Darcy Bell
Council · Castlegar
Castlegar 14 yrs
About
I moved to Castlegar in 2012 with my wife, Amy, and our two daughters. I work locally at Kalesnikoff Mass Timber and have served on Castlegar City Council for the past four years, while staying active in our community.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
✓
Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
✓
Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
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Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Neutral
✓
Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
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Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Neutral
✓
Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
✓
Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
✓
Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
✓
Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
✓
Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
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Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Neutral
✓
Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
✓
Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
Through my work on City Council, I have supported Castlegar’s efforts to reduce waste, including curbside recycling and the introduction of organics collection. I believe municipalities have an important role to play in making it easier for residents to reduce what goes to landfill by providing practical and accessible alternatives.
At home, my family also tries to be conscious of the waste we produce and to make use of the recycling and diversion streams that are available to us. We separate recyclables and organics and try to avoid sending materials to landfill when another option exists.
I think climate action is most effective when it is practical, achievable, and supported by good infrastructure. My approach has been to support realistic local initiatives that residents can participate in and that produce measurable benefits for our community.
At home, my family also tries to be conscious of the waste we produce and to make use of the recycling and diversion streams that are available to us. We separate recyclables and organics and try to avoid sending materials to landfill when another option exists.
I think climate action is most effective when it is practical, achievable, and supported by good infrastructure. My approach has been to support realistic local initiatives that residents can participate in and that produce measurable benefits for our community.
Questions for Castlegar
In January 2021, Castlegar adopted the West Kootenay 100% Renewable Energy Plan. How will you prioritize actions, including timelines, to implement the plan and ensure that they move forward this term?
The City has already made progress on several actions identified in the 100% Renewable Energy Plan, including the introduction of organics collection, improvements to active transportation infrastructure, participation in regional energy-efficiency programs, and higher efficiency standards for new construction.
In the coming term, I would support reviewing the plan against the progress made since its adoption and taking a serious look at what priorities should come next. There needs to be room for these priorities to evolve to coincide with funding opportunities and of course adjust according to technology.
My priority would be to focus on actions where the City can have a meaningful impact, but with a balance to account for affordability, available funding, infrastructure capacity and, of course, the practical needs of residents and businesses. Where regional partnerships or grants from other levels of government can help us advance these goals without placing more burden on local taxpayers, we should pursue those opportunities.
In the coming term, I would support reviewing the plan against the progress made since its adoption and taking a serious look at what priorities should come next. There needs to be room for these priorities to evolve to coincide with funding opportunities and of course adjust according to technology.
My priority would be to focus on actions where the City can have a meaningful impact, but with a balance to account for affordability, available funding, infrastructure capacity and, of course, the practical needs of residents and businesses. Where regional partnerships or grants from other levels of government can help us advance these goals without placing more burden on local taxpayers, we should pursue those opportunities.
The Castlegar area is vulnerable to many climate-related risks (e.g., wildfire, drought, smoke, flooding, heat, local supply chains). How will you address these risks to increase our community’s resilience?
Wildfire and drought are two of the climate-related risks that Castlegar residents have become increasingly concerned about, and hence should remain a priority in our resilience planning.
On wildfire, we need to continue investing in FireSmart initiatives, public education, and programs that help residents reduce risk around their homes and neighbourhoods. This past year saw significant progress made on FireSmart, but more to be done. Castlegar’s Community Wildfire Resilience Plan and FireSmart program provide a strong foundation for that work, and I support continuing to see those plans enacted.
Water restrictions have become needed during the summer months, and we need to continue promoting responsible water use while looking at ensuring there is infrastructure that ensures a reliable supply for residents, essential services, and - especially - firefighting.
More broadly, we need to prepare for extreme heat, smoke, flooding, and other emergencies by protecting critical infrastructure, strengthening emergency preparedness, using good local data to guide actions and investments, and pursuing provincial and federal funding wherever possible.
For me, resilience means taking practical steps before an emergency occurs so that Castlegar is better prepared to protect residents, essential services, and infrastructure when these events happen.
On wildfire, we need to continue investing in FireSmart initiatives, public education, and programs that help residents reduce risk around their homes and neighbourhoods. This past year saw significant progress made on FireSmart, but more to be done. Castlegar’s Community Wildfire Resilience Plan and FireSmart program provide a strong foundation for that work, and I support continuing to see those plans enacted.
Water restrictions have become needed during the summer months, and we need to continue promoting responsible water use while looking at ensuring there is infrastructure that ensures a reliable supply for residents, essential services, and - especially - firefighting.
More broadly, we need to prepare for extreme heat, smoke, flooding, and other emergencies by protecting critical infrastructure, strengthening emergency preparedness, using good local data to guide actions and investments, and pursuing provincial and federal funding wherever possible.
For me, resilience means taking practical steps before an emergency occurs so that Castlegar is better prepared to protect residents, essential services, and infrastructure when these events happen.
What ideas do you have to decrease reliance on personal gas vehicles and improve how people get around the city using low emission transportation methods (e.g., walking, biking, carpooling, bus/transit, EV)?
I need to be honest here - Castlegar’s geography makes this a challenging issue. We are a long, narrow community, and for many residents walking from one end of the city to the other simply is not practical. We are also dependent on a regional transit system, which means improvements to routes and frequency require collaboration beyond the City itself and come at potentially great cost to tax payers.
Therefore, I believe our focus should be on giving people more practical choices rather than expecting them to stop using personal vehicles. That means continuing to improve safe walking and cycling connections, particularly between neighborhoods, schools, businesses and services; advocating with BC Transit and our regional partners for better transit frequency and connectivity; and supporting infrastructure that makes electric vehicles a realistic option for those who choose them.
The upcoming Transportation Master Plan will include many of these aspects including active transportation.
Over time, we need to try to increase the availability of good infrastructure to support walking, cycling or transit. Ultimately our goal should be to expand transportation options while recognizing the unique realities of living in Castlegar.
Therefore, I believe our focus should be on giving people more practical choices rather than expecting them to stop using personal vehicles. That means continuing to improve safe walking and cycling connections, particularly between neighborhoods, schools, businesses and services; advocating with BC Transit and our regional partners for better transit frequency and connectivity; and supporting infrastructure that makes electric vehicles a realistic option for those who choose them.
The upcoming Transportation Master Plan will include many of these aspects including active transportation.
Over time, we need to try to increase the availability of good infrastructure to support walking, cycling or transit. Ultimately our goal should be to expand transportation options while recognizing the unique realities of living in Castlegar.
How would you approach land use and housing policies to ensure that people of all income levels—including low-income residents—have access to safe, affordable homes that are also resilient to a changing climate?
I believe we have already made great strides in this direction. We have changed zoning restrictions to allow for more Accessory Dwelling Units, started work on a major mixed-use housing project, and continue to work on other housing opportunities. These are practical solutions that we need to keep building on.
We also need to do more to lobby for housing funding from other levels of government. Land is another big factor. Castlegar does not have a lot of room to expand because of our geography, so we need to continue encouraging more multi-family development and make better use of the land we have.
Climate resilience also has to be part of that conversation. New developments need to be built to strong fire and building standards, and we need to continue promoting FireSmart and encouraging as many residents and neighbourhoods as possible to take part.
All of these things have a role to play in making sure people of all income levels have access to safe and affordable housing in Castlegar.
We also need to do more to lobby for housing funding from other levels of government. Land is another big factor. Castlegar does not have a lot of room to expand because of our geography, so we need to continue encouraging more multi-family development and make better use of the land we have.
Climate resilience also has to be part of that conversation. New developments need to be built to strong fire and building standards, and we need to continue promoting FireSmart and encouraging as many residents and neighbourhoods as possible to take part.
All of these things have a role to play in making sure people of all income levels have access to safe and affordable housing in Castlegar.
The Our Way to 2033 Community Plan includes many goals for enhancing and protecting Castlegar’s natural environment. How will you help advance those, including community partnerships, to help protect and restore our parks and natural areas?
Again, to an extent, Castlegar is a victim of its own geography. That means we need to wisely and methodically develop and use our parks and green spaces.
We also have a lot of smart people in our community, both within the City and through local organizations and volunteer groups, who have expertise in this area. We need to listen to that expertise and look for opportunities to work together.
We should continue to restore and find creative ways of using our natural spaces in ways that protect them from unnecessary environmental impact while still making them great places for residents to gather, socialize, play and enjoy the outdoors.
I think the key is finding that balance between protecting these spaces and making sure they remain accessible and useful to the community.
We also have a lot of smart people in our community, both within the City and through local organizations and volunteer groups, who have expertise in this area. We need to listen to that expertise and look for opportunities to work together.
We should continue to restore and find creative ways of using our natural spaces in ways that protect them from unnecessary environmental impact while still making them great places for residents to gather, socialize, play and enjoy the outdoors.
I think the key is finding that balance between protecting these spaces and making sure they remain accessible and useful to the community.
How will you foster collaboration and open dialogue with your fellow councillors and the community to make sure you are forming policy that best represents the full community’s needs, including seniors, newcomers, youth, renters, low income residents?
I believe the council table is where open and respectful dialogue needs to happen. We are not always going to agree, and I don’t think we should, but we need to be willing to listen to each other, ask questions, challenge ideas respectfully and ultimately make decisions based on what we believe is best for the community as a whole.
Just as important is making sure the voices coming into that discussion represent more than the people who are already comfortable speaking at a council meeting. We need to find meaningful ways to engage with seniors, youth, renters, newcomers, low-income residents and others who may not always participate in traditional City engagement.
That means going to where people are, listening to what they are telling us, and making sure we understand the impact our decisions will have before policy is formed. Good policy comes from good information, respectful discussion and hearing from as much of the community as possible.
Just as important is making sure the voices coming into that discussion represent more than the people who are already comfortable speaking at a council meeting. We need to find meaningful ways to engage with seniors, youth, renters, newcomers, low-income residents and others who may not always participate in traditional City engagement.
That means going to where people are, listening to what they are telling us, and making sure we understand the impact our decisions will have before policy is formed. Good policy comes from good information, respectful discussion and hearing from as much of the community as possible.
If you wish to clarify or add information you may use this space.
A number of the multiple-choice questions address issues that I believe are more complex than can always be captured by a single response. In some place where I selected "Supportive" that reflects support for the general goal or direction, while recognizing that specific policies still need to be considered on their individual merits, while factoring in practicality, cost, local impact and available resources.
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