Effective Friday, June 5, 2026, and until further notice, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has declared Stage 2 water conservation regulations for water users on the Chapman water system.

All other systems will remain at Stage 1 water conservation regulations until further notice.

Water is about to stop flowing over the Chapman Lake dam, and with continued warm, dry weather, the SCRD needs to move to Stage 2 water conservation regulations.

If you are unsure of what water system you receive service from, enter your address into the map linked here to find out. If you live in the Town of Gibsons, please visit www.gibsons.ca for water conservation regulations in that water service area.

Water conservation regulations help ensure that demand does not exceed the capacity of our water supply and distribution system and that there is always enough water for fire protection.

Stage 2 Watering Schedule:

 Watering Lawns

• Not permitted.

Watering trees, shrubs or flowers

• Sprinkler or soaker hose, or micro-spray can be used two days per week:
  • Even numbered addresses, Thursday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.
  • Odd numbered addresses, Wednesday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.
• Hand held hose with nozzle, hand held container or drip-irrigation can be used 4 hours per day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Watering food producing plants and trees

• Sprinkler or soaker hose, or micro-spray can be used two days per week:
  • Even numbered addresses, Thursday and Sunday for from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Odd numbered addresses, Wednesday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Hand held hose with nozzle, hand-held container or drip-irrigation can be used any time.

Washing Vehicles or boats

• Permitted with container, hand-held hose with nozzle, pressure washer or commercial car washes.

Washing sidewalks and driveways, windows, fences or exterior building surfaces

• Permitted only for preparing surfaces for painting or paving and for health and safety regulations.

Filling swimming pools, spas, garden ponds, or fountains

Permitted

“The SCRD understands that our community is no doubt noticing the ground they are digging is drier than in past years and that we have had a significant spell of warm weather,” says Remko Rosenboom, General Manager of Infrastructure Services. “We want our community to know that the SCRD is ready. Since the major drought of 2022, there are new water sources online and the SCRD has implemented several water efficiency measures that have reduced our reliance on Chapman and Edwards Lakes for our water supply.” 

Water Projects and Efficiency Measures

Over the past year, the SCRD has completed several projects to increase water supply for our community. These include;

• Adoption of the 2025 – 2035 Water Strategy which provides direction on reducing impacts on our water supply from climate change.
• The Church Road Well Field is fully online and can provide up to 4.5 million litres of water per day.
• Recent upgrades to Chaster Well has almost doubled the available supply from that source to 1.4 million litres of water per day.
• The water meter project in the Sechelt area has resulted in large leaks being resolved by property owners. Just recently one single leak repair saved 90,000 litres of water per day.

Visit www.scrd.ca/water-regulations for further details about the Water Conservation Regulations

A reminder that staff do not take bylaw complaints by phone. Please submit bylaw complaints using the online form at www.scrd.ca/bylaw-complaint-form

The Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) FireSmart program will continue in the region thanks to $1.58 million in provincial funding through the 2026 Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) – FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program, administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. 

The funding will support continued wildfire risk reduction efforts across the Sunshine Coast through the FireSmart programming, helping to protect and prepare communities, infrastructure, and natural areas from the increasing threat of wildfire. 

The funding will enable the SCRD to: 

• Continue FireSmart education, outreach, and mitigation activities.
• Support up to four full-time equivalent FireSmart staff positions. 
• Purchase structure protection equipment to improve emergency response capacity. 

This funding builds on ongoing collaboration with regional partners, including the Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, and the shíshálh Nation Government District, to enhance community safety and preparedness. 

FireSmart is a nationally recognized program that focuses on practical actions residents and communities can take to reduce wildfire risk. On the Sunshine Coast, it includes free home assessments, vegetation management, community engagement, and local mitigation projects. 

The program remains an important component of the SCRD’s broader climate resilience and emergency preparedness efforts, supporting long-term wildfire mitigation and public awareness activities in collaboration with community partners.

For more information about the SCRD FireSmart program, or to schedule your free assessment, visit: www.scrd.ca/firesmart 

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has completed Phase Two of community engagement for the Official Community Plan (OCP) Renewal Project, gathering feedback from residents, organizations, agencies, governments, and First Nations across the region between early February and mid-April.

Building on the vision and values that were heard in Phase One, in Phase Two community members were invited to provide input on areas for growth suitability, regional priorities, and a proposed land use organizing framework that will help shape future OCP policies and zoning approaches.

Community outreach efforts included more than 9,200 postcards mailed to households, print advertising, news releases, social media campaigns, and direct email notices.

Phase Two engagement included a combination of in-person and online opportunities designed to reach residents in the five SCRD Electoral Areas. Staff hosted in-person community check-ins in each area, along with community workshops in Pender Harbour, Sechelt and Gibsons. Interviews were held with housing, climate, and environmental experts, and Advisory Planning Commission members attended an in-depth workshop.

Online, the community had their say via a questionnaire on the project’s engagement site.

Feedback from participants has been compiled and analyzed in the “What We Heard Report,” which identifies regional and electoral area themes that will inform the next stages of OCP development. This report, along with community submissions were presented at the SCRD’s Electoral Area Services Committee on Thursday, May 21.

Key Themes Emerging from Engagement

 Several key themes emerged during Phase Two engagement, including:

• Protecting and enhancing community identity and character
• Preserving intact natural areas as part of climate resilience
• Supporting diverse housing forms in areas within existing service areas
• Balancing housing growth with environmental protection
• Improving development processes while addressing affordability challenges

 Collaboration with First Nations, Governments and Agencies

 The SCRD also received input from shíshálh Nation, Vancouver Coastal Health, School District 46, and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit. Staff noted that early collaboration with partner agencies and governments is helping improve coordination and will support more effective implementation of future land use policies and bylaws.

 Next Steps

Feedback from both Phase One and Phase Two engagement will help guide:

• Development of OCP objectives in 2026
• Drafting of OCP policies through 2026 and early 2027
• OCP land use designations and a corresponding zoning bylaw

The OCP Renewal Project will continue through 2027, with additional opportunities for public participation planned as draft policies and land use concepts are developed.

Join the subscription for OCP project updates and find project information at letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is inviting residents to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month this June by getting involved in a new Parks Volunteer Program.

The program offers a range of opportunities for individuals and groups to support the care and stewardship of SCRD parks and trails, including Adopt a Park, Adopt a Trail, invasive species removal, park clean-ups, and wildfire mitigation activities.

Volunteer opportunities are designed to be flexible and accessible, with both one-day events and longer-term commitments available. No prior experience is required, and training is provided.

Or maybe you have an idea to improve your local park or community space? The SCRD wants to help bring these ideas to life through the Community Led Initiative Program (CLIP), supporting community-driven projects that enhance local parks and public spaces.

CLIP enables community groups to lead park and recreation projects—from concept through construction and ongoing maintenance—while taking on primary responsibility for funding and delivery.

The SCRD supports these initiatives by providing guidance through planning, permitting, and approvals, helping bring community-driven ideas to life.

More information can be found by visiting: scrd.ca/volunteer-parks

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has successfully completed the Chaster Well Improvement Project, restoring and significantly enhancing a key groundwater source for the Chapman Water System.

Completed in late March 2026, the upgraded well is now capable of delivering approximately 50 per cent more water at peak capacity, producing up to 1.4 million litres per day (16 litres per second). This increase strengthens the reliability of the region’s water supply, particularly during periods of high demand and drought conditions.

The Chaster Well plays an important role in the regional water system, historically supplying roughly 10 to 12 per cent of summer water demand. The well experienced a critical pump failure in August 2024, prompting urgent repair and upgrade work to restore service and improve long-term performance.

The improvements come at an important time as the SCRD continues to strengthen water supply resilience amid growing demand and seasonal water supply pressures.

During construction, contingency planning ensured that water demand could continue to be met through other sources, such as the Church Road Wellfield in the system if needed.

 For more information about regional water services and conservation measures, visit scrd.ca/water.

The campfire ban has been lifted for the Sunshine Coast effective Friday, May 15, 2026, at noon.

The campfire ban was initially implemented due to a combination of elevated wildfire risk factors. Current and forecast conditions have since shifted, bringing cooler temperatures, improved humidity values and an overall reduction in wildfire hazard throughout the Coastal Fire Centre.

Despite this, Fire Chiefs from Sunshine Coast fire departments in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay, Pender Harbour and Egmont are asking for extreme caution from our community should you be considering having a campfire. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations.

Reminders about campfires:

1. A campfire is defined as any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
2. Never light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly, and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material.
3. Maintain a fireguard around your campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, leaves, kindling, etc.) have been removed right down to the soil.
4. Never leave a fire unattended.
5. Make sure that any fire is completely extinguished, and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time

While campfires will be allowed on the Sunshine Coast, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited, including the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels and burn cages. These restrictions will remain in place until October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded. Open burning continues to be always restricted within the Town of Gibsons.

A great resource explaining the different categories of open burning is available here online.

Please contact your local fire department for more information at www.scrd.ca/fire-departments