Merrick Zemp

I have been committed to recycling for a long time, starting with school-led waste reduction programs in middle school and continuing through high school. Over my career as a shop supervisor and maintenance manager, I have consistently applied these principles in industry by prioritizing equipment reuse, reducing waste in daily operations, and implementing energy-efficient practices across facilities. I have made a point to lead by example and provide practical guidance to my teams on material conservation, proper waste sorting, and responsible resource management.

In the community, my involvement with local sports associations and volunteer boards has always centred on active stewardship and civic responsibility. On a personal level, I focus on minimizing my carbon footprint by making conscious purchasing choices, reusing materials whenever possible, and supporting community-wide sustainability initiatives. Moving forward, I am dedicated to using my hands-on technical background and leadership experience to support practical, high-impact climate action policies across our region.

To keep moving forward with the West Kootenay 100% Renewable Energy Plan, our priority this term should be building momentum on the solid foundation Castlegar has already established. Over the past few years, we have made important initial strides in identifying local energy opportunities and recognizing the need for sustainable growth. Now, the key is turning those initial commitments into measurable progress.

In the first year, I will prioritize auditing the actions completed so far to identify quick wins—such as expanding energy-efficiency retrofits for municipal facilities and continuing the transition toward zero-emission fleet vehicles. By year two, we should focus on updating local land-use policies and building standards to encourage heat pump adoption, EV readiness, and active transportation infrastructure like expanded bike and walking networks.

Through years three and four, my focus will be on securing regional partnerships and provincial grant funding to accelerate larger community-wide projects, including green energy incentives and enhanced local transit options.

By grounding our strategy in the progress already made, setting realistic yearly milestones, and ensuring transparent tracking, we can deliver a cleaner, more resilient, and affordable energy future for all Castlegar residents during this term.

Building climate resilience in Castlegar requires proactive planning and practical infrastructure improvements. My approach focuses on four key priorities to protect our community:

Wildfire & Smoke Protection: Expand FireSmart programs across municipal land and residential areas, maintain proactive forest fuel management around city boundaries, and ensure public facilities (like the community complex) are equipped with high-efficiency air filtration to serve as clean-air and cooling shelters during severe smoke and heat events.

Water Security & Drought Management: Strengthen local watershed protection, continue to upgrade stormwater infrastructure to handle heavy runoff, and expand water conservation incentives to safeguard our drinking water supply during summer droughts.

Infrastructure & Supply Chain Resilience: Ensure critical municipal services—including emergency access routes, water delivery, and power networks—are hardened against extreme weather, while collaborating with regional partners to maintain reliable emergency transport and food supply corridors.

Community Preparedness: Enhance local emergency response systems with timely public communication tools, clear evacuation protocols, and targeted support for seniors and vulnerable residents during extreme heat or emergency disruptions.

By combining practical risk reduction with strong regional partnerships, we can keep Castlegar safe, prepared, and resilient for years to come.

To decrease reliance on personal gas-powered vehicles and make clean transportation safe and accessible across Castlegar, my approach focuses on practical, community-centred solutions:

Expanding & Connecting Active Transportation Networks: Building on my experience in maintenance and facility management, I recognize the value of reliable, well-maintained infrastructure. I will prioritize expanding connected bike lanes, protected multi-use pathways, and pedestrian walkways so residents can safely walk or cycle for daily errands and recreation.

Improving Transit & Regional Connections: Local public transit must be convenient, reliable, and well-connected. I will advocate for improved scheduling, expanded local route coverage, and stronger regional transit links connecting Castlegar to neighbouring Kootenay communities.

Accelerating EV Infrastructure: As electric vehicle adoption grows, our municipal infrastructure must keep pace. I will support installing public EV charging stations at key municipal facilities and downtown hubs to support local drivers and visitors.

Encouraging Shared Mobility & Active Commuting: Leveraging my background in sports coaching and community leadership, I support working with local employers, schools, and community groups to promote carpooling initiatives, safe routes to schools, and community bike-share programs.

By combining practical infrastructure planning with community partnerships, we can build a safer, cleaner, and more connected transportation network for all residents.

I would make sure that as a council, we carefully evaluate all land usage requests that come to us, striking a clear balance between smart community growth, affordability, and climate resilience.

To achieve this, my approach focuses on three core priorities:

Diverse and Inclusive Housing Options: Streamline approvals for infill housing, multi-family developments, and secondary suites. Supporting higher-density development near key services and transit routes creates more accessible, lower-cost housing options for low-income residents, young families, and seniors.

Climate Resilience Standards: Ensure new developments and retrofits incorporate energy-efficient, climate-ready features—such as heat pump heating/cooling, heat-resistant building materials, and effective air filtration systems to protect residents during extreme heat and wildfire smoke events.

Balanced Community Planning: Protect critical natural areas and green space while encouraging mixed-use, walkable neighbourhoods. This approach reduces long-term utility costs, lowers carbon footprints, and protects community health without compromising housing supply.

By balancing thoughtful land-use planning with practical building standards, Castlegar can deliver safe, affordable, and climate-resilient homes for residents of all income levels.

To advance the environmental goals in the Our Way to 2033 Community Plan, I will focus on practical stewardship, smart infrastructure, and leveraging strong local partnerships.

1. Empowering Community Partnerships

Castlegar’s natural areas benefit greatly from dedicated community organizations, volunteer stewardship groups, and local First Nations. I will advocate for formalizing partnerships with local trail associations, stream keepers, and volunteer groups to support ecosystem restoration, tree planting, and park maintenance initiatives.

2. Protecting & Expanding Green Spaces

I will support policies that safeguard urban tree canopies, protect riparian zones along our rivers, and create connected greenways for both wildlife and active community use. Parks are essential for community health and biodiversity, so prioritizing urban forestry and natural buffer zones will keep our city cool and climate-resilient.

3. Enhancing Park Facilities & Accessibility

Protecting nature goes hand-in-hand with making it accessible. I will work to ensure our parks are well-maintained, feature sustainable infrastructure (like eco-friendly waste systems and natural stormwater management), and remain safe, clean spaces for residents of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

By combining municipal planning with hands-on community leadership, we can protect Castlegar’s rich natural environment while ensuring our parks thrive for generations to come.

One of the greatest challenges facing both the government and our community today is effective communication. The constant overload of information on our phones makes it difficult to filter through competing opinions and ensure every voice is truly heard. To address this, we need accessible, well-structured forums that foster genuine dialogue. My approach to communication stems from a long history of sports coaching and board leadership, where success relies on working together and respecting different perspectives. Above all, one of my greatest strengths is my ability to actively listen.

To foster true collaboration on council, I will prioritize open dialogue, respectful debate, and working toward shared solutions. For the community, I will advocate for accessible engagement channels—combining town halls, user-friendly digital tools, and direct outreach to ensure we hear from every demographic, including seniors, newcomers, youth, renters, and low-income residents.

Policy should never be formed in a silo. By creating structured, welcoming spaces for input and taking the time to listen to diverse perspectives, council can make informed decisions that truly reflect the priorities and needs of all Castlegar residents.