Welcome to Sparwood
Gateway to British Columbia
Sparwood is a small coal mining town found in the Southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada.
We are undergoing a transition from a wealthy resource community to one that is more diversified with a healthy mix of retirement, recreation and tourism activities. Sparwood offers year round recreational opportunities including trail systems for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, world class hunting and fishing.
Sparwood is fast becoming a tourist hub with a multitude of attractions including the largest truck in the world, close vicinity to the Fernie Alpine Ski Resort, and the development of the new Whiskey Jack Golf Course.
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Fitness Equipment for Sale
Starting Monday, September 7, 2010 we will have benches and weights for sale. Auction closes September 27, 2010 at 10:00am. More information is available here. The items will be available for viewing, from September 7, 2010 to September 27, 2010 at the Recreation Centre, Monday through Sunday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are interested please call Willy Lee at 425-0552.
Rink Attendants
The Recreation Department is hiring students to assist with flooding the ice, patrolling public skating and assisting with maintenance work. Application forms available at the Sparwood Leisure Centre. Deadline for applications is September 20th, 2010.
Lockers for Sale
On Monday, August 30, 2010 we will have 34 lockers for sale for $25 each. All of the lockers are 12" x 18" x 72", each split at 36" height. 11 of the 34 come complete with padlock style door. The lockers will be available for viewing, from August 30, 2010 to September 30, 2010 at the Recreation Centre, Monday through Sunday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are interested please call Willy Lee at 425-0552.
Zoning Bylaw No. 264 Amendment Bylaw 1045, 2010
will rezone the east portion of Spardell Mobile Home Park from M-1 Light Industrial to R-MP Mobile Home Park. The area is currently used as a legal non-conforming mobile home park with 60 mobile homes, 7 houses and one light industrial building. This use is not expected to change as a result of this zoning amendment.Building Official / Bylaw Enforcement Officer - Request for Proposals
Sealed proposals will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. on September 15, 2010. Please see the Request for Proposals for more details.
Cat and Kittens Available for Adoption
A family of kittens were abandoned and are currently being fostered. They will be available for adoption once they are old enough. Please call 250-425-6271 or the Animal Control Page for more information.
Land Use Application Procedures Bylaw
Bylaw 1042 cited as “Land Use Application Procedures Bylaw 1042, 2010” was adopted at the July 5th Regular Meeting. This bylaw will increase the application fees for all land use applications.
The new fees are:
$1,500 for an OCP or Zoning Amendment
$2,250 for a combined Zoning and OCP amendment
$750 for a Development Variance Permit
$750 for a Temporary Commercial / Industrial Use Permit (plus the actual cost of advertising)
$250 for a Development Permit
The fees for these applications have not been amended since 1988. The new fee structure will take effect on September 7th of this year, in order that residents who may have considered filing an application have an opportunity to apply under the existing fee structure.
Notice of Land Disposition
The District of Sparwood invites development proposals for five commercial lots and one high-density residential lot. Please view the notice for more information.
2009 Annual Report
The 2009 Annual Report is available for viewing on the FInance Department page.
2010 Property Taxes
Property Tax Notices are now in the mail and should be arriving at your home any day now. If you do not receive one before June 15th, please contact the District Office to let us know. The attached link “Office of the Mayor Letter 2010” provides an explanation of the increases and a breakdown of where the tax money is being spent.
Sparwood Fire Department: Pre Fire Planning
The Sparwood Fire Department is asking all commercial businesses within the District to allow access to a Department member for the creation of pre-fire plans for their building or portion thereof. Pre-fire plans consist of information and details such as floor plans, location of utilities, water flow requirements, building construction and contact information. These plans help the department make safe, efficient and educated decisions while fighting fire and help us contact you in the event of an incident.
If current floor plans exist of your building and you could provide copies to our members, this would be an invaluable contribution and greatly appreciated. If none are available, then a detailed floor plan will be produced by our members. Visits will be conducted during regular work week hours, or special arrangements can be made at your request. The size and complexity of each building will affect the length of the assessment and again, any help you can provide with this project would be greatly appreciated.
For more information, please feel free to contact the Rick Goold - Director of Fire and Safety Services at 250-425-0558. A copy of all plans produced will be available to the building owner upon request.
2010 Mosquito Control Program
Over the next couple of weeks District residents might notice mosquito control program biologists as they begin sampling water bodies and controlling larval mosquito populations using the biological mosquito control agents VectoBac 200G and VectoLex WSP. Click here to learn more about the program, what products are used to control mosquitos and what you can do to reduce mosquito annoyance around your home.
2010-2014 Financial Plan
Now available from the Finance Department.
Wood Stove Exchange Program is Back On
Maximize efficiency and minimize smoke! Upgrade to a new EPA certified heating appliance! More information can be found through the Building Department. Detailed information is available here.
Transportation Master Draft Plan
Review the draft TMP on the impacts of future development to Sparwood's transportation network and recommendations for infrastructure improvements. Please forward any comments you have to Jen Woodall at jwoodall@sparwood.bc.ca.