Residents in Avola and Blue River have voted in favour of expanding mosquito control services across Electoral Area “B” (Thompson Headwaters), according to preliminary referendum results released by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
The referendum, held Saturday, June 13, asked voters whether the TNRD should establish a mosquito control service throughout Electoral Area “B,” a move that would primarily affect residents in the North Thompson communities of Avola and Blue River.
Preliminary results show 58 voters supported the proposal, while 24 voted against it, representing nearly 71% support among the 82 ballots cast.
“We’re pleased to see residents participating in the process and providing clear direction on the future of mosquito control services in the area,” the TNRD said in announcing the results.
Strong support on voting day
The majority of support came during general voting day in Blue River, where 48 of 57 voters cast ballots in favour of the service. Advance voting in Avola produced a narrower result, with 12 opposed and nine in favour, while mail ballots resulted in three “no” votes and one “yes” vote.
The results remain preliminary pending certification by the Chief Election Officer, with official results expected in the coming days.
Years in the making
The vote marks the culmination of a process that has been several years in the making.
A previous attempt to establish mosquito control services in Blue River failed in 2021 when a petition did not receive enough support from property owners. Under provincial legislation, the TNRD was required to wait five years before revisiting the issue through another public assent process.
Interest in mosquito control resurfaced earlier this year after the regional district conducted community engagement sessions and a public survey. Of the 70 people who responded, 77% supported moving forward with a referendum to allow voters to decide the issue.
Broader service, lower cost
One of the key differences between the 2021 proposal and this year’s referendum was the scope of the service.
While the earlier proposal focused solely on Blue River, the current plan covers all of Electoral Area “B,” including Avola and surrounding properties.
Regional district officials said the larger service area helped significantly reduce the projected cost to taxpayers by spreading costs across a broader tax base that includes industrial and utility properties.
The estimated cost for residential property owners is approximately $9.25 per $100,000 of assessed value, substantially lower than estimates presented during the 2021 proposal.
Focus on mosquito reduction
The mosquito control program is designed to reduce mosquito populations rather than eliminate them entirely.
The service typically targets mosquitoes during their larval stages in an effort to prevent large population increases later in the season. Similar mosquito control programs already operate in several other TNRD electoral areas and municipalities.
If the results are officially confirmed, Electoral Area “B” would become the latest region within the TNRD to receive mosquito control services.
