AW
Aimee Watson
Director · Regional District of Central Kootenay
Area D 24 yrs
About
Moved to the Kootenays for community and nature. Spent 20 years in farming and food system work. Built the Kaslo Food Security Project/Food Hub. Elected to LG in 2014, acclaimed for my 4th term. RDCK board chair for 8 years.
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.
Neutral
✓
Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
✓
Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
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.
✓
Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Supportive
×
Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Opposed
✓
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
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
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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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Neutral
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Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Neutral
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.
✓
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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Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Neutral
✓
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.
Neutral
✓ 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?
Created the Farmer Innovation Program, lobbied and successfully changed the Meat Inspection Reg to be supportive of local food systems, Created the Grid Stability program, fund the rural mobility program, support rural energy retrofit programs while advocating for rural based systems ie: grid vulnerability and policy limitations to community energy production. Support and fund fire smart community initiatives including advocating for WUI prescription development and inclusion of these lands within community forest models. Electrification needs to be considered within the framework of how reliable the grid is, For Area D, it is not a reliable grid which requires consideration in what alternative power systems are available. Wood stoves are life lines in rural areas as is back up power equipment
Questions for Regional District of Central Kootenay
How will you provide leadership to advance the priorities that have been identified in the RDCK Ideas for Climate Action plan, which the Board approved in April 2024?
All of our services are a part of this plan. Water: we have water saving programs, programs for meter installation, working on a framework for governance support of small water systems. In land use planning, Area D has just begun its community planning discussions. Resources Recovery: rural organize programs was just launched, we are now selling compost from our facilities in Salmo and Creston. We are hosting household round ups across the RD this month. For building, we have a training program for contractors on energy efficiency, partnered with CBT to host energy wise workshops in various communities. Watersheds; embarking on our largest land use file - the Goat River watershed planning project, a tripartite table with Yaqan Nukiy, RDCK and BC.
The rising cost of utilities and materials are big challenges affecting affordability for residents. How would you assist property owners in improving the performance of their buildings, saving money and improving comfort year round?
Continue the regional energy efficiency program, increase the wood stove exchange program.
AI data centres use a lot of energy and water. What is your approach if an AI data centre is proposed for your Area?
No thank you. But the residents would have the say, if there was zoning, if there is not, we do not get a choice in this discussion.
How will you prioritize land use decisions that protect and restore ecosystems, protect watersheds, ensure habitat connectivity, and support flood management?
Where data indicates it and where I have authority/jurisdiction to do so. We are updating our flood plain bylaw, finding the balance between data informing development decisions that are preventative to risks, while also being realistic about what is already in place and how to mitigate; is not easy nor financially feasible in many cases. In the Central Kootenay's, we have at least 18 orphaned dikes, better known as dikes the province built but have abandoned. Majority of these dikes were built as infrastructure to manage water to enable subdivision and development, but there is no longer management of them. The cost to do so is the realm of millions-per dike. This is not financially feasible for small communities to afford. I will continue our advocacy with the province to see fair funding models to address the increasing climate related risks our communities face.
What climate-related infrastructure risks worry you most here (fire, heat, drought, air quality, floods, supply chains), and how will you collaborate with our regional municipalities to reduce risks and maximize impacts to keep our region safe?
Fire, floods and supply chains.
We are mandated under the Emergency Disaster Management Act to do many things that address these issues. Emergency planning across multi jurisdictions, have an EOC and all associated resourcing available for regional emergencies including servicing for our member municipalities, Community Wildfire Resilience Plans, Fire Smart programs, floodplain management bylaw update, watershed planning. Check the sustainability page and the emergency services page on the RDCK for the full list.
We are mandated under the Emergency Disaster Management Act to do many things that address these issues. Emergency planning across multi jurisdictions, have an EOC and all associated resourcing available for regional emergencies including servicing for our member municipalities, Community Wildfire Resilience Plans, Fire Smart programs, floodplain management bylaw update, watershed planning. Check the sustainability page and the emergency services page on the RDCK for the full list.
Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the RDCK. What specific policies do you most support and promise to work for to address transportation emissions, including improved public transit, and safe walking and biking?
I would say this is a misleading fact when it does not include emissions from resource extraction, wildfires, distance our food travels to get to our plates, and many other sources that are not residentially created. This stat is based only on assessing residentially created emissions, and in that sense, yes transportation is a big player. If all emissions in the region were assessed then you determined what was the biggest contributor, there would be other big players.
That being said, yes, transportation is a contributing factor. Supports I will continue to offer is funding the rural mobility program, working with my partners at West Kootenay Transit to explore affordable and effective public transportation options including supporting our various ride sharing and volunteer sharing programs. Working with and supporting Lardeau Valley Opportunity Society in any of the transportation initiatives they develop for the Lardeau Valley. With the geography and distance to constantly centralizing services, walking and biking are not reliable nor an option as much as within an urban setting. With deteriorating roads in the north end of Area D, we fight to just have the roads safe to travel let alone upgraded to have bike lanes. However, where trails and biking is feasible, yes, I support. Such as the safe biking program in our schools and trail supports all around Kaslo.
That being said, yes, transportation is a contributing factor. Supports I will continue to offer is funding the rural mobility program, working with my partners at West Kootenay Transit to explore affordable and effective public transportation options including supporting our various ride sharing and volunteer sharing programs. Working with and supporting Lardeau Valley Opportunity Society in any of the transportation initiatives they develop for the Lardeau Valley. With the geography and distance to constantly centralizing services, walking and biking are not reliable nor an option as much as within an urban setting. With deteriorating roads in the north end of Area D, we fight to just have the roads safe to travel let alone upgraded to have bike lanes. However, where trails and biking is feasible, yes, I support. Such as the safe biking program in our schools and trail supports all around Kaslo.
If you wish to clarify or add information you may use this space.
I spend a lot of time advocating for rural investment into regional economies as my primary focus on mitigating, preparing and adapting to climate change. It is critical that rural services are designed to fit the rural context, urban policies not only increase vulnerability in rural communities but can miss incredible opportunities to build more self reliant systems, such as a decentralized grid and communication system that is designed, owned and managed within the region. Electrifying everything and increasing our dependency on technology for essential needs, like opening ones fridge or adjusting heat in a home when we know if it rains and the winds pick up, there is a good chance we will lose power- is not only poor planning it is disregarding the context of the problem. We cannot plan for solutions while missing the most critical ingredient to a hopeful future- the community.
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