The Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission (LCC) held its first regular meeting of 2026 on Thursday, January 15, at 9:00 am at the SIMS Board Room (streaming online with TEAMS). The full agenda package, including staff reports and presentations, is available online>
As its first order of business, Senior Manager Dan Ovington called the meeting to order with a territorial acknowledgment and then conducted the required annual election of the LCC Chair for 2026. Commissioner Earl Rook was re-elected chair. Chair Rook then took the gavel and CRD Director Gary Holman was re-elected Vice Chair.
Presentations and Delegations
- The LCC heard a delegation from Robin Williams regarding the Ganges Harbour Walk project.
- Peter Meyer of Partners Creating Pathways provided an update on the Swanson Lakeview Crescent Pathway Project.
LCC Business
- Staff provided the LCC with the updated Quarterly Project Tracker.
- Staff provided the LCC with the updated Quarterly Motion Tracker.
- The LCC received a staff report on the Baker Public Beach Access Information Panels, a proposal for permanent interpretive panels installed at two CRD operated public beach access points – Baker Beach and the Quarry Park Trail access. The LCC voted to approve the staff recommendation “that the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission postpone consideration of Baker Beach Access Information Panels Project until the legal dispute has been resolved”. This item will return to the agenda at that time.
- The LCC received a staff report on the Process to Establish a Sister City Between Salt Spring Island and Orcas Island. The report was for information only and the LCC took no action at this time.
Motions and Notices of Motion
- The LCC voted to withdraw a motion by Commissioner Baker from November related to a meeting with the Salt Spring Foundation as moot. The actions called for by the motion had already occurred.
- The LCC passed a motion by Commissioner Webster regarding the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce:
“That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission request that representatives of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce meet with the Electoral Area Director, one other LCC commissioner and a staff representative to discuss:
-The potential for establishing a Business Improvement Area on Salt Spring Island
-The ongoing working relationship between the LCC and the Chamber"
Notices of Motion (for consideration at a future meeting).
“That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission request that the Capital Regional District Board write to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit requesting that the ministry institute a 30 km/h speed limit throughout the Ganges core, including:
-Rainbow Road from Lower Ganges Road to the Rainbow Recreation Centre
-Jackson Avenue
-Hereford Avenue
-McPhillips Avenue
-Seaview Avenue”
“That the next Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission workshop regarding harbour management invite representatives of the Province and Transport Canada to discuss their role.”
“That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission request that the Capital Regional District Board write to the Government of British Columbia requesting the resumption of the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program in 2026.”
“That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission Strategic Plan be amended to include a goal regarding improving public consultation on annual budgets.”
The next meeting of the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission will be a special meeting for the purpose of reviewing and approving the final 2026 budget. It will be held in the Board Room at SIMS at 9:00 on Thursday, January 29 and is open to the public. Anyone interested in addressing the LCC on matters included on the agenda should apply to make a delegation.
