Spallumcheen Election Questions

Change of mailing address from Armstrong to Spallumcheen:According to Canada Post, a new postal code could address concerns about identifying residents for emergency purposes—without necessarily requiring residents to change their long-standing mailing address from Armstrong to Spallumcheen.

For more than 132 years, residents of Spallumcheen have successfully used Armstrong as their mailing address.

Canada Post was informed before 2024 that significant development would be taking place in Spallumcheen. If emergency identification was the concern, why wasn't a new postal code considered while maintaining the existing Armstrong mailing address?

More importantly:Why didn't Council ask the residents of Spallumcheen whether they wanted their mailing address changed?

A mailing address is more than just a line on an envelope. It can represent community identity, history, and the connections that have existed for generations.

Armstrong has been the business and community hub serving Spallumcheen for more than 132 years.

So residents deserve to ask:Was changing the mailing address necessary?

Were other options considered?Who made the decision, and why weren't residents given the opportunity to have their say?

This raises a larger question:Was changing the mailing address simply an administrative decision related to emergency services—or could it also contribute to creating greater separation or division between Spallumcheen and Armstrong, which has served as the business and community hub for the region for generations?

Residents deserve transparency about who requested the change, what alternatives were considered, what Canada Post recommended, and why residents were not given an opportunity to have their say before such a significant change was made.

This is not simply about a postal code.It is about accountability, transparency, community identity, and the future relationship between Spallumcheen and Armstrong.

Why weren't Spallumcheen residents asked whether they wanted their long-standing mailing address changed?

And why was this change made without a broader public discussion about its potential impact on our community's long-standing relationship with Armstrong?

Canada Post's own addressing guidelines make clear that the postal code is an integral part of a postal address and is used to identify specific geographic delivery areas

Questions to Ask Incumbent Candidates Who Are Knocking on Doors and Defending their Decision.  🙂

1. Why did Council adopt the first and second readings of Bylaw 2144, which introduces RC1 zoning and represents high-density development for Spallumcheen?

Remember: Once a zoning designation is in place, future councils can potentially apply that zoning to other areas throughout Spallumcheen.That is why residents deserve to know exactly what Council is approving, why it is being approved, and what the long-term implications could be for our community.

2. Why did Council not inform the general public about the mailing address change?As we all know, changing only the postal code would have been sufficient for emergency notifications.

3. Who will pay the construction costs for the new $49-million-plus Wastewater Recovery Project until federal and provincial grants are actually received?

4. How much grant money has the Regional District received as of today?

5. Does Spallumcheen need such a wastewater treatment plant when approximately 98% of rural Spallumcheen properties are on septic systems?6. What was the urgency to start the project in July 2026, just before a municipal election, given that the Regional District was not able to borrow the $4.3 million required for the project and who is paying for the construction cost at the moment?

7. Over $6.5 million is allocated in Spallumcheen’s five-year budget for the Wastewater Recovery Project.

But the important question is: Where is that money coming from?Spallumcheen is still waiting for federal and provincial grant funding.  Residents deserve clear answers  what portion will come from municipal funds, and what financial commitments have already been made.

This is about accountability, transparency, and responsible financial planning.

Residents have a right to know where the money is coming from—and what the financial impact will be on Spallumcheen taxpayers.