Greenwood · City Hall & RDKB · October 8, 2026
Petition Over North-End Salvage Yard Heads to RDKB Board
Residents want answers about zoning, runoff and Boundary Creek. The petition is scheduled for the regional board’s October 14 consent agenda.
An anonymous petition about the auto recovery and salvage yard at 925 Copper Avenue North, at the north end of Greenwood, is on the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary board agenda for Wednesday, October 14. The public package includes five petition sheets, with signatures redacted. The petition’s organizer has not been identified, and The Ledge has not authenticated or deduplicated the entries.
Signers are worried fluids from the site could leach into Boundary Creek, and they want the property’s zoning clarified.
View the location on Google Maps →
Who runs the yard
The province’s October 2026 list of active metal dealers and recyclers identifies Greenwood Auto Centre Ltd., licence MDR21, at 925 Copper Ave N. Read the provincial register (PDF).
Christi Shaw’s public biography describes them as “the proud owners and operators of Greenwood Auto Centre for more than 20 years.” Read the Boundary Métis Community Association biography.
Gerry Shaw is a sitting Greenwood councillor running for re-election on October 17, as reported in the Grand Forks Gazette’s candidate list and its October 2 candidate Q&A. The business register and public biographies do not establish who currently holds title to the land, or resolve the site’s zoning and environmental compliance.
Why it matters
Boundary Creek runs along the west side of the yard. Salvage operations can handle used oil, antifreeze, fuel, batteries and metals. If these materials are not properly contained, they can contaminate soil and water. That general risk is not proof of a release at this particular site.
Residents deserve clear answers:
- Is the site properly zoned?
- Has it ever been inspected for runoff?
- Could anything reaching the creek or groundwater affect the water Greenwood relies on?
Conflict-of-interest rules
Under B.C.’s Community Charter, council members must disclose a direct or indirect pecuniary interest, or another interest constituting a conflict, in a matter being considered at a meeting covered by the Act. Subject to the statutory exceptions, an affected member must not take part in the discussion or vote and must leave while the matter is considered.
Whether a particular matter creates a disqualifying interest depends on the facts and the law. This article does not claim that a councillor has breached those rules. Read the Community Charter, sections 100–104.
Show up
In a community comment supplied to The Ledge, Greenwood resident Nicole Drinkwater encourages fellow citizens to attend: “You showed up for all candidates.. now show up for this meeting!” The Ledge agrees: informed participation and clear answers matter.
Greenwood Council — Tuesday, October 13, 7 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 202 South Government Ave. Contact City Hall for current remote-attendance arrangements and a Zoom link.
The petition is not on this council agenda. Question Period appears as item 13, but section 19.1 of Greenwood’s Council Procedures Bylaw permits questions—not statements—about matters dealt with at that meeting. Residents therefore should not assume this petition can be raised during Question Period. Contact City Hall about the proper route for submitting correspondence or requesting that council consider it. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.; Question Period comes near the end.
Read Council Procedures Bylaw 1018, section 19 (PDF).
Council agenda (PDF) · Full council agenda package (PDF)
RDKB Board of Directors — Wednesday, October 14, 1 p.m.
843 Rossland Ave., Trail, or join using the public Microsoft Teams details in the agenda:
- Meeting ID: 219 807 951 252 5
- Passcode: Ej69KZ6f
- Dial in: +1 647-794-5571
- Conference ID: 960 553 847#
The petition is item 5.b on the consent agenda, listed on page 2 with the correspondence on pages 12–16. Consent items are generally dealt with together unless a director requests separate consideration. Residents seeking discussion can ask their director to request that the item be pulled; its presence on the agenda does not establish that a debate, inspection or other action has been approved.
Read the RDKB board agenda and petition. Recheck the official agendas before travelling in case arrangements change.
Questions to bring
- Who owns the land at 925 Copper Avenue North?
- Will any council member with a disqualifying financial interest declare it and step aside?
- What does the zoning allow on that property?
- Will the City ask the province to inspect the site and test Boundary Creek?
Report suspected pollution or a spill
See something leaking into the creek? Report suspected pollution to B.C.’s RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or through the RAPP reporting form. Report spills at 1-800-663-3456.
Report what you actually observe; do not enter private property to investigate.
Tips, documents and responses
Send relevant records, corrections or a response to editor@ledgemediagroup.com. The Ledge welcomes documents and responses from the operator, property owner, City, RDKB and provincial authorities.