From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello,
The March 25 SRD Board meeting was certainly memorable, with between 80-100 residents of Quadra Island and Area C crowding into the boardroom’s public gallery and overflowing into the foyer. They were there to observe as the Board considered a report regarding adding Quadra Island (or all of Area C) as annual tax paying participants of the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Service. That topic is what this report focuses on.
What the report stated
The consultant’s report compared funding for Strathcona Gardens with indoor recreation funding in other coastal regional districts, outlined indirect regional benefits, and provided usage statistics, ferry traffic numbers, and mobile phone data as indicators of Quadra Island’s ‘functional proximity’ and receiving ‘broad public benefit’ from the recreation facility.
The report concluded that there are “minimal precedent examples of an Island community supporting recreation services in an adjacent centre” however “functional proximity, access to essential services, and employment opportunities provided in a regional centre should be key considerations when establishing a funding area for recreation and related quality of life services”. You can read the entire Strathcona Gardens – Sub Regional Recreation Study here.
Towards taxing Quadra Islanders for Strathcona Gardens
In a close vote of 7 – 6, the Board moved Yes to considering an amendment bylaw that would add Quadra Island as an additional participant in the Strathcona Gardens Recreation facility service. Likely due to ‘limited functional accessibility and travel constraints’ as outlined in the report, the Outer Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets are not being considered.
At a future Board meeting (perhaps April 29) the Board will consider an amendment based on the funding model proposed in the report ($600/year for the average property) or possibly other options (proposed by SRD staff).
There are no other coastal island communities equally funding indoor recreation amenities on the ‘big island’, the report confirmed. Denman and Hornby Island ratepayers fund Comox Valley recreation facilities at a rate of 10% of full Service participants.
Recreation is expensive and requires subsidizing. Here on Quadra Island, we fund our highly used Community Centre through an annual tax requisition, whereas in Area D, the only recreation they fund is Strathcona Gardens.
Likely next steps
Once/if the Board settles on an amendment to the Strathcona Gardens Service bylaw, the next step is that the Board moves three readings of the bylaw amendment. As well, the Board determines if elector assent will be sought through binding referendum or Alternative Approval Process. Then the amendment is submitted to the Provincial Inspector of Municipalities for approval, who confirms technical and statutory requirements are met before approving that elector assent can be pursued.
How elector assent will take place is where things get a little hazy: the origin story of Strathcona Gardens plays into this, along with deliberations of the Board. It is unclear if AAP or binding referendum would seek assent of each participating area individually or altogether. The Service was created in 1970, and I have yet to source any solid information on how electors assented 50+ years ago. The next staff report on this topic will provide these details.
Strathcona Gardens, expanding & expensive
Rebuilding recreation facilities is a costly endeavour requiring significant debt, something Campbell River and Area D have been planning for years as sole Strathcona Gardens Service participants.
Within the last two-and-a-half years the Board authorized two Alternative Approval Processes (AAPs) seeking elector approval for $122 million dollars of loans to rebuild the Strathcona Gardens swimming and ice rink facilities. Both AAPs were successful, indicating a low level of concern for the increased annual costs of their recreation facility from the residents of Campbell River and Area D. Quadra Island residents were given no say in the shouldering of the burden of long-term debt and many residents have told me being added to the Service after the fact equates to ‘taxation without representation’: I entirely understand this frustration.
Consistent community opposition and one request
Since this topic was first brought to the Board in 2023, residents of Area C have written letters, signed petitions, and presented as delegations about their strong opposition to joining the Strathcona Gardens Service and their desire for an Electoral Area C-only referendum. One petition the Board received in May 2025 has 1226 signatories: this is 44% of the population of Area C, aka 67% of Area C’s resident electors.
Letters to the Board have outlined the constraint & costs for islanders accessing Strathcona Gardens, robust use of on-island amenities, and extreme concern about an extraordinary tax increase being devastating for too many, especially fixed income seniors.
It remains to be seen if the Board will heed the many voices of Area C residents and support meaningful consultation and an exclusive referendum as has been petitioned. I will ensure your voices are heard at the Board table.
Survey about your thoughts!
Quadra Island residents access Campbell River for many reasons, including shopping, employment, and a variety of recreational activities. I’ve created a quick survey asking about your Strathcona Gardens usage and what percentage of the annual Strathcona Gardens tax is most appropriate for Quadra Island property owners to contribute to Strathcona Gardens. If you’re an Islander, I’d be grateful if you took three minutes and shared your thoughts. Find the survey here: https://forms.gle/Lf459E4GiayvefU28. Please share this newsletter and/or the survey with Island friends and neighbours to expand its reach… and thank you in advance.
Connect
You’re welcome to connect with me with questions or concerns: email RMawhinney@srd.ca, or call 250.203.2468. Visit RobynMawhinney.ca for links to helpful community resources and ‘back issues’ of Director Reports. You can watch Board meetings on the SRD’s YouTube channel and visit srd.ca/government/agendas-minutes to keep up to date on SRD governance happenings.
Until next time,
Respectfully,
Robyn Mawhinney
PS: There are Official Community Plan meetings scheduled soon…
April 8 — Surge Narrows Bunk House, 1pm to 3:30pm, topic: Foreshore (aquaculture, industry) & Environmentally Sensitive Areas
April 15 — Quadra Community Centre beginning 6pm, topic: Parks and Transportation
See you there?
Top image credit: Islanders overflowing into the foyer waiting for the March 25 Board meeting to begin; All photos by Robyn Mawhinney