The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) invites residents to provide input following the introduction of a new paid-on-call compensation model for volunteer firefighters across its four fire departments. 

The SCRD’s dedicated volunteer firefighters, which include Egmont and District Volunteer Fire Department, Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department provide 24/7 emergency response to our communities.  

These firefighters must also meet the same provincial training standards as career firefighters. The updated compensation model, implemented in August 2025, provides hourly pay for emergency response, training, and department activities while maintaining the volunteer status of all members. You can read more about that here.  

As the SCRD integrates this model into long-term financial planning, community input will play a key role. The SCRD Board has directed staff to conduct public engagement to ensure residents understand the changes and have an opportunity to share feedback. 

You can share your feedback by completing this short questionnaire. The questionnaire will remain open for feedback until Friday, December 12,  

SCRD staff and volunteer firefighters will also be available to answer any questions you may have this coming Wednesday, at our Coffee, Cookies and Conversations event which takes place from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. 

Another mock water bill is 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. This will be the final mock bill before the first real quarterly bill is distributed in April 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.   
• Dedicated webpage – Check out www.scrd.ca/water-billing for resources to help you understand your mock bill Stay tuned on this webpage to learn more about 2026 rates.  

New Utility Account Numbers
With volumetric billing starting in 2026, properties in the North and South Pender water service areas have been assigned a new utility account number. Previous utility account numbers will become inactive. More information on steps you need to take if you pay your utilities via your bank can be found here.  

Access to MySCRD
At the top of your mock bill, North and South Pender water service residents will find their new utility account number and access code. Once you register this new account via MySCRD (an explainer video can be found here), you will have access to your utility account data. This includes graphs that help you understand your water use.  

Get Ready for Regional
Starting in 2026, the SCRD will begin mock billing the Regional Water Service (which includes Egmont, Cove Cay, Chapman, Langdale and Eastbourne Water Systems). Stay tuned to letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing for more information on this, including when residents in this water service can access their data through MySCRD. 

Repairs to the Hopkins Landing Dock are set to begin next week, restoring this much-loved community landmark.  

Closed since June 2023 due to safety concerns, the dock is now moving forward with necessary upgrades. Extensive community engagement was conducted in 2024 to ensure the design aligns with input received from the community.  

At an open house and through the SCRD’s Let’s Talk project page, community members expressed a strong desire to preserve the dock’s original appearance. In response, the renovation will follow a “like-for-like” design (pictured below), maintaining the dock’s familiar look, however the float will not be a part of this stage of the construction project.  

When the Hopkins Landing Dock was closed, the float was removed and placed into storage. Repairs were identified as part of the renovation project. In April, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the float was in significant disrepair and could not be reused. This replacement will require a separate design and construction contract and will not be completed alongside the main dock upgrades.

Materials will begin arriving on-site next week. No road closures are expected, though some areas around the dock will be fenced off for public safety. SCRD staff will also be speaking directly with nearby homeowners who could be affected by the work next week.  

The work is anticipated to be completed by the end of January.  

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is awarding a total of $7,500 to fund four 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:

• xwesam-Roberts Creek Community Association: $775 expand the highly success waste sorting system used at community events and in the community hall.
• Cedar Grove Elementary School: $328 to build on success of past year’s projects to divert waste and further reduce contamination.
• Gibsons Community Building Society: $4,290 to implement a comprehensive waste diversion system expansion at the Gibsons Public Market.
• One Straw Society: $2,107 to assist in their launch of a fruit/food rescue initiative on the coast.

Project recipients have until June 30, 2026, to complete their projects and provide a final report.

Since 2015, the SCRD has provided over $30,000 to waste reduction projects.

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

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has released its 2025 third quarter reports covering work done from July 1 to September 30.

The information below shows a summary of highlights and is followed by information from each department. If you would like to read the full quarterly reports you can find them as part of the agenda package that is linked here.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Halfmoon Bay Community Hall Construction

Construction of the new Halfmoon Bay Community Hall in Connor Park / ch’emalaḵ is progressing well. Wall framing and roofing are complete, with electrical and plumbing underway. Landscaping design continues. Completion remains on track for community use in Summer 2026.

Water Meter Installation – District of Sechelt
This $12 million project, installing 4,500 water meters in Sechelt, is now 94% complete. It supports volumetric billing, leak detection, and water conservation, marking a major step in modernizing aging regional water infrastructure.

Sports Field Strategy

The SCRD, in partnership with District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons, School District 46, and the shishalh Nation Government District undertook community engagement on a sports field strategy for the Sunshine Coast.

This strategy will assess current and future demands and trends to ensure the needs of our growing population and the community’s access to sports, continue to be met. The strategy will define the long-term vision and will provide recommendations to guide sports field management, allocation, and capital/operational investments over the next ten years. More information can be found at https://yoursaysechelt.ca/sportsfields.

SCRD Fire Departments

There was a total of 229 call outs for SCRD Fire Departments in this quarter. This was an increase of six calls when compared to 2024. Dedicated volunteer firefighters also logged a total of 2,620 training hours from July through to September.

What We Heard – OCP Renewal Report

Staff presented a comprehensive ‘What We Heard’ report in relation to the Official Community Plan Renewal Project. Over a 12-month period, staff engaged residents through 11 high-school workshops, 14 public events, and 1,290 survey responses, gathering input on housing, climate resilience, growth, transit and community character. These insights will shape the draft growth areas in early 2026. Read more about this project at https://letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal

Community Services

Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area
Planning for the 2025–2026 winter season continues, including volunteer recruitment and trail maintenance. Dakota Ridge remains a key outdoor recreation destination for the sunshine Coast, offering snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and lots of fun activities in a beautiful alpine setting.

Progress on bridge, trail and playground projects
Several projects were progressed in this quarter in our parks. These include;

• Landscape and environmental design was completed for the Coopers Green Park enhancements project.
• Design has been completed for the Vinebrook Bridge project.
• Out with the old and in with the new – furniture replacements were completed at SCRD community halls.
• The playground at Cedar Meadows Park was replaced.

 Emergency and Protective Services

FireSmart Program
The FireSmart team completed 137 Home Ignition Zone assessments in this quarter and while many fuel treatments were held up due to the need for Songbird Nesting Surveys, they were still able to complete one treatment at Brookman Park. To date, the FireSmart team has removed over 200,000 lbs of debris through fuel treatments in communities across the Sunshine Coast. Community engagement grew in this quarter with staff attending several events including the Halfmoon Bay Fair, Sechelt Farmers Market and Pender Harbour Days.

Paid-On-Call Firefighter Compensation Implementation
SCRD Fire Departments successfully transitioned to a new paid-on-call model on August 1. This modern system compensates volunteer firefighters, improving recruitment, retention, and recognition of their time, skill, and growing emergency response demands.

Multimodal Evacuation Plan Development
Work advanced on the Sunshine Coast’s new evacuation plan and route system. Stakeholder consultations begin in the last quarter of 2025 to design coordinated, multi-route evacuation strategies enhancing regional emergency preparedness.

Emergency Management Modernization
The SCRD Emergency Program continued reviewing bylaws and procedures to align with new provincial emergency legislation. Recent Emergency Operation Centre activations, including during a summer heat event, tested improved coordination, cooling centre operations, and community communication systems.

Infrastructure Services

Watermain Replacements

Planning continues on several watermain replacement projects in Area A – Egmont / Pender Harbour. These projects will see old asbestos cement watermains replaced with modern ductile iron pipe.

Chapman Raw Water Pump Station Upgrades  – Phases 1 and 2
A full retrofit of Chapman’s pump station will replace all pumps and controls, add a backup generator, and improve reliability. This critical upgrade ensures consistent water supply and operational resilience.

Sechelt / shíshálh Hospital Wellfield Development – Phase 1B
Following successful test well results, this project is advancing. A water license application was submitted to the Province in June, a land use agreement is being developed with Vancouver Coastal Health and engagement is ongoing with the shíshálh Nation.

Chapman Creek Water Treatment Plant UV Upgrade – Phase 2
This $1.9 million upgrade adds redundant UV systems to meet regulatory standards and improve water safety. Construction is underway, with completion expected in early 2026, enhancing treatment reliability and public health protection.

Biocover Feasibility Study – Phase 2
A pilot study tested methane-reducing biocovers at Sechelt Landfill. Results will inform final cover decisions for 2030 closure, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic and environmental benefits to the community.

Solid Waste Management Plan Review and Update
A public facing backgrounder and feedback form has been posted to the project’s webpage at letstalk.scrd.ca//trash for public feedback. Progress has been made on the Draft Plan and long-term disposal options have been presented to the Board. The beginning of engagement on the draft plan is anticipated in December, 2025.

Planning and Development

Land Use Inventory Project

The Land Use Study has completed its technical component and has now entered the outreach and engagement phase. Jointly funded by the SCRD and Habitat for Humanity, the project was launched in May 2025 in partnership with the SCRD and the District of Sechelt.  It focuses on two key areas: developing a comprehensive inventory of underutilized land across the Sunshine Coast with potential for community housing or public amenities, including non-profit, faith-based, public, and institutional properties and engaging directly with landowners, governments, and organizations to identify partnership and development opportunities. A similar study was completed earlier this year for the Town of Gibsons.

Renewal of the SCRD’s Building and Plumbing Bylaw

A draft bylaw has been completed as the SCRD looks to review and identify improvements / updates to both SCRD Building Bylaw No. 687 and SCRD Plumbing Bylaw No. 400. The draft bylaw will be presented for consideration to the SCRD Board in November.

Coastal Flood Risk Mapping
A partnership with local governments to produce detailed flood maps for the Sunshine Coast. Results will guide future planning, emergency preparedness, and community education on coastal resilience and adaptation. Learn more at https://letstalk.scrd.ca/coastal-flooding.

The next major update on projects and initiatives will be provided in early 2026.

Take a few minutes on Wednesday, November 19, to drop by the Seaside Centre for an informal opportunity to connect with elected officials and staff over coffee and cookies, and share your input on what matters most to you. 

We want to hear directly from you as we begin the upcoming financial planning process. What services matter most? Where should we invest?  

Your feedback will help guide decisions that shape the future of our communities. 

Event Details: 

• Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 
• Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 
• Location: Seaside Centre, 5790 Teredo Street, Sechelt 

We won’t just be talking finance! Here’s what else you can expect: 

• Official Community Plan Renewal: The project team will share what they heard in the first phase of engagement and what’s coming next. 
• Firefighter Compensation: Learn about a new recurring item in the SCRD’s financial plan and share your thoughts through a community questionnaire (available before the event). 
• Holiday Recycling Tips: Solid waste staff will be on hand to talk about recycling over the holidays. 
• Emergency Preparedness: Our emergency management coordinator will offer advice and resources to help keep deal with emergencies on the Sunshine Coast. 
• Meet Ember the FireSmart Fox! Everyone’s favourite local mascot will be joining us 

So please, drop by and say hello! 

Can’t Make It in Person? 

You can still share your views online: 

• Share Your Priorities: Use our virtual sticky board to add what matters most to you.
• Complete a Short Questionnaire: It only takes a few minutes, plus, you can enter to win a gift card to a Sunshine Coast business! 

Learn more at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget

Your input matters. Help shape the future of our community by joining the conversation.