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

Mock water bills are now in the mail for residents in the North and South Pender Water Service Areas.

These mock bills are part of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) effort to help residents understand water usage and what future charges will look like under the new volumetric billing system coming in 2026.

We know residents will have questions, and SCRD staff are here to help. Here are a few ways to learn more and connect with SCRD staff:

Online information space – You can learn more about the volumetric billing project and ask questions at any time at letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing.

 Your mock bill explained – Check out this resource that helps to explain the information on your mock bill.

Come chat with us in person at the Pender Harbour Wooden Boat Show on Saturday, August 9. SCRD staff will be onsite to answer any questions residents may have about the shift to volumetric billing.

If you are not at the Pender Harbour Wooden Boat Show and would like to ask questions directly to SCRD staff, join us for an online information session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13.

Information, including links to join, will be available at letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing and at www.scrd.ca prior to the session taking place.

We look forward to chatting and answering questions!

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is moving forward with major structural repairs to the Keats Landing Dock, with construction scheduled to begin in Fall 2025.

The dock has been closed to vehicle traffic since October 2023, after a structural inspection identified significant damage to two load-bearing piles. The SCRD Board has approved a project budget of $510,487 and following a competitive bidding process, awarded the construction contract to Salish Sea Industrial Services Ltd.

“This project is about safety, reliability, and making sure the Keats community continues to have the infrastructure it depends on,” says Shelley Gagnon, General Manager, Community Services. “We appreciate the community’s patience and are excited to move forward with these essential repairs.”

Updates on construction timing, access impacts, and progress will be shared at www.scrd.ca/docks. Pedestrian and vessel access will be maintained where it is safe to do so, and any necessary closures or limited access to the dock will be communicated in advance.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) would like to remind residents of the vital role of Bylaw Enforcement in safeguarding our communities, environment, and shared quality of life.

“Bylaw enforcement is about looking out for each other. It helps keep our neighbourhoods safe, protects the environment, and makes sure everyone’s playing by the same rules”, says Ian Hall, General Manager, Planning and Development.  “It’s one of the ways we keep our communities great places to live.”

From Langdale to Earls Cove, dedicated SCRD bylaw enforcement officers work to ensure compliance with regional regulations, bringing a wide range of benefits to our region.

Nuisance control and land protection: Officers monitor and enforce rules on zoning, noise, smoke, and land clearing and alterations on private property to mitigate hazards, protect the natural environment, and reduce wildfire or erosion risk.

Compliance with water regulations: SCRD officers help enforce stage-based water conservation regulations—essential during times of drought.

Complaint-driven enforcement: Residents can quickly report bylaw infractions—including environmental concerns and noise—via a simple online form. This ensures prompt attention to community issues.

Educational outreach: Beyond issuing tickets, SCRD Bylaw Enforcement emphasizes public education on zoning, permits, and conservation to foster voluntary compliance and build civic responsibility.

How to Get Involved

For bylaw concerns or questions:

• Submit via the SCRD Bylaw Complaint Form on scrd.ca/bylaw-complaint-form. Note that anonymous, retaliatory or third-party complaints will not be accepted. Complainant anonymity is protected.
• Road/parking issues: Contact the Ministry of Transportation and Transit directly at 604‑527‑2221.