Out with the old, in with the new
Castlegar looks forward to the future in a brand new City Hall
Castlegar’s new City Hall is both attractive and functional. —Phil Markin
Beauty and function combine to great effect at the new City Hall in Castlegar. “It’s a gorgeous looking building, but also very functional,” said Mayor Lawrence Chernoff. “It’s a huge asset to the downtown core and also to the community.” The new City Hall, which opened its doors in January, is located directly behind the old building, and features brick, lots of glass, and wood beams. Mayor Chernoff describes the current atmosphere in Castlegar as “progressive.” “We look forward to the future, and this building represents that,” he said. Chernoff said City Hall staff are thrilled with the additional office space in an “extremely functional” setting. He also noted that the building was constructed with a geothermal heating system that pumps water though the ground, circulates it through the building, then returns it to the ground. The building is open to both stories when you walk in the door, Chernoff said. Designed by Allan MacLeod of Fairbank Architects Ltd. in Nelson, the new City Hall reflects Castlegar’s heritage. The brick, wood and glass in the structure pay tribute to the industries that have supported the city over the years. As well, some of its castle-like features are a nod to the name of the city. BPR Construction, based in Kelowna, served as the contractor. Local companies Martech Electrical and Venture Mechanic also worked on the City Hall project. A newly landscaped Spirit Square will replace the demolished old City Hall. A grand opening is expected to be held sometime in June, when Spirit Square is completed. The old City Hall, which saw a number of additions over the years, dates to the 1950s. Mayor Chernoff said the new City Hall was completed on budget. The total price tag of about $4.75 million included the move and the demolition of the former building. Asked how the new building compares with the old, Chernoff was concise: “There’s no comparison!”
Key Castlegar contacts
Castlegar, BC
Save power, reap rewards
FortisBC is committed to providing safe, reliable electrical service at the lowest reasonable cost. The company serves approximately 110,000 customers directly in communities throughout south central British Columbia, including Kelowna, Osoyoos, Trail, Castlegar, Princeton and Rossland—and approximately 47,500 customers through the wholesale supply of power to municipal distributors in the communities of Summerland, Penticton, Kelowna, Grand Forks and Nelson.
FortisBC provides services such as:
• Generating and distributing electricity to homes and businesses in the southern interior of British Columbia
• 24-hour outage repair and emergency response
• Building, maintaining and upgrading power lines and facilities
• Installing and reading meters
• Providing electrical safety education in the community
Castlegar, BC
A legacy for the people
Created by the people, for the people, Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) serves the residents of the Canadian portion of the Columbia River Basin. Working closely with people who live in the Basin, CBT assists communities in addressing their needs by: providing resources and funding; focusing on local priorities and issues; bringing people together around key issues; providing useful, credible, accessible information; encouraging collaboration and partnerships; and seeking ongoing input from Basin residents. CBT provides funding and grants through a variety of programs including Arts, Culture and Heritage, Business Advocacy, Environment, Scholarships and Community Development. In addition, CBT supports regional initiatives such as Climate Change Adaptation, Water Stewardship, Literacy, Youth Engagement, and Land Conservation.
Castlegar, BC
ConCreate USL Ltd.: Doing it better
At ConCreate USL Ltd., we complete projects in a timely fashion, and we always deliver high quality results. ConCreate’s project managers and supervisors are trained to adjust to all types of working conditions. They adapt to these situations so that you don’t have to. When we take on a project, we make every effort to ensure that it’s an ongoing positive experience for our clients. Our fine work and reputation speak for themselves, whether the project includes the repair or new construction of a bridge in Alberta, rehabilitation of a parking structure in Ontario, or one of our most recent successes: the construction of a luge track in BC for use in the 2010 Olympics.
Castlegar, BC
Fernie, BC
Castlegar, BC
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Castlegar, BC
Castlegar, BC
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Castlegar, BC
Vital Statistics
- Population :: 7,259
- Number of businesses :: 679
- Supporting industries :: Mining, manufacturing (wood products), education
Vital Contacts
- City of Castlegar :: www.castlegar.ca
- Mayor :: Lawrence Chernoff
- Castlegar Chamber of Commerce :: www.castlegar.com
- Manager :: Matthew King
- Phone :: 250-365-6513
Biz Blog :: Keith Powell
A regular report on newsworthy business developments in the Kootenays.
Kootenay Insights :: Tanya Laing Gahr
An inside look at the initiatives and developments that help shape Kootenay communities.
At Work :: Sandra Albers
One-on-one with some of the Kootenay’s business leaders.
Biz Edge :: Danielle Cameron
The faces behind Kootenay businesses.
