The City of Kimberley today hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of construction on the community’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The event brought together council members and staff from the City of Kimberley, project partners and media to celebrate this significant milestone, 17 years in the works.

Once complete, the facility will modernize Kimberley’s wastewater treatment system, improve environmental performance, and increase long-term service capacity for the growing community.

“This project is more than just an upgrade that was needed for many years, but also an investment in our future. As a growing community, we now have certainty that our core infrastructure has the capacity to reliably support our growing population,” said Mayor Don McCormick.

“We are grateful to our federal and provincial partners, along with our Ktunaxa neighbours for their support and our project team for getting the project to this point.”

The City of Kimberley is contributing $24.1 million to the project through borrowing and reserves. The Government of Canada will provide more than $36 million, and the Province of B.C. will contribute more than $30 million. The federal and provincial funds were awarded to Kimberley through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

It is the largest capital works project in Kimberley’s history coming in at $90.6 million.

“By breaking ground on this project, we are taking a major step toward improving wastewater treatment and supporting a healthier community,” said the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) and Member of Parliament for Kelowna.

“With this federal investment, we are helping protect the St. Mary River, safeguard the surrounding environment, and support Kimberley’s growth for many years to come.”

“People in Kimberley deserve access to infrastructure that keeps pace with the community’s growth and protects the local environment,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “Upgrades to this wastewater treatment plant will deliver a modern, energy-efficient facility that supports the province’s sustainability goals. Projects like this show how all levels of government can work together to improve the lives of the people across B.C. for generations to come.”

Construction on the Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected to be complete in fall 2028.

The project represents a major investment in modern infrastructure and long-term service capacity for the City of Kimberley.

Lead image: PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. Civil Infrastructure Manager Matt Pieters; Kimberley Senior Manager of Operations Nik Morissette; Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick; CAO Jim Hendricks; and Urban Systems Principal Steve Brubacher. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photos

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