From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello, Signs of spring are popping up… my favourites this week are the growing birdsongs, the swelling salmonberry buds, and the peach blossoms outside my kitchen window. In this Report there’s an Official Community Plan process update and highlights from some recent learning.
Official Community Plan: an update
At the March 11 Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) meeting, staff provided an update on what’s happening with the Area C Official Community Plan (OCP) and shared that they will be providing a monthly update as the process moves along.
Currently staff are compiling a list of community/interest groups to engage with for their thoughts on the OCP renewal. Community groups which have an interest in participating, perhaps an interest in a specific portion of the OCP, are invited to connect with Planning staff. Please email [email protected], mention ‘OCP engagement’, and your group will be included in upcoming consultation/interviews.
Following SRD Planning staff’s OCP engagement with key interest groups, the intention is to bring specific focused topics to public meetings. The topics will be advertised and all who are interested will be welcome to attend and provide topic-specific input.
The SRD has an Area C OCP webpage where updates are posted as the project moves forward, along with links to the current official community plan, rural land use bylaw & integrated sustainability plan. A bonus is that at the bottom of the page, you can subscribe to receive email updates when new info is posted: srd.ca/area-c-ocp/.
There have been concerns raised by some Outer Discovery Island residents that they are a distinct community, desiring an OCP specific to the Outer Discovery Islands. SRD staff clarified that the intention is to work with residents to develop a Local Area Plan for the Outer Discovery Islands, a plan which will recognize the unique identity, concerns & vision of Outer Island residents. It was stated that it would be highly unusual for an Electoral Area to have multiple OCPs. You can look to the current Quadra OCP and see the Quathiaski Cove Village Plan as one example of the way a Local Area Plan nests within an OCP.
Local Government Leadership Learning
Recently I spent three days learning with local electeds from across BC. The overarching theme at LGLA (Local Government Leadership Academy) this year was Engagement, examined through various lenses.
We heard from Regional Districts and Councils across BC about their best practices (“embrace the creative” and “early, often, artistic and accessible”); the pitfalls of over-reliance on social media; and the importance of being strategic with broad engagement because engagement fatigue is real. We also discussed the Emergency Disaster Management Act particularly as it relates to engaging indigenous governing bodies; asset management, and much more. I’m super grateful for this educational development supporting me in the role of Director (and happy to discuss further if you’re interested).
Board appointments
Every year the Board appoints Directors to SRD Committees and external agencies. In 2025 I’ll be serving on the First Nations Relations Committee (as vice-chair), Electoral Area Services Committee, Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District (as vice-chair), Comox-Strathcona Solid Waste Committee, Marine Planning Partnership, UBCM’s RCMP Contract Management Committee, and the Coastal Communities Committee on Solid Waste and the Circular Economy. I’m looking forward to lots of learning, communication and connections in the coming year!
Connect
Thank you for reading, and inviting me into your inbox. You’re welcome to connect with me with questions or concerns: email [email protected], or call 250.203.2468. If you’d like to chat in person, you can book an in-person meeting at calendly.com/robynmawhinney.
Until next time,
Respectfully,
Director Robyn Mawhinney
Images in this report: sunshine in the forest; rocky shore; tiny cones; the exciting new sign showing visitors how to find the Lighthouse