qathet Regional District meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

qathet Regional Board approves $40,685.81 in grants; museum land and housing funds on committee agenda

The qathet Regional District Board approved three grants totaling $40,685.81 for local organizations at its July 8 meeting, along with the 2025 Directors' Remuneration and Expenses report and the 2025 Statement of Financial Information. Minutes for that meeting have not yet been published.

Regional Board — July 8

The Board approved the following items, according to the meeting agenda:

• 2025 Report of Directors' Remuneration, Expenses and Contracts
• 2025 Statement of Financial Information
• Grant of $23,000 to qathet ORUG Trails Society
• Grant of $15,000 to qathet Tourism Society
• Grant of $2,685.81 to Powell River Trail Riders Club

The agenda also included a request for a status update on the Texada Island culvert replacement. No vote tally or further detail was available, as minutes have not yet been published.

Committee of the Whole — July 8

The Committee of the Whole agenda listed several items for discussion and potential recommendation, including delegations from two groups:

• **qathet Museum & Archives Society** — delegation on land availability for a new museum.
• **Life Cycle Housing and Kiwanis Housing societies** — delegation on allocation of MRDT (municipal and regional district tax) hotel tax revenues to housing societies.

The committee was also set to consider:

• Authorization of the Texada Annual Fly-In event at Texada/Gillies Bay Airport on July 26, 2026.
• Proposed amendments to Policy 1.11 (Tribute Policy) and Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 570.
• Delegation of CRA account administration authority to staff.
• An emergency overtime allowance for exempt staff.

These items were listed on the agenda; minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

Texada Island Recreation Commission — July 16

The Texada Island Recreation Commission agenda included:

• A request from the Texada Island Non-Profit Senior Housing Society to waive the $120 fee for renting Gillies Bay Ballpark for a seniors housing fundraiser.
• Correspondence on Deep Woods Trail logging concerns and a forester's response.
• An AED (defibrillator) installation at Smithson Park.
• An interpretive sign for Emily Lake Trail.
• A review of the commission's Terms of Reference regarding hybrid meetings.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published.

What this means for residents

The $40,685.81 in approved grants goes to three organizations supporting trails, tourism, and equestrian recreation in the region. The Committee of the Whole discussions on museum land and hotel tax revenue allocation could shape future decisions on cultural facilities and affordable housing funding. The Texada Island Recreation Commission items affect local park access, trail conditions, and public safety equipment.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

qathet Regional District weighs hospital funding, community grants, and zoning changes in recent meetings

Recent qathet Regional District meetings covered a range of regional matters from hospital capital funding to community grants and zoning amendments. Because minutes have not yet been published for the June 23–24 meetings, the items below reflect what was on the agendas — not what was ultimately decided. Residents should watch for minutes to confirm outcomes.

Regional Hospital Board: VCH seeks $540,365

Vancouver Coastal Health was scheduled to request $540,365 in cost-sharing for FY27, according to the June 23 Regional Hospital Board agenda. That total includes $447,000 for capital projects and $93,365 to replace seven stretchers at qathet General Hospital. The board was also set to receive the First Quarter 2026 Strategic Plan Progress Report and hold a closed session for negotiations with the provincial government.

Regional Board: Community grants and election bylaw

The June 24 Regional Board agenda included a consent agenda with 21 community grants totaling over $100,000. Among the listed grants:

• $23,000 to qathet ORUG Trails Society for trail maintenance
• $15,000 to qathet Tourism Society for staff support
• $7,500 to Savary Island Land Trust Society
• $5,000 to Powell River Child, Youth & Family Services for the ORCA bus program

The board was also scheduled to consider rescinding and re-adopting Election Procedure Amendment Bylaw No. 420.6, and to receive correspondence on BC Timber Sales' 2026–2030 operating plan.

Planning Committee: Nootka Street zoning and referendum question

The June 23 Planning Committee agenda included endorsement of Nootka Street Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 321.3, 2025, to comply with provincial housing legislation, with a possible forward to the August 26, 2026 Board meeting. The committee was also set to consider a separate proposed bylaw (No. 321.4), prepare a non-binding referendum question for the 2026 General Election, and review a subdivision application for 7458 Nootka St and 7460 Nootka St.

Committee of the Whole: Transit, ports, and community facilities

The June 24 Committee of the Whole agenda covered several regional matters:

• A letter of support for Desolation Dive Services Ltd.'s Ghost Gear funding application
• A resolution to cease divestment of remote port facilities
• A request for BC Transit to address a service gap between Route #12 and Route #1
• Investigation into stage curtain replacement at Texada Island Community Hall
• A service provider agreement with Q Climbers Access and Development Association

Coming up

July 8 — Regional Board: The agenda includes approval of the 2025 Directors' Remuneration and Expenses report, the 2025 Statement of Financial Information, and three grants totaling $40,685.81: $23,000 to qathet ORUG Trails Society, $15,000 to qathet Tourism Society, and $2,685.81 to Powell River Trail Riders Club. A status update on Texada Island culvert replacement is also listed.

July 8 — Committee of the Whole: Delegations are scheduled from qathet Museum & Archives Society on land for a new museum, and from Life Cycle Housing and Kiwanis Housing societies on hotel tax revenue allocation. The committee will also consider authorizing the Texada Annual Fly-In at Texada/Gillies Bay Airport on July 26, 2026, amendments to Policy 1.11 Tribute Policy and Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 570, and delegation of CRA account administration authority to staff.

July 16 — Texada Island Recreation Commission: The commission will consider a request to waive the $120 Gillies Bay Ballpark rental fee for a seniors housing fundraiser, correspondence on Deep Woods Trail logging concerns, an AED installation at Smithson Park, an interpretive sign for Emily Lake Trail, and a Terms of Reference review for hybrid meetings.

Hospital funding, grants dominate qathet Regional District’s summer agenda

A $540,365 funding request for qathet General Hospital and a slate of community grants worth more than $140,000 are before qathet Regional District officials as several boards and committees open their summer business.

While minutes from recent meetings have yet to be published, agendas show the Regional Hospital Board, Planning Committee, Regional Board and Committee of the Whole all tackled spending, zoning and infrastructure items in late June. A fresh round of decisions is expected when the Regional Board and Committee of the Whole meet again on July 8.

Hospital funding request

Vancouver Coastal Health appeared before the Regional Hospital Board on June 23 seeking cost-sharing for fiscal 2027 capital projects. The total request is $540,365: $447,000 for capital projects and $93,365 for seven replacement stretchers at qathet General Hospital. The board’s agenda also included the first-quarter 2026 strategic plan progress report and a closed session on provincial negotiations; the outcome of the funding request remains unconfirmed.

Planning and zoning

On June 23, the Planning Committee was scheduled to endorse amendments to the Nootka Street Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 321.3, 2025, to align with provincial housing legislation. A separate bylaw (No. 321.4) and a non-binding referendum question for the 2026 general election were also on the table, alongside a subdivision application for 7458 and 7460 Nootka Street. If endorsed, the bylaws would move to the August 26 Board meeting.

Grants on the table

The June 24 Regional Board consent agenda listed 21 community grants totalling more than $100,000, including $23,000 to the qathet ORUG Trails Society, $15,000 to qathet Tourism Society, $7,500 to Savary Island Land Trust Society and $5,000 to Powell River Child, Youth & Family Services for the ORCA bus program. A second set of grants – $23,000 for ORUG Trails, $15,000 for tourism and $2,685.81 for the Powell River Trail Riders Club – will come before the board on July 8 along with the 2025 directors’ remuneration report and the 2025 statement of financial information.

Transit, ports and community halls

The June 24 Committee of the Whole discussed a letter of support for Desolation Dive Services’ ghost-gear funding application, a resolution opposing the divestment of remote port facilities, and a request to fill a service gap between BC Transit’s Route 12 and Route 1. Members also looked into replacing the stage curtain at Texada Island Community Hall and a service agreement with the Q Climbers Access and Development Association.

Coming up

The Regional Board meets July 8 to approve the 2025 financial reports and the $40,685.81 in grants. The Committee of the Whole follows the same day with a delegation from the qathet Museum & Archives Society about land for a new museum, a pitch from Life Cycle Housing and Kiwanis Housing societies to allocate hotel tax revenue to housing, and authorization for the Texada Annual Fly-In on July 26. Policy amendments and an emergency overtime allowance for exempt staff are also on the agenda.

On July 16, the Texada Island Recreation Commission will consider waiving the $120 Gillies Bay Ballpark rental fee for a seniors housing fundraiser, an AED installation at Smithson Park, an interpretive sign for Emily Lake Trail, and a review of its terms of reference for hybrid meetings. Correspondence on logging concerns along Deep Woods Trail will also be discussed.