Residents of Tobiano and Cherry Creek will soon decide whether to move forward with a joint fire protection service, as a referendum is set for Saturday, June 21, 2025, with advance voting available on Wednesday, June 11.

The proposed Tobiano-Cherry Creek Fire Protection Service would formally establish a new fire service area, allowing the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to borrow up to $2.5 million to expand and equip the fire department.

This would include building a new fire hall, along with purchasing two new fire trucks and the equipment crews would need to properly staff them.

Tobiano’s Fire Department, which was first developed privately and then handed over to the TNRD 2018, became an appealing prospect for some living in the surrounding Cherry Creek area in the aftermath of the 2021 wildfire season.

“This has been a long-standing topic in the community,” said Jamie Vierra, TNRD’s General Manager of Operations. “We completed a feasibility study in 2022 and received enough community interest to bring this to a referendum.”

“Now it’s in the hands of the voters,” added Vierra.

Financial Considerations

For locals, it call comes down to a cost-benefit analysis.

If approved, the service would result in an estimated tax increase of $1.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value—about $114 annually per $100,000 in property value.

“That amount would fund both the operating costs of the fire department and the loan for constructing the new hall,” explained Vierra.

“This is a community choice. It’s generally agreed that fire protection is valuable, but residents have to decide whether it’s worth the cost.”

By average home values between the two communities, the hit for homeowners in Cherry Creek would come in at roughly $750 dollars extra in taxes per year.

Tobiano residents would likely see their annual tax hit jump close to $1,100, based on the average assessed values in that community.

Voting Options

Qualified electors in Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) can vote in person or by mail:

• Advance Voting Day:
  -Tobiano Presentation Centre, 38 Rue Cheval Noir
  -Wednesday, June 11 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• General Voting Day:
  -Cherry Creek Ranch, 5420 Trans-Canada Highway
  -Saturday, June 21 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Mail-in ballots are also available, though voters are advised to apply early due to potential Canada Post disruptions. Application forms and further information are available at: tnrd.ca/referendum2025.

Community Engagement

The TNRD has been actively informing residents through community meetings, mailouts, and an online information portal. An online session was held on May 14, followed by an in-person meeting on May 15. Vierra says both sessions were well attended.

“I’m very pleased this opportunity has come forward for the people of Tobiano and Cherry Creek to have their say on the future of fire protection,” said Area “J” Director Mike Grenier . “Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers on the Tobiano Fire Department who continue to answer the call.”

Learn More

A four-page information package was sent to property owners in April, and full materials—slideshow presentations, FAQs, and recordings—are available on the TNRD website.

“This is a significant decision for both communities,” Vierra said. “We want voters to have all the information they need to make an informed choice.”

Also learn more about forest fire management locally here.