At today’s Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board Meeting, District of Sechelt councillor Alton Toth was elected by acclamation as new Board Chair for the SCRD. The new chair takes over from Area A – Egmont/Pender Harbour Director Leonard Lee who served as Chair since November 10, 2022.

Area B (Halfmoon Bay) Director, Justine Gabias was elected as new Vice-Chair.

“I would like to thank Director Lee for his leadership as Chair over the past two years and for helping to lay a solid foundation for the work of our Board,” says Chair Alton Toth. “I look forward to working with the rest of our directors and the dedicated staff at the SCRD on the many challenges facing the region in the years ahead.”

Chair Toth was first appointed to the SCRD Board on November 1, 2019, and re-appointed on November 10, 2022. On November 9, 2023, he was elected as Vice Chair of the SCRD Board of Directors.

You can watch the meeting and the vote here.

Media Enquiries:
Aidan Buckley
Manager, Communications and Engagement|
Sunshine Coast Regional District
604-885-8052
aidan.buckley@scrd.ca

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is awarding a total of $2,102.80 to fund two waste reduction projects through the SCRD’s Waste Reduction Initiatives Program (WRIP).

The SCRD launched WRIP in the fall of 2015. The program is funded annually through taxation in the amount of $7,500.

The goal of the program is to provide funding to community groups, non-profit societies, charitable organizations and school groups to implement projects that contribute to waste reduction or diversion from the landfill. WRIP is open to eligible organizations within the SCRD, including District of Sechelt, shíshálh Nation Government District and Town of Gibsons.

The following projects are selected to receive funding this year:

• Roberts Creek Community Association: $775 to improve recycling at community events by improving access to recycling through the purchase of sorting bins.
• Cedar Grove Elementary School: $527.80 to improve student access to composting in the school and reduce contamination in diverted materials.
• Chatelech Community School: $800 to purchase reusable dishware for school lunches to reduce the reliance on one time use throw away plates, cups and cutlery.

Project recipients have until June 30, 2025, to complete their projects and provide a final report.

Since 2015, the SCRD has provided over $28,000 to waste reduction projects.

For information on the program and to learn about past projects, visit https://letstalk.scrd.ca/wrip

A total of 330 young people have received their Youth Travel Pass, also known as the S-Pass, allowing them fare-free transit on the Sunshine Coast.

The rollout of the S-Pass took place through late October and early November at recreation centres on the Sunshine Coast.

The S-Pass provides fare free transit on Sunshine Coast bus routes for young people aged between 13 and 18 who are still attending secondary school. Kids 12 and under can already travel for free.

If you have not yet got an S-Pass, do not worry! Young people can still drop by the Sechelt Aquatic Centre, Gibsons and Area Community Centre and the main SCRD Field Road Administration building during regular business hours to get an S-Pass.

To get your hands on an S-Pass you need to have a valid SD46 school ID card or a current government issued photo ID (such as a passport or drivers license). Before attending any of these locations, decide if you would like a physical card or if you’d rather have it available via an app on your smartphone.

If you want it on your smartphone, then please download the UMO Mobility App from your app store. Ensure you bring your smartphone, along with your ID and SCRD staff can activate the S-Pass on your phone.

A reminder that to take fare free transit, you must have an S-Pass. An SD46 student ID is not a substitute for the S-Pass.

The 2024-2025 S-Pass is valid on SCRD conventional Transit buses between November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025.

Visit https://www.scrd.ca/s-pass for more information.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is deactivating the Level 1 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in response to yesterday’s windstorm that affected the region.

The EOC was activated so that emergency staff could provide coordination and support to external agencies such as BC Hydro and local fire departments as required.

Our response to the windstorm has transitioned from emergency action to recovery, therefore the need for the EOC’s involvement is no longer required.

The SCRD would like to remind residents that during an emergency, residents could be on their own for an extended period. That is why it’s critical that individuals, families, and neighbourhoods prepare in advance for emergency events by building an emergency kit and a grab and go bag.

Local fire departments are reminding residents to immediately report downed power lines via 9-1-1, stay at least ten metres away from the downed power lines, and to not touch or drive over the power lines.

To sign up for the emergency alert system, visit www.scrd.ca/alert-system.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in response to today’s windstorm that has affected the region.

The EOC has been activated so that emergency staff are in a position to provide support to partner agencies such as BC Hydro and local Fire Departments as required.

Residents who are looking for updates on power, highway, weather conditions and Transit on the Sunshine Coast should follow the links below.

• Highway updates via Drive BC
• BC Hydro Outages List
• Weather alerts via Environment Canada
• BC Transit Alerts

Local Fire Departments are asking that residents immediately report downed power lines via 9-1-1. Stay at least 10 metres away from the downed power lines and do not touch or drive over the power lines.

Further information and updates on the EOC will be provided when available.

Media Contact
Rob Michael
EOC Director
rob.michael@scrd.ca

Get ready to hop on board, fare-free transit for youth is coming to the Sunshine Coast on November 1.

The Youth Travel Pass, known as the “S-Pass,” will provide fare-free transit on Sunshine Coast bus routes for young people aged between 13 and 18 who are attending secondary school. Kids 12 and under can already travel for free.

In the lead-up to the start date of November 1, students, parents and school staff will see lots of information about the S-Pass at schools and recreation facilities around the region.

Who is eligible?
To get your hands on an S-Pass you need to have a valid SD46 student ID card or a current government issued photo ID (such as a passport or drivers license).

How to get the pass?
SCRD staff will be at the locations listed below to help young people get their hands on the S-Pass. Before attending these locations, decide if you would like a physical card or if you’d rather have it available via an app on your smartphone.

If you want it on your smartphone, then please download the UMO Mobility App from your app store. Ensure you bring your smartphone, along with your ID and SCRD staff can activate the S-Pass on your phone.

Where to get your pass.
Sechelt Aquatic Centre – 5500 Shorncliffe Avenue, Sechelt
Gibsons and Area Community Centre, 700 Park Road, Gibsons

• October 29, 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• November 2 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• November 4 to 8 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre

• October 23 from 12:15 p.m, to 1 p.m.

After November 8, drop into the Sechelt Aquatic Centre, the Gibsons and Area Community Centre or the main SCRD Administration Building at 1975 Field Road, Sechelt, during regular operating hours to have your pass activated.

Don’t forget your ID and if you want to have the pass on your smartphone, download the Umo app and bring your smartphone too. If you have an existing Umo card you can bring it and the S-Pass will be activated on that card.

The 2024-2025 S-Pass is valid on SCRD conventional Transit buses between November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025.

Visit https://www.scrd.ca/s-pass for more information.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is celebrating the success of its 11^th annual Backroad Trash Bash, which took place on Saturday, September 21.

Thirty-one volunteers gathered to clean up trash illegally dumped at 30 sites from Halfmoon Bay to Roberts Creek.

Volunteers included community residents, members of the Sunshine Coast Four Wheel Drive Association Club and Sunshine Coast Dirt Bike Association, and representatives from Salish Soils and the SCRD.

Special thanks to the Sechelt Lions Club for helping to set up the event and cook the volunteers’ lunch.

This year, 3,880 kilograms of illegally dumped waste was collected by community volunteers. Materials found at the dump sites included tires, electronic waste, furniture, appliances, metal, and household garbage. Of the materials collected refrigerators, TVs and microwaves are recyclable for free at a local depot. Some of the tires, like off rim passenger tires are also accepted for free at local tire shops four at a time.

“We are thrilled with the excellent turn out and community spirit at this year’s event and are grateful for everyone’s hard work cleaning up the illegal dump sites,” says Marc Sole, SCRD Manager of Solid Waste Services. “It is events like this that help create cleaner, safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities for our residents and businesses.”

If an illegal dump site is found, please report it to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277 or online https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/.

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, visit www.scrd.ca/illegal-dumping.

Effective immediately, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has declared an end to water conservation regulations for water users on the Chapman, Egmont, Cove Cay, North and South Pender Harbour, Langdale, Soames Point, Granthams Landing and Eastbourne water systems.

“We are thankful that we made it through this summer without the need to implement Stages 3 or 4 in the Chapman Water System, first time in nine years,” says Remko Rosenboom, General Manager, Infrastructure Services. “Repairing leaks combined with the Church Road Well Field water source have played a significant role in maintaining water supply in the Chapman Water system this year.”

“I want to commend our staff for their dedication in identifying and communicating with property owners about large leaks on private properties,” says SCRD Board Chair, Leonard Lee. “I also want to thank property owners for conserving water and for promptly addressing their leaks, including those that have been identified as part of the ongoing water meter installation project in Sechelt.”

Information on water conservation regulations can be found at www.scrd.ca/water-regulations

Get ready to hop on board, fare free transit for youth is coming to the Sunshine Coast on November 1, 2024.

Youth between the ages of 13 to 17 or still in Grade 12 will need to get a transit pass, known as the S-Pass, that allows them to ride the bus at no charge. Young people 12 and under can already travel for free.

The S-Pass will be available as a smart phone app or by obtaining a physical card.  Because it is a special fare, Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff will need to help youth activate their S-Pass.  Whether using the app or requesting a card, youth will be required to present picture I.D. (i.e. SD#46 picture I.D. card or Drivers License) to activate the pass.

More information on how and where to get the S-Pass will be available in the coming weeks.

So whether it’s a trip to the pool, dropping by a friend’s house or heading off to a practice, get ready to go for free starting November 1.

Background:

Recognizing the importance of encouraging regular transit use, building life-long ridership, reducing barriers to transit, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the SCRD Board of Directors approved the removal of fares for youth in their 2024 Financial Plan.