From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Festive greetings! I’m sending you wishes for warmth and joy during this season of long dark nights, and I hope you enjoy some quality time with those who are dear to you.
Gratitude to volunteers
It’s wonderful what an engaged and involved community ours is. Shoutout of gratitude to the many many islanders volunteering across the islands, building community. During 2024 I’ve had a chance to work with a spectrum of volunteers and I’m so grateful for everyone’s dedication.
This year I’ve had the opportunity to participate in local meetings on a wide variety of topics, write letters of support for organizations seeking grants, connect island groups with RD resources, and support grant-in-aid applications from island organizations. Through this I see so many islanders investing their time and energy into thoughtful, worthwhile projects in our community and it fills my heart. Thank YOU!
Grants-in-Aid
Area C Grant-in-Aid is a small envelope of funds which non-profit community organizations can apply for to support projects which benefit the general community of Area C. Applications are submitted to the Electoral Area Director for review; they are then submitted to the Board for consideration — grant-in-aid requests must be approved by resolution of the regional district board.
In 2024 the SRD Board supported Area C Grants-in-Aid for the Quadra Island Climate Action Network Society ($2,301), Quadra Island Foundation ($2,500), Quadra Island Conservancy and Stewardship Society ($1,500), Quadra Concerts ($1,000), Stuart Island Community Association ($1,500), and Surge Narrows Community Association ($3,760). As well, Economic Development funding was provided to the Quadra Island Chamber Music Society ($1,500); and to the Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce ($1,200) for their upcoming Perceptions of Tourism community survey.
Wharves
There’s news to share on the long and winding tale of Area C wharves. In early August I reported that transfer of ownership of the Port Neville wharf to the Tlowitsis First Nation was proceeding, and that the funding agreement between Transport Canada and the SRD for maintenance and safety improvements was extended to November 2026.
The wharves at Surge Narrows on Read Island and Owen Bay on Sonora Island remained as two federally divested wharves in need of a place to land (aka a Service) in order to complete the Transport Canada funded works. Recently SRD staff reported on their consultation with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, investigating options to allow the Regional District to fulfill its Transport Canada agreement. The staff report stated that the most practical long-term arrangement for holding the wharf assets was the Electoral Area C Parks Service –– which already manages three wharf facilities in Granite Bay, Evans Bay and at Hoskyn Channel Landing.
At the November 27th meeting the Board adopted Bylaw 573. This bylaw designates Surge Narrows & Owen Bay as parkland to be managed as Area C parks inventory, and the necessary and planned improvements funded by Transport Canada can now begin. Once the upgrades to the Port Neville wharf are complete, the Tlowitsis First Nation will assume ownership of that wharf along with operations, maintenance and liability requirements.
At the same meeting the Board supported my follow up motion that wharf regulation, usage & fee structure bylaws be reviewed by the Electoral Area Services Committee. So, stay tuned for further updates on the wharves. In the meantime, if you have questions, the SRD’s Engineering department is the lead on the wharves file, they can be reached at engineering@srd.ca; my contact info is just below.
Connect
Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community, I appreciate it. You’re welcome to connect with me with questions or concerns: you can email rmawhinney@srd.ca, or call 250.203.2468. If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a meeting at calendly.com/robynmawhinney. Catch up on SRD meeting agendas and minutes here: bit.ly/SRD-agendas-minutes.
Until next time, Respectfully, Robyn Mawhinney