The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is celebrating the success of its 12^th annual Backroad Trash Bash, which took place on Saturday, September 27.

Twenty-six volunteers gathered to clean up trash illegally dumped at 27 sites from Roberts Creek to West Howe Sound. Volunteers included community residents, members of the Sunshine Coast Off-Road Club, Sunshine Coast Dirt Bike Association, Summerhill Fine Homes and the Conservation Officers Service.

Special thanks to Coast Bins Rentals for their generous support and the Gibsons Lions Club for cooking the volunteer’s lunch.

This year, 3,070 kilograms of illegally dumped waste was collected by community volunteers. This included 2,080 kg of waste, 990 kg of scrap metal, 7 mattresses and 10 tires. Of the materials collected tires, fridges, TVs and microwaves are recyclable for free at a local depot.

“We appreciate everyone who braved the less-than-ideal weather to help clean up garbage in our local forests,” says Marc Sole, SCRD Manager of Solid Waste Services. “Community cleanups like this make a real difference in keeping our region cleaner, safer, healthier, and more vibrant for everyone.”

To learn more about the Backroad Trash Bash, visit letstalk.scrd.ca/trash-bash.

For information on how to clean up an illegal dump site year-round in our region or how to report sites to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line, visit www.scrd.ca/illegal-dumping.

Effective immediately, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has declared an end to water conservation regulations in the Chapman Lake, South and North Pender Harbour, Egmont, Cove Cay, and Langdale water systems.

The Eastbourne water system remains at Stage 3 until further notice. Residents are asked to check on local signage for any future changes.

“Thanks to recent rainfall, lake levels in the Chapman and South Pender Harbour water systems have improved greatly,” says Remko Rosenboom, General Manager of Infrastructure Services. “This year; the added supply we can now access from the Church Road Well Field, and the repair of several large leaks, has been key to maintaining supply in Chapman Lake and has contributed greatly to our ability to stay at Stage 2 for most of the summer.

The SCRD thanks the community for conserving water over the summer months, noting that these efforts make a real difference in managing the regional water supply.

A final water supply update for 2025 will be provided to the SCRD Board during the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Learn more about water conservation regulations at www.scrd.ca/water-regulations

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is pleased to announce that thanks to recent recruitment efforts, fall swim lessons are returning to the Pender Harbour Pool.

Swim lessons will begin the week of October 12 and can now be previewed online at https://www.scrd.ca/pender-pool/ Registration for swim lessons will open on Monday, October 6 at 7:00 a.m. Community members can register online, in person, or by calling 604-885-6801.

Staffing Update:

The return of swim lessons has been made possible through ongoing efforts in both recruitment and operations by the SCRD. Since August, the SCRD has hired a part-time aquatics staff member, transitioned several staff from casual to part-time, and welcomed four new casual hires.

Recruitment for multiple aquatics vacancies is still ongoing; with job postings open until filled.

Interviews and hiring will continue as applications are received. If you are a qualified lifeguard or know someone who is, you are encouraged to apply by visiting www.scrd.ca/careers.

Pool Hours and Programs:

The recent hiring and operation adjustments have allowed for a small increase to hours at the Pender Harbour pool with an additional 4.5 hours added on Thursdays.

Hours at the Sechelt and Gibsons pools will not change at this time. Another update will be provided later in October. As recruitment progresses, pool operating hours will be gradually restored.

Community members are encouraged to stay connected to receive updates on swim lessons and pool hours.

• Visit the website: www.scrd.ca/recreation
• Follow us on Facebook: SCRD.Parks.Recreation

Subscribe to RecCONNECT, the SCRD’s email newsletter.

The Youth Travel Pass, known as ‘S-Pass,” provides fare free transit on Sunshine Coast bus routes for young people aged 13 to 17 who are still attending secondary school.

Proof of age and Sunshine Coast residency is required and can be provided using any of the following:

• Valid SD46 school ID card,
• Proof of SCRD residency, or
• Current government issued photo ID (passport, drivers’ licence, BC Service card)

Youth can register and receive the S-Pass from the following locations:

• Sechelt Aquatic Centre – 5500 Shorncliffe Avenue
• Gibsons and Area Community Centre – 700 Park Road
• Sunshine Coast Regional District – 1975 Field Road

The S-Pass will be valid on all SCRD buses from November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026 through either the Umo app or a Umo card. Young people aged 13 to 17 or still in Grade 12 can get the 2025-2026 S-Pass starting October 15.

We encourage our customers to use the Umo app, Transit App, Google Transit or any other app of their choice for real-time bus tracking and planning your next transit journey.

For more information about trip planning, schedules and to sign up for customer alerts, please visit bctransit.com/sunshine-coast.

Children 12 and under already ride for free in the Sunshine Coast Transit System without a fare product as part of the Get on Board program.

For more information about the S-Pass, please visit scrd.ca/s-pass.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) wants to hear from you on the future ownership and operations of the New Brighton Dock and adjacent barge ramp on Gambier Island.

The dock, located on the southwest side of Gambier Island, is currently owned by the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). The Squamish Nation has said they do not want to continue to operate the dock. People in the Gambier Island community want to keep the dock and nearby barge ramp open to the public and have asked the SCRD to consider taking over responsibility for both.

The barge ramp is located on land owned by the provincial government, but there is currently no one responsible for its maintenance or management.

Provide Your Input

The SCRD is now seeking public input to help guide conversations on the future of the dock and barge ramp.

Residents are encouraged to share views on:

• Who should own and operate the dock and ramp
• Desired levels of service
• Funding options, including potential tax increases to support ongoing access and maintenance

Feedback gathered during this engagement will inform a final feasibility study and will be presented to the SCRD Board for consideration later this year.

Engagement Opportunities

In-Person Events:

• Saturday, September 27 – Open House at Gambier Island Community Hall, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 1 – SCRD staff will be at Roberts Creek Farmers Market, Roberts Creek Community Hall from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Online Participation:

• A community questionnaire is open for responses from today to October 10, 2025. The questionnaire can be found by clicking here.  The SCRD asks that residents please take some time to read the background materials associated with the questions being asked in the questionnaire to help better inform their answers.

Please note that it is recommended that you complete the questionnaire on a desktop computer to ensure you can read the background materials as you answer questions.

For more information and to access background reports, check out letstalk.scrd.ca/new-brighton.

At last week’s Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board meeting, the board adopted a new 10-year Water Strategy to guide the long-term management of SCRD water services across the region.  

The SCRD Water Strategy 2025-2035 outlines a roadmap for building sustainable, resilient water systems that can meet the needs of the community now and in the future. It responds to growing pressures such as climate change, increased water demand, and the importance of environmental stewardship.  

The strategy includes a comprehensive set of actions to improve water conservation, safeguard water quality, and ensure a reliable and safe water supply for all residents and businesses.  

Four strategic priorities form the foundation of the plan:  

Water Supply  

The strategy sets a target of increasing water supply to provide at least 750 litres of water per household per day during the summer months. This will be achieved through diversifying water sources and optimizing existing infrastructure to meet peak demand.  The SCRD will also improve planning for water supply to the community in case it’s impacted by natural disasters.  

Water Infrastructure  

Capital and master plans will be updated to support efficient system operations and ensure sustainable investment in infrastructure such as water mains, service lines, and treatment facilities. This will include specific infrastructure upgrades to improve  firefighting capabilities in some areas. 

 Water Efficiency  

Reducing outdoor use of drinking water is a major priority. Water meter data will help inform education efforts and improve operational efficiency. The SCRD will also explore opportunities to use non-potable water for making ice at arenas and irrigation of sports fields.  

Source Water Protection   

The SCRD looks to continue collaborating with regional partners and community members on monitoring programs for local watersheds and aquifers that provide drinking water to the region. Community education and advocacy with all levels of government to protect these vital ecosystems will be prioritized. Source water protection will remain a long-term focus, integrated into planning for the next decade and beyond.  

The SCRD Water Strategy is the result of community input, research, technical studies and importantly, direct engagement with shíshálh Nation and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw whose insights and input were instrumental in shaping the plan. The District of Sechelt and the Town of Gibsons also played key roles in developing the strategy.   

“This strategy goes beyond planning, and sets out the objectives that will guide the development of our water systems on the Sunshine Coast,” says SCRD Board Chair, Alton Toth. “It’s a roadmap for predictable service delivery for the next ten years.” 

You can read the full water strategy by clicking here and a summary sheet is available here.