There’s just over two weeks left to add your voice to those who have already provided their input on the SCRD’s Official Community Plan (OCP) Renewal Project.  

Before we continue, a reminder on what an OCP is. An OCP is like a roadmap for the future. It guides how our communities grow, evolve, and respond to change. Whether it’s planning neighbourhoods, determining housing options, protecting the environment, developing parks, or preparing for the impacts of climate change, the OCP sets the course for decision-making that affects everyone, now and for generations to come.  

If you have been at an event this summer on the Sunshine Coast, like Creek Daze, the Sechelt Farmers Market, the Pender Harbour Wooden Boat Show, Sunshine Coast Pride and more, chances are you have seen our staff chatting about the OCP renewal. Or maybe you’ve come across our team at a beach, a park, or outside one of your favourite shops. SCRD staff have spoken to nearly 700 residents in person at 13 events to date across the Sunshine Coast.  

Online, there has been 370 responses to the community questionnaire and nearly 100 people have checked out the virtual map and provided their input there.  

So what are we asking? Well questions such as; How should your neighbourhood evolve? How can we protect what makes our communities special? How will climate change shape where and how we live? 

If you have not yet provided your input then this is how you can do so.  

• Staff will be at the Sunshine Coast Labour Council picnic at Dougall Park in Gibsons on Monday, September 1. The event takes place from 11 am to 2pm.  
• You can answer our questionnaire at letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal. 
• Even if you have already answered the questionnaire, we ask that residents take some time to check out the virtual map and provide your input. You can check out the map by clicking here. Both the map and the survey will remain open until Sunday, September 14 for your input.  

Stay tuned for a summary report that will be presented to the SCRD Board in October about ‘What We Heard’ during this round of Engagement. This summary report will combine with other information to inform the next phase of the project.  

A second round of engagement is expected to take place between January and March 2026.  

Let your voice be heard – help shape the future of the Sunshine Coast! 

Due to ongoing staffing challenges and a continued shortage of available lifeguards, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) will be adjusting pool operating hours in September. These changes are necessary to maintain safe and reliable service across our facilities. 

Seasonal Shifts in Staffing
As many of our dedicated Aquatic staff return to school or other fall commitments, we are actively recruiting new lifeguards and instructors to join our team. Interviews are underway, and we look forward to welcoming fresh faces to our facilities soon. As new staff join our aquatics team, we will review pool schedules and adjust hours accordingly.  

Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre – Effective September 2 

Beginning September 2, weekday daytime hours at the Pender Harbour Pool will be adjusted to meet staffing availability. However, following requests from the community, we are pleased to offer new weekend hours, giving families and community members more opportunities to enjoy the pool during their free time.  

Swim Lessons Update  

Swim lessons at Pender Harbour are temporarily paused while we welcome and train new instructors over the coming weeks. We are committed to resuming lessons as soon as staffing allows and will share updates as they become available. 

Adjusted hours for the Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre can be found below. 

Monday & Tuesday
Pool and Gym: 7:00am – 1:00pm / 3:30pm – 8:00pm 

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Pool: 7:00 am to 8:30 am and 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Gym: 7:00 am – 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm 

Saturday & Sunday
Pool and Gym:  10:00am – 4:00pm 

Sechelt Aquatic Centre – Effective September 7 

Hours for the Sechelt Aquatic Centre can be found below. The reduction in hours will result in the pool being closed on Sundays through September.  

Monday & Friday
Pool: 6:00am – 1:30pm
Gym: 6:00 am – 8:30 pm 

Tuesday & Thursday
Pool: 9:00am – 8:30pm
Gym: 6:00 am – 8:30 pm 

Wednesday
Pool: 6:00am – 7:00pm
Gym: 6:00 am – 8:30 pm 

Saturday
Pool: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Gym: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm 

Sunday
Pool: Closed
Gym: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm 

Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility – Effective September 7 

The Gibsons pool will see an increase in hours through September. These are outlined below.  

Monday
12:30pm – 7:30pm

Tuesday  to Friday
6:30am – 1:00pm 

Saturday closed 

Sunday
10:00am – 4:30pm 

Staying informed 

• Visit the website: www.scrd.ca/recreation  
• Follow us on Facebook 
• Subscribe to RecCONNECT, the SCRD’s email newsletter. A special edition will be sent with the Pender Harbour swim lesson registration start date and time 

The SCRD thanks residents for their patience and understanding as efforts continue to recruit qualified aquatics staff. 

If you are a qualified lifeguard or know someone who is, you are encouraged to apply. Please check by visiting www.scrd.ca/careers for the next recruitment period. 

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

Due to a heat warning on the Sunshine Coast, airconditioned spaces are being made available for the community to take some time out of the heat.

The following locations are available:

Gibsons & Area Community Centre Lobby – 700 Park Road, Gibsons – Map

Check here for facility opening and closing hours.

Sechelt Aquatic Centre Lobby – 5500 Shorncliffe Avenue, Sechelt – Map

Check here for facility opening and closing hours.

Further information on other areas to stay cool in the heat can be found here on the B.C. Provincial Government website and include shopping malls, libraries and shaded green spaces. At this link you can also find information on how to prepare your home for heat.

The community is also encouraged to check in on neighbours and friends while the heat warning is in effect.

Here is a great resource for staying healthy in the heat.

Stay up to date with information from the SCRD at www.scrd.ca/emergency-program.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has released its 2025 second quarter reports covering work done from April through to June, highlighting progress on several key projects for the region by department.  

Community Services 

Halfmoon Bay Community Hall Construction: Site preparation and foundational work are underway. Utility upgrades are complete, and a landscape consultant has been hired. This project, due for completion later in 2026, will provide a brand-new space for events, meetings and social gatherings available for the entire community on the Sunshine Coast. 

Seaview Cemetery Site Work: Work has begun on adding new ground burial plots and columbaria within the existing operating area at Seaview Cemetery. The purpose of this project is to meet the community’s near-term burial needs. This project is expected to be completed by end of 2025.

Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility Planning: In partnership with BC Transit, planning continues for a new operations facility and temporary offsite satellite parking. This infrastructure investment aims to boost regional transit capacity and operational efficiency in response to future service demands.

Dock Renovations: Renovations for Hopkins Landing dock are on track, with construction set for fall 2025. Planning for float replacement will begin later this year. Renovations to the Keats Landing dock are set for fall 2025 to reinstate vehicular traffic loads on the dock. 

2025 Transit Service Expansion: Extra trips connecting Langdale and Sechelt (Route 90) on weekends commenced in June 2025.  Route 90 and handyDART will see service increases in early 2026, pending new bus arrivals. Weekday Route 90 frequency will shift to every 30 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Corporate and Administrative Services 

Hybrid Meeting and Boardroom Upgrades: A new audio-visual system went live on June 12, 2025, enhancing hybrid public meetings in the Administration Building Boardroom.

2025–2029 Financial Plan Adoption: The SCRD adopted Budget Bylaw and Financial Plan 772 in mid-February. The plan outlines corporate priorities and financial direction for five years.

Maintaining COR Certification: HR prepared for the July 2025 Certificate of Recognition audit to retain certification, with the Health & Safety Coordinator completing internal auditor training. 

Emergency and Protective Services 

911 Communications Infrastructure Upgrade: The 911 Emergency Telephone System is undergoing vital upgrades. Five new radio frequencies have been successfully acquired to improve redundancy and support future radio enhancements.

FireSmart Fuel Treatment and Community Resiliency: The FireSmart Program is actively conducting extensive fuel treatments across the region, removing significant amounts of debris. A major milestone was achieved for the FireSmart program with the region’s first Certified FireSmart Home.

Paid-on-Call Firefighter Transition: A significant transition is underway for the SCRD Fire Departments with the Paid-on-Call (POC) project, aiming to improve personnel recruitment and retention. Payroll and Human Resources support went live on August 1, 2025, marking a key shift in firefighter compensation. 

Regional Fire Department Training: Regional fire departments are collaborating on joint training programs to enhance skills and interoperability. These include a regional recruit bootcamp, live fire training, and participation in large-scale wildfire exercises like Operation Peak Preparedness, strengthening regional emergency response capabilities. 

Infrastructure Services 

Water Meter Installation – Phase 3 (District of Sechelt)
83% of the 4,500 water meters are now installed in the District of Sechelt. This project will enable future volumetric billing and long-term water sustainability through leak detection and conservation. 

Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital Wellfield Development – Phase 1B
This regional project aims to confirm and develop a viable groundwater source through larger test wells. Engagement with the shíshálh Nation and provincial regulators is ongoing. 

Chapman Creek Water Treatment Plant UV Upgrade – Phase 2
This $1.9 million project adds redundancy to the existing UV disinfection system to meet provincial health regulations. Construction is on schedule, with site work expected in Q3 and full commissioning in 2026. 

Chapman, Edwards, and McNeill Lake Dam Safety Upgrades
This multi-year safety upgrade project is nearing completion, with final valve replacement at Chapman Lake scheduled for summer 2025. 

Solid Waste Management Plan Review and Update
This comprehensive update to the 2011 Solid Waste Management Plan incorporates public feedback and new waste reduction strategies. Draft plan completion is expected in Q4 2025, guiding long-term sustainability across the region. 

Planning and Development 

Official Community Plan (OCP) Renewal
Public engagement launched in June 2025, with summer outreach underway. The project team is integrating technical data, youth input, and growth criteria to guide long-term land use planning. 

Land Use Inventory for Housing
A comprehensive inventory of underutilized lands began in May 2025, identifying potential sites for housing and amenities. The project being done in collaboration with the District of Sechelt includes outreach to public, nonprofit, and faith-based landowners and concludes October 2025. 

Building and Plumbing Bylaw Renewal
A review is underway to identify improvements / updates to both SCRD Building Bylaw No. 687 and SCRD Plumbing Bylaw No. 400. A draft of the bylaw is currently being finalized.  

Coastal Flood Risk Mapping
In partnership with District of Sechelt and the Town of Gibsons s, the SCRD is developing maps showing current and future flood hazards to inform land use planning.  In April, the sustainable development team were at Earth Day in Roberts Creek to chat with the community about this important project.  

The next major update on projects and initiatives will be provided in October.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is experiencing staffing challenges at pools and a shortage of available lifeguards to support current operating hours. In an effort to provide stable operations and a reliable schedule for our valuable patrons, effective August 3, 2025, operating hours will be adjusted for both the Gibsons and Sechelt pools.  

Lifeguards are crucial for ensuring the safety of all patrons during pool use, meaning that pools cannot remain open without the required lifeguard coverage.  

The reduced operating schedule is as follows: 

Sechelt Pool
Sunday: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Monday: 6:00am – 1:30pm
Tuesday: 9:00am – 8:00pm
Wednesday: 6:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am – 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 4:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 4:30pm 

Gibsons Pool
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 12:30pm – 7:30pm
Tuesday to Friday: 6:30am – 1:00pm
Saturday: Closed 

Lifeguard recruitment, retention and securing a staffing base with sufficient availability to support current operating hours continues to be a challenge, recently resulting in last minute closures of pools.  The temporary change in operating hours, while resulting in a reduction in service, is intended to offer consistent operational hours that our patrons can count on while recruitment and training efforts continue.  

The SCRD continues to offer lifeguard certification courses, and while the August courses are already full, staff are planning for additional offerings.  The goal is to build a larger pool of qualified staff for future scheduling needs. Several job postings will be available at www.scrd.ca/careers in the coming weeks.  

“We know how important pools are to the community, and we are doing everything we can to keep them open and running safely,” says, Shelley Gagnon, General Manager of Community Services. “This is not an issue that can be solved overnight, and we want our community to know we are doing all we can to stabilize operations to provide reliable service levels with a view to being able to increase the operating hours in a manner that is sustainable.” 

The SCRD appreciates the community’s patience and understanding during this time as we work towards being able to provide more reliable service at our pools. The SCRD will provide further updates on pool hours in late August. 

If you are a qualified lifeguard or know someone who is, you are encouraged to apply by visiting www.scrd.ca/careers. 

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is calling on residents on the South Pender Harbour, Eastbourne and Chapman water systems to be very mindful of their water consumption, particularly during the upcoming long weekend.

Despite current Stage 2 water conservation regulations, water use in these water systems remains high. At this time of the year these systems are rain dependent, and as there is no substantial amount of rain in the forecast, these three systems are experiencing increased seasonal pressures.

Current consumption levels mean that residents are using more water than these systems can sustainably supply. This is particularly concerning given that there is no rain in sight and the current warm weather is expected to stay with us for the foreseeable future.

“Reducing water use is critical,” said Rosenboom. “It’s not just about following regulations, it’s about working together to ensure we have enough safe, clean water for drinking, (wild) fire protection, and essential services, now and in several months from now.”

Under Stage 2 water conservation regulations, lawn watering with a sprinkler, soaker hose, hose with nozzle, hand watering, or micro-spray is prohibited, and the SCRD is urging all users to:

• Review irrigation times to make sure they are necessary, aim to reduce watering times by 25-50%, especially for large systems.
• Prioritize food gardens over landscaping and use stored rainwater when possible.
• Try to avoid flushing when you don’t have to – and consider employing the cottage life mantra: ‘If it’s yellow, let it mellow’.
• Avoid washing vehicles, boats, or equipment unless absolutely necessary.
• Reschedule non-essential maintenance until the fall.
• Fix any leaking pipes or fixtures as soon as you are aware of them.

Whether it’s small actions such as taking a shorter shower or bigger actions like only using the water you really need in your garden, all actions add up. Visit www.scrd.ca/water-regulations for further details.

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