelessly advocated for a different solution.

The Ministry is expected to confirm its decision on the project direction in the coming weeks and will provide updates on its project page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/highway-3-hartley-creek-bridge

09/11/2026

FROM BC WILDFIRE SERVICE: Category 2 open fire prohibition to be rescinded in the Southeast Fire Centre

Effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Time on Friday, September 11, 2026, Category 2 open fire will be permitted throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District.

Anyone choosing to light a Category 1 campfire or Category 2 open fire must do so responsibly and in accordance with Section 20 and Section 21 of the Wildfire Regulation:
• Do not burn in windy conditions
• Establish and maintain a fuel break
• Do not leave the fire unattended
• Ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving the area
• Carry out fire control immediately and/or report the fire if it spreads beyond the established fuel break

A Category 2 open fire is a fire that burns:
1. Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
2. Material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
3. Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares
In addition to Category 2 open fire, the following activities and equipment are also permitted:
• Fireworks as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
• Binary exploding targets
• Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• Controlled air incinerators

Reminder: Category 3 open fires have been prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre since May 21, 2026.

Read the FULL news release here: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-2-open-fire-prohibition-rescind-in-the-southeast-fire-centre/

Questions? Contact:
Fire Information Team
BC Wildfire Service
Southeast Fire Centre
250 318-7715
[email protected]

09/11/2026

Today (September 11, 2026) at 4:00pm is the deadline to submit nomination papers for the offices of:

• RDEK Electoral Area Director (Electoral Areas A, B, C, E, F and G)
• Trustee for School District No. 5 School Trustee Electoral Area 4 (RDEK Electoral Area B)
• Trustee for School District No. 6 School Trustee Electoral Areas 4 (RDEK Electoral Area F & Village of Canal Flats) and 5 (RDEK Electoral Area G & Village of Radium Hot Springs)

Nomination documents will be received by the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer at the RDEK office in Cranbrook until 4 p.m. today (September 11).

For more information, contact the RDEK or visit: engage.rdek.bc.ca/elections