Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has issued an evacuation order for Crawford Creek (Crawford Bay) in electoral Area ‘A’. The rest of the entire RDCK region, with the exception of Castlegar and Nelson, remains under evacuation alert which was issued Saturday evening. 

The evacuation order has been issued for the following [properties / area bounded by / etc.]:

Crawford Creek Drainage, Crawford Bay BC 15950 HWY 3A
15956 HWY 3A
15958 HWY 3A
15964 HWY 3A
15981 HWY 3A
15985 HWY 3A
15990 HWY 3A
16030 HWY 3A
16034 HWY 3A
16044 HWY 3A
16050 HWY 3A
16077 HIGHWAY 3A
16054 HWY 3A
11952 HIGHWAY 3A
16060 HIGHWAY 3A
16070 HW 3A
16072 HWY 3A
16077 HWY 3A
16078 HWY 3A
16082 HWY 3A
16083 HWY 3A
16088 HWY 3A
16095 HWY 3A
16099 HWY 3A
16101 HWY 3A
16102 HWY 3A
16106 HWY 3A
16107 HWY 3A
16112 HWY 3A
14850 HIGHWAY 3A
16116 HWY 3A
16117 HWY 3A
16116 HIGHWAY 3A
16122 HWY 3A
16126 HWY 3A
16117 HIGHWAY 3A
16130 HWY 3A
16190 HWY 3A
15958 PETERS RD
15963 PETERS RD
15971 PETERS RD
15989 PETERS RD
15990 PETERS RD
15992 PETERS RD
15995 PETERS RD
15963 PETERS RD
16082 SEYMOUR RD
16105 SEYMOUR RD
16107 SEYMOUR RD
16146 WALKLEY RD

Residents and visitors are required to leave the affected area immediately and report to the reception centre at Kokanee Springs Resort, 16082 Woolgar Road in Crawford Bay, BC, V0B 1E0. Due to COVID-19 we ask everyone to do their best to practice physical distancing and wash or sanitize their hands regularly.

 Access to the evacuation order area is being controlled. You will not be permitted to return to your home during an evacuation order unless it is safe to do so and you have been given the permission of local officials and emergency personnel.

Register with the RDCK reception at the Kokanee Springs Resort; this lets officials know that you are safe. Short-term assistance for immediate needs of food, shelter, clothing and emotional support is provided by Emergency Social Services volunteers at this centre. Volunteers will be able to help you find an alternate place to stay if needed.

This reception centre may not be able to accommodate your pets, so make sure you have prepared your pets by having appropriate cages, food and food/water/bowls, and ensure they are wearing identification. You may wish to arrange to have your pets cared for by family or friends.

Everyone is advised to stay away from riverbanks and fast-flowing water.

Residents or visitors on evacuation alert are not required to evacuate. However, the RDCK advises people to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave the area at short notice, as the alert may be followed by an immediate evacuation order.

An evacuation alert was ordered for the entire RDCK region with the exception of Castlegar and Nelson on Saturday evening. This alert is specific to properties adjacent to waterbodies, with particular emphasis on those with a history of flooding or fast flowing water. This is an unprecedented alert due to an extreme storm cell developing over the next 24 hours and following significant spring meltwater.

For more information about evacuations and emergency preparedness, along with other resources, please visit the RDCK website or the PreparedBC website. The RDCK EOC public inquiry line is 250-352-1572.

Incorporated in 1965, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is a local government that serves 60,000 residents in 11 electoral areas and nine member municipalities. The RDCK provides more than 160 services, including community facilities, fire protection and emergency services, grants, planning and land use, regional parks, resource recovery and handling, transit, water services and much more. For more information about the RDCK, visit www.rdck.ca.

Deadline is May 27, 2020

Also, please note that we now have a Donate button on the website – just look up, on the menu bar below the logo. If you click that button, it will take you to a page where you can show your support for Mainstreet by making a recurring monthly donation, or a one-time donation! Corporate/Business donations can qualify to be listed on the website with a link (via logo or image) to their own website and a grateful thanks for the help.

Every little bit helps, and the next month or two will help determine if Mainstreet can continue to print.

Please give if you can, and accept our understanding thanks for considering if you can’t. Pick up your copy of the Mainstreet at local stores on June 3/4 to read more about this campaign to support locally-owned, independent news.

submitted by Blanche Tanner and members of the Relocation Group

Telus has announced a plan to put a cell tower right in the middle of Riondel. There is a committed, passionate group of residents that have been busy informing the various levels of government, Tech resources and Telus.

This is a very hot topic right now, and all residents of the East Shore need to be aware of it, because Riondel is only one of many towers that could potentially dot the whole East Shore. Even though the site is being developed in Riondel as we speak, cell towers and the dangers of EMF radiation should be everyone’s concern.

BC’s Restart Plan lays out a series of steps that we will take together to protect people and ensure that our province can come back from COVID-19 stronger than before.

Last updated: May 6, 2020

Overview

As of May 1, 2020, more than 2,100 British Columbians have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 100 people have died.

As the pandemic hit B.C., we asked British Columbians to do their part and they took action to stay home and help flatten the curve. With each day, the rate of growth in COVID-19 cases has steadily declined and more than 1,350 people have recovered. And we have the lowest mortality of any jurisdiction in North America with a population of more than five million.

You are invited to participate in our April Virtual Focus on Health Workshop.  Please take a look at the following poster/notice and send it on to any others who might be interested.  On Monday morning, we will be delivering soup from our kitchen, so please sign up (by email or phone) for a quart of Barb Basaraba’s favorite recipe!  On Monday afternoon, we will send you an email with a message on the health benefits of helping others – such an important topic right now, and an excellent follow-up to the March workshop provided by our Selkirk College students. 

In preparation for Monday, please send your ONE BEST STRATEGY for coping during the COVID-19 restrictions to me at margaret.crossley@usask.ca, and I will summarize and circulate these to our email list on Monday along with Natasha’s message.  You might also consider sending the ONE BIGGEST CHALLENGE you have faced during the past month. We are looking forward to hearing from you and to meeting virtually next Monday for our April Focus on Health Virtual Workshop. 

by The Starbelly Jam Board and Management Team

On behalf of our Starbelly team, and in the context of recent world events, it is with a heavy heart we must announce Starbelly Jam will not be taking place this July and will be postponed to the summer of 2021, tentative dates July 16-18. We are making efforts at this time to retain a similar format and lineup of artists and children’s performers at next year’s show.

Current ticket holders will be contacted by email with our proposed options going forward. Thank you to our Starbelly fans, artists, volunteers, managers, vendors, suppliers, and other stakeholders for your understanding.

These are challenging times, but with love and support, we will get through this together.

NOTE: Other Kootenay events for 2020 have also been cancelled in recent days: Kootenay Pride cancelled the always-popular Pride Parade held on the Sunday of Labour Day weekend. That decision was joined by the Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival postponing its 29^th annual event and Shambhala Music Festival, hosted near Salmo, hoisting up the white flag.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

Kootenay Lake Ferry – Effective April 16th, 2020, the Kootenay Lake Ferry will be out of service for the 1:10 pm sailing out of Balfour, and the 2:00 pm sailing out of Kootenay Bay. This is a safety precaution due to COVID-19, to ensure the safety of crew and passengers.All other regular sailings on the winter schedule will remain in service.We appreciate your patience and understanding during these difficult times. At Western Pacific Marine, we strive to provide the best possible service to all travelers and are looking at keeping everyone safe.

Click here to read the April edition of The East Shore Mainstreet – in digital format only for the first time ever! Due to Covid-19 and our choice to reduce exposure and stay at home, the paper is only available online for April 2020. We hope you take advantage of it (it’s free this month after all!) and read it cover to cover. There’s all sorts of good information from local health experts, some armchair theorizing, some good opinion pieces and so much more. This world will go on… we may just have to bend a bit. Thanks for your understanding and patience!

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DO YOU HAVE A COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT / CANCELLATION/ BUSINESS MESSAGE THAT YOU’D LIKE MAINSTREET TO HELP RELAY?

EMAIL MAINSTREET@ESHORE.CA OR CONTACT US ON FACEBOOK AND WE’LL POST IT HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY’S INFORMATION.