TNRD – Residents say no to joint fire protection for Tobiano, Cherry Creek

A proposal for a joint Tobiano-Cherry Creek fire protection service has been handily defeated.

Voters in Electoral Area J of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District said no to the plan in a referendum held Saturday, June 21, 2025.

Area J director Mike Grenier had called the plan “a wonderful opportunity.”

Had the referendum succeeded, a new fire hall would have been built to serve both communities in a new fire protection service area.

The fire protection area would have included properties in the existing Tobiano Fire Protection Area as well as all properties in the neighboring community of Cherry Creek, which does not have fire protection.

The preliminary results are as follows:

 

The preliminary results are based on the ballot accounts prepared at each of the voting places and are subject to the determination of the official assent voting results by the chief election officer. Official assent voting results will be announced by the chief election officer by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

Residents were asked:

“Are you in favour of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District adopting:

• Bylaw No. 2877, for the purpose of establishing the Tobiano Cherry Creek Fire Protection Service Area within a portion of Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) with a maximum annual tax requisition of $650,000 or $1.30/ $1,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements, whichever is greater; and
• Bylaw No. 2878 that authorizes the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to borrow an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 for the purpose of constructing a fire hall and purchasing firefighting apparatus and equipment for the Tobiano Cherry Creek Fire Protection Service.”

There were 648 properties in the proposed service area, 266 in Cherry Creek and 382 in Tobiano.