Landscape

Cariboo Regional District Chair Margo Wagner reflects on 2023

December 15, 2023
23-24

Williams Lake, BC – The bang of the gavel marked the end of the year for the Cariboo Regional District’s board of directors as they closed out their final meeting of 2023. While there remains some work to be wrapped up at the committee level, the group of sixteen directors will not be meeting as a group until January 11, 2024.

Taking some time to reflect on the board’s first year after the 2022 general election, Chair Margo Wagner had the following to say:

“If 2023 meant anything for me, it was to think ahead and get ready for things to come. Our efforts this year focused on preparing our organization and region for new ways of doing business and participating in the response to the worst year for wildfires on record.

We saw the highest level of devastation from wildfires in Canada’s history, with the greatest impacts on our neighbouring regions. Thankfully, we got lucky and did not see similar levels of devastation – despite a record drought, long periods of hot dry weather, and reduced snowpack. Unfortunately, it seems that this year is a “new normal” level of wildfire activity, and one more season under our belt with evacuation alerts and orders issued in the areas near Nazko, Baker Creek, Anahim Lake, and the Dean River area. One crisis we were not expecting is the hay shortage that was caused by a record-setting drought and pervasive smoke.

We worked closely with our neighbours to support them in their response and to share our experiences during the trying times of summer. We worked with other regional district chairs as they navigated devastation similar to or worse than what we saw in 2017 and 2021. We all shared common concerns for keeping our communities safe, navigating the hay shortage and its impact on our ranchers, and the massive recovery work that will be needed. Patiently, we hold our breath for what mother nature will bring for us next year.

We also welcomed new faces to the regional district office, firstly our new CAO, Murray Daly. He had previously been Clinton’s CAO and has extensive experience working with the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. We also welcomed Roger Hollander, our new Regional Fire Chief, back to the organization. Roger previously worked with us as a Bylaw Enforcement Officer before leaving to become the District of 100 Mile House’s Fire Chief. We look forward to seeing what their experience brings to our regional district.

Our largest piece of policy work was finally completed this year. The Solid Waste Management Plan update offered an opportunity to talk about how we manage our trash and recycling and create less of it. At our last meeting, we reviewed the final draft of the solid waste management plan, representing the product of three years of work to update how we manage waste in the region. Handling and managing garbage accounts for 15% of our total expenses and is a massive operational undertaking and is a huge endeavour on our part.

Looking towards the new year, we are excited to be welcoming athletes from across the Province to the Lhtako-Quesnel Winter Games, of which we are a proud partner. I will be joining a larger group of volunteers to help make sure the games run smoothly and provide a fun and exciting environment for everyone participating. The organizers are continuing to look for volunteers to help run the games – consider offering your help with running this big event during your visit to Quesnel.

I am also encouraging everyone to get signed up with our emergency notification system. In 2024, we will be launching a new platform, Voyent Alert, which is much easier for everyone to use and manage data. This system is the best way to be informed if you are inside an evacuation area, making sure you know right away when orders and alerts affecting you are going out. Our staff can help sign you up to receive notifications on your landline, email, or cellphone so you know when to go.

As we move forward into the new year, we will continue building our communities together and making beneficial decisions guided through our board’s strategic priorities. Those priorities remain as asset management and infrastructure renewal, improved public communications and engagement, effective and responsive land use planning and development, and relationships with First Nations. Together, these focus areas ensure that our decision making isn’t focused just on the region we have, but the one we all want to live in for generations to come.”