Campbell River’s Strathcona Gardens is in the midst of re-development. Following a successful Alternative Approval Process (APP) in Campbell River and Area D, whose residents use this complex, in 2023 the Board authorized borrowing up to $64.6 million for this project. Crews are currently building the foundations. 

The SRD is exploring the possibility of using Area C property tax dollars to support this complex, but has not yet decided upon a course of action. This sparked a great deal of resistance from Area C residents who do not want to see their property taxes increased to pay for a ‘Campbell River’ project. 

In a motion made by Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney in November, she referred to hundreds of items of correspondence to that effect. The flow of correspondence continues. Emails and scanned letters from 65 Quadra residents, 2 Read Island residents and 1 Maurelle Island resident were received as correspondence at the January 22, 2025 SRD Board Meeting.

None of the 68 correspondents supported the project. One admitted to using the Strathcona Gardens approximately 4 times during her 40 years on Quadra Island.

Campbell River Director Susan Sinnot, who is also Chair of the Strathcona Gardens Commission, dismissed their objections as alarmist: 

“ We don’t have the report, yet I do know that the Gardens also provides a lot of pausing medical services with its rehabilitation program. In light of that, I would say it’s more akin to a medical service, which everyone pays for in the regional district, along with our hospitals. As well, we have the benefit of the youth services and direct buses to Quadra island to service the youth who attend the Gardens.  I remember the days there was a Quadra team, in fact. Until we get the full scope of the information that comes back, it’s just alarmism in the community.”

A Heriot Bay resident wrote that, as a retired person, “I live on a fixed income and am not able to afford all the luxuries that I want, let alone having to pay for the luxuries for others.”

Someone from Quathiaski Cove stated, “As young homeowners who have worked very hard to achieve homeownership, it feels unjust for us to be taxed for a service that does not serve our community.”

A Cape Mudge resident protested, “It is not reasonable to expect Area C ratepayers to substantially fund a facility that they cannot conveniently use.”

Ray Grigg, author of the Quadra Project,  pointed out that, “We have a community facility on Quadra Island, built and paid for by Quadra Islanders, with its operating costs also paid for with a special taxation levy by ratepayers on Quadra Island. The funding for this Quadra facility is not paid for by the Campbell River residents, and it seems patently unfair that ratepayers here on Quadra should be financing such a facility in Campbell River.”

Jan Zwicky, one of the founders of Quadra ICAN, calculated that, “If the tax base for the project is expanded to include Area C, taxpayers in Area C can expect to see their tax rise by a minimum of $56 per $100,000 of assessed property value. Given the staggering rise in property values over the last few years, this will mean $300 to $500 for a large number of households, many of which are already struggling to pay grocery bills. It is my guess that most residents of Area C are not interested enough in using the facility to see their tax bill rise by hundreds of dollars.”

Ramona Boyle from Heriot Bay described plans to upgrade Strathcona Gardens as ‘grandiose’ and ‘a vanity project.’ 

She warned, “If you try and bully Area C into paying for this because we are outnumbered and outvoted on the SRD, expect to have public protests, and a robust media campaign to let people know how the island and mainland inlet communities are viewed by Campbell River — as a convenient cash cow that should just shut up and pay up.”

One of the Read Island correspondents wrote that it takes 4 hours or more for her to reach Campbell River. She has other priorities than Strathcona Gardens in mind. If she wants to swim, she’ll do it in the ocean. 

Another explained, “Read Island is water access only. No ferry, no grocery store, no medical services, no fire department, no electricity, no gas station, one dirt road ,one school to grade 6. As an islander we simply cannot access this facility, why should we pay for this?”

Tor Ellingsen, one of the Cortes Island Ellingsens who lives in Quathiaski Cove, declared, “The notion that WE would willingly desire to participate in this project speaks volumes to the SRD board’s lack of understanding of island community values.” 

Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney of Area C concluded,  “There are more than 60 pieces of heartfelt correspondence  from community members across the demographic spectrum, representing young homeowners, folks working to raise families on the island, seniors, Outer Discovery Islanders and regular everyday folks.”  

“I imagine if you’ve looked at the correspondence, you will have gained some understanding of how the residents of Area C choose a rural low tax lifestyle with access to on island community recreation amenities and do you not believe the Strathcona Gardens as a service they should be paying for?”  

“I heard on CBC a while ago that only 15% of Canadians live rurally, not in a municipality. Area C residents choose our lifestyle for a reason and it doesn’t include easy access to municipal amenities. People choose to live in Area C’s rural community for the easy access to outdoor recreation and connected, vibrant community.  If we look at the SRD’s community profile information, we see that the median household income of the various residents is nearly $20,000 lower than the BC average and $12,000 lower than the SRD average.”  

“I’ve spoken with many people in the last month who have shared financial concerns with me. The significance of adding a Strathcona Gardens tax to their already stretched budgets is very stressful for some of these people.  I’ve spoken with retirees that have chosen to live in a rural area with low taxes and services, as it is a good fit for their budget limitations and they have genuine concern that they may have to move if this Strathcona Gardens tax comes to pass.  There is a second recreation report coming to the board at some point about additional recreation participation. There could be many steps between that report and formal consideration of inclusion of Area C in the service, which would likely necessitate a referendum.  I just want to point out that with the demonstrated level of community concern, there is the option for the board to not move ahead with inclusion considerations. I’m hopeful that this will be the way the board votes when the time comes.” 

Links of Interest:

• Recreate Strathcona Gardens website
• Articles about, or mentioning, Recreate Strathcona Gardens
• Articles about, or mentioning, the SRD Board
• Petition Against Making Quadra Residents Pay For REC-CREATE Strathcona Gardens (Jan 27, 2025)
• Rural Directors opposed to their residents paying for Strathcona Garden renovations (July 5, 2023)

All images are screenshots of Wolfgang Parada’s slideshow RE-CREATE Aquatic and wellness project, were shown during the Strathcona Gardens Commission Meeting of January 22, 2025.

Note on Quadra Island quotes: As some islanders value their privacy, I have only named people whose name is in the public sphere or who I have previously interviewed, but you can access all of the Area C emails and letters here.

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