Town of Golden Newsletter: August 2026

Are you planning to run for Mayor or Council?

The Nomination Period starts September 1 for the 2026 municipal election.

Nominations will be received by the Town of Golden for the offices of:

  • Mayor - one (1) to be elected
  • Councillor - six (6) to be elected

Nomination packages are now available for pickup at Town Hall, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or online at www.golden.ca/2026election

Nominations will be received by the Chief Election Officer or designate, starting September 1, 2026, until 4 p.m. on September 11, 2026, by:

  • Hand, mail or delivery service to: 810 9th Ave, Box 350, Golden BC, V0A 1H0
  • Email at election@golden.ca
  • Fax (250-344-6577)

To avoid delays in filing nomination papers in person, it is strongly recommended to make an appointment by email at election@golden.ca or call 250-344-2271.

Nominations will not be accepted after 4 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026.

For more details about running for office and the October 17 election, visit golden.ca/2026election
 

 

Council Briefs

Find out what's new at Town Hall with Council Briefs.

Find out when the next Council meeting its:

Upcoming Council Meetings

Here is a recap of this month's Council meetings. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at www.golden.civicweb.net and meeting recordings are available on the Town's YouTube channel.

Presentations and Delegations

Tourism Golden presented the organization's 2027–2032 Strategic Plan and requested Council support for the continuation of the 3% Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) for a further five-year term beginning July 1, 2027. Council will consider the request at the September 1, 2026 open meeting.

Carscadden consultants presented Council with a progress update on the Aquatic Options Study project. The study outlines the costs and details associated with a mechanical systems update and modernizing the existing outdoor pool; building a new outdoor aquatic facility; and building a new indoor aquatic facility. The project costs are funded jointly by the Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District. View the presentation and learn more at golden.ca/aquaticsoptions

Bylaws

Council gave second reading as amended and third reading to Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 Town of Golden Official Community Plan.

Council gave third reading to Bylaw No. 1517, 2026 Town of Golden Development Cost Charges.

Council Business

Council voted in favour of a request from the Golden Cycling Club Council to support the advancement of a Licence of Occupation and Gazebo Project at Reflection Lake or alternate location of Keith King Memorial Park.

Council voted to move forward with a detailed assessment of the Horseshoe Club building for hazardous materials, any necessary pre-demolition mitigation and eventual removal of the building.

Following receipt and consideration of public feedback and Town bylaws and policies, Council approved a Liquor Primary structural change and capacity increase application for the Rockwater Grill and Bar with a condition of a closing time of 11:00 p.m. for the 2nd storey (rooftop) patio.

Council approved a request for a budget amendment in order to complete the Mount 7 Block Redesign Project as planned with a transfer of available funds from the Racquet Courts Facility Project approved budget.

Council approved a revised, grant-funded budget for Emergency Centre Operations equipment and training.

Council voted to support an updated request from Local Food Matters Society to allocate $70,000 from the Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF) for their 2027 Food System Development initiative.
 

Project Updates and News

Fall is on its way!

That means so are the bears! As bears prepare for winter, you might spot them around our community looking for food sources. Here are some important reminders about using your bear-resistant bin to keep our community safe for both humans and wildlife:

  • Lock it up! To use the bin, unclip the locking latch and place your garbage in the container. Don’t forget to lock it back up! Bins must be locked 24 hours a day (except for the morning of pick-up days).
  • Put out your bin! On the morning of your garbage pick-up day, put your bin out ‪between 5 and 8 a.m. and make sure it’s unlocked for collection.
  • Put it away! Once your garbage has been collected, lock your bin up and put it away.

Bear-resistant bins are only resistant, not bear-proof. If you can, secure your bins in a shed, garage or other enclosure that cannot be accessed by a bear.

And don't forget to harvest the fruit from the trees in your yard and remove any fallen fruit from the ground!

Bylaw, Conservation Officers and the WildSafeBC Golden Community Coordinator work together to conduct random bin checks and tagging throughout the year to make sure bins are being used properly and aren’t being put out the night before collection.

For curbside collection rules,  schedules and maps, visit golden.ca/curbsidecollection

 

Your pet. Your responsibility.

August 26 was International Dog Day! Did you know that approximately 200 dogs are licensed every year in the Town of Golden?Here are the top 3 tips for being a responsible pet owner in Golden:

  • Licence your dog! Licensing your dog (and making sure they wear their ID tag) is their ticket back home if they sneak out or wander off. Licensing your dog with the Town of Golden can cost as little as $13 a year!
  • Don't let your dog run loose! Keep an eye on your dog, use effective hand/voice control, and respect other dogs and owners. If your dog doesn’t have recall, it shouldn’t be off-leash. Please make sure you are familiar with the on-leash areas of town.
  • Scoop that poop! Cleaning up after your pet isn't just the right thing to do, it's the law. Dog waste can be harmful to people, pets and the environment if not picked up and disposed of properly. The Town provides biodegradable pet waste bags at 20 stations around Golden.

For more information on responsible pet ownership, visit golden.ca/petsTo learn more about safety and etiquette when you're hitting the trails with your dog, visit golden.ca/trailsandpathways

Recreation schedules - Swim and Skate!

Summer is winding down, but there's still time to make a splash at the Golden Pool.

  • We've got plenty of lane swim and public swim opportunities in our last week operations.
  • There are also Aquafit and Parent & Tot swims!

So get your swimsuit on and join us at the pool!

We're also excited to welcome the return of public skating! Lace up your skates and join us for public skate on Saturday, September 5 from 12 to 2 p.m.

You can register for programs one week in advance and up to 30 minutes before the start of a program.

Here's how you can register for recreation programs:

  • Register online using the Amilia platform at our webpage.
  • By phone/email: call 250-344-7011 or email here.

For more information about our schedules, registration and cancellation,  visit golden.ca/recprograms