District of Kent staff and officials recently published their 2024 year in review.
The following are some of the highlights of various municipal departments from CAO Wallace Mah.
Housing challenges ahead
Mah said that the reduced interest rates from the Bank of Canada may bring younger families into the community, and as such, there is a growing, urgent need for more housing, particularly for young families and senior citizens. The district's latest housing study indicates that Kent officials predict 495 new homes will be needed within the next five years.
"Without having affordable homes, our community deals with the perils of not being able to recruit and retain professional people like teachers, doctors, medical practitioners and trade workers in our community," Mah wrote.
There are a variety of potential solutions moving forward, including small-scale, multi-unit housing and vertical growth in apartment buildings and condominiums.
Administration and corporate Services
Council conducted 67 meetings in 2024.
The district's report highlighted a number of highlights related to the future Lets'emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre, including issuing a letter of intent to Chandos Construction to begin building, raising more than $18,000 during the Agassiz Fire Department's boat raffle and receiving a $50,000 cheque for Enbridge toward the new pool facility.
Mah was honoured with the Distinguished Member Award and Life Membership Award from the Local Government Management Association for his years of service.
Mayor and Council participated in the grand opening of the Regional Fire Training Facility at the Agassiz Fire Hall; the facility has hosted multiple departments from across B.C. to take part in specialized training.
Mah and Fire Chief Gerald Basten were honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medals, as presented by MP Brad Vis.
Financial Services
The District of Kent secured $1.8 million in grant funding throughout 2024. The finance team at the district were honoured with the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting for their 2023 annual report.
Engineering
Jake's Construction successfully replaced an aged wood stave culvert in the Seabird Island area, successfully completing the job in October. A few days after the project was finished, district staff saw Chinook salmon returning to the spawning channel. District crews also identified seven culverts that will require replacement within the next few years.
Engineering staff is working with development services to develop a 65-unit townhome development on Woodside Boulevard.
Public Works
Staff installed two new permanent speed reader boards – supplied by the local RCMP – along Pioneer Avenue.
Public works crews removed multiple beaver-caused blockages throughout the district. With the help of a licensed contractor, beavers were trapped and removed from the area.
Habitat Systems and Riverstone Excavating teamed up with public works to replace an aging playground at Westlin Park with a new playground.
Agassiz Fire Department
The AFD responded to 407 calls in 2024, up by 77 from last year. Firefighters accumulated more than 9,000 hours to operations, training and other duties.
Highlights for the AFD also include the opening of the regional live fire training facility, welcoming a new fire engine and acquiring a new sprinkler protection trailer.
Recreation and Cultural Department
While the Ferny Coombe pool remains in service, the 2024 season saw 21 local youth certified for lifeguarding, and more than 850 people received swimming lessons. Public swim and Aquafit classes rose by 200 participants from 2023 to 2024.
Annual pass sales broke records for the second consecutive year with 206 sold, seeing a $5,000 sales increase from 2023 to 2024.
Last year's events drew in big crowds as well. The Easter egg hunt welcomed 300 attendees and the Canada Day celebration brought out more than 1,7000 to enjoy the parade and other activities.
Development Services
Building department statistics remained steady, with 62 permits issued this year, totalling a value of construction of $35.7 million. This includes 18 new single-family homes and the upcoming aquatic facility.
Bylaw enforcement opened 140 files in 2024, most of which fell under miscellaneous, including odour, fence height and obstruction of view.
The district issued 413 resident and nonresident business licenses in 2024, 365 of which were renewals.
Conclusion
The annual report ended with a closing statement from Mah. He highlighted the potential challenges coming from United States- based tariffs – a situation that continues to evolved seemingly day by day.
"Our financial planning of agricultural and resource products that we need to market will vary due to the fragile economy," Mah wrote. "We may ultimately have to re-evaluate our essential community needs, and work towards adopting collaborative solutions like grant opportunities with the provincial and federal government in order to financially sustain long term capital and operations."
Mah expressed strong trust not only in municipal management but in senior levels of government as Kent, B.C. and beyond look to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
"We are optimistic that senior levels of government will step up with collaborative solutions to stabilize the economy with new partnerships," he wrote. "lt's always easier said than done to address challenges today, while anticipating the community needs of tomorrow."
