Shirley Falstead
Council · Castlegar
City of Castlegar 11 yrs
About
I was elected to Castlegar City Council in 2022. My business experience includes operating a grain and cattle farm in Saskatchewan and Spruce River Research, a company which focused on economic development initiatives in northern Saskatchewan.
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.
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Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
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Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
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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.
Supportive
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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.
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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.
Supportive
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Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
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Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
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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!).
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Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
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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.
Supportive
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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.
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Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
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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?
I have been a volunteer Director on a 40 unit seniors housing board and purchased heat pumps for all the units. I encouraged the step code implementation and believe in net zero carbon for the future of our city.
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?
I support the West Kootenay 100% Renewable Energy Plan, but I also believe we need to be realistic about what we can accomplish and how quickly.
As a council, I would start by identifying the actions that are most practical for Castlegar and setting clear timelines for moving them forward. I would look at opportunities to improve energy efficiency in City buildings, support more energy-efficient housing and development, and work with regional partners on projects that can reduce emissions.
Climate change also means preparing for the risks we are already seeing, including wildfire, extreme heat and flooding. I would like to see these risks considered in our planning and infrastructure decisions.
Most importantly, I believe we need to keep the community informed, look for funding opportunities and make sure our actions are affordable and achievable.
As a council, I would start by identifying the actions that are most practical for Castlegar and setting clear timelines for moving them forward. I would look at opportunities to improve energy efficiency in City buildings, support more energy-efficient housing and development, and work with regional partners on projects that can reduce emissions.
Climate change also means preparing for the risks we are already seeing, including wildfire, extreme heat and flooding. I would like to see these risks considered in our planning and infrastructure decisions.
Most importantly, I believe we need to keep the community informed, look for funding opportunities and make sure our actions are affordable and achievable.
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?
Castlegar has already experienced more wildfire smoke and extreme heat. We need to be prepared for these risks.
I would focus on practical actions the City can take. This includes improving emergency and evacuation plans, making sure residents receive clear information during emergencies, and ensuring our infrastructure can handle extreme weather.
Wildfire is a particular concern. We should continue working with our fire department, the Regional District, First Nations and other partners on wildfire prevention and evacuation planning. I would also like to see more emphasis on FireSmart around Castlegar homes, helping residents understand what they can do to reduce the risk of wildfire reaching their property.
We can make our community more resilient by supporting local businesses, agriculture and food production. Strong local businesses and local supply chains are important when transportation or outside supplies are disrupted.
For me, resilience starts with good planning. We should identify our biggest risks, set priorities, look for provincial and federal funding, and work with our regional partners. We don’t need to do everything at once, but we do need to keep moving forward and make sure Castlegar is prepared for the challenges ahead.
I would focus on practical actions the City can take. This includes improving emergency and evacuation plans, making sure residents receive clear information during emergencies, and ensuring our infrastructure can handle extreme weather.
Wildfire is a particular concern. We should continue working with our fire department, the Regional District, First Nations and other partners on wildfire prevention and evacuation planning. I would also like to see more emphasis on FireSmart around Castlegar homes, helping residents understand what they can do to reduce the risk of wildfire reaching their property.
We can make our community more resilient by supporting local businesses, agriculture and food production. Strong local businesses and local supply chains are important when transportation or outside supplies are disrupted.
For me, resilience starts with good planning. We should identify our biggest risks, set priorities, look for provincial and federal funding, and work with our regional partners. We don’t need to do everything at once, but we do need to keep moving forward and make sure Castlegar is prepared for the challenges ahead.
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 don’t think the answer is to tell people they shouldn’t drive. In Castlegar, many people need a vehicle. The answer is to make other choices more practical for those who can use them.
I would support completing safe, connected walking and cycling routes, with particular attention to seniors, people with disabilities and families. Columbia Avenue provides an important opportunity to improve connections between neighbourhoods and services.
I would also work with BC Transit and regional partners to look at routes, frequency and connections, including opportunities for park-and-ride and other ways to combine transportation options.
For people who need a vehicle, the City can make the transition to electric vehicles easier through appropriate charging infrastructure and EV-ready development.
I would support completing safe, connected walking and cycling routes, with particular attention to seniors, people with disabilities and families. Columbia Avenue provides an important opportunity to improve connections between neighbourhoods and services.
I would also work with BC Transit and regional partners to look at routes, frequency and connections, including opportunities for park-and-ride and other ways to combine transportation options.
For people who need a vehicle, the City can make the transition to electric vehicles easier through appropriate charging infrastructure and EV-ready development.
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?
Housing is personal for many people in Castlegar. As someone involved with a local seniors’ housing society, I see how important safe, appropriate and affordable housing is to people’s ability to remain part of their community.
I would support a greater variety of housing—including smaller homes, apartments, townhomes, secondary suites, accessible housing and purpose-built rental housing. Castlegar’s Housing Strategy identifies a growing need for more diverse housing, particularly for seniors and renters.
I would also look for opportunities to work with non-profit housing providers, BC Housing, developers and other partners to increase affordable and below-market housing.
I would support a greater variety of housing—including smaller homes, apartments, townhomes, secondary suites, accessible housing and purpose-built rental housing. Castlegar’s Housing Strategy identifies a growing need for more diverse housing, particularly for seniors and renters.
I would also look for opportunities to work with non-profit housing providers, BC Housing, developers and other partners to increase affordable and below-market housing.
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?
Castlegar’s natural environment is one of the reasons people choose to live here. Our rivers, parks, trails and surrounding mountains are also important to our quality of life, tourism and local economy.
I would work to advance the environmental goals in Our Way to 2033 by protecting important natural areas, maintaining our parks and trails and incorporating environmental considerations into development and infrastructure decisions. The Community Plan identifies protecting natural assets and building on our outdoor environment as a priority
I would work to advance the environmental goals in Our Way to 2033 by protecting important natural areas, maintaining our parks and trails and incorporating environmental considerations into development and infrastructure decisions. The Community Plan identifies protecting natural assets and building on our outdoor environment as a priority
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?
My experience serving on community and non-profit boards has taught me that people can have very different perspectives and still work together toward a common goal. I would bring that approach to Council.
I would work to maintain respectful, constructive relationships with fellow councillors, even when we disagree. Council does not need to agree on everything, but we do need to listen to one another and make decisions based on evidence and the long-term interests of Castlegar.
I would also encourage Council to hear from people who may not participate in traditional public meetings—including seniors, youth, renters, newcomers and people with lower incomes.
I would work to maintain respectful, constructive relationships with fellow councillors, even when we disagree. Council does not need to agree on everything, but we do need to listen to one another and make decisions based on evidence and the long-term interests of Castlegar.
I would also encourage Council to hear from people who may not participate in traditional public meetings—including seniors, youth, renters, newcomers and people with lower incomes.
If you wish to clarify or add information you may use this space.
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