By Mayor David Wilks

As we look toward the future, 2025 served as an important year of engagement, planning and progress. District of Sparwood council and staff worked to advance projects, support community engagement initiatives, and strengthen the foundations that ensure Sparwood continues to be a place we are proud to call home.

Accessibility

Accessibility was a big focus for 2025 with the publication of the Elk Valley Accessibility Plan. This plan was developed by the Elk Valley Accessibility Committee, a citizen-led group of volunteer residents and appointed municipal representatives from Sparwood, Elkford and Fernie. Working together, their lived experiences, shared insight and collaboration were instrumental in shaping a plan that reflects the needs and values of the three communities.

A major infrastructure upgrade in accessibility occurred at the Sparwood Leisure Centre with the addition of an elevator.

The elevator offers improved accessibility for residents and guests, supporting the movement of people and goods from the main arena foyer to the Community Hall on the second floor. The installation of this new elevator is an important step toward ensuring that all residents, regardless of age or ability, can safely and comfortably access municipal facilities. As the year concludes, installation is complete and the final step will be inspections and permitting which is anticipated to occur early in the new year.

Infrastructure Investments

Planning for the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction has been ongoing through 2025.

The current secondary treatment process, using an oxidation ditch, will be replaced with sequencing batch reactors. This project includes the addition of an aeration building, pre-screening, backup generator replacement and the addition of a larger centrifuge to meet increased demand.

The upgrades will replace aging infrastructure, improve safety, allow for control of dissolved oxygen, and accommodate community growth by increasing capacity.  The design also includes redundancy in the secondary treatment which eliminates the need to bypass treatment during maintenance.

Recycling & FoodCycler

Council is excited to have spent 2025 working on a curbside recycling plan. Starting the week of March 31, 2026, single family households in Sparwood will begin receiving curbside recycling collection. Each household will receive a 240-litre recycling cart. Residents can then place accepted recyclables in the cart and roll them to the curb on the scheduled collection day. Collection will happen every two weeks alternating with garbage collection.

Preparing for the FoodCycler pilot program was also a big focus of the year. A FoodCycler is an appliance that uses grinding, heating and aeration to break down organic waste, reducing its volume by up to 90%, with the result being a manageable concentrated material which can be used as a compost with some additional steps. The FoodCycler pilot program will be initiated in spring 2026.

Recycling and FoodCyclers are part of council’s commitment to improving waste diversion and environmental stewardship in our community.

Communication & Engagement

Another milestone for 2025 was the launch of the district’s official community app. Rolled out in May, the smartphone app provides residents with streamlined access to municipal news, alerts, event information, and essential updates directly from the district.

Designed to complement the refreshed municipal website, the app helps ensure residents have a trusted and centralized source for local information, representing a commitment to improved communication and civic engagement across Sparwood.

This year Sparwood also took meaningful steps toward preparing for future growth and livability with a focused Zoning and Parking Bylaw update project. Workshops were held to gather community input on modernizing the district’s long-standing bylaws, which date back decades.

These engagements invited residents to help shape recommendations on housing density, accessory buildings, parking regulation, and commercial zoning — all with the aim of supporting a vibrant and adaptable community framework for years to come.

The Recreation Facility Advisory Committee worked diligently throughout the year engaging with residents and local user groups, hosting pop-up booths and launched a highly successful BBQ aimed at gathering public feedback. The feedback will help the Committee shape the recommendation regarding a multipurpose facility that will be presented to Council early in the New Year.

FireSmart

Sparwood is a community surrounded by forested landscapes, which means living with the risk of wildfires is a reality we all share. To build on the district and the province’s ongoing wildfire risk reduction efforts on nearby forest lands, the District of Sparwood was proud to fully support the FireSmart BC program.

This year, the efforts coordinated through Sparwood’s FireSmart Coordinator saw many community members and neighbourhoods work to reduce wildfire risk. Ongoing efforts can be expected in the new year.

Looking Forward

Sparwood will enter the new year with momentum from 2025’s accomplishments. Investments in infrastructure, continued dialogue around planning and zoning and ongoing communication and engagement provide a strong foundation for the years ahead.

e-KNOW file photo

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