Wildsight members ask: “Now what?”

A Jumbo stab in the back?
An abdication of responsibility?
A way to rezone that erases the public voice?

Voice your opinion, with respect

According to Wildsight executive director John Bergenske, the recent RDEK vote on Jumbo has provided a great opportunity for residents who care about regional land use to discuss the vote with their regional directors.

In the 8-to-7 vote of August 7, 2009, RDEK directors asked the Province to make the Jumbo site into a “Mountain Resort Municipality.” The governance of such a municipality, should the Province go ahead and legislate it as such, would come in the form of an unelected council appointed by the Provincial Government.

“The RDEK board avoided facing the Jumbo rezoning head on,” Bergenske said. “That’s because the proponent never submitted the necessary request for re-zoning – and public consultation – that the RDEK is responsible to oversee in such projects.”

And yet, Bergenske said, by supporting the resolution, the board made a de facto re-zoning decision – without going through the required processes local government is required to follow.

“The resolution was to override current zoning by the regional district, to recommend use of an area that’s non-compliant with its current zoning, and to ignore every single public opinion survey of residents that has taken place,” he said.

“I encourage people who are interested in the vote and its ramifications to listen to the proceedings and hear all sides of the story,” Bergenske said. “Excellent points worth following up were put forward by several delegates and a number of directors themselves.

“Ultimately, if people are keen to respond to their regional director about the way he or she voted, they should do so,” Bergenske said.

He added that, even though feelings are running high as a result of the voting outcome, people do best to respect elected officials.

“This is not the end of our work on behalf of the majority of Columbia Valley residents who’ve stated they do not want the Jumbo resort built,” Bergenske said. “Keep your message polite and to the point -- this is about regional democracy. Stay informed and stay the course.”

Director contact information

Electoral Area A: voted to send the decision to the province
Mike Sosnowski — 250-423-1029   mike@snowmobilefernie.com

Electoral Area B: voted to keep the decision local
Heath Slee — 250-887-3483 (Home)

Electoral Area C: voted to send the decision to the province
Rob Gay — 250-489-4242 (Home) robgay@telus.net

Electoral Area E: voted to keep the decision local
Norman Walter — 250-427-2577 (Home) norm.walter@gmail.com

Electoral Area F: voted to keep the decision local
Wendy Booth — 250-345-6155 (Home) wendy@columbiarafting.com

Electoral Area G: voted to keep the decision local
Gerry Wilkie — 250-347-9841 (Home) gdwilkie@cyberlink.bc.ca

Village of Canal Flats: voted to keep the decision local
Ute Juras — 250-349-5672 (Home) udjuras@yahoo.ca

City of Cranbrook: voted to send the decision to the province
Scott Manjak — 250-489-4339 (Office) manjak@telus.net
Liz Schatschneider — 250-489-3334 (Office) liz.notary@shaw.ca

City of Kimberley: voted to send the decision to the province
Jim Ogilvie — 250-427-2623 (Home) mayor@city.kimberley.bc.ca

City of Fernie: voted to keep the decision local
Cindy Corrigan — 250-423-2233 cindy.corrigan@fernie.ca

District of Sparwood: voted to send the decision to the province
David Wilks — 250-425-0264 (Home) mayor@sparwood.bc.ca

District of Elkford: voted to send the decision to the province
Dean McKerracher — 250-865-2303 (Home) mayor@elkford.ca

District of Invermere: voted to keep the decision local
Gerry Taft — 250-342-9281 mayor@invermere.net

Village of Radium Hot Springs: voted to send the decision to the province
Dee Conklin — 250-341-5100 dee@palliserprinting.com