Wilks, Jackman to lead hospital district board for another year

Published 2:33 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The leadership duo has been acclaimed for the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board for another annual term.

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks will return as chair, while RDCK Area A director Garry Jackman will return as acting chair, following board approval during a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 13.

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks will serve his fifth term as Chair.

“This is an exciting time in the region with a number of large and impactful projects underway or on the horizon,” said Wilks, in a news release. “I appreciate the continued support of my fellow Directors in my role as Chair and look forward to continuing to work on behalf of the Hospital District and with Interior Health in the year ahead.”

Jackman will also serve a fifth term as Acting Chair.

“Chair Wilks and I have a strong working relationship, and I look forward to another productive year with Chair Wilks, the Board, staff and Interior Health,” said Jackman.

The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District provides up to 40 percent of capital funding for acute care facilities in the region that is used for equipment and facility construction and renovation.

The Hospital District includes the entire RDEK region as well as the Towns of Golden and Creston, and the portions of the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap surrounding those municipalities.

In Cranbrook, large projects supported by the board that are currently in progress include the F.W. Green Memorial Home expansion, a $236 million projecct that will see 150 long-term care beds at full build out, as well as the renal and oncology expansion at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.