Emergency planning and response will be a key area of focus for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s Board of Directors over the next three years.
It is one of five strategic areas of focus for the 26-member TNRD board until the next election in 2026.
TNRD Board Chair, Barbara Roden, says its a “sad reminder” of the situation across the regional district.
“I believe this is the first time its hit the charts as it were, and it shows how strategic plans are so important to communities because 2021 that wildfire season was absolutely hellish,” Roden said. “We can’t dismiss it as a one-off. We can’t say, ‘its a one in 200 year event.’ I’ve seen so many one-in-200-year events over the last five years. I know I’m not good at math but that’s not right.”
“I think I can probably guarantee that ten years ago, no one would have had emergency planning and response as a key plank in their strategic plan. It’s a kind of a sad reminder of what we’ve gone to here particularly in the TNRD.”
The strategic plan will identify priorities where the TNRD has jurisdiction and where it will need to lobby other levels of government, external agencies, or other stakeholders.
“We could all identify lots of places where there needs to maybe be some controlled burning, prescribed burning. We can’t do that at the TNRD. What we can do is advocate and say, ‘this is what we’re hearing on the ground. This is what you need to be doing,'” Roden added.
“From the TNRD’s point of view, what we can be doing is looking at training, looking at education of residents about the FireSmart program, for example.”
Livability & The Build Environment, Relationships & Reconciliation, Economic Sustainability & Resiliency, and Responsible Governance & Service Excellence are the other key areas of focus mentioned in the TNRD strategic plan.
CAO Scott Hildebrand says the board will release regular updates on the progress its making in achieving the goals of its strategic plan.
“Developing a work plan that reflects the Board’s vision and expectations has been a priority for our staff,” Hildebrand said. “Our staff are a talented and capable group that will be able to deliver strong results behind these important strategic priorities.”
You can find the TNRD’s entire 2023-2026 Strategic Plan here.
