CSRD Re-Launches Area F Issues Identification Study
By Allan Neilson
We are ready to re-launch our study, which had been put on hold due to the wildfires that affected both the North and South Shuswap.
Electoral Area F (North Shuswap) is a dynamic, fast-growing part of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). The communities that comprise the Electoral Area look to the CSRD as their local government and rely on the Regional District for most of their local services. Residents and their interests are represented at the CSRD Board table by Electoral Area Director Jay Simpson.
The residents in Area F may have local service- and governance-related concerns that the CSRD, as their local government, needs to understand. The Regional District, with funding from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, has launched the Area F Issues Identification Study. The purpose of the Study is to determine what changes, if any, may be required to ensure that local services and/or local governance in Area F continue to meet the needs of people in the North Shuswap.
A team of independent local government consultants has been hired to undertake the Study in three parts:
Part I: Current State — The consultants profiled the local government services provided to Area F today, as well as the current system of local governance for the Area.
Part II: Community Engagement — From early January through the end of February, the consultants will engage with residents to present the current state information, and to learn about the issues they may have with existing services and decision-making.
Part III: Options for Change — Based on the community input received, the consultants will identify and recommend changes the CSRD can make. It is important to note that the study is not an incorporation study — incorporation will not be considered or put forward as a possible change to consider. All options will involve changes within the current Regional District system.
Residents of Area F, including permanent and seasonal residents, are encouraged to attend the community engagement activities being offered in January and February. All information produced by the consultants on the current state is posted online, as are details on in-person events.
On Saturday, January 20, the consultants will host two community open houses:
in Anglemont at the Lakeview Centre at 10:00 am, and
in Celista at the North Shuswap Community Hall at 2:00 pm.
Throughout January and February all Area F residents will be able to complete an online survey (csrd.civilspace.io) to identify their issues and concerns. An Overview document will also be made available online and mailed to each household.
All residents are encouraged to take the time to attend an in-person event, review the Overview and complete the Survey. The CSRD is committed to ensuring that service and governance needs are met; but the Regional District can only act if residents put their issues and concerns forward.
This survey is being conducted to gather public feedback to better understand the questions and concerns that Electoral Area F residents may have with local services and the current system of local governance. Ultimately it will help us consider what can be done within the Regional Governance framework to better serve Electoral Area F citizens.
