Carey Collinge

2026 Election Candidate

Environmental

Coldstream's Official Community Plan focuses on directing growth to designated “growth areas” while limiting development in “rural protection areas.”

a) Under what conditions do you think Council should make exceptions to this growth strategy?

b) Please give local examples of 'good' and 'not good' building development in Coldstream, and state why.

Coldstreams official community plan should be respected. If exceptions were to be made to this growth strategy, I would hope it would be in the direction of a high-priority civic or institutional need, like schools or healthcare facilities. Most importantly development should not come at the expense of the “Big Three” - agricultural land, water security and Coldstream’s rural character.

1b. A great example of building development is the Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary. It stopped a multi-unit residential housing in favor of environmental stewardship. It protects 440 ft of shoreline on Kalamalka Lake, which is one of Coldstream‘s biggest treasures for both our community and tourists. On the other end, the development at 9728 Aberdeen Rd. is where I believe council must keep a watchful eye. With it being a minute drive away from orchards, there’s a plethora of issues and complaints that could arise. Farm equipment/ truck traffic, agricultural setbacks, irrigation infrastructure, drainage/runoff, etc. Also, back in 2008 this area was considered for a multifamily development, but halted because of sewer obstacles.

Coldstream has experienced significant climate impacts for the last few years. How do you propose to address these crises, both in preparing ahead for disasters like drought, wildfires, heat domes and floods, as well as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that lead to climate change?

Coldstream is on the right path with free home assessments with Wildfire Mitigation Specialists, as well as the seasonal “Free Fall Wood Chipping Program”. I would first expand that program to run days in spring or early summer before the heat begins instead of just fall when the wildfire risk lowers. I would look into completing the infrastructure for Coldstream station and connecting local bike corridors. E-bikes are a big thing right now and giving people the space to use them properly would help eliminate vehicle traffic and greenhouse gases. Moving forward making sure all new buildings are following the BC energy step code - ensuring new construction in Coldstream is built to a high standard of energy efficiency. Local farmers could adopt cover cropping, which would not only pull CO2 from the atmosphere, but also absorb leftover nitrogen from the synthetic fertilizer. By trapping that nitrogen it keeps it away from the soil, which would otherwise convert it into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse, gas, 300x more potent than CO2

Do you support the use of public funds to contribute to acquiring natural lands for environmental conservation purposes? Under what conditions would the perceived need for more housing, businesses, roads and other infrastructure prompt you to trade away natural lands with high ecological value for urban expansion?

We are a district with amazing natural areas - Lavington Wetlands, Coldstream Creek, Kalmalka Lake, Gray Canal Trail, Bluenose Mountain, and the Farnsworth Nature Reserve. In most urban expansion scenarios, my answer would be no. But in saying that, it is public funds - keyword public. I would look to the citizens of Coldstream with their thoughts on the trade of the land. If it is something that the majority of people felt strongly about the district needing I would be more than willing to meet those needs of the people while doing our best to maintain those natural lands.

Drought, contamination, increasing demand are just some of the water issues. What actions would you prioritise to protect our creeks, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater for home and agricultural water sources, habitat for fish and wildlife, and human recreation?

Water security has to be one of council‘s highest priorities first and foremost. We need to protect Coldstream Creek and it’s watershed. The creek is the main tributary to Kalmalka Lake and provides more than 80% of the lakes inflow. The goal needs to be growth that doesn’t compromise the watershed that residents and farmers depend on. We need to be aware of aquifers and using that information into land use decisions. BC already recognizes groundwater as critical to long-term food and water security - developments in sensitive water areas should require stronger standards for stormwater, septic/waste water management and any potential contamination risks. And also we need to work with our farmers instead of treating agriculture as the problem. Agriculture is a huge part of Coldstream, so why do we instantly restrict them?

Social

In smaller communities, we need to be creative in how we help one another; how do you see the role of local government in this?

The community of Coldstream is one of the best aspects of this district. Local government needs to act as a bridge for the people. With all the natural disasters happening in the area, starting an “Adopt A Neighbour” emergency program would be a great stepping stone. Council could encourage neighborhood networks where residents identify people who may need extra assistance during a wildfire, flood, power outage, or evacuation. By working together instead of in isolation we can find practical solutions, make better use of taxpayer dollars and build a stronger community.

How do we tackle misinformation and growing distrust in local government as well as uncivil behaviour on social media and in person?

I think it starts with honesty, transparency, and consistent communication. People are going to disagree with local government and I think that that’s healthy. Free and open debate is important in any community and people should feel comfortable asking questions and challenging decisions. My approach would be to listen first, communicate clearly, provide the facts and admit if I get something wrong. I don’t think anyone expects a mayor or council to have all the answers all the time, but those people deserve utmost honesty. As far as social media, there’s a big difference between criticizing a decision, or holding your elected officials accountable and personally attacking someone. I would never expect everyone to agree with me, but I would hope we can disagree without becoming disrespectful

Cultural

Describe what arts and culture are in the Coldstream area from your perspective, and how do you think local government should support these features of our community?

Local governments role should be to help facilitate the communities artists, organizations and volunteers to thrive. Doing that through partnerships, grants and municipal support where there is a clear community benefit. Mackie Lake House is an excellent example of preserving the heritage of Coldstream while providing opportunities like guided house tours, afternoon teas, and live music events.

Is the current structure of funding for arts & culture and recreation, which is currently through the RDNO, working for Coldstream? Why or why not?

I think there’s definitely value in the regional model. Working together on arts, culture and recreation can make sense, especially when we’re sharing facilities and services with neighboring communities. Where I think we can do better is making sure Coldstream has a strong voice and how our tax dollars are being spent. If our contribution is increasing, our residents deserve to know what we’re getting in return and to feel that Coldstream‘s priorities are actually being represented. So for me it’s not about saying the regional model doesn’t work. It’s about making sure Coldstream has a meaningful seat at the table, that the funding is transparent and we’re getting good value for the people paying.

Economic

What is your understanding of how small local governments can support our economic development, including the success of our small local businesses?

For Coldstream, local governments role should be making it easier and more predictable for people to start, expand and invest in a business. We need clear planning, reasonable permitting processes, good infrastructure and thoughtful development that creates opportunities for commercial and industrial growth while still protecting the character of our community. I also think we need to do a better job of supporting the small businesses we already have. Local businesses are a huge part of what makes Coldstream a community and when people have good places to shop, eat and get services locally, those dollars stay in our community. Coldstream already has areas identified for commercial and industrial development, as well as tools like tax revitalization exemptions. I’d like us to see us look at how effectively we were using those tools and whether there are opportunities to attract the right kinds of businesses and investment. I don’t think government creates successful businesses, business owners do that. Our job is to make sure government isn’t creating unnecessary barriers that get in their way

What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?

Grocery pricing is largely out of the municipal control, so let’s make it easier for the people who are already growing food in Coldstream to get that food onto the tables of Coldstream residents. We have a lot of agriculture land and people producing food locally. The municipality can support things like farmers markets, farm stands, community gardens, and other opportunities for local food to get directly to residents. Because when we can buy food locally, we’re supporting our local farmers and businesses while keeping more of those dollars in our community.

Health

As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to attract and retain medical professionals in Coldstream?

I would work directly with local health providers, interior health, and the medical community to identify barriers to attracting and retaining medical professionals. Coldstream is an amazing community and place to live, it shouldn’t be hard to promote it to the healthcare professionals and their families. Come for the career, stay for the community

How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies support the diverse physical and mental health needs of our population?

I think the first step is making sure we actually listen to the people who live here, especially people of different ages and abilities, before major decisions are made. What works for one person may not work for a senior, a young family, someone with a disability, or someone who has different physical or mental health needs.

When we’re planning new developments, parks, roads, sidewalks, and community programs, I think we need to look at things like accessibility, safe places to walk and gather, active transportation, housing options, and access to services.

I also think mental health is part of building a healthy community. Having safe, welcoming public spaces and opportunities for people to connect with their neighbours can make a real difference.

For me, health and accessibility shouldn’t be something we think about after a plan is made. They should be part of how we plan Coldstream from the beginning.