The Town of Golden’s recently released 2025 Annual Report paints a picture of a municipality balancing the day-to-day work of delivering core services with larger, long-term planning for growth, infrastructure renewal and financial sustainability.
In his message at the beginning of the report, Mayor Ron Oszust described 2025 as a year shaped by “thoughtful planning, operational resilience, and strong collaboration,” noting that Council and staff continued work on priorities intended to strengthen Golden’s future while maintaining the quality of life residents value.
One of the major pieces of work completed during the year was an update to the Town’s Municipal Strategic Plan. Council reviewed and revised the municipality’s mission, vision, values, goals and objectives through a series of workshops held between July and September. The updated plan is intended to reflect the changing social, economic and environmental realities facing Golden.
The annual report also outlines the Town’s 2025-2028 strategic priorities, which include building a more diverse and future-ready economy, improving climate resilience and infrastructure readiness, strengthening civic engagement and transparent governance, supporting sustainable growth, and improving long-term financial planning and service delivery.
A new Resort Development Strategy was also completed in 2025, with input from an advisory committee representing tourism stakeholders and operational partners. The strategy focuses on sustainable tourism, economic diversification, cultural vibrancy, longer visitor stays, environmental sustainability and increasing Indigenous tourism opportunities in collaboration with the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Métis Nations.
The Town also ratified a new collective agreement with CUPE Local 2309, representing approximately 45 full and part-time workers. The three-year agreement, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, includes a standardized 37.5-hour work week, annual three per cent wage increases, a commitment to complete a joint job evaluation program and an expansion of the flexible work week program.
Development activity remained strong in 2025. The Planning and Development department reported 89 building permits and 804 business licences. The annual report notes that Riverstone, a mixed-use commercial building with 51 dwelling units, was completed during the year. Other notable development files included upgrades at Golden Child Daycare to expand childcare spaces from 32 to 40, the Interior Health Primary Care Facility, new businesses including Pizza Pizza, Chai Bar and Dollarama, and the groundbreaking of the Golden Community Economic Development Downtown Mixed-Use Housing Project.
The Town also processed a significant number of short-term rental and bed and breakfast applications, with 110 related business licences issued in 2025. Fifteen secondary suite permits were also issued, largely driven by the short-term rental licensing process. Overall, building permits represented more than $28 million in construction value.
Infrastructure was another major focus. The Public Works department completed the 8th Street South repaving project, replaced a street sweeper that had reached the end of its lifecycle, and rehabilitated approximately 650 metres of sanitary pipe using cast-in-place pipe lining. The report says the work is intended to reduce groundwater infiltration, increase treatment capacity and extend the life of existing infrastructure.
The design for Well 7 was also finalized and tendered for construction in 2026. According to the report, the project is expected to strengthen Golden’s water system during emergencies and provide additional pumping capacity to support growth over the next 20 to 25 years.
The Town also completed a water and sewer utility rate review, with revised rates recommended for 2026. The report states the changes are intended to generate revenue needed to cover rising operating costs and fund priority capital and renewal projects identified through infrastructure master planning.
In recreation, the Town approved a pilot program to extend the arena season by two weeks over spring break. The report says the response from user groups was strong, with all available ice times booked. The extension has now been approved going forward, and Minor Hockey has secured the U18 provincial championships for spring 2026.
Work also continued on the racquet courts project at Keith King Memorial Park, which includes four pickleball courts and two tennis courts. The project was delayed due to endangered barn swallows nesting near the pavement production area, but was reported to be 90 per cent complete, with surfacing scheduled for spring 2026.
Recreation programming also saw growth, with group fitness classes up 65 per cent, summer day camps up 15 per cent and drop-in volleyball up eight per cent. Accessibility improvements were completed at Keith King Memorial Park with support from Columbia Basin Trust’s REACH program and Town capital funding, including a ramp to the wheelchair-accessible swing.
Golden Fire Rescue reported 258 incidents in 2025 and highlighted a year with zero workplace injuries. The department also recruited new firefighters and introduced a standby shift schedule for nights and weekends to improve reliability. FireSmart work continued through funding, neighbourhood assessments and support for residents looking to protect their homes.
On the financial side, the Town reported total capital expenditures of $5.27 million in 2025. Major capital items included a hydrovac truck, street sweeper, 8th Avenue South asphalt overlay, annual paving renewal, pickleball courts, sanitary sewer lining, Fire Hall vehicle replacements and contributed assets from Bear’s Paw Phase 5.
The Town’s audited financial statements show an accumulated surplus of $92.3 million at the end of 2025, up from $90.8 million in 2024. Long-term debt decreased from $4.8 million in 2024 to $4.2 million in 2025, while tangible capital assets increased to $79.4 million.
The report also lists $76,733 in permissive tax exemptions granted in 2025 to churches, non-profit organizations, recreation groups and groups operating in public or local authority properties.
While the annual report highlights several large projects and planning initiatives, it also points out that Council’s strategic priorities represent less than 20 per cent of the municipality’s overall annual work. Much of the Town’s work continues to be made up of regular public works and recreation services, development applications, contracts, communications, licensing, permitting, financial administration and internal management.
For residents, the report provides a broad snapshot of what the Town worked on during 2025 and where its attention is turning next: infrastructure renewal, development pressures, housing, recreation, emergency readiness, tourism management and long-term financial planning.
The full 2025 Annual Report is available through the Town of Golden.
