Town of Golden News: July 2025

One year since the Dogtooth wildfire

July 22 marks one year since the Dogtooth wildfire started south of Golden, a fire that tested the strength and resilience of our community.

On July 24, 2024, rapidly evolving fire conditions led to the evacuation of over 100 properties near Parson and alerts for more than 1,000 others. Structures were lost, including four homes. While the memories of that week remain vivid for many, so too does the response.

In the days that followed, the Town of Golden’s Emergency Operations Centre, BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre, and two BC Wildfire Incident Management Teams worked around the clock alongside the Nicholson Fire Department, Golden Search and Rescue, Golden Fire & Rescue, Golden Fire Jumpers, RCMP, and many more. Volunteers with Emergency Support Services provided critical help to evacuees, while residents and businesses stepped up in countless ways to support one another.

As we look back, we think of those who were directly impacted by the wildfire and recognize the dedication of the agencies, organizations, volunteers, businesses, and neighbours who came together when it mattered most. The strength, compassion, and resilience shown in the face of crisis are what define Golden and Area A. It truly was, and continues to be, the Golden way.

Looking ahead: Since 2024, the Golden and Area Emergency Program (GAEP) has been successful in several grant applications to modernize the Emergency Operations Centre and equip the program with state-of-the-art communications tools, and the Emergency Program Executive Committee has been re-engaged. The GAEP Coordinator has been working with Emergency Support Services (ESS) to onboard and train new volunteers, started working with communities in Area A to develop Neighbourhood Emergency Programs, and is working on an updated Emergency Management Plan for Golden and Area A that will reflect new and upcoming changes to provincial legislation. Town staff have developed a draft crisis communications plan and are working towards an updated business continuity plan for the municipality.

Be Prepared: Know the hazards, make a plan and prepare a 72-hour kit of emergency supplies. For more information, visit preparedbc.ca⁣

Get involved: If you would like to get involved with ESS, they are always looking for new volunteers. Learn more at golden.ca/ess or reach out to Leanne at Leanne.GoldenESSD@gmail.com⁣

FireSmart your property: Protecting your community starts with you! Being proactive in making your home, property and neighbourhood FireSmart will help increase your home’s resiliency when wildfires approach. To learn more or to request a FireSmart Assessment, visit golden.ca/firesmart
 

 

Council Briefs

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

Find out when the next Council meeting its:

Upcoming Council Meetings

Economic Opportunity Fund
On July 15, the Standing Committee on Finance (SCOF) discussed the Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF) process. Committee recommended to Council that all subsequent EOF proposals submitted by third parties first be submitted to Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) staff for confirmation of compliance prior to being considered for approval by Council and the CSRD Electoral Area Director, and that the approved proposals then be forwarded to the CSRD Board for consideration of approval.

Following the SCOF meeting, at the Regular Open Council meeting, Council recommended approval of three EOF funding requests, which will go to the CSRD board for approval in August:

  • $30,000 to the Golden Food Bank Society for Food Access Programs.
  • $100,000 to Local Food Matters for core operations to support the Local Food Aggregation & Distribution.
  • $315,000 to Golden Community Economic Development to deliver the 2025-2026 work plan.

For more information on these requests, view the full agenda package here.

Airport - Weber Powder Hangar
Council approved a new five-year lease to Weber Powder for a lot at the Golden Municipal Airport to construct a new commercial hangar for two helicopters along with a waiting area, commercial fridges and freezer as well as dry storage on the second floor for food, guest luggage, avalanche safety equipment to support their lodge and other backcountry lodges. As a condition of the building permit for the hangar, Weber Powder will be required to make a contribution towards the 12th Street South Lift Station and a portion of sewer pipes north of it. Learn more here. 

Bears Paw Heights
The developer of Bear’s Paw Heights is looking to purchase additional land from the Town, which is subject to a Crown Land Reverter, in order to develop a larger, fee simple low density subdivision (“Phase 6”). View the full report and details.

Council directed staff to continue working with the developer on negotiating a land sale proposal and to include the following Council feedback to guide the process:

  • Tree buffer
  • Road design (not cul-de-sacs)
  • Local builders
  • Smaller footprint
  • Smaller lots = smaller homes
  • Negotiate greatest value for any land sold and allocate a portion of funds to parks north of the river
  • Ensure secure ownership of parkland (transfer title of parkland as condition of sale)
  • Contribution to Selkirk Hill Rd. to Bowle Evans Rd.

Please note that for this to proceed, the developer would need to formally apply to the Town and Council would need to consider OCP and Rezoning amendments for the portions of land zoned P1 to residential use, as well as the land sale in due course including a formal public hearing.

Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) Report
At a Special Open Council meeting held on July 28, Council approved the 2024 SOFI Report.

The SOFI Report contains detailed financial information, including a statement of assets and liabilities, operational statement, and schedules of debts, guarantee and indemnity agreements, severance agreements, remuneration and expenses paid to/on behalf of employees, and payments for suppliers of goods or services. View the 2024 SOFI Report.
 

Project Updates and News

Bylaw Services

Wondering what the Town’s Bylaw team has been up to this year? Here’s a quick update on what we’ve been working on and what’s coming next.

Responsible Pet Ownership: We’ve been busy preparing a draft Responsible Pet Owner and Animal Control Bylaw. So far, it’s been reviewed by legal, local experts, and the BC SPCA. We’re aiming to bring the bylaw forward to Council this fall, along with a public education campaign. Stay tuned!

Bear Bins & Attractants: Our Bear Aware Coordinator, Jenni Barrera, is back for her second season. She’s been working with our Bylaw Officer and local Conservation Officer to reduce attractants and promote coexistence, helping keep wildlife wild and our community safe.

Watering Restrictions: Thanks to a wet spring, we’ve seen very few watering infractions this year. Our team continues to monitor and patrol water use based on weather conditions to reduce system pumping requirements and make sure the Town can maintain adequate reservoir storage for firefighting purposes.

Downtown Parking Patrols: You may have noticed an increase in foot patrols downtown this season. These patrols aren’t just about enforcement, they’re about connecting with people and understanding community needs as part of our commitment to education and helping to promote a safe and harmonious community. We've had great conversations with residents and visitors, gathering valuable data about parking behaviours in the downtown core to help inform future Council priorities.

Looking ahead:
Every year, staff bring forward recommended priorities for bylaw education and enforcement for Council’s consideration. Based on those discussions, this year’s key areas of focus for late summer and fall include:

  • Continued water use monitoring. Not sure when to water? Visit golden.ca/watering
  • Ongoing Bear Aware program support. Learn more about living with wildlife at golden.ca/livingwithwildlife
  • Monitoring of parking and illegal camping in the municipality. Learn more about parking in Golden at golden.ca/parking
  • Working with our Public Works team to make sure streets and alleyways are clear and accessible for crews to carry out their fall and winter duties.
  • The Town has processed 101 short term rental (STR) applications since December 2024 and has licensed 87 B&B and STR operators so far. Education and enforcement will ramp up this fall/winter.

At the Town, we take an education-first approach to encourage voluntary compliance before ticketing. If you see our bylaw officer out and about, feel free to say hello and ask any questions you might have about Bylaw.

Check out our Bylaw reports to Council:

Infrastructure and growth update: Planning for a sustainable future

As Golden grows, so does the need for reliable infrastructure. According to best engineering practices, the Town is at or nearing capacity in critical infrastructure like sewer and water. This directly impacts how and where new development can happen.

We’re taking proactive steps to ensure our infrastructure supports the community today, and for decades to come.

What we’re doing:

  • Completed infrastructure master plans (transportation, water, sewer, treatment)
  • Downtown street renewals with added water looping for increased fire flows
  • Continued design and development of Well 7
  • New sewer design south of Pine Dr. (to be partially funded by development)
  • Applying for the 5th Ave S sewer line replacement upgrade through the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Grant, with support from the Growing Communities Fund ($4 million)

How growth will be supported:

To ensure growth pays for growth, we are:

  • Updating our Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw
  • Completed Infrastructure Funding Guidelines to clarify developer contributions

The Town is using the benefiter-pays model used across many B.C. municipalities. This means that developers are responsible for funding the infrastructure needed to support new development, while the Town, and ultimately taxpayers, are responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and replacing that infrastructure over its lifetime.

What this means for development:

  • Larger developments will require off-site infrastructure and new contributions
  • Low-density (1–2 unit) projects are still being considered and approved, while staff closely monitors system capacity

Next Steps:

We’re working with Urban Systems Ltd. to support Council in reviewing draft DCC rates. Engagement opportunities for developers, taxpayers, and residents are coming soon.

Learn more:

Map above (or online) shows the main growth-related infrastructure projects.

Draft Resort Development Strategy 2025-2027

Every few years, the Town of Golden works with the Resort Development Strategy Advisory Committee (RAC) and collects input from the community as part of the development of a new strategy for the Resort Municipality Initiative.

RAC members include representatives from the Twon of Golden, Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Tourism Golden, Golden Community Economic Development, Kicking Horse Culture, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce, Golden Skybridge, and the College of the Rockies. The Town of Golden will also be submitting the draft strategy to the Ktunaxa Nation and the Shuswap Band of the Secwépemc First Nation for feedback.

The draft strategy is now available.

Proposed projects for 2025-2027

Tourism Infrastructure, Capital, or Amenities

  1. Gazebo at the CBT Parking Lot
  2. Regional trail maintenance and new Mt 7 trail
  3. Centennial Park upgrade
  4. Public art strategy
  5. Golden Stroll interactive walking tour 
  6. Spirit Square washrooms upgrade
  7. Wayfinding signage
  8. Winter regional trail maintenance
  9. Banner refresh and replacement

Tourism-related Programs, Services, or Events

  1. Kicking Horse Culture - Emberfest
  2. Tourism Golden events
  3. Online tourism learning
  4. Community shuttle operation
  5. Community shuttle app

Residents were invited to provide feedback on the draft strategy from July 10-22, 2025.

Garbage & Recycling Reminders

Black Garbage Bins: What NOT to throw out

Yard waste doesn’t belong in your black cart! Instead, drop it off for free year-round at the Golden Landfill, or save it for one of the Town’s two annual yard waste collection days (one in the spring and one in the fall). Stay tuned for our fall 2025 yard waste collection date.

Blue Recycling Bins: Avoid these common mistakes

Here are some items we often find making their way into recycling, please keep these items out of your blue bin:

  • Plastic bags and overwrap including grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, zip-locks, wrappers, cling wrap, and cellophane
  • Glass
  • Foam/Styrofoam packaging

These items can be dropped off at the local recycling depots the Golden Bottle Depot at 916, 11th Avenue South, and the Golden Landfill at 350 Golden-Donald Upper Rd.

Hazardous Waste Alert

Hazardous waste items that should NEVER be placed in your garbage or recycling bins. Items like propane canisters, lithium-ion batteries (found in cell phones, laptops, etc.), and other hazardous items can catch fire or explode during the recycling process. Find a list of hazardous material and learn how you can prevent recycling explosions and fires at www.recyclebc.ca/Hazardous/

For safe disposal of your household hazardous waste in the Golden area, take it to the Golden Hazardous Waste Collection Depot at the Landfill for FREE on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: www.csrd.bc.ca/174/Hazardous-Waste-Collection-Depots

Visit golden.ca/curbsidecollection for full guidelines and helpful tips.