Open Burning Prohibition in Effect

As of May 30, the BC Wildfire Service has prohibited most open burning activities across the Sunshine Coast to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Prohibited until October 31, 2025 (or until rescinded) Category 2 open fires, including:

• One pile of burning material (max 2m high x 3m wide)
• Two piles burning at once (each max 2m high x 3m wide)
• Burning stubble or grass over areas ≤ 0.2 hectares

Also prohibited under the Wildfire Act (Section 12):

• Fireworks
• Binary exploding targets
• Burn barrels or burn cages
• Controlled air incinerators
• Air curtain burners
• Carbonizers

Still allowed:

• Category 1 Campfires (max 0.5m high x 0.5m wide)
• Gas, propane, or briquette stoves

If you light a campfire:

• Clear flammable debris around it
• Have at least 8L of water or a hand tool nearby to extinguish it
• See the map below for the affected area.

More information can be found here.

Let’s do our part to prevent wildfires this season!

The District of Sechelt, Sunshine Coast Regional District, Town of Gibsons, shíshálh Nation, and School District 46 (the “Working Group”) are working together to develop a collaborative Sports Field Strategy for the Sunshine Coast.

As our communities continue to grow, so does the need for modern, accessible, and sustainable outdoor recreation spaces. This joint initiative will assess current and future needs to help guide long-term planning, investment, and management of sports fields throughout the region.

The strategy will define a shared vision and provide recommendations to guide sports field management, allocation, and capital and operational investments over the next 10 years. It will also support sustainability, inclusion, and equitable access to sports and recreation for all Sunshine Coast residents.

The project is currently in its early stages, gathering information, conducting research, and engaging with the community and stakeholders to better understand how local sports fields are used, what’s working well, and where improvements are needed.

Community feedback is a key part of this process. Help ensure sports field planning reflects the needs of everyone on the Sunshine Coast by taking part in one or more engagement opportunities.

How to Get Involved

• Complete the online survey by July 11, 2025: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCSportsFields
• Find us at a community event: Information will be posted on the website soon.
• Learn more about the project: yoursaysechelt.ca/sportsfields

The project will roll out in three phases, with final recommendations expected in early 2026.

Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Bylaw Officer Stephen Lanegraff has been honoured with a major award for leadership in the profession from the Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association recognizing his outstanding service to the community.   

The award recognizes Stephen’s compassion and dedication in helping an elderly man in need find a safer and more stable living situation. 

In late 2024, the SCRD received a report of someone living in a shed in the West Howe Sound area. Upon responding, Stephen found an elderly man residing in unsafe conditions. Rather than simply enforcing bylaws, Stephen took the time to engage with the individual, connect with local support agencies, and help initiate the process of securing better housing. 

On a follow-up visit, this time with the Gibsons & District Fire Department, Stephen found the man in medical distress. Emergency care was provided, and with the help of partner agencies, the man was ultimately moved into supportive housing. 

“At the award ceremony, the Association President said Stephen ‘saved or protected a human life.’ That line has stuck with me,” said Stephen. “It perfectly captures the gravity of the situation. It’s something I’ll never forget, and I’m honoured to receive this recognition.” 

SCRD Chief Administrative Officer Tina Perreault praised Stephen’s actions: “What stands out most is the compassion Stephen brought to this situation. We are incredibly proud of him. Our bylaw enforcement officers are not only stewards of community safety, they are often called upon to make a real difference in people’s lives.” 

Stephen is pictured below with his award. 

The “Love Where You Live Questionnaire” has officially launched, inviting all community members to provide their valuable feedback on the ongoing Sunshine Coast Regional District Official Community Plan (OCP) renewal process. This initiative is designed to gather input on critical areas that will shape the future character and development of our region. 

Before we continue, a quick reminder on what an OCP is. An OCP is like a roadmap for the future. It guides how our communities grow, evolve, and respond to change. Whether it’s planning neighbourhoods, determining housing options, protecting the environment, developing parks, or preparing for the impacts of climate change, the OCP sets the course for decision-making that affects everyone, now and for generations to come.  

The questionnaire serves as YOUR space to provide feedback on many important areas of the OCP renewal. You can access the questionnaire by clicking here.  

The comprehensive feedback process is structured in two parts to ensure a wide range of input is collected: 

Part One: The Main Questionnaire (linked above) – This section allows for detailed responses on the key areas such as housing, community and climate. 

Part Two: Interactive Map – Once you complete the main questionnaire, participants will be directed to an interactive map. This map features four short questions focusing on:

• Where new housing should go in the region.
• The features of your community that make it special. 

To help understand the diverse perspectives within the community, the questionnaire also gathers general demographic information, including age group and electoral area of residence. Community members are strongly encouraged to participate and contribute their insights, ensuring that the OCP renewal reflects the collective vision for a thriving and sustainable future. 

From questionnaires to to community events and pop-up stations, there will be lots of ways to have input on the OCP. Information on upcoming events will be shared on the project engagement space at letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal.  

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has released its 2025 first quarter reports, highlighting progress on several key projects for the region. 

Highlights by Department 

Administration & Legislative Services 

• Good Neighbour Guide Update: Relaunched during Local Government Awareness Week, the refreshed guide incorporates updated bylaws and promotes community standards around noise, property care, pet ownership, and water use.
• Hybrid Meetings: A new hybrid meeting platform and continued use of new agenda software is modernizing SCRD’s meeting accessibility and efficiency. 

Community Services 

• Halfmoon Bay Community Hall: Construction officially began on a new 2,200 sq. ft. community space at Connor Park, with completion expected in mid-2026.
• Sechelt Aquatic Centre Heat Pump Project: A $250,000 upgrade to reduce corporate carbon emissions by 15%, equal to 61 cross-country flights advancing SCRD’s climate targets. 
• Hopkins Landing Dock: Renovation work is set to resume later this year following permitting delays. 
• Parks: Remediation work continued on trails including the Sunnyside / Chaster Trail Connector and  the Mahan Trail.  

Corporate Services 

• Volumetric Water Billing: In preparation for 2026 implementation, mock bills will be issued in North and South Pender Harbour later this year to help residents understand the new rate system. 
• Corporate Workplan Refresh: A new “Green, Yellow, Red” system now tracks the status of strategic projects and aligns them with Board priorities and capacity.

Emergency & Protective Services 

• Volunteer Fire Response: 177 calls were handled in the first quarter of 2025, with 3,474 hours of volunteer training logged. Local fire crews also raised over $28,800 for the BC Lung Foundation. 
• FireSmart: Twelve new neighbourhoods were recognized under the FireSmart Canada Recognized Neighbourhood Program. The SCRD FireSmart team saw a great start to the year with ongoing mitigation projects, these included Smith Cove Park, Connor Park, Mission Point Park, Shirley Macey Park and the Merril Crescent Wastewater Treatment Plant, in total there has been approximately 70,000 lbs of debris removed. 

Infrastructure Services 

• Langdale Wellfield: Design work continues for a groundwater supply project. Further work, including an alternate approval process is expected in late 2025, with construction potentially starting in 2026. 
• Water Meter Installation: Phase 3 of water metering in Sechelt is nearly complete, with 3,500 meters installed. Due to required installation work on meters that involves deep excavations, the SCRD Board recently approved an increase to the budget for the water meter installation project. Once completed, this project will lay the groundwork for regional volumetric billing by 2027. 
• Sechelt Landfill Project: A new contact water pond is being built to extend the landfill’s life by up to four years. Construction will wrap by mid-2025. 
• Sechelt Hospital Well: Following a groundwater exploration project which involved drilling five wells around the Sechelt area, the SCRD has identified a site at the Sechelt Hospital that has the potential to provide a significant amount of water to the Regional Water System. A report on next steps for this water supply expansion project was recently brought to the SCRD’s Committee of the Whole and can be found here.
   

Planning & Development 

• OCP Renewal: A major, multi-year update to Official Community Plans is underway to better address housing, sustainability, and regulatory compliance across the region.
• Coastal Flood Mapping: A regional partnership is advancing flood risk mapping and adaptation planning to better prepare for rising sea levels and storm surges. 

The next major update on projects and initiatives will be provided in August.  You can read all of the quarterly departmental reports via this agenda link.

Three. Two. One. Go! Community conversations are officially underway as the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) kicks off the renewal of its Official Community Plans (OCPs).

But before we dive in, let’s take a moment to explain what an OCP is, and why it matters.

An Official Community Plan is like a roadmap for the future. It guides how our communities grow, evolve, and respond to change. Whether it’s planning neighbourhoods, determining housing options, protecting the environment, developing parks, or preparing for the impacts of climate change, the OCP sets the course for decision-making that affects everyone, now and for generations to come.

The SCRD is responsible for updating OCPs in Egmont / Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone, and West Howe Sound. The District of Sechelt and the Town of Gibsons are also leading OCP processes along with the shíshálh Nation which is leading a land use planning process for their swiya. Staff from each local government are regularly in contact to ensure a collaborative approach to official community planning on the Sunshine Coast.

Why Now?

The SCRD’s current OCPs range in age from seven to 30 years old and each plan uses a different approach. That makes it harder to tackle shared challenges or plan for a shared future. The OCP Renewal Project aims to create a unified, modern plan that reflects today’s needs and tomorrow’s vision. One clear framework will make it easier for local governments to collaborate, respond to regional issues, and deliver services more efficiently and effectively, while also working to maintain the unique characteristics of our communities.

Shaping the Growth We Want

The name says it all – Official Community Plan. It’s about our community, and your voice is essential.

All summer long, the SCRD will be out in the community, at events, markets, and local gatherings to hear from you. How can we preserve the unique character of our communities while planning for the future?

We’re kicking engagement off at the Sunshine Coast Pride Festival at Mission Point Park in Sechelt on June 1. You’ll also find us at farmers markets and community events throughout the summer.

Stay Informed. Get Involved.

The best way to follow along is by visiting our project webpage: https://letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal. You’ll find background information, updates, and a space to ask questions and share your ideas anytime. You can also subscribe for updates on the project.

Let’s plan for the future, together.