The Regional District of Central Kootenay will prioritize upgrades at the Creston and District Community Complex in a revised 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund application to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
In 2025, the RDCK approved submitting four Strategic Priorities Fund applications to the UBCM. Those applications included:
• Creston Septage Receiving Facility
• Arena refrigeration and direct digital control (DDC) upgrades in Creston and Nelson
• Castlegar and District Recreation Complex expansion
• Asset Management Capacity Project
Staff originally submitted one application covering refrigeration and DDC upgrades at both the Nelson and Creston complexes with a combined budget. However, the UBCM later advised that each application can only include work at a single location.
“For each application only one location for project works can be included. Unfortunately, we can’t include project works at Nelson and Creston, so one will need to be selected to go forward with this application,” the UBCM wrote in correspondence to staff.
The UBCM directed staff to respond with one location, supported by the board through a resolution.
At the Feb. 19 board meeting, Regional Manager of Operations and Asset Management Craig Stanley said staff recommended prioritizing the Creston project.
“Both projects offer the same benefits to the communities,” Stanley said.
“But further analysis, as shown in the report, indicates that the Creston project provides higher benefit to the RDCK in the form of greater reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and greater energy conservation and cost savings through utilities over time.”
Stanley added the Creston and District Community Complex is in “greater need” of DDC upgrades due to gaps in its current system configuration.
“So it is the most apt location for this type of work. Staff are making the recommendation that the board prioritize the Creston project over the Nelson project,” he said.
According to the staff report, both facilities have similar needs and scopes of work.
The RDCK has spent $102,152 on planning and design for the Nelson and District Community Complex project, which carries a 2026 construction budget of $1.05 million. Meanwhile, $100,873 has been spent on planning and design for the Creston project, which has a $1.2-million construction budget.
Area C Director Kelly Vandenberghe asked about contingency plans if the grant application is unsuccessful.
“What is the likelihood that this will proceed? And if it doesn’t proceed, what is the alternate option to improving the asset?” Vandenberghe asked.
Stanley said the refrigeration plant project is already fully funded through the RDCK’s 2026 financial plan.
As for the DDC work – which is needed at the Nelson, Creston and Castlegar complexes – Stanley said staff will bring forward future capital funding recommendations to regional committees, commissions and the board.
“If this funding is realized in Creston, that will allow us to do that work in Creston specifically. It doesn’t mean anything for Nelson or Castlegar as it relates to the DDC work in particular,” Stanley said.
City of Nelson Director Keith Page raised concerns about potential efficiency losses if DDC upgrades are not completed simultaneously across all three facilities.
“Is there much that we lose by not doing them all together? Should we be contemplating Nelson and Castlegar to still proceed with such a project so that we can do it all together, even if we don’t get free money in the other two facilities?” Page asked.
Stanley said refrigeration plant upgrades at Nelson and Creston are proceeding concurrently under one contract. Staff are still exploring options to bundle DDC upgrades into a single procurement process.
“But we would require approval of funding from multiple services. Currently we’re still in the planning stages of that, and it would be ideal for us to present that to the market for efficiencies,” he said.
Under the amended resolution, the RDCK will proceed with a Strategic Priorities Fund application for the Creston refrigeration and DDC upgrades.
The other applications, including the Creston Septage Receiving Facility, the Castlegar and District Recreation Complex expansion, and the Asset Management Capacity Project, are unaffected by the amendment.
The combined project budget is estimated at roughly $1.68 million, including engineering, construction and contingency costs. If approved, the grant would offset costs within the Creston recreation service.
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