News Release: City of Trail and Village of Warfield Launch Amalgamation Study

(Trail, BC) The City of Trail and the Village of Warfield have launched an Amalgamation Study that is expected to continue through to the Fall of 2027. The Study will explore the governance, service, financial, property taxation and community implications of a potential amalgamation between the City of Trail and the Village of Warfield.

Municipal amalgamation is when two or more municipalities merge to form one. In 2025, the Village of Warfield conducted a Municipal Sustainability Study to assess upcoming challenges as an independent municipality and to consider what options may exist. This process led to consideration of amalgamation with the City of Trail.

The Amalgamation Study is being led by consultants and consists of a technical review with oversight by a community Steering Committee. The 12-person Committee will be made up of four residents from each of the City of Trail and the Village of Warfield and two Council members from each municipality. Residents interested in serving on the Committee need to submit a completed application form to the municipality in which they live. Application forms are available on the Study website, the City of Trail’s website, and the Village of Warfield’s website.

“This is an information-gathering process,” says City of Trail Mayor Colleen Jones. “The Amalgamation Study will not make a decision about amalgamation and does not mean that amalgamation will proceed. At the end of the Study, the Steering Committee will make a recommendation and the Councils of Trail and Warfield will decide whether to seek provincial approval to hold a referendum on amalgamation.”

“For Warfield, this Study is about making sure residents have clear, objective information before any future decisions are made,” says Village of Warfield Mayor Frank Marino. “The process will give people the opportunity to understand the potential impacts of amalgamation, including what it could mean for services, costs, property taxes, and the long-term future of our community.”
Residents can sign up to receive email updates and access study materials as they become available on the project website: www.trail-warfield.ca.

For more information, contact:

Colleen Jones, Mayor
City of Trail
250-364-0804

Mayor Frank Marino
Village of Warfield
250-368-7718