April 2021 Virtual Forum Review

Seventy-seven elected officials, staff, and observers participated in the two-hour Zoom virtual meeting on April 23rd, 2021 moderated by Ruth Simons, lead of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative.

This was the third Howe Sound Community Forum taking place over Zoom. Elected officials from Squamish Nation, West Vancouver, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, Squamish, Whistler, Gambier Island Local Trust Area, Pemberton and Howe Sound communities within the regional districts of Metro Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, the Squamish Lillooet shared 1-3 words reflecting how they were feeling as the battle between vaccinations and the variants of COVID-19 have caused further restrictions on travel and social gatherings.

Updates from previous meetings included a report from the Ocean Watch Action Committee and a presentation from Fiona Beaty, Project Director of the Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem Marine Reference Guide. This project began with the full support of Howe Sound Community Forum members and is now almost complete. Preparations for succession and long-term maintenance of this valuable planning tool were presented and included in the presentation. Members were asked to report back to their councils on the request for continued support.

Other updates included: a report on the stakeholder engagement regarding new glass sponge reefs from Lindsay Klopp, Fisheries Manager with Sustainable Fisheries Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Updates on the progress of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative, reference to the wrap-up of the Cumulative Effects Pilot Project for Howe Sound, and West Coast Environmental Laws webinar on Guide to Coastal & Ocean Protection Laws in BC.

Updates from elected representatives from each of the member communities and the Squamish Nation were full of news. During the pandemic, governance work continues, and most communities have just passed their budgets, the second time since the start of the pandemic. Progress continues to be made on updates to zoning, climate change adaptation, and mitigation. There is good support for a campaign to Help Cities Lead, and more communities are encouraged to participate.

Jonathan Heerema, Senior Program Advisor from Destination BC Vancouver, Coast, and Mountain Region, presented strategic destination development plans with a specific focus on the Sea to Sky Destination Development plan. Laura Plan, a Senior Business Advisor, explained the current focus on Strategic initiative #5: Improve Sea to Sky Corridor destination education programs. She explained the role of local stakeholders in the planning of these programs. Lesley Weeks, Executive Director of Tourism Squamish, provided more specifics on the rollout of this “How To be Responsible” when travelling in the Sea to Sky Corridor. View recording here.

Professional foresters Derek Lefler, District Manager, and Andrea Reitman, Licensed Authorizations Officer at the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District, shared maps and information on the review and update of Visual Quality Objectives for the Sunshine Coast region with a focus on Howe Sound. The review of VQOs began in 2013-2015. Stakeholder consultation has now been extended, and members will be invited to provide comments on the draft changes. View recording here.

Following the forum, participants were invited to stay on the call for informal discussions and further questions and answers.

The next Howe Sound Community Forum will take place in October 2021.